1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America
"An excellent car for the money. I loved it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
9076 miles I purchased the car with new car warranty and extended warranty to 75,000 miles.
15,000 miles struts and sway bar were replaced.
20,000 miles the engine light came on. No more problems with that.
25,000 first belt tensioner went bad.
35,000 miles second belt tensioer went bad.
45,800 miles third belt tensioner went bad.
50,000 alternator and wire harness was replaced.
60,000 fourth belt tensioner went bad.
65,000 ABS light came on. dealer had the car for a month trying to locate the reason why. Electrical problem found.
72,000 miles fifth belt tensioner went bad.
85,000 miles water pump and thermostat went bad. While repairing it was found to have a problem with the transmission. It made a humming noise whenever I turned the wheel to the right.
90,350 miles I was told the transmission would need replacing soon. Sadly I couldn't afford a new transmission after spending almost $2000 in repairs in 3 months so I traded my Contour in for a new car.
General comments?
I loved this car and if I ever get the oppertunity I would buy a used one that is in good mechanical shape. This car was comfortable to drive and handled well especially in the snow. The seats were comfortable and the interior was easy to keep clean. The trunk was also very spacious. It was a 4 cylinder engine, but this car had a lot of power. I never had a problem with the way the car handled or the pick up speed. I never really put any money into it until the warranty went off at 75,000 miles and with the exception of the problems I had with the belt tensioners I have no complaints with this car at all. I did trade it in for a 2003 Ford Escape, but I think if I taken more time and really thought about it I would Not have traded my Contour. I am now sorry I did. I like my new SUV, but my heart belongs to my Contour. I have a picture of my Contour hanging from the rear view mirror of my new Escape. To all Contour owners who are reading this review, don't make any hasty decsions like I did or you may be sorry.
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| A true labor of shame |
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| Well, at least I like the color |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 4 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 1 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 9076 miles |
| Most recent distance | 90350 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Contour |
| Date of Entry | 8th August, 2003 |