Overall satisfaction with Contour?

[J-Ri]

I'm looking for a replacement for my car, and am considering a Contour. How would owners of '96 and newer Contours rate your vehicle?

[beyondloadedSE]

I think a lot depends on the kind of Contour/Mystique thats been owned.

I currently own a bone stock 99 SVT Contour (V6 5 speed of course) with 112K miles. Im the second owner and it hasnt given me any problems. The owner before me did have to replace the antenna but generally thats not a common problem.

Ive also owned a 1996 Ford Contour SE with a V6 and 5 speed. Great car. Never had any major problems with it. Had to replace the waterpump at 70K. It later got a 3.0L swap and a turbo kit. As expected, reliability goes down to any car with extreme modifications. I sold it earlier this year.

Now, if you own an automatic transmission, youre chances of having problems is a lot greater than that of a 5 speed.

If you want peoples opinions youre probably better posting this on contour.org since it has eleventy billion more contour owners than this site. Actually, a thread about common problems and "what currently is wrong with your car" thread gets posted at least once a month on contour.org.

We also have a common reliability/issues thread in the NEW MEMBERS CLASSROOM section on contour.org thats pinned at the top since this is a common question.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=39

[J-Ri]

Thanks. I am ONLY looking at cars with manual transaxles. The small transaxles in todays FWD cars just burn up too quick, even with a flush every 50K.

[beyondloadedSE]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

Thanks. I am ONLY looking at cars with manual transaxles. The small transaxles in todays FWD cars just burn up too quick, even with a flush every 50K.

The MTX-75 is a very good transmission. The stock differential is very weak so if you plan on beating the crap out of it, a little bit of wheel hop will kiss that diff good bye. Other than that, its solid. If they are taken care of all of the syncros should be in good shape.