1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America

Overheated engine and blew up coolant pipe @ 60,000kms. All the coolant and water poured onto the road.

Check Engine Light came on 6 or 7 times since purchase.

Recent thunking noise from the trunk?

The cover over the airbag on the steering wheel is loose and sort of pivots.

Headlights badly filled with condensation.

Carpet came away at the front and back driver and passenger side footwells.

Shakes badly when idling in D at a stop.

Stalls out sometimes when backing out then putting into drive. Stalls at lights sometimes too.

Cannot open hood for the last couple weeks. Can't expain it.

The Good:

This car handles great for a front wheel drive car. Enter a corner too fast and it will push (wanting to wash out of the intended line). But have a good, smooth line and you are rewarded with sharp turn in and nice tracking. This is all tire dependent of course.

Acceleration is decent for a small 4cyl. engine and (ugh) automatic. Would be better with a stick.

Steering feel is positive and not overboosted.

Brake pedal feels soft with a long travel, but that could just be mine needing new brakes.

Dirt cheap to run. Bear in mind that I was a student when purchased. Only did the oil changes at roughly 7500km intervals. Tried to avoid major maintenance issues like tranny fluid. That was only done once. Timing belt changed only once so far. No other belts or hoses changed. Rad fluid never changed. Front brakes done twice, rear drums just once. Given these facts, been quite reliable. No emission problems. Doesn't burn oil or leak anything.

Overall, a decent car, but nothing special. Would I get another one? Depends how much I want to spend. In the price range and year of vehicle, you can probably get away with a Golf/Jetta or maybe a Corolla or Civic.

Of course, if you just want a throw away vehicle to drive till the wheels fall off, its great and you can get them relatively cheap.