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Cougar Support Group - A New Start

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Comments

  • giddeup_50giddeup_50 Member Posts: 27
    Mustang Out, Ranger in at Rouge Plant
    Ward's Auto World 29-May-2000
    author: Said Deep

    Ford Motor Co. plans to move Mustang production out of the Rouge complex in Dearborn,
    the lifelong home of the pony car, and replace it with the Ranger pickup and a new
    multi-activity vehicle, codenamed U260, sometime in 2003, Ford sources tell Ward's.

    The current plan is part of a multi-billion dollar modernization of the Dearborn assembly plant
    that calls for transferring Mustang production to AutoAlliance International (AAI) in Flat Rock,
    MI, a plant Ford jointly owns with Mazda Motor Corp., Ford insiders say.

    AAI currently builds the Mercury Cougar and Mazda 626. Ford is expected to discontinue
    Cougar production in '03, which will free up space for Mustang. Ford recently announced it
    would eliminate the second shift at AAI July 17, due to slow Cougar sales. Mustang will
    continue to be rear-wheel-drive, utilizing a less expensive version of the DEW platform
    currently used for the Jaguar S-Type and the Lincoln LS, Ford sources say.

    The switch to a high-volume product such as Ranger and the U260 vehicle, described as a
    miniature version of the Explorer Sport Trac built on an all-new platform, would allow Ford to
    better utilize Dearborn Assembly's nearly 2.6 million sq.-ft of space, something Mustang rarely
    has been able to do in its 36-year life.

    Ford earlier considered transferring Ranger production to Dearborn, but cancelled that plan in
    favor of an aluminum intensive vehicle dubbed D219 that was targeted to debut in '03/'04.
    That program was scrubbed and now Ranger is back in at the plant.

    Bringing Ranger pickup production to Dearborn invariably means that one of the two current
    plants building the Ranger -- Edison, NJ, and St. Paul, MN, (Twin Cities) -- could cease
    building the compact pickup.

    Ford sources tell Ward's that Edison is the plant most likely to lose Ranger and could be
    outfitted for a brand new product. It's also possible Edison could be closed. The plant dodged
    that fate in the late 1980s when Ford decided to replace Escort/Lynx production with the
    Ranger.

    Preparing Dearborn Assembly for the change to Ranger from
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    So all of a sudden "Wards Auto World" is the authority on the Cougar and FMC production plans?

    MWS, can you please comment on this?

    Thanks!
  • stageleftstageleft Member Posts: 391
    So Ford is "expected to discontinue Cougar in 2003", not every rumor is true. Not every rumor is false, either (now that I look at the flip side of the coin), but until it's substantiated, I'm livin' in the now, everybody! GO COUGAR, GO!
  • stageleftstageleft Member Posts: 391
    Thanks for the info though, giddeup_50! Because at least (if it's true), we won't get blindsided by the discontinuation (if it happens). :^)
  • jrp6977jrp6977 Member Posts: 87
    FMC has stated repeatedly that platform sharing allows them to make niche vehicles that would otherwise not be economically feasible to produce, yet they continue to eliminate two door models from the lineup. When will they realize that not everyone wants a truck?
  • daexpertdaexpert Member Posts: 140
    Not to change the topic, but I think that Cougars tend to attract people in SUV's that drive like maniacs! I was almost run off the road by this SUV today morning on 66, and then he just sped up like if they were giving away free SUVs somewhere down the road, freaking maniac! Okay, I got it all out, thanks guys.
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    I for one am sick of rumors from Blue Oval and other like sources.

    Yes rumors can be a useful sources of info, but most of the time they seem to be made up and based on scattered information.
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    Rumors are exactly that. Someone in a meeting brainstorms possibilities. Someone leaks those possibles out. A reporter writes them up as gospel. Happens all the time. Some of them come true. Some don't.

    Suppose Cougar sales take off in 2002. Do you think plans might change?

    Anyway, I don't really care if they drop the Cougar. I've got MINE. Mwooohahahahahaa!
  • halo_1halo_1 Member Posts: 27
    Cougar sales aren't going any where if Ford doesn't advertise the Cougar. If they have plans to scrap it, I'm sure they won't spend money now to try to pick up sales...
  • coolchickcoolchick Member Posts: 174
    The possibilty still exists to move the Cougar manufacturing to a different facility as well.

    Coming home today, a fellow in a fairly new Tercel was HANGING out his window to check out my kitty, coming up to a red light driving slow (I was already stopped) and took his time looking at every inch.

    I'm proud but a teensy bit insulted....he didn't notice ME at all, just the Cougar!
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Well, I dropped off my Cat at the dealer body shop for the bumper repairs. A new rear bumper cover is needed. The total cost including parts and labor is around $450.00. No money out of my pocket. My car should be ready on Friday with new bumper and V6 emblem. My rental is a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. Not a bad car.
  • giddeup_50giddeup_50 Member Posts: 27
    I was surprized as everyone else but first heard this story this morning on a Detroit TV station.
    And from what I gather inside the hallowed walls, the story is not too far from the truth... If the second shift is curtailed as it is planned, well that doesn't bode well for 626 or Cougar. Both cars are competing against staunch competitors though I think the Cougar still has class compared to the "new kid in town" Japanese products. I really thought Mercury was trying to reinvent itself by moving L/M HQ to Irvine... It worked for the LS; got a younger crowd to look at Lincoln(not much younger overall but younger still) (glad, since I am involved with the LS program, but sad for Mercury...)
    Guess you can't get away from the Grand Marquis mentality... Anyone old enough to remember the SNL skit with the Rabbi performed circumsions in the rear seat of a of a Grand Marquis Brougram (spoof of the L/M diamond cutter commerical)? That about sums it up...
  • krnchkrnch Member Posts: 127
    giddeup_50: What sort of involvement do you have with the LS program?
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    All:
    Before we get carried away and actually believe this rumor, why don't we wait for MWS to shed some light on this situation? I'm sure he is going to comment on this announcement.

    This morning on the way in to work I was driving up Route 287 doing about 70mph when all of a sudden a can (looked like a tuna fish can) shot out from underneath the car in front of me, pinged off my front bumper, shot straight up in to the air, and came down behind me three cars back landing on the hood of a Toyota. I was really pissed, I figured my front bumper was going to have a HUGE scratch in it. But when I got to work I saw that the can hit my front license plate and not the car. The plate has a small dent in it, but I could'nt care less about it. I got lucky, for once.
  • y2kittyy2kitty Member Posts: 7
    I'm with Bobschm. We all bought our cougars cuz we love the car and how it handles. I plan on keeping my cat all long as its little motor continues to purr and if that's 20 or 30 years - that's a lot of bang for my buck. If Mercury quits making them, it just turns our cars into classics.

    As for advertising... we were in the market for a car and the sky was the limit. We started researching on Edmunds and reading what different groups had to say. We had never seen the cougar - but after reading the extensive praise this group lavished on the car, we checked into it, loved it and bought it (after spending several afternoons looking at Aleros and Malibus and Beetles and Z24s). Would we have bought a cougar without the CSG? No way. Do we love it? So much so - that my husband considered buying a second one a month ago (got an Subaru Impreza instead - just for the AWD). If the rumor is true, the bottom line is that Mercury/Ford shot THEMSELVES on this one.
    Ppptttttt. (Big raspberry...)
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    Unsubstantiated rumor monger that I am, I predict that the Mercury label will go the way of Plymouth. Every Mercury except the Cougar has an identical Ford counterpart competing with it. Fords are winning. Why continue to compete with yourself? Can anyone name a Mercury, any Mercury, that is selling well? FMC will dump the entire Mercury line in about 5-6 years. Car-nak has spoken.
  • halo_1halo_1 Member Posts: 27
    If you check out the Ford website (www.ford.com), the Cougar is listed under the "SMALL CARS" section with the likes of the Focus. What's up with that??? We should be under the "SPORTS CAR" section...
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    Walk into any LM showroom. What you'll see is a Lincoln LS, a Lincoln Town Car, another Lincoln LS, and a lone Mercury Cougar. Drive by any LM lot. What you'll see in the front row is Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln, Cougar, Cougar.

    Try it. You'll see.
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    Proof that the niche they designed it for is female, 20-25, professional.
  • stageleftstageleft Member Posts: 391
    I'd hate to see the Mercury nameplate go away, especially with all the heritage behind it, and the fact that I now own one. However, Ford no longer has a FWD coupe (Probe go bye, bye), so there's going to be a need for some car in this class or Ford is slowly going to turn into a big truck-building conglomerate ... with a Mustang backbone.

    I'm happy that at least I own what I would say is one of the difinitive turning point cars of the new millenium, and I'm proud to be a member of this group. It's just too bad that there wasn't more "look at me" type advertisements or I believe the Cougar would have outsold itself. It was on a good run there when it first rolled off the line.

    Maybe they did, but I guess they underestimated the unisex design that bodes so much more than any other typical "chick-cars". (No offense) The Cougar appeals to more people than genders, but FMC missed the demographic by a mile. I guess they think all men should be F-150 drivers or something. Although their SUV's appeal to more women than men ... Quite the quandry, indeed.
  • halo_1halo_1 Member Posts: 27
    Maybe they will sale the Cougar under the FORD nameplate...
  • giddeup_50giddeup_50 Member Posts: 27
    I am employed with Visteon Ford's soon to be split off electonics arm) as a Multimedia Applications Engineer (audio/phone/media changers) for the Lincoln LS program but enjoy smaller spirited cars like my Mustang and Cougar.
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    Last night my daughter came running into the kitchen telling me that she just saw a cougar commercial on MTV...that's a great target audience if they continue running it. She said it wasn't the James Bond type commercial, it had a young group of girls & guys talking then a Cougar drives by. I didn't get the exact scenario. Has anyone else seen it?
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    Nope. I can't handle watching MTV anymore.
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    You notice I said my daughter...I can't stand it either. Hey badulah I think I'm almost tied with your wait for your cougar, 14 weeks Friday. I'm starting to worry that they forgot to place my order, I get the same answer everytime I call (which is daily!) "it should be here any day" is what they keep telling me. Oh well...the wait continues.
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    Any day now.......... Any day........

    AHHHHHHHHHHH! I remember those days all to well. After a few weeks my salesmen answered the phone saying "Straub Lincoln Mercury, what do you want Rob?"

    I wish there was some magic button I could push to produce your Cat, I wish there was someone I could call and motivate. All I can offer you is the shelter of the CSG.

    My Opinion On MTV:
    I used to watch MTV all the time, but once they started to air shows like the Real World and Road Rules, I lost all interest. I have now moved on to VH1. I think they really try to offer a good assortment of music focused shows, such as: Pop Up Video, Music Jeopardy, Behind The Music, and Where Are They now?.
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    I've gotten to the point where I don't even ask for the salesman, I know the receptionist first name! I show up and all the salesman say "oh Riley that Lisa girl is here again". They have been very nice, just vague. I did all the paperwork last week, so when it comes in I can just drive off. I guess that's what makes is so fustrating, they have my money and I have nothing. The csg is my saving grace, I try and distract those impatient moments by reading about all the lucky folks who actually have their cougars!
  • stageleftstageleft Member Posts: 391
    Mine's running very well, by the way. :^)

    I went out for lunch today and it seemed like every turn was immaculate. It's the right temperature here, too, about 70 degrees. I really love my Cat, and hope that Mercury decides to hold on longer, so I can reap all the benefits of the aftermarket -- someday!

    Hang in there, Malibu!

    Take care all, and Happy Cougaring!
  • jjmorrisjjmorris Member Posts: 13
    If you are concerned that they forgot to place the order, ask the dealer for the VIN. If they have one, you're OK. There is also the Vehicle Order Confirmation printout that the dealer should be able to give you a copy of. I speak from experience, it took me three tries for the dealer to actually place my order. The order was finally placed April 5 and arrived at the dealer yesterday, about 8 weeks so 14 weeks for you sounds too long.
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    HALO:
    I would not be surprised if they did move it to Ford. Maybe not as Cougar, but with a different name (Mini-Mustang?!)

    On the other hand, if they advertise the Cougar on MTV and VH1, they will finally reach their target demographic big time. Then watch sales of the Coug' take off! Young females really dig this car, but most females do not research vehicles the way guys do. If you build it, they won't automatically come. You gotta show it to them.

    C'mon, Mercury. You got a great car here. Do it justice!
  • bobschmbobschm Member Posts: 42
    I was heading home after a late night (actually early morning). Nothing on the highway but me and an occasional truck. I was not on cruise control and had a case of "get-home-itis" so my foot kept slowly pressing down. I whipped past a particularly slow moving 18 wheeler and glanced at the speedometer to see how slow he was going. Spedometer says......105 mph. OOOPS!

    Amazing how smooth this car is at that speed. It felt no more strained than if I was going 55. I slowed down and put her on cruise control for the rest of the ride home. Nice car.

    New tire pressures helped. I heard a radio report that claimed tire makers say everyone underinflates their tires. You should inflate the tire to the maximum embossed on the sidewall. Yipes! That didn't sound right to me. What about heat expansion. But I did inflate by Goodyears to 36 psi. Way better ride. Smoother turns, No wheel hop on washboard roads. 105 mph with no shimmy. Hmmm. Might be something here.
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    They originally told me 10 weeks, then because I ordered the special edition they changed it to 12 weeks, it was supposed to be here the 26th of May, well it is now the 31st. Last night I stopped by on my way home, as I do quite often and they said to expect it today or tomorrow. I think they want me to have it as much as I want it. They are sick of me bugging them. I do have a vin number, I have all paperwork, financing done. I gave them the down and my first payment is the end of June...I believe it will be here in a day or so otherwise they wouldn't let me do all the paperwork. Also while I was doing paperwork on friday eve. a young girl (18-20) came in with her grandmother and bought a silver cougar, grandma got it for her for graduation, a dependable car to go off to college in. I WANT THAT GRANDMA!! I almost cried as she drove off in her cougar and I wait.....
  • stageleftstageleft Member Posts: 391
    [hands Malibu a tissue, just in case]
  • dasaint1dasaint1 Member Posts: 230
    To Malibu:
    Hey, Lisa girl, just hang it there. After you get your Cat, you won't even bother thinking about all the waiting you've done and are still doing.

    Don't feel bad. Some of us had it worse. Not only did I wait long (over 3 months) for my Cat, my dealer gave me lousy service as well as ripping me off. But that's another story. Your car will be in any day now!!! :p


    Badulah:
    MTV didn't change. You did. Your taste changed, and so has your maturity level. That's why you're now watching VH1 and driving a cool car.

    MTV's for little kids and teeny boppers and drivers that like to put stickers on their cars.
  • dasaint1dasaint1 Member Posts: 230
    ...I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready to trade in my Cougar for a '03 Ranger. Then we can change the name of this group to RSG. Badulah will be the Head Ranger.

    PS
    Do think you can put that Borla mods onto the Ranger?
  • badulahbadulah Member Posts: 961
    Actually I think MTV did change. They used to have videos on that channel. Now all I see is programs with kids wining about how hard their life is.

    RSG? Um, well, actually, ya see, er, I don't ever plan on buying a pick up. My next car is gonna be a Vette (and then I woke up). So we can keep the CSG name!!!

    Just found out that my job may be sending me out to San Fran sometime soon. If this actually happens, I will see if I can meet with MWS at FMC HQ, and maybe even the staff at Edmunds HQ. My company is doing a job out there for Sony music and it isn't going so well, so they are thinking about sending me out there to supervise (LOL!! THAT'S LAUGHABLE!!). So if I go, I will be sure to make the most out of it since I have never been on the west coast.
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    That's really cool, they must have alot of confidence in you to send you out here to "save the day". I think you will like it out here, if you get some down time there are lots of sights to see.

    Thanks everyone for your support...you'll be the first to know when I get "the call".
  • giddeup_50giddeup_50 Member Posts: 27
    If you are the hunt for MWS when you are out West and he's in Irvine, you'll have to drive to LA to find him... But rent a Cougar and drive down PCH. Then you'll really apprieciate the handling :)
  • jayhawk5jayhawk5 Member Posts: 70
    Tell me when you're going out. I'll be out there for the 4th of July. Our band is playing right before the fireworks down by the bay. As for my next car, it will be a Mustang GT after they move it to the next platform and give it independant suspension. I'll enjoy my Cougar until that day.
  • katlvrkatlvr Member Posts: 23
    malibu it's worth the wait in a big way, when you finally drive off in your kat you'll get the best most unbelievable feeling that for me hasn't worn off yet.

    As for the "chick car" comment someone made, I don't know about that, in my experience so far more dudes compliment me on my Cougar than females and females usually are looking for cars that are more kid friendly.
  • mws0520mws0520 Member Posts: 45
    Wow, I see the CSG has been very busy.

    As I have indicated numerous times before, I do not comment on future product actions nor do I comment on rumors and innuendo. This is a very competitive industry. Speculation is rampant. Journalists need to sell their stories.

    Enough said.
  • fredlyfredly Member Posts: 201
    MWS, do digital revolutions such as the little one that seemed to have occured here, get noticed or passed on to anyone? Just curious...

    So if the kill the cat, we have something special
    but regardless of what FMC thinks it does need advertising.... such as the electric car ad I saw
    recently.(great ad, but does FMC sell a E-car at all??) advertizing the first time I saw a cougar, in FL while my dad's Towncar was in for a oil change, and I noticed the tail lights laughed and went to look at a navigator... wasn't till later I realized what I was looking at. It took alot of my own research to find out what it was. Yes I remember the Bond type commercial, so much for quick angle shots, and long shots not selling the best part of the car (its looks) I could almost see the cat in one of those Black and white BMW ads of course that would be copying so do it original, maybe with cougarfest we could get something going(no luck here)
    Speaking of cougarfest, name another <20K car
    that has a following enough to generate 50+ drivers from around the country to participate?
    this must speak something for the car...


    On another topic:
    So I love my cat, and every night my wonderful tree over my cat rains sap, I love my tree....
    anyone else have a nice tree like me?

    Well I've rambled on long enough,
    enjoy,
    E-
  • jayhawk5jayhawk5 Member Posts: 70
    Hey- was that you I saw driving East on Braddock at about 1pm today (just outside the beltway)? That was the first blue cougar I've seen on the road besides mine! I had to do a double take, because I'd never seen my car on the road. It's awfully quiet in here today after being so busy yesterday- where did everyone go???
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    I'm still here. Just waiting..............
  • malibumalibu Member Posts: 155
    Or whinnig. I called the dealership and my Cougar came in LAST NIGHT! My salesman is out today so no one called me. The saleman I spoke with says it's beautiful and asked if I would wait to pick it up until next week so he could put it in the showroom for the weekend...NO WAY!
    He was just kidding of course. Well I have to go get my car now...how I've waited to say those words. I'm shaking so bad I don't think I should drive. I'm sure it will subside once I slide into the drivers seat. Yippie!!!!!!

    P.S. Thanks for everyones support while I whined and complained. Your awesome!
  • rickelrickel Member Posts: 34
    I just got off the phone with the auto body man, and he tells me that my kitty will be ready to come back to me on next Monday or Tuesday!

    The feeling that I get when I typed those words is one of happy anticipation. The Cavalier that I am driving is competent, but unexciting, and there is nothing about it that makes me want to drive it. But it served me well in the canyons of New York City, where I would have been a little worried to take my Cougar.

    Is it worse to never have had a Cougar and want one, or have had one and want it back? I'm getting jazzed!

    Cheers!
    Rick
  • jjmorrisjjmorris Member Posts: 13
    The Cougar has landed! It was delivered to my office this afternoon. As I stood surrounded by the envious stares of my co-workers, I realized why women love to get flowers delivered at work instead of just having you hand them over at her front door.

    One unexpected bonus: I received the improved cupholders, even though I have the V6. I thought I heard that this design was on the I4 only.
  • esbrockesbrock Member Posts: 88
    I think you get the new cupholders if you don't get the convienience package, regardless of which engine size you get.
  • jayhawk5jayhawk5 Member Posts: 70
    Congratulations on your new cars!!! Was it worth the wait? What color did you guys get?
  • jjmorrisjjmorris Member Posts: 13
    I do have the convenience group, and the new cupholders. One on the console near the parking brake lever and one inside the storage bin. No flip up thing, these are molded receptacles. Looks like it only holds a skinny cup though, like a McDonalds medium.

    Jayhawk: thanks for the congrats, I got Spruce Green.
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