what should I buy?

1998 Ford Contour & Mercury Mystique
180,000 km on both
both loaded, Contour with auto trans, Mystique with manual
approx 180,000 km on both of them

Both cars look absolutely mint. Not a scratch on them.

Good cars? Bad cars?

Is one better than the other? (my preference is the merc due to the manual trans)

Thanks!

Mystique with 5 spd no doubt. Youll have a lot less problems down the road. Mystique generally is a little bit more up scale from the contour as well and has more options.

i would pick the Mercury. has a Manual Trans, better then its Ford counter part. (normly)
yep i would get the Mercury.