Test Drive Ford Contour 1997 - 2000

Two sides of the medal

When it is time to change the Sierra model of the European Branch of the Ford, the company's management proposed the next worldwide concept (the first can be considered the legendary Ford T, who put America on the wheels and saved throughout the light in the amount of more than 15 million copies). For the name of the car, new word formation was chosen - Mondeo, having a common root with a word denoting the whole world in many languages, which humanity speaks.

 
The worldwide new car implies only small differences in machines manufactured for different sales markets. This clearly demonstrates the European Ford Mondeo and his American brother Ford Contour, the namesake of an interesting concept car of the recent past. For the first time in the practice of Ford, cars for Europe and America are practically identical. Both are built on one platform, have the same bodies, chassis and engines. Differences are only external - the Contour has a different design of the front and the back of the body, and the lighting is reminders the earlier version of Mondeo.

 
The decoration of the CONTOUR salon is less strict and slightly coarsely cooled than that of Mondeo, but completes the parade of the difference of the automatic gearbox lever between the seats (on Mondeo, the test of which we conducted was a manual box). Therefore, we will speak mainly about Ford Mondeo 2.0 CLX, distracting the Ford Contour 2.0i 16V GL in suitable for this cases.

 
Both cars, as already noted, are collected on the same platform - the design of the floor, thresholds and other power elements is completely the same. The chassis can also serve as a good example of the game Find 10 differences - with the condition that they are not. Macpherson front suspension - with transverse stability stabilizer, rear multi-dimensional quadralink is also equipped with a stabilizer.

 
The brake system is equipped with an ABS (standard equipment of all modifications), front brakes - disc ventilated, rear - drums. Nowadays, it may seem an anachronism, however, as it turned out on the road, braking efficiency remained at a high level, and from a practical point of view, the drums are better protected from dirt flying from under wheels and other sources of abrasive wear.

 
Two-liter (1989 cm cubic.) 4-cylinder row engine Ford ZETEC E 2.0 develops the maximum power of 130 liters. with. at 6000 rpm.

 
The maximum torque of 180 nm accounts for 4000 rpm. Ford Mondeo is equipped with a mechanical 5-speed MTH75 box with a cable drive, which facilitates the process of switching gear and reduces the vibration transmissions to the transmission lever. The Ford Contour automatic box is a 4-speed, electronically controlled and the ability to select two modes - sports or economical.

 
Differences in the salons of both cars are more noticeable. The interior of Mondeo impresses collected, functionality and quiet, unobtrusive comfort. The landing is very comfortable, the driver's seat can be adjusted for any growth due to the presence of longitudinal adjustment of the pillow and the angle of the backrest.

 
These adjustments are manual, but the seat itself performs vertical movements with an electric motor controlled by a lever in the left front of the pillow. The steering column is adjustable over the angle of inclination and steplessly in length. When the configuration process is completed, sitting behind the wheel - one pleasure, and all the devices are in sight.

 
As the theater begins with hangers and the car makes the first impression on the convenience of the driver's location at its workplace. The rest turns out on the road, but about it later. Mondeo has a combination of devices with a tachometer. Cutting switches are normal, the right manages wipers (it is possible to change the duration of the intervals of the brushes in the intermittent mode), the left will see the turning pointers and the switching of neighbor and far light. Outdoor lighting is turned on with a rotary handle on the torpedo to the left of the steering wheel. On the right is the handle remote adjustment of the outer mirrors. At the central console there are organs of climate installation and air conditioning, whose work left a pleasant impression.

 
It keeps the specified parameters well and, if necessary, quickly configures on a new way. The Ford 4000 magnetol is located below, the ease of control of which suggests that it was designed simultaneously with other means of communicating the driver with a car. This includes the short-proof lever of the box, whose work pleases with clarity and ease, which is not always found in vehicles with the cross-location of the engine. Apparently, it is the merit of the cable drive.

 
The location of the pedals liked, the efforts on pedals are insignificant, and the informativeness of the foot governments is quite high. Especially I would like to note the work of the adhesion pedal, combining a relatively large and soft move with the accuracy of switching on and off the transmission.

 
Salon Contour is more American than at Mondeo. There is some plaque, although the form of torpedo has not changed almost unchanged. The color solution of the cabin as it is combines the torpedo and the seats in one. The driver's seat does not boast such an abundance of variables as on Mondeo. The seat is adjustable along the length and corner of the backrest, and the steering column occupies a fixed position. It initially seems strange, but it can be assumed that in the USA this car refers to a lower class than in Europe, and it is not supposed to him.

 
Landing is not as comfortable as in Mondeo, but you can pretty good enough. To be in the back seat of both machines is not at all in terms of tall passengers. The volume of trunk will not be nervous if necessary for the transportation of baggage, the number of which can cause unpleasant emotions from drivers of other machines, and separately folding rear seat backs make a freight room even more.

 
The visibility from the driver's seat is good in all directions, the road front is clearly visible, the front racks of the roof do not interfere with the turns, and according to the rear view mirrors, you can make an exhaustive picture of what is happening behind the back during movement.

 
We will proceed to it. To begin with, launch Mondeo Motor. Several speeds of the starter - and the engine exactly and barely audibly earned at idle. Once again, noting the ease of landing and the feeling of unity with the car, we start moving. The first gear turned on easily, by one of the movement of the fingers, and from the first press on the pedal, the clutch control algorithm was immediately determined. The car confidently picks up the speed, demonstrating the engine for the engine. After 3000 revolutions, the motor is noticeable, but smoothly increases the effort on the drive wheels. Ford Mondeo 2.0 CLX develops the maximum speed of 206 km / h and accelerates to hundreds for 9.9 seconds. This is important for movement in overpowered cars, but a little accelerated dynamics.

 
A modern car should have good handling and also well reduce speed, as accelerated.

 
We turn to the suspension, from which controllability depends largely. I liked her work in all modes. Small irregularities are almost not transmitted to the body, they can be judged only on road noise that changes the tonality when moving the wheels with the microrelief of the road. As for more serious obstacles in the form of pits, chosen and sewer hatches, they are confidently overcome, and when you get used to it, you will cease to pay attention to these costs of road construction and repair.
 
The suspension has a high energy intensity. It does not pierces even in extreme cases when it is not possible to drive around the next Cold. It does not throw a shadow on the controllability of Mondeo, just confidence that he inspires the driver sometimes leads to some forgetfulness, and you begin to go faster, especially when the charming companion is nearby. The permutation at high speed takes place for five with a plus, the car does not leave the target trajectory. The characteristics of the steering mechanism with the handling of the steering wheel by the handling of the steering wheel with a gear ratio and the amplifier for this car are wicked well. The amplifier helps with parking, and in motion does not distort the driver's sense of the road. Goodyear tires in size 205 / 55R15, mounted on cast discs, are not supplied on any coating, whether it is dry asphalt, concrete or gravel, as well as in cases where all this is flooded with water.

 
The brakes of impressions from the suspension do not spoil, all the chassis of the car is very harmonious. The effort on the brake pedal is small, the car slows confidently, when braking in turns, the direction of movement does not change (does not throw the car), and it is long before inclusion in the operation of the ABS. The fact that behind Mondeo - drums, and not discs, does not have a negative impact on braking efficiency.

 
The Ford Contour movement is sensitively reminded by Mondeo. But Contour is American, and in this he is faithful to himself. Soft suspension, lightly American steering wheel and automatic gearbox - features that allow unmistakably determine the national affiliation of the car. The CONTOUR 2.0i 16V GL is installed the same Ford Zetec E 2.0 engine, but its power and torque indicated in the car's technical data are slightly lower than 125 liters. with. at 5500 rpm. and 176 nm per 4000 revolutions, respectively. I suspect that in fact they are the same, the difference is only in measurement methods in the United States and Europe. In the dynamics of Contour with an automatic box, a slightly loses Mondeo, but it is completely bathed with the amenities that the automatic provides. In the movement, the box behaves decently, only occasionally reminding themselves with light jerks when switching gear.

 
In general, Contour is calmer and smooth than a dynamic Mondeo. He does not provoke the driver to a sharp change of the lanes of the movement or on protracted overtakes and is more suitable for young women who will make a very pleasant company. On the contrary, Mondeo can be called a driver for the driver, starting with the controls, facilities of planting and ending with the behavior of the car on the road. Maneuverable road express may well be suitable for active business trips around the city, and in the evening to create a romantic mood for a young couple. Mondeo fully disposes to himself, the driver has a sense of confidence in the car, which can with honor to get out of any situation, but at the same time gives a clear and clear picture of the maximum possibilities of the machine, the approach to the borders of which is entirely under the control of the man driving.

 
Sergey Ivanov

 
 
 

A source: Magazine Motor [№10 / 1997]