Why did ford kill the contour?
I just got this car, and I love it...for a ten year old beater its a spunky inline 4, roomy, decent handleing, and it does'nt look like a box...Why in hell did they kill it, whats its repacement?
maybe the focus, but in smaller proportion... and soon the fusion
Instead of doing 2 frames (Escort and Contour) they just use 1 (Focus) and give engine option. So it cost less to produce.
That is what I think.
And I agree with you... they should make contours again.
the main reasion i understood was that the fact of the price...and other reasons on top of that. a well equiped contour, new, while smaller, was almost the same price as a decently equiped taurus. people reluctantly bought the taurus, a bigger car for less money. there are other reasons ford killed the red headed stepchild and im sure other will chime in but this topic has been covered many times.
and welcome!
Originally posted by mystiquevltwin:
the main reasion i understood was that the fact of the price...and other reasons on top of that. a well equiped contour, new, while smaller, was almost the same price as a decently equiped taurus. people reluctantly bought the taurus, a bigger car for less money. there are other reasons ford killed the red headed stepchild and im sure other will chime in but this topic has been covered many times.
and welcome!
that is part of it but what I hear is the bigger part is the lack or rear seat space for a family sedan
also to many bought base line cars, if you go the other way you could get a fully loaded escort for the base line price, that and people just didn't get the euro feel, plus only the se had that feel, otherwise it is a normal american car
actually, do someone think this post is not in the good thread ?
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
I just got this car, and I love it...for a ten year old beater its a spunky inline 4, roomy, decent handleing, and it does'nt look like a box...Why in hell did they kill it, whats its repacement?
you got a problem with boxy cars? 
~Andrew
Originally posted by Pimpalicious316:
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
I just got this car, and I love it...for a ten year old beater its a spunky inline 4, roomy, decent handleing, and it does'nt look like a box...Why in hell did they kill it, whats its repacement?
you got a problem with boxy cars?
~Andrew
I do....... 
I miss my 1980 Olds 98. 
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
Has it been a month, already?
Ray
Originally posted by Ray:
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
Has it been a month, already?
Ray
Man, I can feel the sarcasm through the computer! 
Originally posted by Ray:
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
Has it been a month, already?
Ray
how much longer till i get to ask what the differences between the different models are? 
or how i can find out what the production # of my csvt is? 
Differences is coming up here in about 3 or 4 days.
The production number was JUST reset today, or yesterday, so you're lookin at Halloween or so.
Ray
Originally posted by Ray:
The production number was JUST reset today, or yesterday, so you're lookin at Halloween or so.
Ray
dammit! 
i call dibs on differences 
In addition to the "Escort size for a Taurus price" conundrum, the base models really did not make a very good impression. Back in '98 my dad and I test drove a '97 Zetec ATX Mystique program car. The engine idled so rough that it made the whole dashboard shake and rattle, and something in the roof would buzz too. It was really quite ridiculous, especially for a practically new car, and certainly didn't encourage him to explore the rest of the Mystique lineup.
Also, the higher-end models were really *too* nice and well-engineered. In America, people tend to buy compact cars because they're really cheap, good on gas, and it's not the end of the world if their 16 year old smashes it up. Aside from the BMW 3-series, nobody wants to spend more money to have a nice car if it's still small. This perception seems to be changing though.. The Mazda3 gets rave reviews for being so nice, and small cars in general are getting nicer and more expensive. Gas prices are no doubt playing a role. But this was not the case when Ford sold the Contour here.
Originally posted by svt4stv:
Originally posted by Ray:
The production number was JUST reset today, or yesterday, so you're lookin at Halloween or so.
Ray
dammit!
i call dibs on differences
you snooze you lose.
1-800-ford-svt and
this is lifted from the 99 model year owners guide supplement:
-larger front brakes, 10.94" vented front rotors
-bosch 4 channel, 4 sensor antilock braking system
-enhanced suspension, 19 mm front stabilizer and 18 mm rear stabilzer
-unique front and rear bumper covers
-round foglamps
-unique mesh grills
-unique rear valance panel, rocker sill extentions, mesh grill and stainless muffler tips
-unique wheels
-special seats front and rear with extra bolstering
-unique texture door trim inserts
-svt gauges
engine stuff:
-hp=195 for 98 and 200 @6700rpm for 99/00
-torque=167 lb/ft @5625
-redline=6750 soft and 7000 hard
-10.0:1 compression ratio, increased in 2k to i don't remember what
-throttle body=60mm
-70 mm mass air sensor
-large conical airfilter
-heavy duty radiator
-extrude honed uim and heads
-32 mm lim
-special cams and pistons
-18 lbs flywheel
-19 lbs/hr fuel injectors
-block mounted water to oil oil cooler
-quasi dual exhaust
-special clutch
any errors in this list are the fault of the owners supplement, not me.
Originally posted by rearden:
In addition to the "Escort size for a Taurus price" conundrum, the base models really did not make a very good impression. Back in '98 my dad and I test drove a '97 Zetec ATX Mystique program car. The engine idled so rough that it made the whole dashboard shake and rattle, and something in the roof would buzz too. It was really quite ridiculous, especially for a practically new car, and certainly didn't encourage him to explore the rest of the Mystique lineup.
Also, the higher-end models were really *too* nice and well-engineered. In America, people tend to buy compact cars because they're really cheap, good on gas, and it's not the end of the world if their 16 year old smashes it up. Aside from the BMW 3-series, nobody wants to spend more money to have a nice car if it's still small. This perception seems to be changing though.. The Mazda3 gets rave reviews for being so nice, and small cars in general are getting nicer and more expensive. Gas prices are no doubt playing a role. But this was not the case when Ford sold the Contour here.
...i think what he said coupled with HORRIBLE advertising...i never once saw a car commercial for the contour, and at the time of their production i was glued to the tv
Originally posted by tour96se:
Originally posted by rearden:
In addition to the "Escort size for a Taurus price" conundrum, the base models really did not make a very good impression. Back in '98 my dad and I test drove a '97 Zetec ATX Mystique program car. The engine idled so rough that it made the whole dashboard shake and rattle, and something in the roof would buzz too. It was really quite ridiculous, especially for a practically new car, and certainly didn't encourage him to explore the rest of the Mystique lineup.
Also, the higher-end models were really *too* nice and well-engineered. In America, people tend to buy compact cars because they're really cheap, good on gas, and it's not the end of the world if their 16 year old smashes it up. Aside from the BMW 3-series, nobody wants to spend more money to have a nice car if it's still small. This perception seems to be changing though.. The Mazda3 gets rave reviews for being so nice, and small cars in general are getting nicer and more expensive. Gas prices are no doubt playing a role. But this was not the case when Ford sold the Contour here.
...i think what he said coupled with HORRIBLE advertising...i never once saw a car commercial for the contour, and at the time of their production i was glued to the tv
Car was advertised heavily in late '94. Plus it made Car and Drivers 10-best list in '95 and '96.
Originally posted by tour96se:
...i think what he said coupled with HORRIBLE advertising...i never once saw a car commercial for the contour, and at the time of their production i was glued to the tv
I remember seeing a contour/mystique commericial where they were blasting off like a space shuttle, it was really cheesy, but that's the only ad I had ever seen for these cars.
Originally posted by yomanwill:
Why did ford kill the contour?
I just got this car, and I love it...for a ten year old beater its a spunky inline 4, roomy, decent handleing, and it does'nt look like a box...Why in hell did they kill it, whats its repacement?
Because it's design was/is uninspiring, the price was too high, there wasn't enough space, etc. Should I go on? Basically, the car was an honest mistake.
No, our Pinto with no floor under the drivers seat was a honest mistake.
The contour seemed to be a test for alot of US Ford designs.
International Platform
Variable Cam Timing
Clear Headlight Housings
I'm sure there are others
all in all not the worst thing Ford has done.
Look, the Contour died because it was a World Car. That means it was a little too small here and a little too big in asian and certain european countries, but overall a compromise. Compromises never seem to "feel" right to people. my 2 pennies
Everyone keeps saying about how small it was... can I mention to you guys what other car was the same size, similar features that is still around?! The Grand Am survived.
Originally posted by STRYPED BS:
Everyone keeps saying about how small it was... can I mention to you guys what other car was the same size, similar features that is still around?! The Grand Am survived.
The Grand Am had a bigger interior and the name had been around for awhile.
Not only that, but the Grand Am was cheaper and better-equipped than most of the Contour lineup.
The Contour is on a modern chassis and has great driving dynamics, but the additional complexity of the car itself made it more expensive.
The Grand Am is on an old, cheap chassis that probably paid for itself years ago, so it could be loaded up with a nice CD player, automatic headlights, remote keyless, etc, etc at the same price as a more basic Contour.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that typical compact car buyers will take the crappy car that has a bunch of goodies over the superior but more austere model.
Ford made a lot of mistakes on marketing the Contour, but I thnk it mostly boiled down to it being the red headed step child. It suffered greatly from the "not invented here" mentality of Dearborn. It NEVER had the support it should have had.
Originally posted by STRYPED BS:
Everyone keeps saying about how small it was... can I mention to you guys what other car was the same size, similar features that is still around?! The Grand Am survived.
Actully Pontiac is killing the Grand Am after this year.
Originally posted by spazz:
Originally posted by STRYPED BS:
Everyone keeps saying about how small it was... can I mention to you guys what other car was the same size, similar features that is still around?! The Grand Am survived.
Actully Pontiac is killing the Grand Am after this year.
And the Buick Regal is already gone...
I always thought it had some similarites... 
Sorry I'm taking it off subject of Constique's.
Originally posted by spazz:
Sorry I'm taking it off subject of Constique's.
Not really, I thought the BUick Regal had similarities to the Contour!!
I was going to say that GM is probably going to kill Buick in a short time.
Originally posted by spazz:
I was going to say that GM is probably going to kill Buick in a short time.
With all the BRAND NEW models?
It'll be a couple years...
Unless they can continue sells in China
Speaking of Contour's replacment when is the Fusion suppost to come out? I know it's soon.
Yeah advertisment killed it, price, auto magazines bashing it on it's back seat room, also it did make Car and Driver's 10 best in 95 and 96 as mentioned but also in 97, it was like 6th or something.
Originally posted by spazz:
Unless they can continue sells in China
is that where you learn speaks Engrish?
Originally posted by Mystique97:
Speaking of Contour's replacment when is the Fusion suppost to come out? I know it's soon.
Yeah advertisment killed it, price, auto magazines bashing it on it's back seat room, also it did make Car and Driver's 10 best in 95 and 96 as mentioned but also in 97, it was like 6th or something.
Should be on dealer lots in Mid-October.
Wish my contour could have lasted a little longer. I would have loved to have given the Fusion a test drive.
Originally posted by �±�©�±:
Originally posted by Mystique97:
Speaking of Contour's replacment when is the Fusion suppost to come out? I know it's soon.
Yeah advertisment killed it, price, auto magazines bashing it on it's back seat room, also it did make Car and Driver's 10 best in 95 and 96 as mentioned but also in 97, it was like 6th or something.
Should be on dealer lots in Mid-October.
Wish my contour could have lasted a little longer. I would have loved to have given the Fusion a test drive.
Fusion is on dealer's lots already. Saw one at my local dealer this morning; and a number have been sold around the country. First two sold were in Arkansas IIRC.
Fusion is a fantastic replacement for the contour.
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Wait, I thought Contour was the Merkur's Phoenix?
Or was that Tucson?
Originally posted by RogerB:
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Wait, I thought Contour was the Merkur's Phoenix?
Or was that Tucson?
More of a Tucson, the Merkur was ugly enough that you don't want it directly resurrected.
Originally posted by Rara:
Originally posted by RogerB:
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Wait, I thought Contour was the Merkur's Phoenix?
Or was that Tucson?
More of a Tucson, the Merkur was ugly enough that you don't want it directly resurrected.
Bah. If you look at a Ford Sierra 4-door sedan, the styling lineage to the Contour is obvious.
And the Euro XR4s are very nice looking, IMHO. The US bumpers really uglified it.
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Not until it has a MTX.
Until then it is just another 4 door idiot hauler.
They're still waiting for certification on the MTX for the Fusion?
--T.J.
It was the brain child of Jack Nasser's competion for CEO of Ford. So when he took the job he made sure it didn't last long, but nether did he.
-Andy
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
I think the Phoenix was Pontiac's Citation.
Originally posted by Beowulf:
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix
Not until it has a MTX.
Until then it is just another 4 door idiot hauler.
But it can be had with an MTX. Unfortunately only with the 4 cylinder engine.
Or at least the published specs show a five speed manual option for the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder.
" Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix "
Big Jim so you sat in the fusion I guess I should have said the " fusion is the tarus's Phoenix "
Yet no torquey 3800 is being offered in the fusion.
Originally posted by contour_phoenix_when:
" Fusion is the Contour's Phoenix "
Big Jim so you sat in the fusion I guess I should have said the " fusion is the tarus's Phoenix "
Yet no torquey 3800 is being offered in the fusion.
I have not driven one yet. Maybe I'll end up with one as a business rental car. My company uses Budget, and I end up in a lot of Chevy Malibu's and smaller. I don't care for the new Taurus and try to avoid them. Last week I got lucky and got a Buick Rendivous for the price of a mid size.
Originally posted by Big Jim:
My company uses Budget, and I end up in a lot of Chevy Malibu's
That's gotta suck. I had an '02 Malibu rental car. God was the handling on that thing ever pathetic. Where I used to live there was one offramp with a (frankly rather high) speed limit of 30 mph, which I always used as an impromptu skidpad. My T-Bird could do 46 safely. My dad's Grand Cherokee could manage 38 without complaint. In the Malibu, I couldn't exceed 32--that's right, two miles an hour over the posted limit--without all 4 tires screaming and understeering so much I had to fight it to keep from plowing off the road. The only car I've ever driven that was worse was a 1986 Buick Riviera with 270k on the original shocks, and even it wasn't far behind.
