Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
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Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice, safe, relaxing evening.
Happy Cougaring!
=^..^=
I'm glad they found something. Let's just hope the problem is fixed.
Recently I have been hanging out in the "Road Side Cafe" forum. All of you should check it out when you get a chance. It is listed at the bottom of the CSG Forum Topic listing (the Edmunds page where the CSG logo is posted). Hope to see all of you there!!
Sorry!
So I grabbed my RSA card, went into the Church Rectory where I park and made the call. Answered a bunch of questions (street address, make and model of car, etc) and then the nice lady asked me for my Zip Code. At this point I mention that I am calling from Canada and am informed that I have the wrong number for Canada(problem #1).
The nice lady gives me the correct number to call for assistance in Canada and I am greeted with a voice mail system advising me that service is available in three languages, Cantonese, French and English (only in Canada eh!). I finally get through to another nice lady who asks a bunch of questions including the VIN for my car (like I know of the top of my head).
So I go out to the car, get the VIN, call back, choose the appropriate language (which, by the way, one must do twice each call)and get a nice gentleman who asks for pretty much everything, BUT, the VIN. He points out that he doesn't need it, he only needs the plate number of the car (problem #2).
The nice gentleman indicates that help will arrive within 30 minutes max. Which it does, in the form of C.A.A (Canadian version of triple A). (problem #3).
All of which begs the question - why, oh why, when I bought my car, did they not just give me the phone number for C.A.A. and a member card.
Sorry all. Needed to rant a bit.
P.S. Took the car to Frisby Tire Co. the next day and they couldn't find anything wrong aside from the missing valve cover. Hmmmmm!
Good luck with your car and enjoy drviving it!!!
I hope everyone had a decent weekend. Mine was uneventful. Currently we are awaiting the huge snow storm that was supposed to start yesterday. This morning I woke up expecting to find 2 feet of snow and only found 2 inches. That sounds like a good deal, but they are still calling for a ton of snow tonight.
Anyway...........
Camelard:
Sorry you had problems getting road side assistance. Although I have never had that problem, I do understand how frustrating it mush have been for you.
genaj:
Sorry your having problems with your Cat. I haven't heard of any one having a leak, so hopefully the Service Department will solve this problem quickly. As far as the vibration is concerned, I have not had this problem, but as you can see a few other CSG members have. Definitely have the Service Department address both issues ASAP before they get out of hand.
How's your snowstorm doing?
Skip G.
This place has been a ghost town for the past few days. Is everyone doing okay?
Today we are finally getting the predicted snow. I'm currently at work, but will be leaving shortly. I will however be hosting the chat session tonight from 7-8pm. I hope to see all of you there!!!
PS - I' SICK OF SNOW!!!
Sorry to hear about your Kitty. I didn't realize vandalism was that bad in Toronto. I've experienced a few acts of vandalism too living here in New York City. That's why I keep my Cat in a garage. It costs me an arm and a leg, but I know she's safe.
Happy Belated Birthday to your Kitty. My Cat will be a year old next week (Wow, has it been a year already!!!).
Patte:
The rest of us are waiting 'til April 14 to file their taxes.
I went to the Auto Show yesterday and it was pretty cool. I did see two Cougars at the show. They were the limited edition's. One was yellow(I think ZN) and another(not sure what it was). Here the sad part: I didn't see on person interested or looking at these vehicles. The Mercury area was dead. Also, the only Mercury attendant I saw was a 65 year old gentleman that was falling asleep behind the Mercury booth. Even if I were interested in buying one of these Cats(or any other Mercury car) this guy was TOTALLY uninterested in informing me about their lineup. This all falls into line why the Cougar is on a decline. The Celica and Eclipse sections were packed w/ Teens and twentysomethings all wanting to sit in the drivers seat. Very sad!!!!
You have no idea how much that angers me. That's so typical of Mercury to have piss poor representation, and no enthusiasm what-so-ever with anything in their line up. Sometimes I feel like the CSG sells more cars than the local dealership down the street.
Now I'm just waiting for the remote release to stop working.
I'll be going to our Auto Show (Columbus) this next week...wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing. Funny how people swoon over the looks of our cats, but as soon as you tell them it's a Merc, well, you all know the response....
I will be away on vacation from Saturday March 10 - Monday March 19th. The CSG mail account has been forwarded to "StageLeft". If you have anything you want to send specifically to me, send it to: Badulah@worldnet.att.net and I will respond to it as soon as I get back. Obviously I will not be attending next Tuesday's chat session, but I will be attending the session on the 20th.
I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and a great week. I'll talk to all of you when I return.
-Rob
AKA "Badulah"
PUERTO RICO HERE I COME!!!!!!!!
someone get me a margherita
KarenS
Mom/Host
Owner's Clubs
Since you've been to your dealership no less than 3 times for a on-safety related repair, you're entitled to benefits under the Georgia State Lemon Law!
I seriously think you should get started on the paper work. I'm starting tonight -- my windows leaked AGAIN today in a high-pressure touchless car wash. Shot streams of water in from both sides near the A-pillar and the little black plastic triangle on the door.
8+ repairs for windows problems (the most recent took 3 weeks!) and the car still leaks like a toddler in training pants. Why?! Why in the heck can a manufacturer not build a car capable of surviving...a car wash? Pathetic.
Fish8, if you are interested in starting what can be an arduous process, post your interest or send personal -email. I'll give you as much information as I can.
Later, folks...
Also, I have 22,400 miles on my car and it is 22 monthes old. I think my car is not a candidate for the lemon Law.
One thing I am worried about is my vacation we have planned the first week of Apr. The last time I took my Cougar to Florida, the AC basically stopped working. I brought it into the dealer and they could not duplicate the problem. That was actually the third time it happened. The first two they found "something" wrong and supposedly fixed it. They said it was the seals or something. I guess I will just use the AC as normal and if it acts up again I will bring it back in to get looked at. It is still under warranty so it won't cost me anything.
Other than that, my car is running great. (knock on wood)
You can qualify for the GA Lemon Law on three levels:
- more than (1) repair attempt for braking or steering safety problems
- more than (2) repair attempts for other safety problems
- more than (3) repair attempts for other defects or conditions
The first repair for any of the three categories must occur within the first 12,000 miles/12 months of ownership on a new vehicle. Repeat repair attempts refer to repairs for the same problem. In your case, you've been in for 5 repairs on your hatch and fall within the third category. In my case, I've been in for 8-10 repairs for windows problems and also fall into the third category. For the most part, if you've had more than three repair attempts within 24,000 miles/24 months, you're golden.Here's the real kicker -- if your car has been in for repairs more than 30 days for one or more defects within the first 24,000 miles/24 months, you automatically qualify for the GA Lemon Law process.
Now, either of us can send notice to FMC (with complete repair documentation) that they have ONE LAST CHANCE to repair the said defect. If they fail to respond in 7 days or fail to adequately repair the defect within 30 days of this notice, then you ask them to replace or repurchase the vehicle. If FMC fails to honor this request within 30 days, you go into informal dispute arbitration with the company to solve the problem. After this step, you might end up going into state-controlled arbitration to either force a replacement or repurchase of the vehicle.
Does this make sense now? I had a typo in my last post which may have made it confusing. Let me know what you end up doing.
What do you plan on doing? How many miles do you have on your car?
However, if you've brought your car in and had it actually repaired or in for a repair visit, it still counts. You found a problem with it and the dealership either repaired it or failed to repair it. I may be wrong on this one, so you might want to call the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs to be sure. They're VERY helpful.
I am going to work on organizing all of my documentation tonight for the window leaks (both rain AND car wash) and window fit issues. The paperwork has to be immaculate, so I'll be spending a few days on it.
I have just over 24K miles on my car -- pathetic, given the fact that I bought this car because I wanted a sweet ride for road trips. Instead, I've spent a majority of my ownership time getting it fixed and driving another Mercury product -- the Sable.
Anyone home?????
Did anyone happen to see the new Consumer Reports Car issue? The '99 and '00 Cougar got the worst reliability rating possible. Not Good!!!! Though I'm not surprised.
But was the Cougar S ever available to consumers? ie in 1999 or 2000?
I had thought that the S never ever made it to showrooms for any year. But every now and then I read reviews posted by people who claim to have testdriven or even OWN an S. For example, check out Carpoint's consumer reviews for the 2001 Cougar.
And of course there are those dealers that also claim to have sold S models.
As for the Consumer Reports thing, yea I saw that new reliability rating a few months ago when I first entered the CSG. Dissapointing. Last year, CR gave the cougar a rating of average for reliablity.
smc7
Pros: Great handling, MPG, excaust notice, so so Ride. an OK car
Cons: Not quiet big diferrents than The V6 model , the 24 more horse (196) dont help that Much, and then , I wish I had bought that 1997 ford probe GT with 25,000 milles, which still Under my Opinion WAY better looking, and again Under my Opinion , car of the year 2001::"DODGE STRATUS R/T COUPE"
Overall Review: Buy the S model only if U wanna Be Like "" WELL I GOT THE *S*"" worthless... I wish I can return it back and buy the Stratus R/T which is BY FAR ___THE ULTIMATE CAR___ :-)
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It might have just been a bitter Dodge salseman trying to flame the cougar. Either that or a dealer stuck an "S" on the back of a normal V6 cougar with elmer's glue, and then this poor sucker paid an extra 2 grand for it.
Mercury has said that the "S" was cancelled and NEVER went into production.
This is kind of off-topic but what do you guys think of the new WRX? I saw a new one today, and well, they don't look bad at all, I think they look better in person that in pics. Performance has to be pretty darn good too, it'd be nice if it looked like a Cougar.
smc7
I have returned from my INCREDIBLE vacation!! Unfortunately I have to return to work in the morning, which I am NOT looking forward to.
StageLeft:
I just want to thank you for taking care of things while I was gone!!
All:
The Cougar-S was NEVER sent to mass production. The reviews and other rumors floating around are completely bogus. Miss informed dealerships and uninformed consumers have no clue what they are talking about. If the "S" was ever produced, you can bet you ascot I would be driving one.