Overview & Reviews

A redesigned face gives this Ford more character, but the new taillight treatment is almost identical to the Contour's sibling, the Mercury Mystique. New alloy wheels and a slightly more commodious rear seat debut. Midyear changes included a model consolidation, the addition of depowered airbags, as well as improved handling and new wheels for the SVT.

• Energetic performance in the spirit of more expensive German sedans.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 99.00

• 

  Doesnt get more reliable than this car! - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Ken - July 13 - 7:02 pm

  Bought my SE in 1998 with 15K. Has not let me down once since I bought it. With only regular maintaince it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. 27MPG in town, and a best of 34MPG on the highway cant be beat. Currently has 112,000 miles and still starts and drives like it did when I bought it. Ride is probably a little stiff to most people, but very well controlled and makes me want to take the curves and turns faster than I really need to. Excellent cornering manners. Very comfortable in town and downright perfect for road trips. Mine has the 2.0 Zetec engine and it delivers more than enough power for commuting, but could use a little more for driving in the mountains.

• 

  My contour - 1998 Ford Contour
  By tibbylover89 - June 21 - 9:34 pm

  This car was my first car. The first year there was nothing wrong with it. But ever since I got it inspected in 01/09, it has been stalling a lot, the a/c clutch went (500$), the fuel flapper went (500$), and I have spent about $450 having mechanics try to figure out why it keeps stalling. It still needs a transmission switch, and an O2 sensor. At only 90k miles, I never thought I would be going through so much trouble. So I got another car. The car had a decent preformance for a sedan, nothing compared to my 03 Tiburon. I drove it fast a lot, because it my first car. I was learniing to drive. It has no RPM gauge. So that may be why I am having a few issues. Overall, it was an ok car.

• 

  My 98 contour is not a quality vehicle - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Aaron - June 12 - 11:14 am

  Transmission went out 11 weeks after purchase. Its broken down on me 3 times and now the torque converter has gone out. Power windows have a mind of their own. They work off and on. Already spent more on repairs than what I paid for it back in 2004. $2999 Not at all reliable and a waste of much needed money for college. I will never purchase another lower end car from ford.

• 

  1998 Ford Contour SE 4 cyl DOHC - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Arthur Blessing - April 9 - 8:57 pm

  Purchased car 1998 thru Hertz- 1998 model w/25,000 miles sale: pleasant experience, price quite reasonable, complete file kept on car by them, kept in like new condition by Hertz. Car has been extremely reliable and durable, similar in build quality to my previous Toyota. Front seats very comfortable (Im 5-11"), a few minor recalls handled well by Ford dealers, no major failures on car, just replaced things that wore out (belts, brakes, rotors, sparkplugs, thermostat, etc.). At 112,000 miles now still has original starter, alternator, water and fuel pumps, and now needs front end bushings and A/C compressor. Very happy with this car, except for mileage: 20-24 mpg for 4 cyl. car.

• 

  Been a Great Car - 1998 Ford Contour
  By onyx_ranger - April 2 - 9:25 pm

  Bought this car new for my wife. She commuted 54 miles round trip, both highway and winding country roads. After 11 years and 120000 miles no problems. Replaced timing belt and plugs at 80000 as preventative maintenance along with water pump. One front wheel bearing replaced at 90000. Brakes around every 40000 miles, tires at 60000 & 110000. Still runs strong, AC still cold, decent mileage and still tight. Burns no oil. Chgd oil & air filter every 5000. Probably keep it until it dies. Did the work myself so it has cost very little to operate over the last 11 years. Basically changed the oil and drove it. What more could you ask for in a car? Great Car!

• 

  Owner of 2 contours! - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Larissb - March 30 - 9:18 pm

  -good car,but check engine lights never goes off, even after being fixed -cupholder was designed by an idiot -1st car went to 220000 which was pretty good got with 153000 paid 2000.00

• 

  Thank You Sir May I Have Another! - 1998 Ford Contour
  By John - March 28 - 12:11 am

  My contour has treated me and my family very well. It has had small problems, but nothing that other vehicles dont have. I bought it with 30,000. It now has 160,000. I would drive it another 8 years if it werent for the deer that ran into the side of it. I paid 10,000 for it and it was well worth it. As for any bad reviews, you cant expect steak and eggs when you pay for a Burger and fries. Its not a Cadillac, its a contour, and it serves its purpose. Especially when fuel was at 5.00 a gallon. I always saw the contour as the Tauruss little brother.

• 

  Mod head - 1998 Ford Contour
  By maddog53 - December 11 - 2:03 pm

  This car is one of the best I have ever owned. It is very easy to modify it and repairs are relitively cheap. (except the starter) it is a very good car for a teen as it is fast fun yet insurance is still low because it is a 4 door and cops will not think it is a perfomance car

• 

  Best car Ive owned - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Jim - Florida - December 3 - 9:25 am

  I have 211,000 on my 1998 Contour SE (V6, Manual Tranny). The only issue has been the alternator (pain to replace). Other than that - this car has been phenomenal. Still flies along like a champ - uses no oil - A/C still works great. Bought this car new and love it. 28 mpg average. It has never left me stranded (I was able to limp home with a bad alternator and a bad water pump). Water pump is the easiest one in the world to replace. Still riding on the original brake rotors. I will miss this car.

• 

  What a waste - 1998 Ford Contour
  By JayCee - November 25 - 5:06 pm

  Bought the car in 2003 when I was 16 with about 60,000 miles on it. It was maintenance-free until 2007 at 100,000 miles when O2 sensors went out, followed by the transmission two weeks later. It was all downhill from there with broken belts, more O2 sensors, brakes completely failed, and now its been in the shop once a month for the past three months. I could have purchased a very nice car after more or less buying the car again via repairs in the past year. Loud cabin noise, dome light fell out of the ceiling, trunk doesnt open with the lever anymore, headlights are incredibly dim, defroster is more or less useless, three cupholders, and one is too shallow to even use.