1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America
"Overall, the best car I've ever owned"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Dash vents stuck at defrost, no A/C available. (3 times, finally fixed)
Poor gas filler cover fit. (fixed)
Driver's door weather seal started to wear out. (replaced)
The horn developed a short and started blowing fuses. (fixed)
General comments?
I've had cars that were bigger, smaller, faster, and slower. But there's something about this car I really love. It's been generally a pleasure to own, except for the persistent problems with the dash vents.
Power is adequate and handling is exceptional (it has the largest wheels/tires Ford sold), so it's not only fun to drive, but also economical.
When all I want to do is get from point A to point B, the automatic transmission with overdrive is effortless. When I want to enjoy a twisty road, it's still up to the task.
Unlike some with V6 models, the Zetec 4-cyl. engine has proved quite reliable.
I hope to keep this one until the wheels fall off. I only wish I could buy a new one.
Recommended reviews
| 1996 - Contour GL 2.0L Zetec DOHC 16v Good handling car that's cheap to run, and a great gas sipping commuter car |
|
| Great road manners, great performance, expensive to maintain, and in the end, not worth repairing |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Zetec 2.0 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 30000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 63000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Caprice |
| Date of Entry | 13th August, 2003 |