![]() The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and brakes are excellent. Part of the SVT package includes better suspension components such as stabilizer bars and upgraded springs. The suspension almost feels too soft when rounding a tight curve quickly or driving over a large bump in the road. The four-wheel independent suspension does a credible job of managing the bumps and curves, but I feel as if the car could use a stiffer set of springs. It delivers plenty of power and offers a level of refinement that is uncommon in this price range. The SVT is a joy to drive in the city or on the open road. The SVT is easy to shift because the clutch pedal is light and the shifter moves smoothly through the gears. There's no automatic transmission available, but no matter. FORD CONTOUR MANUALOur dark red test car came standard with a five-speed manual gearbox. The engine pulls hard at all speeds, giving the car a flingable, flexible demeanor. The engine makes a hint of a growl when revved, but otherwise it's exceptionally smooth and very quiet. ![]() FORD CONTOUR PLUSAdd $1,870 for a preferredequipment package including air conditioning, power locks, power windows,speed control $190 for remote keyless entry, $330 for power driver’s seat and $570 for ABS plus $510 for freight and you are still less than $20,000.ĭual air bags are standard, but as with Taurus, ABS is an option to keepthe sticker price down, a sad marketing ploy when consumers are demandingsafety.Performance is civilized. The SE sedan we tested starts at $16,170. A peppy powerplant with a smooth-shifting manual and goodmileage–21 m.p.g. We tested the Contour SE with the 2.5-liter, 170-h.p., V-6 engine and5-speed manual. It doesn’t feel like Ford has added atennis court in back, but the one inch makes for a noticeable improvement. Ford immediately halted the sand pit demonstration.įor 1996 Ford listened to its critics, revised the seat design in Contourand came up with one more inch in back. We did as asked, except the car would not proceed forward. We recall an episode in Dearborn at Ford’s test track when the companyintroduced Tempo with four-wheel-drive and dared the media to drive the carinto a sand pit, stop when the sand got rocker panel deep and drive out of thepit. Unfortunately, many members of the media saw how good the carlooked and expected it to offer the room, comfort and performance of aContinental. Pleasant styling, good economy,decent price. Contour proves that economy cars don’t have tolook cheap. Even if Contour didn’t have a back seat, it would stillbe more pleasant than Tempo. Contour is much more appealingthan the stodgy Tempo. ![]() Many members of the media missed the point. Ford was criticized so much for alack of rear-seat space you’d think the only reason folks bought a Contour wasto hop in the back seat and be scrunched. Themedia made much ado about rear-seat room. ![]() We recall it reminded us of a miniature TaurusSHO.Ĭontour was launched with fanfare in 1995, but stumbled at the gate. One of the Contours we drove was the SE with the 2.5-liter, V-6, automaticand top-of-the-line suspension. In fact, Tempo was as oldas dirt while Contour was vibrant and alive and sported a fresh newaerodynamic look. It wasn’t real comfortable, we remember, but then you didn’thave all that much room to roam in a Tempo, either. ![]() Nice car, we recall, until venturing into the back seat, where space wassomewhat limited. About a year ago, we were motoring through a California hamlet at a previewof the then all-new Ford Contour replacement for the old Ford Tempo. ![]()
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