I purchased my contour (98 se sport v6 atx) when the my prior car died rather suddenly. A bit of background. I tend to buy cars that please me for whatever reasons, without concern for what others think. Hence, at one time I had a Yugo and a Jaguar at the same time. (I lived in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee, and the yugo was hoot on the maountain roads..being a fiat by another name.) Anyway, I have driven mostly european cars, the above plus assorted fiats, alfa romeos, occasional VW, etc. Grew up with assorted other european cars coming through Dad's garage through the years. The "normal" european cars, plus the Abarth, the Lancias, the Simca, etc.
As a result I have come to appreciate the subtle "feel" given to cars designed in europe for europeans. Across the pond, drivers expect a greater sense of coimmunication between the driver and car. You can tell what the front tires are doing by the feel through the steering wheel if you know what to feel for. Generally, American and to a lesser degree Japanese manufacturers try to isolate the driver from these sensations. The countour allows me to have this driver pleasure, especially when I am trying to push the car quickly, and still be able to find parts at the local autozone. I love the engine design. The car is quite quick for what I paid.
I paid $8500 for a three year old SE sport w/ 61K. It presently has 96K. Previous owner had the MAF replaced under warranty, no other work. I have done normal preventative maintainence, and replaced the waterpump when it failed at 83K miles. Ford replaced all the catalytic cinverters under the emmisions warranty at 82K (first showed signs of failure at 78K, I drove the car another 4K before Ford got the parts in and I scheduled the car for service.) For me, the car had been quite reliable. The only other 4 door on my shopping list at the time was a VW jetta with the VR6. I doubt that I would have that any more reliable. My car was built in Kansas City, I suspect that the cars built in Mexico may have more problems.
In short, what I find in this car is similar to my experience with the Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, and Fiats that I have owned. Clever and fun engineering, let down by erratic execution at the build plant. I'll put up with that for a car that makes me smile.
(Especially if I get one of the ones that is more reliable.) The few Japanese cars that I have owned I couldn't wait to get rid of because they bored me.
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