1998 Ford Contour GL review from North America

I don't really know what went wrong on the car before we got it... there DID seem to be several maintenance slips in the file in the glove box, but just in the 4 months I've had it:

A catalytic converter went. Mechanic couldn't even get one for 2 weeks.

Now there is something wrong with the transmission. It's losing fluid so obviously the car doesn't run normally. The mechanics are STUMPED as they can't find where it's losing fluid.

Also one of my controls on the driver's door is broken -- I can put the back passenger window down, but not up. Compared to the two things above, it's minor and I can deal with it.

When I first got this car, I loved it. It handles GREAT, it's comfortable, it's spacious, and it's a serious improvement over my last car and well worth what I paid for it (about $5000).

But, I'm a college student, living with my single mom and we don't have a ton of money and no second car. So whenever this has to go in for work we are really screwed. Right now we were able to get a rent-a-car (yet another Contour! This one's a 1996 and has its share of problems) but who knows if we will be able to afford that and if there will be one available every time this thing has one of its little breakdowns.