Any opinions on Ford Contour???

[Boomyal]

My dear daughter just rear ended a car on the freeway. It was a beautiful little '88 VW Fox with 80k mi, 5 spd, factory alloys and air conditioning. She did not carry comprehensive insurance on it and I think it is totaled. It took out the welded in front cross member that the front motor mount resides on. If I was proficient in welding I might have tackled the job.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Time to find another car for her to buy and I like the looks of the Contour. They are also reasonable priced for a late model car. Any opinions would be appreciated.<br /><br />

 

[K Hultgre]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

If it has the 3.0 Vulcan engine you can expect many years of service. <br />Rented a Contour many years back and thought it was a nice car but not very well suited for a family of 4.

 

[BF]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Hiya,<br /><br />I've had a '95 contour SE, V6 5 spd since late 95... (looks like the one in your pict, with sunroof and driving lights etc, but a different colour).<br /><br />They drive really nice, especially the ones with the sporty suspension... and the 2.5L V6 is a sweet running engine. The 2.0 L4 isn't bad either. However, they are a bugger to work on (esp the V6's). I think it is that, and because ford pulled the plug on them that they are relatively cheap on the used car market.<br /><br />check out this out www.contour.org<br /><br />lots of good info there about common gripes and fixes.<br /><br />Mine has been good mechanically... other than brakes, it needed O2 sensors replaced, an air leak on the intake fixed and a very expensive tune up (wire went bad). Labour charge for changing the back plugs was scary... should've tried it myself. Overall, not bad for 10 years.<br /><br />Having said all that, mine has low mileage, 105K km (~63,000 miles) and I'm thinkin' of selling it... partly 'cause I'm afraid of the cost of fixing it if something does go wrong, and partly 'cause I want a bigger vehicle to take some mileage use away from our van.<br /><br />The early ones were known to have plastic water pumps fail at about 60K miles... they put better pumps in later ones. Sometimes they have an idle that hunts around from the MAF sensor and intake getting carbony, but that's an easy fix. And make sure the check engine light is still functional (lights up when you turn the key to "start")... You don't want to buy one that someone has yanked the CEL bulb out of instead of fixing.<br /><br />so... there's some input for you anyway... not the friendliest vehicle for the do-it-yourselfer (brakes etc are no problem), but you could get lots of cheap miles out of one.<br /><br />Brent

 

[ufm82]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

This from a buddy who is still at a Ford dealership after oh so many years. <br /><br />"I'd had one if I had to."<br /><br />From the man in question, that's a fairly strong endorsement. Bob, (his real name) pulls no punches and tells you like it is, in his opinion. He does all the driveability work there and sees a lot of vehicles. He likes the Contours and that tells me that they are a decent ride. I think they ride nice and have decent power as well, but they won't get a kid in trouble. <br /><br />UFM82

 

[BF]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

I forgot to mention another gripe of mine.... it's a light car that really benefits from good winter tires if you're in a cold climate. Mine was just a lousy winter ride on the original tires (very squirrely and ABS/traction control always engaging), but with studded winter tires, ABS and traction control, it is a fantastic winter car. The firehawks that came from the factory were particularly awful tires, especially in the winter. I've always suspected that was one reason why these cars didn't get a better reputation in the first year or two they were out.<br /><br />As for performance, the V6 with 5 spd is 'bout identical to a probe GT, just with 4 doors.

 

[jimr]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Ford contour and Mercury "MISTAKE" they are a great moneymaker for mechanics so of course your buddy likes them. The engines are ok a pain to work on but over all ok. like said above not a DIYers best choice. if I was going to buy a car for a kid it wouldn't be a contour. I would see how much to fix up her VW it will last longer

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

One thing I really liked about the VW Fox, it has a longitudenally mounted engine. Everything is accessable. I don't know of any other small front wheel drive cars, except the Audi 4000, that doesn't have them mounted transversly. All of those are pretty difficult to work on

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Are you definately not going to fix the fox? <br /><br />This is how I see it: <br /><br />Damn good little car & easy to work on. So YOU do the wrenching, then trailer it over to a panel shop and THEY do the welding & any hydraulic pulling that may be required, trailer it back home and boomyal puts humpty dumpty back together again . Gotta be cheaper than buying another car.<br /><br />Doesn't sound to difficult from where I sit.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Originally posted by Dunaruna:<br /> Are you definetely not going to fix the fox? <br /><br />This is how I see it: <br /><br />Damn good little car & easy to work on. So YOU do the wrenching, then trailer it over to a panel shop and THEY do the welding & any hydraulic pulling that may be required, trailer it back home and boomyal puts humpty dumpty back together again . Gotta be cheaper than buying another car.<br /><br />Doesn't sound to difficult from where I sit.<br /><br />Aldo

Has to be a smart alec in every crowd. I thought the same thing Aldo. Even went out a couple of days ago to start stripping stuff off the front end. I turned around and said to myself, self, the last time you ressurected a car (son's Pontiac Firebird) it cost me the late summer use of my boat and eventually 2 SBF motors. <br /><br />I am desperately trying to get my boat finished so I can get some summer use out of it. Just when I can see light at the end of the tunnel on the floating part of the project I start to envision all that will be associated with installing the motor, hooking up the outdrive, hanging all the peripherals on the motor and all the testing and adjusting. I just can't seem to squeeze as much out of a day as I used to.<br /><br />At this rate, I'll be lucky if it is back on the water, for testing, by the end of the first week in August. If I take time out to do the VeeDub, I'll miss the summer again.<br /><br />But glad you brought it back up. I will still give it consideration.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Ah yes, time.<br /><br />I hear ya.

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

I have purchased my last ford, it was for my 19 year old daughter. I paid for it over and over, repairs up the .....<br /><br />If your serious about a decent car that won't suck your time for little stupid repair jobs, stay with Toyota, Honda or Nissan. <br />I personally like the Civic or Corolla. You couldn't kill those cars even if you wanted to. These cars are priced a little higher than Fords or Chevs, but they are worth it, especially for kids.<br />Spud

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

boomyal, that VW damage really doesn't look that bad. However, I am not that familiar with the "front crossmember" that you speak of. A GOOD unibody tech could get that filler panel & the radiator support "straight enough". Yours is the case where, it would have been better (for your car) if your daughter hadn't been on the brakes so hard. The VW obviously nose dived under the rear bumper of the other vehicle. Probably not much damage on the other car, eh?<br />I rented a 1998 Contour 4 cyl auto, and hated it. The engine & trans didn't work well together at all. The trans could not keep up with the engine, (it wouldn't "free wheel" if you know what I mean, upon deceleration) it was weird. But I have a good friend that had 2 contours, both v-6s, one auto one 5 speed, and he liked them very much. He had good luck with them as well.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Originally posted by TilliamWe:<br /> Yours is the case where, it would have been better (for your car) if your daughter hadn't been on the brakes so hard. The VW obviously nose dived under the rear bumper of the other vehicle. Probably not much damage on the other car, eh?<br />

Exactly TW, nosedived right under the other bumper. She was hardly moving by the time she made contact and apparently there was little if any damage to the other car.<br /><br />I do hate to abandon the little beauty but my Daughter needs a car faster than I am willing to tackle any part of the repair. It's hard for me to let a nice machine go away that may be reasonably salvageable. But I already have enough rolling stock so I don't just want to fix it to sell it. (that is assuming she gets a replacement car)

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br />my Daughter needs a car faster than I am willing to tackle any part of the repair.

So what's the problem, haven't you got a '65 convertible pony in the garage (magnificent car BTW!!), let her drive that <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Oh yeah Aldo, that thing is so buried under boat parts I forgot all about it. Let me go ask her if she'd like to drive it for a while. NOTTTTTTTTTTT

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

If you could lay hands on a low mileage good condition audi 4000 the thing is just bulletproof. Had a buddy with one and traded it with 235,000 miles. It ran just awesome and from what I know it is still running. Repairs were simple and easily accessed. Parts were not anymore expensive than any honda and easily found at any auto store. <br /><br />My understanding is that the contour was fords first attempt at a "world" car and it just didn't pan out. Expensive to repair and not all that reliable. Just what I was told. The performance models are sleepers and are solid handling but are hard to find. I would have to think there would better options available if you are looking for good dependable transportation that won't send you to the poor house when it comes to service.<br /><br />The Nissan stanza was a good car that can be had for little bucks on the used market. Honda and Toyota records are outstanding and are good buys. I avoid the term investment cuz what investment depreciates every year with the end result of a couple of hundred dollars in scrap value.<br /><br />If a domestic is what you would like the ford escort ZX2 is highly rated and a proven design and very inexpensive on the used market, In addition the ford focus is also a popular and cost effective alternative. <br /><br />Just opinions and not exactly a qualified one.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Pointer, the Audi 4000 had been on top of my list last year for my son's first car. Their durability was legendary (unlike other Audi models before and after). The problem was that there are virtually none of them to be found up here in the Pacific Northwest. During the time they were manufactured, the PNW was still in the dark ages. When I moved here from LA in 1988 you saw very few 'exotic' cars on the road. A Porsche was a rarity, a Rolls Royce, huh what's that, BMW's, pretty scarce, Audi 4000, is that some kind of pickup truck? Needless to say, now that the PNW is half made up of Californian's our menu has expanded beyond french fries.<br /><br />Needless to say I quit looking. That was the only other 'VW' product that had the longitudenally mounted engine and they were very accessible and durable.<br /><br />I have begun to consider the Ford Escort, glad to hear that they are reliable and easier to work on. I vowed never to buy another small GM throwaway car because they are horrible to work on.<br /><br />I'll also look at the Nissan Stanza, I think they are about the size of the Audi 4000. One problem is that my daughter wants a stick shift with airconditioning. As most sticks were more bottom line fewer of them came with air.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Any opinions on Ford Contour???

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br /> NOTTTTTTTTTTT

Yeah, I thought so. . If I were in your position, my answer would be the same.