Mercury Cougar

fish8

I am not sure where your vibration is(steering wheel, seat, etc....)but I also have a vibration in my steering whel while going between 60-70mph. Good luck getting your fixed.

gustafsc

Having read several notes about this problem and having taken into account the tire balancing and alignments done without resolving the problem, I wonder if there isn't a little oscillation happening in the power steering when the steering wheel is centered. I've felt a very minor flutter in the wheel on certain road surfaces, but absolutely no problem when the wheel is turned even slightly. Road surface may have something to do with setting up an oscillation. A surface that's not absolutely flat such as a normal crown or a slight pitch requires a little steering offset to keep the car straight, so the power assist is off neutral. When on a flat, the power steering may be hunting slightly, giving the impression of a vibration or shimmy in the steering.

I've had a vehicle that would take off and shimmy (truck), and if it was really happening at the wheels, you'd know it. First time it happens, it'll scare the bodily wastes out of you. (nice euphamisim, huh?).

MWS: Has engineering heard of this complaint, and what have they to say about it?

Skip G.

fish8

Is MWS still around? I haven't heard from him since his Cougar S announcement.

gustafsc

I dunno, havn't heard anything to the contrary.

Skip G.

stageleft

Oh, he's still with us. He's on our side, believe it or not. :^)

That might be a possibility, Skip. I remember this happening with the Cougar, early-on, but I made the mechanic put the car at zero, so there was no compensation for road crowns. I know it's more work on me when I'm on the backroads, where the crown is more apparent, but on the highways the car goes straight and is vibration-free. I guess I hadn't thought about it before you mentioned it, even though now that I think about it was the same scenario in my case.

Good recall!

Happy Cougaring!

fredly

MWS, was given a new title I believe... and I think he mentioned he wouldn't be around as much....but would stop by on occasion.

MWS, if your around I want to get a job at Ford
maybe..

vorteil

Hello everybody<

First, let me extend my profound apologies for my fractured and imperfect Engish -- my native language is German, that makes for some weird and, maybe, preposterous wording in English. Nevertheless, I would venture to seek your wholehearted advice regarding the '00-'01 Cougar. Granted, I as well be considered an oddball, preferring this car to such sporty mainstys as the new Eclipse, Integra, Celica and the like. Nevertheless, I find myself at great odds with their styling (notorious strakes of the Eclipse reminiscent of early thirties aircraft and all too evident puny size and poor "bodily proportions" of the Celica), the Integra is downright antiquated and overpriced. On the other hand I was smitten by the Cougar swoopy, 'laid-back' styling. Now the alarming news--I've recentky had a chance to sample the '01 Cougar with revised front and rump and came away umimpressed by its build quality--the central console wobbles, trim pieces and some interior materials are of rather low-caliber materials, esp. quasi-aluminium inserts and knobs adorning the brake lever and auto shifter; the uninsulated hood shakes and "torsions" like a thin plywood. Of course, you cannot expect an Audi quality in the car under $20K, but my 1995 Toyota Celca GT with 110K on the odo has a much better interior appeal in terms of quality and materials, although its long-term reliability has proved pathetic at best, all despite the "legendary Toyota quality". I may have gotten stuck with a perfect LEMON, though.
So the bottom-line is whether the Cougar boasts long-term durability and dependability. Indeed, I can live with cheap interior materials (at the sake of the rakish and absolutely breath-taking styling--hence the competitive price), but by now I am fed to the teeth with the Toyota's string of minor and major problems (multitude of blown fuses, several batteries, alternator, wayward CD, coolant leaks, and, finally a blown head gasket). That is why I hate the history to repeat itself. Your advice and first-hand experience would be enormously appreciated and I'll be owing my undying gratutude to those who would take a moment to share with me their general ownership experince (minor bugs apart). Thank you. My email is: drang@att.net
Johann

badulah

vorteil:
I have been a Cougar owner since November of 1998. I own a 1999 V6 with a Manual Transmission. Currently I have 45,000 miles on her and have had very little to complain about. Although I agree the center console could be bolted down better, I find the interior materials to be of decent quality and no better or worse than any of the cars in it's class. I have never seen the hood wobble or shimmy, nor have I heard anyone else mention this, which leads me to believe that the car you tested may need a slight adjustment.

Although the Cougar is not the fastest car in its class, it has the most to offer (Best bang for the buck). It is built on the world proven Mondaeo platform and is powered by a smooth running, torguie engine which really likes to be revved. Unlike other cars in its class, the Cougar does not have to be revved to a high RPM to maintain a decent amount of pick-up. The Manual transmission really allows you to take advantage of the Duratech and truly enhances the overall sports coupe feel. The suspension is smooth but can handle the twisties like a champ. The ride quality is quiet and comfortable. Interior room is ample for a Coupe and cargo room is excellent.

Although this car has been placed in the Sports Coupe category, in my humble opinion, it would be better placed in the Touring class. The Cougar can actually be compared to low end BMW 323s and 325s. Some may argue with this, but after driving one, I'm sure you may agree.

The bottom line is the Cougar has a little to offer in a great many categories. Unlike others in its class, it is a well rounded automobile with an excellent sticker price.

For more information you should check out the Cougar Support Group (CSG). Our posting boards are located here in the "Owner's Club" section of Town Hall. There you will find Cougar owners from all over you can network with. We also have a weekly chat session which takes place on Tuesday's from 7-8pm est.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to post them.

sincerely ,
Rob AKA "Badulah"
CSG General Management & Public Relations
CougarSupportGroup@worldnet.att.net

Cougar Support Group

gustafsc

AMEN, Brother Badulah!!!!!

Skip G

badulah

Currently the CSG is sponsoring a Cougar rally in Lakeville, Connecticut at Lime Rock Park Raceway from Friday May 25th to Monday May 28th. The purpose of this meeting is to get together and rally for the Cougar race team, Capaldi Racing.

Capaldi Racing is a member of the SCCA which will be hosting two races during this weekend. Friday will be the race qualifications, Saturday will be the first race and Monday will be the second race.

Our plan is to meet on Friday at a local restaurant and have dinner together. Saturday we will view the first race, Sunday we will relax and kick back with the Capaldi Racing Team, and on Monday we plan to attend the second race. Even if your not a race fan, this should be a GREAT weekend!

Currently Capaldi Racing has acquired 20 race & Pit passes for the CSG. At this point in time we only have 4 left. If you are interested in attending this event, please email me as soon as possible. You can check out all the details at:

CSG Lime Rock Park Event Info

Thank you,
Rob AKA "Badulah"
CSG Public Relations & General Management

tsjay

The Cougar S... does it exist? I THOUGHT that I had seen a couple, but in scrolling back through the messages in this board, I found articles stating that the "S" had been scrapped.

My daughter wants one real bad, and she claims that she has seen a couple if these things. Was she actually seeing another type of Cougar that has a rear spoiler?

If the "S" does exist, and Edmunds seems to think it DOES exist, is it only available in the manual transmission? That's the take I get in reading the info in the Edmunds New Car section for the Cougar S.

If I were buying one for myself, I would want the manual, but my daughter probably won't even consider the manual tranny.

Somebody help me????

tsjay

fish8

There seems to be great confusion on whether the Cougar S exists. Plain and simple, it does NOT exist. The S was cancelled a couple of monthes ago. Instead of making the S which would of had increased power(196hp) and other performance modifications, Mercury decided to make available 2 models that had cosmetic mods instead. One of those Cougars is the ZN edition. I think(correct me if I'm wrong) this car only comes in yellow and has a special rear wing(maybe) and some other changes in the interior of the car. Also, this car only comes with an automatic transmission. The other special edition Cougar only has appearance mods and no performance mods.

You stated your daughter has seen the Cougar S model, if she has it was a fake. Some folks like to pretend their car is special and add the S badging. Unfortunately, the addition of the S badge adds no additional power(though some may beg to differ ;-) ).

You also mentioned a rear wing. The rear wing is available on any Cougar with the Sport package. My Cougar only has the convienence package and therefore does not have a rear spoiler.

We used to have the brand manager of Mercury visit this site often and he broke the news to us about the cancellation of the Cougar S. We were all very sad about this news. I would suggest that your daughter look at a Cougar and give it a test drive. It is a great car for the money. Let us know how it turns out and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. We love assisting people that are interested in the Mercury Cougar. Thasnks for your post. I hope I was able to answer your question.

badulah

As Fish8 pointed out, the Cougar-S does not exist:. It was unfortunately canceled the day after the Focus SVT was announced. It is sad, but true.

gustafsc

Well, there was actualy one built. The factory develpoment mule which is scheduled for a cruncher but was on display in the factory at the last Cougarfest.

Everybody wanted it, but they wouldnn't give it away as a door prize.

Cheapskates!!!!!!!!!

Skip G.

badulah

StageLeft and myself tried to work something out with one of MWS0520's associates, but he wouldn't thrown us a bone. The Cougar-S prototype will first be used for parts and then will be crushed (a tear rolls down Badulah's cheek).

gregtal

What's worse than the last few days of waiting for a new baby to arrive? Waiting for my '01 to get here (slated for May 2). We'll be a two Cougar family, and I can't think of anything much better than that (well, okay - Mercury could have done us all a huge favor and gone ahead with production of the S). And to back badulah up in his comments to vorteil, I've had my current Cougar since September 98. I've put 54,000 miles on it, and it still runs like it's possessed. I've been having so much fun with it, I just had to order a manual trannie for my '01. Makes me want to go out and get a speeding ticket........

tsjay - get your daughter a Cougar. Just don't take it away from her!!!

badulah

Gregtal:
Have you made any modifications to your Cougar? Last week I finally had the Borla Cat-back exhaust installed. It makes a noticeable difference and gives the car a really cool sounding rumble!! IMHO it should have come with this stock.

Good luck with your new Cat!! Hopefully she will be delivered in time and will run problem free for years to come.

gregtal

Nope. I've been reading all the posts from those who have, but the only thing which has caught my fancy is the superchip. I must confess, though, I wish Mercury would have given us more of a hand in customizing orders. I like the hood,spoiler and seats from the Zn. I'd go with a beefed-up exhaust, but circumstances dictate otherwise. In my younger day, I had a 61 Chevy Impala 2-dr bubbletop and had dual exhaust and glass packs installed. Boy, did that sound good!!! But now, I travel a lot and work for the wireless industry. I am planning on installing a hands-free kit for my wireless phone, so I need to keep the ambient noise to a minimum, for the sake of voice-activated dialing and conversation. The install has me a little nervous, so I'm checking with all the installers our vendor uses. I want to get the one with the most install experience, because I want this to be as non-invasive and transparent as possible. Anyone else out there install a handsfree phone cradle in their Cat?

badulah

The Borla should not interfere with your voice dialing. It has a slight rumble, but nothing that is disturbing or annoying in any way. At highway speeds it is hardly noticeable.

Be careful with the chip. I have one and have had both good and bad experiences with it. You will need to run 90+ octane with it installed or your engine will knock when under revved.

Check out my two chip reviews at:

CSG Chip Reviews

gregtal

Thanks for the info. I read both of your articles some time back. Very informative. And my baby never gets anything less than 93 octane. Anything else is just fumes.....

badulah

Currently the chip is not installed and I am running 89 octane. I removed the chip because sometime back the dealership updated the computer codes, so now I have to get the chip updated to match the new codes. What a pain in the butt!!

bee12

This is my first time buying a car on my own and I need some help on pricing and value. My dealer has offered me 500 over invoice. Is that any good? Also my aunt, who has helped me choose these cars, would like me to buy a Solara. Leaving the price difference aside, which is the most value for money.

fish8

I would recommend that all Cougar owners use 87 octane fuel, unless you have a Superchip. Our Cougars should not, and frankly, don't run any better on higher octane fuel. If you car knocks when a lower octane is used, you should have your dealer take a look at the car for a problem. But, if you like using high octane gas it's your choice. Frankly, the gas companies spend alot of $ on advertising so they are probably VERY pleased that you buy 93!!! Just an observation.

gustafsc

The deal of $500 over invoice sounds about right. Some have done better, some worse, depending on the availability of the desired car.

The Solara isn't a bad car, but lacks the sporty flavor and looks of the Cougar. It also lacks the manual transmission option, and the sport suspension that turns the Cougar into a pretty nice touring coupe'.

Obviously, all of us had the same decision available to us, and you can see where we went. We think that we got the most bang for the buck. I've had mine for over 2 years, and have had no serious problems. Just some minor glitches that were fixed under waranty, and should now be corrected in new production.

You can also use Edmunds to do a check for the approximate invoice price and compare to the dealer's sheet. They should be fairly comparable, although a few dollars difference may exist.

No matter which car you do end up with, don't let the dealer hit you with a bunch of useless ad-ons such as, rustproofing, paint protector, sound deadening undercoat, etc... These are only extra profit items for the dealer, and are of little or no value to you. Even the extended warranty option is rarely worth the price if you maintain your car properly, and don't beat it to death.

I realize the excitement of your first car and buying experience, but don't let your enthusiasm get ahead of your business sense or sign up for a lot of extra stuff because the car is just sitting by the dealer's door with your name on it.

Good Luck!!

Skip G.

badulah

Well said Skip. Ditto!

bee12

That's what my bosses said. I still want to go with the cougar but now I can use your recommend to quiet my aunt about the Solara. She just wants the "best for me". I think the cougar is what I want. Thank you.

badulah

Since YOU are the one paying for it, you should get what you really want.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in this case, your opinion should be the one that counts the most.

advocatus

You CAN do better then 500 over invoice. You just have to learn the phone tactics for bickering over the price. I suggest you check out the woman's motorist's website URL unknown right now, but if you search for it you'll find it. Buy a cougar where you can get the 1500 manufactures rebate (and make sure that all goes to you) and you can do better still. I got my cougar for 100 over invoice, minus the 1500 rebate, and minus new college grad rebate of 400 dollars. So just look around and do alot of phone calling. Usually smaller dealers will offer better deals because they want to sell a car to every looker they get. My email is dsc173@psu.edu if you'd like to chat about what I did more

gustafsc

Hmmm, forgot about all that stuff.

Too old for College discount, and too early in the product cycle for rebates. Oh well, still got mine for $18.5 out the door. Wasn't a bad deal at the time.

Good luck B-12

Skip G.

smc7

Hey advocatus, finish this sentence:

WE ARE ...

smc7
'97 psu

by the way, 2 more weeks and I get my Cougar.

gregtal

I offered my dealer $300 over invoice and they said OK automatically. I will tell you I did a lot of research here at edmunds.com and the only difference between the price I brought to the dealer and the price they came up with after they built my car was the national advertising fee (1% of MSRP) and gas (can you believe it? $11). Edmunds seems to be having a problem with the incentives and rebates, however (at least as far as Mercury is concerned), so I would go the Mercury web site to find out about the current offerings. Right now, I'm looking forward to taking another $1500 off the price of the car when I pick it up, and that rebate is good until 7/1.

advocatus

PENN STATE! Roar! Roar!

Good to hear from other PSU alumni!

*Toast*

tsjay

Thanks,guys, for the info.

Too bad they cancelled it. I'll bet it would have been a great car.

I'm sure that both my daughter and I were confusing the Cougar Sport with the Cougar S.

She might end up getting a Sport.

tsjay

badulah

There is no such thing as a Cougar Sport. The only Models Available are as follows:

- Cougar 4 Cylinder (manual Transmission only)
- Cougar V6 (Available in Automatic and Manual)
- Cougar Zn (Basic V6 with several aesthetic modifications. Available in automatic only)
- Cougar C2 (Basic V6 with several aesthetic modifications. Available in automatic only))

The Cougar V6 is available with a "Sports Package" which includes several items, such as: 16" wheels & Tires, Full center Console, 4 wheel disc brakes, and a few other items.

gregtal

I picked up my new Cat last night and I must say, the manual trannie is a COMPLETELY different ride. I'd almost forgotten what it's like. Well worth the wait. There are just a couple of things the dealer has to deal with, the biggest one being the rain gutter above the driver's door has an indentation which looks like it's from a cinch strap or something. Makes me want to play hookie from work and go someplace. Better yet, I think I'm overdue to visit several of our stores throughout Florida.....

advocatus

OooO! Congratz!

gustafsc

Congratulations, and have fun.

Welcome aboard!!!!

Skip G.

badulah

Gregtal:
CONGRATS!!!! Be sure to keep in touch with us and let us know how she is doing. If you have a chance, stop in on one of our chat sessions. They take place here on Edmunds on Tuesday's from 7-8pm est.

revdrluv

Did mercury scrap the 200 hp cougar S or what? I hear about it all over but mercury dealers know nothing.

stageleft

Yup. Unfortunately the S project has been cancelled.

revdrluv

Why? Is ford afraid to have more than one sporty coupe? I really like the look of the cougar and would get one if only it had some performance to back those looks up. Must be making way for the new focus svt.

gustafsc

Actually, the performance of the Cougar ain't all that bad, if you're talking about the MTX version.
Try driving one, and you'll see that you're getting a lot of bang for the buck.

Would we have liked to have seen the Cougar 'S' in production? Sure!! But, as it stands, the car provides good performance in the straight line (0-60 under 8 sec. ain't slow), and the overall road handling and comfort is excellent.

Besides, there are some aftermarket goodies that will perk things up a little. Just ask Badulah!!

Skip G.

scottmetzger

I'd just like to let everyone know that the Zn package IS availabe in a 5-spd, as I just drove one about 2 hours ago. Really liked it aside from the horrid yellow... love the hood though. I was going to buy an Audi A4, but after driving this I think I might get myself a 5-spd V6 cougar and save about 10k.

revdrluv

MTX version? I drove the cougar and I agree it is not bad at all. Just drove other cars later that day that made it seem slow just by comparison. I think the gearing seems a little off. I did have fun in it though. I actually might be choosing between it and a v6 mustang right now instead of what I thought. My dad has connections and can get me an amazing deal on a ford car. Was going to get a used GSR but if I can get a new car loaded for less sounds good to me.

scottmetzger

this was my 3rd drive of the Cougar... drove Automatic versions of the C2 and Zn, this was the first time I got to drive a 5spd and WOW what a difference. I wasn't even considering buying on of these, just driving it because I wanted to get the $25 thing for test driving, but I really think this is what I'm going to get.

Can anyone tell me what size speakers go in the cougar, and if the factory stereo has pre-amp outs? I'm not going to be rumbling down the street with my bass or anything, but I do enjoy really high quality sound, and I'm hoping the equipment I already have with go right in.

scott metzger

scottmetzger

What is this MTX cougar I keep reading?

revdrluv

Isn't scott metzger the name of a moto cross racer or a pro-skater or something? Any relation?

Question V6 cougar or V6 mustang? Which is more fun to drive and better to own?

gustafsc

Sorry, we've been using this abbreviation for years now, so:

MTX=manual transmission (5sp)
ATX=automatic transmission

As far as the Mustang vs. Cougar debate is concerned, it's a question of what you want in a car.

The V-6 Mustang provides straight line performance similar to the Cougar, is a rear drive rather than a front drive, and I would guess, costs more and has higher insurance rates.

The Cougar is a front drive, all independent suspension, much more tuned for touring style driving (although it's pretty good as a daily commuter), and has a fantastic amount of storage space under the hatch.

Besides, it's a LOT prettier to look at. I don't think that anybody looked at the Mustang, and said, "Wow, what is that?".

Skip G

revdrluv

What exactly do you mean when you say touring style driving? When I think of a touring car I think of a mercedes that is smooth, powerful and very comfortable for long distance driving. (I could be totally off) Are you saying it handles better?

The cougar is much much prettier than the mustang IMO. I think it is the most attractive car in the ford,mazda,mercury lineup right now. Ford owned aston martens and jaguars are prettier still but in a different league of course.

I have heard of reliability problems with the cougar. Is it typical ford problems (brakes die fast, poor integrity, electronics failing) or is it something more serious?

gustafsc

Well, a Mercedes it ain't, but on a twisty section of road, it does a pretty good imitation. As far as long distance driving (Interstate type) the Cougar is comfortable for me, has enough power to provide passing ease, and is pretty smooth overall.

You may want to think of it as sport touring, rather than big car touring.

Comparing the handling to the Mustang's is mainly the degree of chassis sophistication. Beam rear axle & drive vs. 4 wheel independant w/passive rear steer. The Front drive will have an understeer characteristic, while the rear drive will be more capable of throttle induced oversteer.

You can overcome the understeer characteristic by setting the balance of the car when entering a turn and then applying throttle to pull the car around w/o hanging the rear out.

That's a simple comment, there's a lot more to it, but it takes a book to explain (or a good performance driving school).

General reliability on mine has been good, just a few little things like the lumbar support & hatch operation (needed the right springs).

Skip G.