Originally posted by Samduhman:
I found a 95 Contour I was thinking about buying till I ran across Edmunds.com consumer reviews. It received 6.6 out of 10. Are these cars especially this year a headache?

The one I was looking at is a v6 automatic SE loaded with 84,000 miles on it.

thanks



As the original owner of a 95SE Duratec(V6) MTX, my thoughts are this. The Reviews overstate the problems. I've been through it all, including the annoyance of learning about the need for replacement water pumps and wiring harnesses due to substandard OEM materials used by Ford to shave a few dollars off the costs.

My thought is, if you can get reliable evidence that all the recalls were done, and that the car has had basic maintenance done (mandatory with any car), it is not any more prone to problems than others.

But - I would agree with some of the assessments. The 1996 models scoop out the front seats to the tune of about 1" providing that much more leg room, AND the metallic strips that you *only* see on 1995 models are gone (they peel or otherwise degrade eventually)

I've read (here) that the later you get in model year, the more Ford has de-contented the car. Mostly that means little things like clocks and such aren't added 'standard' onto the cars.

I personally don't really like the 98+ model body styles and completely disagree with the preference stated above, but, that's just personal.

I've also read (here) that the 95's and 96's Duratecs are closer to the SVT spec than later versions as the suspensions were detuned a bit. Others more knowledgeable might want to chime in on this one.

It depends on what you want and what you know. I can tell you *everything* that's wrong about my car right now, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Hmmm, change that - I'd not have let the wife drive my baby as much. I don't think it's a coincidence that ALL of the little traffic *incidents* my Contour have been in, have been while *She* has been driving.

Mike