Go over to Crutchfield and get either a set of 6"x8" Pioneer 3-ways or Kenwood equivalents. I don't know the exact model number but the direct bolt-in Pioneer 3-ways run about $99. You probably will have to buy a pair of patch cords to connect the Pioneers to the factory wiring harness; Crutchfield has these patch cords.
I swapped-out all the factory speakers on my 95 Contour with earlier versions of the Pioneer 3-ways while leaving the factory cassette/amp alone. The sound is a little richer and there is slightly better bass response but it's definitely not boomy or a thumper; not enough power to do that.
I am starting to have the same front speaker signal dropout problem and it may be the stereo head unit (connections inside the doors are still good) because ramping the volume up and down clears the problem. There is a remote chance that the factory wiring harness is fraying internally where the harness passes from the car body to the door (too much flex wear from opening/closing the door). Front doors always see more wear than back doors. A loose connection anywhere in the wiring harness can cause this problem.
1995 Contour SE
1999 Contour SVT
