Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General which year is best?

I love my svt, but IT IS A MONEY PIT! But gawd, I love it!

Despite Hitman's rant on the V6, I think its an absolute great car. Based on what I've seen in the forums, the 97 is the only year to really avoid.

If you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, most of the problems are EASILY taken care of yourself for little money. The drivetrain on the V6 Manuals is great! There are very few problems ever reported with the Powertrain.

The E-Brake can be fixed in about 2 hours for the price of parts ($45).

The Waterpump is a known problem, but again, can be fixed on your own ahead of time. The design was changed in 99/00, and there are very minimal reports of problems with the new WP design.

The IMRC is a known problem, but if you heed the advice of others and remove the WP Cover, chances are good you won't have a problem. If you do, this is another DIY job.

I have no idea what he means about stalling in puddles. Never heard of that as a major problem. If so, clear sign of Wires and Plugs. They probably needed to be replaced anyway.

I had my 95 V6 MTX for virtually 100K miles of problem free driving. And I beat on that little car too! However, I also took care of it. Only thing was the Water Pump, and I knew those were a problem. My E-brake failed too, but it was an easy fix, and my suspension needed replacing. Hell, it had 125K on it, it was due!

I still have my 95, and believe it still has about 1-2 years of life left before the maintenance bills do not warrant the cost of ownership.

If you're looking for a great handling car, I highly recommend a 95-96 SE. Great car for the money.

I'm not sure what kind of budget you're working with, if you're a car enthusiast (do you enjoy driving, and pushing it a little) and whether you mind taking on small DIY projects, but these cars are great when well maintained.

"I have no idea what he means about stalling in puddles. Never heard of that as a major problem. If so, clear sign of Wires and Plugs. They probably needed to be replaced anyway. "

I was talking about this

I didnt to mean to say they were really bad piece of junk engines, I was just saying they have more problems than I4s. He was asking what year to get, I was just giving him my opinion, and that is to avoid a car with a V6.

I have a 98.5 SE Sport V6 5-spd and i love my car. i have had none of the problems that the above post says "they all have". However, i have run into other contour owners who say they have problem upon problem, so dont be afraid of the V6. That's the biggest reason I love my car, but be careful and make sure you get it checked out by a mechanic before buying. Infact, back in 95 my mom bought a fully loaded Zetes (4cyl) and had quite a few problems within that first year... so much so that we traded it in at the end of the year (it was not a lease). Good luck.

Unless you like a buzzy underpowered engine and want somewhat better gas mileage, get the v6. They are not as entirely "problem ridden" as HITMAN makes them out to be. There are plenty of v6 contours out there running strong at well past 150k miles.

Also the v6 has TONS more performance potential and support than the zetec does...

From a fun to drive/ performance standpoint, get an SVT, or an SE with the v6-manual.

i have a 99 svt with 86000 miles. i bought it 26 months ago with 55000 miles on the clock. i have had no problems that weren't the direct result age and and fully expected under normal maintanence. if you take care of the vehicle and only purchase a vehicle that was taken care of and not mistreated then you should have no problems with your purchase. personally, although admittedly with prejudice, i recommend the svt. you can find one without braking the bank and you get exclusivity as well.