2000 Mercury Mystique GS Sport from North America - Comments

No problems since I've owned it.

I received this car as a gift from my grandparents. At first I wasn't crazy about it, since I was looking for something a little more compact and sportier, but I've really grown to appreciate it for its comfort and reliability.

The seats are very soft and are quite comfortable, even on long drives. They are a weird pinstriped gold color, but to me that's not a big deal. The dashboard and controls are all laid out logically. Everything is where you would expect it. My only complaint is the fake wood panelling on the dash, but again, the aesthetics aren't my biggest concern.

Luckily I don't have kids, because the back seats are totally inadequate. I wouldn't want to sit in them for more than a few minutes. There's maybe 6-8 inches of legroom. Doesn't bother me though, just pisses off the passengers. The trunk, as with most Fords, is spacious. I can store tons of useless junk in there with no problem, and believe me, I do.

The stock tires and wheels are nice. The model I have came with 15" alloy wheels that are fairly light and look good. My paint has held up and it still looks like new after 5 years. There is no rust anywhere on the car.

The little Zetec engine is good, but this is no racecar. It's decently quick, but it has its limitations. I think part of the problem is the automatic transmission, which shifts slowly during acceleration. Sometimes, it won't shift at all until the engine revs up to 5-6000 rpms. I often have to let off the gas for a second to make it shift. It's not that the transmission is slipping, it's just that the computer doesn't tell it to shift at the right time. It's annoying, but it doesn't happen much, and when it does, it's not a big deal.

Suspension and handling is great, I often make turns hard and fast and the car responds well. It grips the road well and doesn't lean when cornering.

I do all my own car repairs and maintainance and this car is about average in difficulty. Routine stuff should be no problem at all, though the location of the oil filter above the exhaust pipe makes oil changes difficult, since oil drips down onto the pipe. Again, not a big deal.

Overall I am very happy with this car, and I plan to keep it for a while. Mechanically, it's excellent, and my only complaints are minor details. Ford discontinued the Contour/Mystique series, but if you're looking for a solid used car, check out the Mystique.

I have a 2000 contour, same as yours, 4 cilinder, automatic, with more than 150,000 miles, and its great, no problems with the transmission or engine. and I got it brand new from the dealer, boy you have a great car. keep it forever. they will run forever.

"I often have to let off the gas for a second to make it shift. It's not that the transmission is slipping, it's just that the computer doesn't tell it to shift at the right time."

I agree. This engine has variable valve timing and therefore can rev very high. The transmission must shift late for you to use the upper revs. If you like to drive smoothly rather than sporty I suggest to barely touch the pedal and don't push any more. You can also accelerate semi-hard and then slowly reduce the throttle to let it shift. It's like Janus, one car with two faces.