I just ended my 5yr marriage to one
WookieOnRitalin said:
What do you guys think of this car and what do you know about it.
Comparable to the new Mazda3, but being the car buyer on the market...I'd have to throw this in the mix. When you talk about dollars when it comes to cars then you have to look at the used and the new. A new Mazda3 with what I want on the car will be 19,300 (probably 18-7 or 18-8). Now, a used 2002 Mecury Cougar under 30k miles at 13,000 or less.
There's quite a nice gap in there for modding and adding.
I don't know a whole lot about the car itself so I wanted to know what yall thought about the car. Piece of crap? Unreliable? What?
Would it be worth it or should I just opt for a new 3?
I think I can offer some insight on this subject.
I bought mine new in 1999. I fell in love with the looks. The car itself was a pleasure to drive. It was designed and tested for the European market and it paid off. New edge styling on it and the Focus still look fresh. Looks are decieving...this IS A BIG CAR! A wheelbase of over 106 inches and overall length of over 185 inches is creeping into Mazda6 territory. Quality of materials are good for a ford and interior held up well. I had over 115.000 miles on mine.
Now the bad part. Let's see....where do I begin. When driving the car to get my first free tank of gas (paid for by the dealer) I found out the gas hand wasn't working properly. Took 30,000 miles to finally get it fixed and a lot of bitching after running out of gas three times due to inaccuracy.
Next problem...alternators. Mine ate them like tic-tacs. Went through four of them and just found out they usually last about 30,000 miles. Also some cougars (mine included) had fuse problems which caused some of the alternator problems, especially in wet weather.
Next problem...transmissions. Mine was an automatic and it had to be overhauled at 35,000 miles (just made it under warranty) due to a it loosing third gear. Manuals are mot the best either, due to notchy cable linkage. Automatic is best suited for the V6, but if you must have manual, so be it.
Next problem....tires. Mine had the sport package with 215-50-16's. Later models used same size but 17" diameter. problem is that you can only find two manufacturers who make them, Firestone Firehawks or BF Goodrich and both brands are not the best. Plus at $125-140 a piece every 30-40.000 miles, aren't cheap.
Lastly....dealer service. I actually had to write Lincoln-Mercury's headquaters in California to actually get the car serviced a few times. Mercury dealers in my opinion are not used to dealing with younger buyers. Servicing fat ass Towncars and Navigators have ruined them as far as the youth aspect goes, which was ironic since it was the younger demographic they were trying to capture with the cougar.
Overall the car is a hoot to drive. It has very good handling and grip. The V6 is a bit sluggish down low but the upper powerband (3500+) is wher it makes the power and is pretty snappy. Watch out, cause although it is only 2.5 liters, it drinks gas like a drunk does cheap wine. I miss the silky sounds it makes when nailing the throttle. If you find a 4cyl don't bother...the car is too heavy and you won't be pleased with the 130hp The V6 makes 170hp/165 ft lbs but feels stronger. 90% of Cougars will have V6. The long wheelbase gives a superior ride over things like Celicas, Eclipses,etc. Mine only had one squeak from the hatch and it was occasional. Depending on which year you getthe 99-01 projector headlights sucked. They are too small and dont have a wide beam. Check them for cracks and discoloration for they cost $350+ to replace. I had to use the driving lights alot at night and they weren't much help. The 01-03 had the Austrailian headlights which put out better light but look out of place on the car (my opinion).
Cougars have VERY POOR RESALE VALUE. Not surprising since it's a domestic, but dealers will try to overcharge you if you are not careful.
Excellent chassis and motor (never had to add a drop of oil) but plagued with other small problems and bad dealers made the ownership
terrible and high cost of ownership.
