1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America
"I can understand why this car is no longer made"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Transmission replaced twice within the last year
Alternator replaced twice within the last 2 years
Power steering pump replaced
Driver side window motor replaced
Front door speakers shorted out - replaced
Constantly runs hot
Thermostat replaced at least 4 times
Have a new problem with the fuel pump
Had all 4 tires replaced twice due to blistering
Had short in electrical system causing rear brake lights not to work.
General comments?
I bought this car used from the dealer as a everyday transportation car. It ran great, was comfortable, and felt good on the highway. I had regular maintenance performed at the proper time frames, and everything was good.
Once items started to go bad, they all started to go bad and in some cases multiple times for the same item. Replacement parts are expensive and in most cases you have to take it to a professional shop because of how the car is made and the placement of these items. It seems now I can't go more than 6 months without something else going wrong.
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? | No |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 liter Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 60000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 123000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Maxima |
| Date of Entry | 4th October, 2006 |