1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America

Other than the routine maintenance stuff (oil, fluids/filters, brake pads, hoses, tires, batteries):

133000 - Water pump. This was the second time it had to be replaced on this car, but first when I owned it.

178000 - Front brake rotors warped.

180000 - Shocks, and struts.

183000 - Alternator. It was actually the original one!

183000 - Valve cover gaskets. Easy and cheap fix did it myself.

187000 - Front seal on the transmission.

189000 - Vacuum leak had to be repaired.

193000 - Transmission. Original one finally died One of the gears went out. Not bad on the original transmission though.

194000 - Head gasket was leaking.

Check engine light has been on for probably the last 30000 miles. There are a few bad sensors that I have neglected to fix.

The front end will probably need work soon too. It's getting a little sloppy.

Fantastic car. Kinda slow, and not very high performance. The seat comfort is so so. Other than that though, I'm more than impressed.

I really can't believe some of the negative reviews I see of this car. This car is SO much better than the 96 Taurus I had previous to this. I mean I was having more problems with the Taurus when it had over 100000 less miles than this car has.

I bought this car from the original owner who had receipts for most of the oil changes, trans changes, fuel filters etc. The only problem it had in the first 130000 miles, other than routine maintenance, was a water pump.

I've only really started having any problems within the last year and a half. It's almost at 200000 miles now. This car is definitely built a lot better than the Taurus. It is WAY more durable. Yet it is the cheaper car.

It's never left me on the side of the road, and never had to be towed. Don't know how much longer I'm gonna keep it, but had it almost 7 years now, and it never lets me down.