1997 Ford Contour GL review from North America

This car has been a big disappointment, I bought it used because I got a good deal (price wise) on it, but it's been a big money pit, I mean come on? $26 to $28 dollars for 4 friggin spark plugs?? (they HAVE to be platinums??!!).

As you can imagine, a simple tune up on this car cost a fortune compared to many other cars, and the parts can be ridiculously priced! I'm a certified mechanic (but I work in another field now = better pay), and because of this I have been able to keep this car running, but I pity the average consumer who just buys this car to drive it around dependably and affordably (affordable it is NOT, it's pricey to own so you better have a decent paying job or this car will put you in the poor house).

First thing that went wrong after buying it is that the heater control switch for the interior heater broke, so I was left with no heat in the dead of winter. Then the (car dealer) gave me the run around (the car was under a partial warranty) to get him to fix it.

Once that was fixed, a few months later the car would stall out and shut down at stop lights and stop signs (the partial warranty was now over). This turned out to be a bad fuel injector; it cost a (pretty penny) to purchase the dang injector to fix this (I can only imagine the cost if I had a dealer install it).

Then about a year and 1/2 later I was driving down the road when BANG!!! The front end drivers side just collapsed about 2 inches lower!! While just driving on a sloping grade of road, (the road went from level to a sudden dip) and BOOM the front of the car drops, I turned the car back around and limped back home, hoping to make it all the way there; luckily I did. When I took a look at what the heck happened to the car, the front coil spring on the drivers side had ROTTED enough that the sudden change in sloping road made the spring snap!!! (what the heck?!? how cheap!!) I've own a lot of cars, I have NEVER had a car snap a coil spring like this EVER!!

So now I go and get new springs, and replace them myself (THANK GOD I'm A MECHANIC). This took a lot of work, and I even had to buy a few specialized Ford only tools to do it, but even with that, it cost less than going to the dealer. I spent $300 dollars in parts and on these god forsaken specialized Ford only tools that were needed, but I called a Ford dealer to price it (just out of curiosity) I was told $800 to $1200 or so!! Haha keep dreaming mister dealer!!

So I fixed the broken spring (replaced both) and replaced the front brakes while I was at it for the $300 dollars I spent on parts and needed additional tools. Since then I've taken to driving this car like I'm driving on egg shells (very carefully). I don't even trust driving it normally with confidence, it makes me feel like if I push it even a little it just break like a cheaply made toy or something, (jeeeez some feeling of proud ownership huh?)

Right now it's 2 years later, the car is parked and AGAIN in need of repair; for some miraculous reason the front tire on the drivers side just decided to DELAMINATE all by itself!! The tire has plenty of tread, but I just went out to drive the car the other day and saw all these little strips of tire tread peeled off that front passenger side tire (in sheets like a friggin banana peel), so I walked around the car and the back tire is flat!! I checked it; it has a nail in it. Oh, and I just had a battle with the HOOD; it's decided it wants to be stuck and not open. Hahaha, this car is possessed.

I got the hood opened, and greased and oiled the heck out of all the locking mechanisms on the hood trunk and door locks to keep this from happening again.

Now mind you, I bought this car used, but with reasonable miles. I didn't expect it to have so many ODD problems and at the worst possible times. Like I said my Contour GL is now sitting in the driveway off to the side, (again it's a sick patient) so I'll have to put on my doctors mask AGAIN soon and attend to its "current" problems.. :-(

This car could be a lot better, it seems that it was rushed to market, and as a result it suffers from many overlooked design and quality problems.

It sure is a pretty car to look at (nice styling), but it's no fun looking at it sitting still in need of repairs. :-(

I do like how it handles; it's a great car to drive, and I think that is the main reason so many people keep it and fix it over and over. The car itself (when it's all working fine and well) is a great car to drive, it's comfortable and sporty, but its lack of long term reliability is starting to wear me out.