Got to be the best bang for the buck out there. Daughter's going to college and needs a car, so she gets Mom's 92 Grand Am (132,000 miles- going strong), Mom gets the 92 Taurus, and Dad went out looking for something fun to drive for work and back. Did a fair amount of research on the net... thought about a used Mustang GT, but it rains and snows here in Ohio, and the GT drivers usaully thrash the hell out of those things. Make a long story short, picked up a 98 Contour SE, 53,000 miles. Ford Dealer wanted $8,300... told him I don't really have to buy anything until August but I'd buy it right now for $7.000. Right before closing on Good Friday, raining, he hadn't done a thing all day and wasn't likely to Easter weekend... got that end of month quota to meet.... Paid 7k, driving it since. No alloys/leather/sunroof, but real nice shape... 2.5 Duratech V6, 5 spd MTX, sport suspension, 195/65SR14 radials, 4 wheel disc brakes.... sport seats, air cond, tach, reading lights, power windows/locks, tilt wheel, rear wind defog, aftermarket AM/FM/CD... and no exterior indication whatsoever (other than tiny "24V" sticker RR decklid) that this thing's anything other than a 4 cyl/autotrans rental car. No hood scoop, no spoilers, no goofy graphics, no sign saying "Hey, Officer! Over here! Watch me!" Really, an adult car- all go and no show. I love it- I just want to go fast, not attract attention (and tickets). Never saw any advertising for these things when Ford made 'em- a few print ads for the SVT, but even for that nothing on TV or radio. Looks to me like the dealers killed this car by not making much of an effort... did any of them even know what they had? Granted it's got a tiny back seat and a stiff ride, and it doesn't have a cheesy mouse-fur velour and fake wood interior... but it's got big, thick anti-roll bars, lots of power, goes like stink, whips around a corner, and stops on a dime. I'll make that tradeoff any time- and I really think a lot of folks (mostly older guys like myself, not kids) would also.
JimCat
98 Countour SE
thinking 'bout bigger rubber after I wear these Michelins out...
