I prefer my 96SE over my wife's 98.5 SE. The earlier fit-and-finish is very noticeable. The leather seats in my 96SE are awesome -- big side bolsters!

I even like the earlier SE trunk lip spoiler over the later elevated spoilers.

1996 Ford Contour SE (Mine): V-6 MTX/DMD/MSDS/K&N3530/Torsen/Spec-1/Split-Exhaust/Walbro/Syncromax..119K 2003 GMC Yukon XL SLT (Hers): 285HP/Stock..93K