Stand outside the car and look through the windshield on the driver's side. You will see a VIN (vehicle identification number). Starting from the left, count to the tenth digit. If it says S, you have a 95 model. If it says W, you have a 98 model.

As for the shaking, you may have a broken tranny/engine mount.

Edit. VIN decoder
http://www.contour.org/FAQ/FAQ.php?s=articles&display=1

Last edited by Tony2005; 06/07/06 05:03 PM.

"Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles