Faults:

Quicky Lube place put filter for 97 Mystique on at 2nd oil change. Flooded engine-towed to dealer. Oil change shop paid for $300 reset of computer

All subsequent maintenance and repairs done by dealer.

Cooling system motor went out at 98000 miles.

Timing belt went out at 102000 miles.

Intermittent problems with stereo/speaker connections.

Rain does collect behind taillights and drips into trunk when you open it.

General Comments:

If the Auto Fairy could wave a magic wand over this car (and add a CD changer) I'd buy it all over again. It's been a terrific value, and the dealer has been great about providing shuttle service or loaner cars when I've needed them.

Still gets 30 mpg highway. The seats provide great support. The trunk is HUGE for a car this size - I spent a few years hauling my mother's wheelchair around in it.

I know it's getting close to the sunset of its years, and I'm going to be sad to see it go!

Faults:

Nothing went on it yet. It's almost been a year. I bought the car in August 2005.

General Comments:

Awesome car. Very fast acceleration.

A/C is nice and cold in the summer, and the heat is very hot in the winter. The good thing is that there are two radiator fans. So if one fan goes while the A/C is running, you won't blow it.

There is 102568 KM on it right now.

Maximum RPM I got was 6250 so far. I don't want to blow the motor. Very fast too. I got to 140 KMH on the highway.

Comfortable seats and good sound quality.

The only thing is that the engine is too compact, and parts cost too much. I'm thinking about buying another one.

Faults:

Replaced wheel bearing at 115,000 miles.

Synchronizer on 3rd gear is bad (makes 3rd gear grind)

General Comments:

I've had no major problems with the car, aside from the 3rd gear synchro, and I knew about that when I bought the car (only paid $1400 because of it).

This is a very fun car to drive with the V6 and manual, and the European handling (Contour and Mystique were originally the Ford Mondeo in Europe).

Admittedly, there were some issues. The CD4-E automatic transmissions (really, anyone driving an automatic deserves this anyway...) were a really poor design. Beyond that, sure, these cars have their little nits here and there, but one must look at the overall package, not a couple of stupid little nits. Overall, this is a pretty well-done car.

Faults:

The windows only roll up or down when they feel like it (power windows).

The A/C-heater fan only works on high speed.

The power mirrors don't work.

The coil module goes out about once a year without warning and leaves you stranded when it happens. Part is about $125, but $200 at a shop not including the tow bill!

This car is equipped with 3 catalytic converters, 2 of which are built into the exhaust manifolds. The cheapest quote I have found to replace the exhaust is $1900.00... more than the value of the car!

General Comments:

I HATE THIS CAR and wish we had never bought it! What a piece of Junk!

I am getting ready to buy a new truck and was going to get an F-350, but this car has made me decide to NEVER own another Ford product. Going to stick with GM or Toyota from now till I die!