Great car! Performance, Handling, and room for four people all in a great looking package. Great sounding, smooth reving engine

Cup Holders! Sounds like a small detail, but once you've spilled a large drink on your carpet, you'll not like them either!

I paid $20,400 new and the car is woth every penny! This car is super smooth on the Highway and is a great all around performer. I would highly recommend this car for anyone looking for a sporty car that still needs to haul 4 people.

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Closest competitor is the BMW 3 series and the Audi A4. But for $5000 more I don't see that big of a difference

Great handling, very comfortable inside, everything is nicely placed, good body construction, low-maintaince car

Cup holders were poorly designed, rear leg room is poor

I bought mine 2 years old...never had any major mechanical problems. Just recell issues and regular maintanance, and now at 72,500, I am still driving a fun compact car :-)

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It doesn't, Contour is a great fun driving car

Powerful v6, nice handling, nice stiff suspension (my parents have a buick lesabre), Blue/white leather interior (many people as me about it) good gas mileage (30 mpg average) love the engine sound, large trunk, fun-to-drive manual 5speed

Sometimes in the winter the engine hums, (its called moosing) and that can make it stall, but it only does it when im stopped. the parking brake froze once. doesn't like driving in the cold michigan weather sometimes. back seat a little small, (i have tall friends and their heads touch the cieling in the back, cupholder is a bit weak. stock speakers need replacing (kinda crappy, already put in cd player and subs in the trunk to make up for them tho)

I like my car a lot and in the last year have only had to replace the springs (other than oil changes, etc) I'm happy to say that i replaced my own spark plugs, and YES, there is just enough room to get at the back three plugs. I like how it drives and handles, and just has a few quirky annoyances that i have to deal with. I would recommend to anyone buying this car that they research it a lot and know what they might be getting in to. I wouldnt recommend buying it brand new as it does have raunchy depreciation, maybe a year old or two. plus, try not to take out a loan to purchase one, as then you might be up a creek without an outboard motor if something does go wrong (i.e., people getting stuck with a broken car they are still paying for)

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1991 mazda 626, plymouth grand voyager 1996, 1997 buick lesabre I prefer driving my car to those three, the mazda was too gutless and suspension wasn't tight enough. The buick is just too large, though it is powerful, but i hate its suspension. etc... I like my car better. the mazda was always getting fixed and the grand voyager fryed a tranny at 60K miles

This is my wife's car, and she and I both love the reliability of the vehicle. It has 50K miles on it, and we have had no problems with the car. It rides smooth, has enough pep to get out of its way, and handles just great. Great gas mileage also.

The only problem we had were the original front cup holders, which were replaced with ONE cup holder, but at least it doesnt break. Rear seat could use more room. Rough Idle with A/C on (2.0L engine)

Paid $12000 for a "Ford Program car", what ever that means and had 8900 miles on it in July of 97, on this 97 model. Sticker price was originally close to $19K. I think we got a great deal. Has power windows, locks, cruise, cassette and ABS. The car has 50K miles on it, and asked my wife if she would be interested in buying a new car such as the Passat. She said aboslutely not. She loves this car, it gives us no problems, why should we replace it......she has a point.

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We also own a '00 Grand Cherokee and a '99 VW Cabrio

The car has a nice look, mind is equiped with 15 inch wheels with speed rate tires and a tail fin. I've dirven this car everyday since Feb 99 and have logged in over 44,000 miles with just 2 minor problem (sensor on the temp gauge needed replaced and it was covered by warrenty and peeling paint on the left rear quarter panel, it to was fixed by the dealer). Fit and finish is good. I average about 30 miles to the gallon but on long
hauls, I get almost 35 miles to the gallon. The car has good acceleration and handling but Ford should've boosted its power to 150 horse's instead of the 125. The price was right,and ShoemakerMaker Ford(in Springfield, Ohio) made me feel like I owned the Company when I bought it.

It took about three trips to the dealer to fix the wind noise around the passenger side door. The engine needs more power and since Ford has decide not to produce it any more then I would opt for the 6 cyl. The seats are uncomfortable on long trips and the seat belt latch rubs the seat when the back is up straight, in time this will rub right through the fabric.

A nice car for the money, I paid $16,000 for mind, a bit more then sticker but then again I was able to get rid of our Dodge Intrepid (LEMON). The car is very reliable and would provide decent transportation for a family of four. If your a person on the move then opt for the "Sport" version and you'll blow Civic's and Corrola's away with the greatest of ease. I would recommend this car to anyone!

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Pontiac Gran Am - nice but cost alot more!
Honda Accord- nice car but the dealers are very arrogant and cost way more!

price, looks, sleeper,handling, performance, everything

nothing

i would buy a contour or mystique any day over alot of cars. it has lots of options to choose from even a svt contour.i mixes handling, performance,driveablity, comfort all into one. to make a very nice driving atmosphere. the only problem is the contour and mystique has been discontinued by ford for there stupid suv's which just suck. the kansas city plant where they were made now makes the excape or some stupid suv like that.

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88 vw gti nothing compares to my contour

Great power. Comfortable seats. Very Reliable.

First year car (1995 was the first year Ford made the Contour). Many recalls. Brakes warp easily. Alignment goes quickly (my bumpy road doesn't help. Passenger room in the back seat is not great.

The Contour is an excellent car. I would reccomend the Contour to anyone who needs reliable transportation. I bought the car new in 1995. currently, I have 92K miles. The car has been in the shop for nothing besides recalls, standard wear-and-tear, and the brakes.

I have the V6 Duratech engine, and from what i have read, the V6 is the engine you should definately look at. The 4-cyl. Zetec is lacking in power (125 hp).

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1987 Honda Accord - Defiantely like the contour more. More power, roomy interior.

Excellent performance in the mid-upper range, bought the car used with 32k, and no problems in my 5,000 miles so far.

needs more low-end torque, bit more body-roll than I like but it carves the twisties like nobodys business ;)

Paid $15,700 in Feb 2000, with 32k miles. Highly recommended for those who want a Mustang GT but need 4 doors :)

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no comparison for the price!!!!

Milage is decent, ride is smooth, has been dependable. Only extra maintenance beyond the usual has been the brakes.

Cheap interior, radio system not the best. I am getting rid of it because after 72,000 miles the condenser on the ac is leaking and it will cost over $ 635. to repair. I am getting out while ahead. Loud engine when over 75 mph. Tires went out fast.

Bought this '98 in summer of '97. Paid $ 14,500. Power everything, upgraded wheels. Good basic car. Minimal upkeep. Good service from the dealer. Driven cross country and even slept in it. Very reliable.

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Mitsubishe galant was a much smoother ride. Driving it made me realize how rough the contour is riding.

Great powertrain with V-6 and 5 Speed Manual. Excellent handling with nice road manners. Really comfortable seats (with leather and SE package). Lots of fun to drive. Very good reliability and durability. Inexpensive to maintain and insure.

Depreciation is horrible, styling is somewhat bland (looks too much like a Hertz rental car), manual transmission shift quality is mediocre, trunk needs a cargo net to keep stuff from rolling around, rear disc brakes need to be larger, premium sound system isn't very premium, cup holder only good for 12 oz. soda cans, leather quality not very good (definitely not top grain leather), very difficult to work on engine (no room).

I definitely recommend this car. Its a blast to drive hard, and quality has been excellent on my car. I've owned it since new and have driven 77,000 hard miles on it with very few problems. It does just about everything well, and is very easy to live with, requiring just basic maintenance and gas. After 77k miles, my car still drives and looks like new and has very few rattles. Car still feels very tight.

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Test drove: Pontiac Grand Am GT, Dodge Stratus ES, Ford Probe GT, Dodge Avenger, Pontiac Firebird V-6