Why do contour owners like thier cars so much?

[dbateman]

My first Contour is a 95LX V6 AT. It's quick for an automatic and has served me well through some extreme driving conditions -- rain/hail/blizzards/etc. I drove this car a solid 90-100mph from Montreal to Ottawa in hot weather and it didn't flinch, as well as some long spirited trips across southern Ontario. It's really been a free/highway warrior for me. It drives incredibly well for a twelve year old car.

I forgot to mention how great a highway car the Contour is. 3 or 4 years ago on my ~14 hour way home from Orlando FL to VA I had planned to stop somewhere in NC to spend the night, and leave from there to get home probably 11 or 12 the next day. Well the Contour was so smooth and handled so great going up I95 I just drove the whole thing in one day with only a few stops along the way. And that was with ~140,000 miles on it.

 

[GrooveNerd]

Here are some of the reasons why I like mine:

*Handles awesome
*Accelerates well
*Sounds wonderful
*Great fun on track days
*Very good road trip/touring car -- rock-stable at highway speeds; eats up twisty mountian roads and asks for more
*Kind of a "sleeper" car
*Timeless styling -- doesn't look dated
*Still turns heads after ten years
*Doesn't seem to attract too much law enforcement attention
*Doesn't seem to attract too much criminal attention
*Fairly unique -- you don't see CSVTs everywhere (although sometimes I wish there were more around!)
*Still has a loyal following/enthusiast base, even by those who've never owned one
*Strong, durable engine
*Platform holding up well after 151K+ very fun miles
*Great online forum

Also, it was the first car I bought new.

I first drove a Contour in '95 or '96 as a rental in Orange, CA. I went blasting through (at or below the posted limits, of course) some roads in the hills south of Anaheim, and was impressed by the handling of the car. I almost bought a year-old new-on-the-lot blue '96 in '97, but was glad I didn't when I heard they were coming out with an SVT version! :drool: So, I ended up getting one of them. The dealership had ordered all silver ones, and none with moonroofs. :nonono: They put in a change-order for mine, and I think it was the second one they received.

For a few years, I would see an SVT at least every other day, and sometimes several in a day. Now I can go for several days without seeing one... Anyway, thanks to everyone here for doing their part to keep all versions of Contours and Mystiques on the road!

Marty

 

[JesusFreak]

I like my car because I would like other cars, but then I'd have to find a new palce to hang out online, and have to re-learn everything I have learned about my car all over again!! I was going to trade it in for a S2000. But when I started searching for different information, I didn't even know what to look for. I don't know the car. I know, and love my SVT Contour.

 

[Teal4Banger]

it is an extreamly well rounded car. plain and simple. it isn't the fastest thing out there, but it is quick and handles like a dream.

Pretty much the same for me... except I've got a zetec. Contours are just good all around cars which aren't to expensive to mod. On a side note here, since it is a Contour, it is going to be one hell of a sleeper. :laugh:

 

[ZeroHour]

Reasons I like my car:

1) Its my first car
2) I've driven other things that feel like a POS compared to my Contour
3) Its Different, and people are confused by different.
4) It puts us in a car show class with a Dodge Viper, and with it 3:1 on the Contours, we still won :laugh:
5) It jumps and its still going (don't ask)
6) Its a car that requires creativity because there isn't 100 standard issue parts that comes down to how much money you can spend!
7) Fast enough I surprised I'm not blacked listed my Local Law enforcement
8) Low enough on a radar that people don't notice.
9) Only catches the eyes of those truely interested in cars.
10) Cause your grandmother drives a ford contour, but her's isn't a sweet as mine! :laugh:

Edit: 11) You can ask the question why, and get 35 people telling you different answers!

 

[rouar]

old post ...

Dude, honestly, with the headlights on, I swear that Ford has like, its own look.

I've never confused a Contour with a Crown Vic, but I must say I LOVE the look of a 98+ Contour with its low beams on in cloudy or drizzly weather. No idea why.

 

[icysvt]

Reasons I like my car:

1) Its my first car
2) I've driven other things that feel like a POS compared to my Contour
3) Its Different, and people are confused by different.
4) It puts us in a car show class with a Dodge Viper, and with it 3:1 on the Contours, we still won :laugh:
5) It jumps and its still going (don't ask)
6) Its a car that requires creativity because there isn't 100 standard issue parts that comes down to how much money you can spend!
7) Fast enough I surprised I'm not blacked listed my Local Law enforcement
8) Low enough on a radar that people don't notice.
9) Only catches the eyes of those truely interested in cars.
10) Cause your grandmother drives a ford contour, but her's isn't a sweet as mine! :laugh:

Edit: 11) You can ask the question why, and get 35 people telling you different answers!

LOL love #11 & 10

 

[Redstar]

I have only owned my car for a brief time (ie. less than a month) but already I'm already growing quite attached.

Love:
1. The engine- It makes a good noise.
2. Parking- Down right dinky compared to the 7-series BMW I've been driving for the past couple months.
3. Fairly decent mpg- An iffy 16 in the city, but about 22 on highway.
4. Low profile- No one even seems to notice my car, except from sometimes the occasional contique owner.
5. Decent handling- I can't complain. It's prett darn sturdy.

Don't like
1. Engine- Gahhhh! I can't even check my damn air filter because of poorly place wiring impeading my way. Extremely crappily placed tranny dipstick, too.
2. FWD- Understeer= bad.
3. Power- A bit lacking. Sure, it gets up to speed. Just not that quickly.
4. ATX- Housing can crack at high rpm? Seriously?

That said, I like the little guy. He already even has a name. Even my girlfriend who mildly detests cars likes it. It rides well around town and has even done a few short road trips. I'm just not particulary looking forward to wrenching on it.

 

[cnewton44]

Got one word to explain your problems: AUTOMATIC. Get a manual and you will love it 100 times better

 

[jamesmason1]

I like my contour because the people that dog on the contour are usually the ones I own at the track in it.
I like the contour because when me and my wife first met and she saw it, she said it looked ugly and it looked like a spaceship and that I should sell it. but after almost 2 years she says she wants me to keep it and it's actually growing on her (that in it's self is a miracle.)

Because I took a civic for slips at rmr with it and the guy had to get a ride home :laugh:. I know civics aren't much but it felt real good taking that japanese auto pride away from him in a ford contour.

Last but not least, it's mine, all paid for and still good and reliable. Sure it's had it's share of problems but I've fixed them when they happened and it wasn't nearly as complicated as some cars I've worked on.

 

[wa2tuff]

I'll echo what others have said, not repeat A big reason for me is I love the way the car looks. I said that just the other day to my son after we parked it at the Woodward cruise. It just looks good!!! And it doesn't matter if it's mine or not, I love the lines, the way it looks from the back, etc, etc, etc. The styling has held up through the years. Some nice rims, lower it alittle bit, clean it up and it'll rival anything I could afford and alot more.

 

[Pole120]

Impossible to work on the engine
DOHC engine
rear seats dont fold down
Like to leave me stranded
whoever had it before me may have been shot because there is a "red/brown" substance all over the sucker.
there are no hoods out there for these things, hood would make it into a new car for me

If it's impossible to work on, how do i do it almost every day?
DOHC....you prefer poshrods?
You can swap in the folding seats out of any contour...easy fix for that
Does it leave you stranded because you don't maintain it, i see no other reason?
There are at least three hood options, one is in the GB section RIGHT NOW...

 

[ryanblacksvt]

I agree, he must be a hater and probably dosent even own a tour cause if he did he would be hooked like us all. I have owned my car for over 5 years and this is the first car in my 30 years of life that I dont wanna trade every 6 months. I will have this car for LIFE and love it 10 years from now as much as I love it now!

 

[Redlineracer12]

I bought my SVT thinking it would become my winter car and would make a good college car... That lasted about 2 weeks. As with what other people have said I LOVE the way a clean SVT (heck even an SE) Contour looks. I don't think there is anything out there like it.

I drove my old 91 F150 all the way to school and back 70 miles for almost a year (to keep the miles down on the SVT of course) and delivering pizzas getting 10-12 mpg. I think I filled that thing up every other day with gas for a while and it was costing me a bundle. Still couldn't break down and drive the SVT delivering or in the winter. I've since been buying cheap Probes to put miles on. My friends have broken down and boughten newer faster cars since the ones they had back when I bought my SVT but I don't think I'll ever be able to part with mine.

On a side note my brother still has the F150 as my parents bought it brand new in 91 and it's been in the family still driven everyday to this day, I still don't have the attachment to that as I do to the Contour.

 

[fred22]

its weird, im from texas and even though i took a mechanics class in high school, it wasnt until i moved to england and made friends with a mechanic that i got into cars, maybe i was into cars a little bit before i met my friend but talkin to him made me more interested in it, and when i saw the red ST24, i thought that car is gonna be mine, and i brought it in 2004 and still got it, i love the car the way it looks, the way it drives, the way it kicks ass on the road, and how the other peoples faces look when they get left by a mondeo, even the boy racers who think theyve got a suped up car get blown away with my st24 and hearing the engine rev up is awesome, gets the people on the side of the roads attention

 

[TheMexicanJob]

cause we're retarded.

 

[D.Acker]

I really can't say anything that hasn't already been said. The Contour is reliable and I found it to be sure footed in the worst weather. I could get through snow and ice easier than a lot of people with 4x4's. I started out in 99 with the purchase of a 95 Champaign GL MTX, had it for 6 years until the clutch went out (only major repair in 6 year and almost 100k of driving), and being in the middle of a move we couldn't justify $1200 on a 10yr old car with 145k. Bought a 99 Taurus (major POS)and have regreted getting rid of the 95 ever since May 05. Ditched the Taurus in June for a 00 SVT and absolutely love it. No mods planned as that's not my thing, but I can guarantee the SVT won't be gotten rid of nearly as quick if something goes wrong (esp since I have car payments on it). I still miss my 95 tons and wish I could park it next to the SVT, but still proud to say that I have owned the first production year lowest trim (except i think there was base model) and the last prod year highest trim, I haven't met many people who can say that about the cars they've owned.

 

[boumacj]

If you have read any of the articles from Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Sport Compact Car, etc from 1998-2000, even the automotive press was enthralled with the car. I have owned a bunch of cars but for me this car is and will always be a favorite--I think the look of the car, the feel of the car and the sound of the motor are my favorites....

 

[ancientsanskrit]

Well, when I first started driving I had a 1989 Aerostar. It was a fun van, but I don't think I'll ever own a van after that experience!!! I got my first opportunity to drive a contique when my mother bought a 1998 SE brand new. It is a hunter green (haven't seen the same color in a few years now) Se, and man I loved it. The body was so well-designed and unique at the time. I still favor a car w/curves rather than this rectangular crap we're getting these days.

The Aerostar crapped out and I went about 3 yrs w/o a car, till 2003. I was in my second year of college and I knew what I wanted. I wanted a Contour. It was around 1999 that I saw my first csvt. I still recall the thing flying from a stop light and the awesome exhaust tone as it drove away. Around 2002 I started lurking on CEG. I was destined to buy a tour. Unfortunately, at the time my budget didn't allow me to get an SVT (back in those days, the darn things were still $10k+!!!). I found out about a family friend selling a black SE that had some hail damage and was selling it pretty cheap. My folks pitched in and the rest is history.

Well fast-forward four years, to today, both SEs are alive and kicking. Mom moved on from her SE to an X-type and I'm still driving her SE. The thing is literally falling apart now w/118k 'rough' miles on it. It's now my DD getting 60miles+ a day, yet keeps going.

From the price point of view, and the durability of the vehicle, they're awesome cars. However, as others have pointed out, we all owe a great gratitude to this website as well.

 

[jtour]

First hand the looks and the handling and I have the basic LX 4 cylinder. I would kill for an SVT.

The dislikes....leg room in back, the haze of the headlights, the stock stereo and thats about it. Other than that its a great car.