i hava a 1997 cougar and the overdrive just quit working push the button and nothing happens when driving will not shift into o/d wondered if anyone had any ideas on fixing it my self thank you
Might want to search for another Cougar discussion area -- this one is for the New Edge Cougar that came out in 1998. Your 1997 is based on the old Ford Thunderbird platform from the early 90s.
Well, there were large gouges in the sidewall of one of my Comp T/A's and two of the others didn't have enough tread to make it through wet pavement so I finally bought tires. Michelin Pilots, 225/50-16. Don't seem to scrape anywhere. I haven't cornered on them yet since I like to give tires and brakes about 50 miles before abusing them, but my steering wheel doesn't shake any more. I gave up some speed capability since the're H-rated (130 mph) vs V-rated (149 mph) but I don't think that will be a limitation in the San Francisco Bay area.
More news later after I take the cat over the hills a few times.
I was on my way to pay my respects to the family of an elderly woman that I used to go to church with that had recently passed away when it happened...I looked at my gas gauge and it was sitting on empty. I know that I at least had a half of a tank and the yellow light at the bottom of the gas guage was lit. I looked over at the other gauge where it says mile to empty and it had three dashes instead of miles to empty. I called the dealership and talked to the salesman I bought it from told me that I could drop it off that night. I said I would get it there. Well it came back on after that so I called back and said it was working, but it's not correct so I'll have them check it when I take it in for my first oil change Monday. I hope it gets taken care of in one day...I wouldn't want to be without my baby too long.
The Pilots feel much softer than the Comp T/A's, even with 35 PSI in them. Steering seems vaguer. The ride is softer but they grip very strongly, dry or wet. They're also very progressive, in that I can tell when they're starting to let go. So far, I like them but I'd prefer a slightly stiffer feel.
Well it started again. I got out to my car several times in the last week and 80%-90% of the time the gas guage read empty, the yellow light at the bottom of the guage was on and the "miles to empty" indicator had three dashes displayed. It was hinted to me that it may have "stuck" because of the cold by a service person on the telephone. I called and made an appointment to drop it off Tuesday, of course after I did it came back to life...go figure. I told the guy I made the appointment with (and will remind them again) repeating that I need to know that all electronics are working properly as I often travel late in the evening on weekends and don't want to risk getting caught out on the road. So hopefully they will fix the problem or replace the part. I've never had fuel guage problems and don't intend to start now...so it will be fixed to my satisfaction that's for sure. Anyway, have any of you experienced fuel guage problems?
But, I have recently heard a low groaning noise from the power steering when the temperature is 20F or lower. Goes away as the cars warms up, so am inclined to think it's just old age (4th winter for us), although I did have a similar problem with a previous car.
That one turned out to be a fluid leak.
When I get a warmer day, I'll check the fluid level, but I havn't dseen any indications of fluid leaks on the ground where I consistently park.
Smedcougar, my guess would be its a problem in the wiring between the gas tank sensor and the dash display. The signal is getting grounded or open and the display thinks the tank is empty. You'll just have to have the problem happen when you're at the dealer. Doesn't sound like it will affect driving the car. Just keep the tank full!
Imigliore, interesting comment on the Michelin tires. I suspect the softer ride is because of the H-rating would could mean softer sidewalls versus the V-rating on the BFGs. I may stick with V-rated tires (or higher) when time comes to replace mine.
My 99 continues to run fine. I have 48,000 miles on it and only real problem was a bad front wheel bearing. Had front brakes done this past summer and other than routine maintenance, that's it! I'm wondering about new plugs this coming summer despite the 100K tuneup interval. Also might change the extended life coolant. Anyone out there done either of those?
Haven't posted in a while...right now my Cougar is sitting around...idle waiting for me to get home...again.
Only spent six months home from Korea...and now I am here...any guesses where I might be after I return...if I even get back to the states first.
However I think God things are going well over here for me, it seems we have more to worry about from our own guys than from the enemy, even though they have been getting a little nasty lately.
When I return home my Cougar has an appointment with the body shop. I also plan on getting it detailed afterwards, and I need to get a tune-up and probably get the radiator flushed.
Well, gotta go, happy Cougaring. I am still trusting that God will allow my Cougar to go at least 10 years!
I've had my fuel gauge & pump replaced 2x in the past 6 months.
The first time, the car would 'act' like it was out of gas when the gauge read 1/4 of a tank. The first time I 'ran out gas' I was on the freeway - the gauge read just below 1/4 but the car wouldn't run. When AAA towed me to the gas station and we filled the tank, it only took 10 gallons. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the gauge & pump (told me that it's all one unit).
The second time I filled up my tank and then noticed that the gauge read only 1/2 a tank. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the gauge & pump again.
I've also had battery, sunroof, and brake problems that the dealer has covered under warranty.
I LOVE my kitty, but I'm getting really tired of visiting the dealer. My original dealer has closed, so I've had to find a new dealer too. Thinking of getting rid of my car...it's a bummer to be scared to drive it.
Hi, I'm new to this board and wanted to say hello. I've always loved Cougars, a good friend of mine had one back in the early 90's, though I think his was an '89. Anyway, I really liked his, and now I've I've found a '95 model that's in great shape. She's an XR-7 with the V-8, only about 80,000 miles on it and averything appears to work famously. I thought I'd ask if anyone knows any specifics about that year model or has any advice. Thanks!
They replaced the "pump/guage assembly" or some "technical" sounding verbiage to that effect. I can remember when I picked up the car the after I bought it. The guage read 310 (or so) miles to empty. I no longer see that...of course I don't top it off either...maybe that was what the dealer did (topping it off that is). But this dealer has a good reputation for service after the sale. I hope I don't have to test it to often. Also, after our single digit temps this past week it's taken a few days of warmer temperatures to thaw out the lines and ta da! I have clean windows again
Sorry I haven't posted much lately...I've been sick two different times in the last two months. The flu and most recently a rather irritating cold that is finally going away.
School just started last week so posts will definitely be sparatic.
Can anyone tell me if they experienced this problem and perhaps found the cause? The heater will only work on High on my 1999 Cougar. Any help or idea how to fix it would be appreciated. I'm assuming it's a resistor, and if someone can tell me where to look for it or if it would be dicfficult for me to replace it... I'd appreciate it :-)
I assume you are talking about the fan. The heater temperature entirely mechanical, so wouldn't be effected by an electrical problem. Don't know for sure about the Cougar, but many auto fans have two circuits, one for high speed and one for the rest. I suspect the problem is in the low speed fan circuit. Start by checking the fuses.
I am interested in purchasing a "99" Cougar. I found one with 40000 miles for $6,300. I am wondering about reliability,gas mileage, and overall satisfaction. My daily commute is 100+ miles per day, so I'm particularly interested in hearing from higher mileage cougar owners. I'm looking for HELP!!!
I have a '99 (manual transmission V6) but I only have 30,000 miles. Reliability has been poor in that the car wouldn't start on two occasions; something to do with the clutch interlock. The radio is also terrible, being prone to losing power to the speakers.
Now, the good stuff: nothing bad has happened lately. Perhaps the car's diseases have run their course. I average 20 MPG but my commute is only 7 miles. It appears that on longer trips the mileage is 25 MPG or better.
My car has the sport package, which gives you 16" wheels and either of 2 bad tire types: Firestone something or others and BF Goodrich comp T/A's. I had the comp T/A's, which are reputed to be better than the Firestones but they lose traction early and squeal and lasted only 15,000 miles. After going through my second set of comp T/A's I bought a set of Michelin Pilot XGT's. These have far better traction and handling. They're supposed to last longer (50,000 mile guarantee) but I don't know if it's true. They cost like hell so they had better last.
I find the car pleasant to drive. It steers and stops very well. I like the ride and the solid chassis. I like the driver's seat (many folks don't). For $6300, it's probably a good commuter car.
Reliability has been mixed on the Cougar. I have had good luck with mine, with only a bad front wheel bearing and routine maintenance in 49,000 miles. Others have had all kinds of problems. I am still running my original BFG VR4s though I have winter tires for about 4-5 months each year for the last two winters. At 30,000 miles you might be looking at new tires regardless of make. The OEM radio/cassette unit has been a problem. Mine was replaced under warranty and is fine now. In any case, a new $150 unit from the local car audio store will fix that if its a problem. To me $6300 sounds like a good deal depending on condition of course.
If you get a loud humming or buzzing noise when you first start the engine, it might be the IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. I just had mine changed and it seems to have solved the problem. In case you are interested, the part number for a '00 cougar is XS2Z-9F715-BB. It cost me $72.66 from the dealer, plus $129 in labor. I think you can probably do this one on your own if you can find the part. Good luck.
Yes, that humming/moaning on cold mornings is your Idle Air Control Valve. I changed mine on my '99 V-6 a couple of months ago. It is in a very tight spot at the top of the engine, under a hose, a couple of inches from the firewall, but is only held on by two bolts. Don't forget to install a new IACV gasket while you are at it. No need to spend $129 for labor if you've got a few socket and box wrenches and a bit of patience.
I've been a bit busy lately with grad school and all. But I got laid off from my job, so I'll have some free time on my hands til I find something else so. I'm sorry to hear that dgemini is so far from home and his cougar Our thoughts and prayers will be with you so take good care. And pass the word to your fellow soldiers the same holds true for them as well. Stay safe and give ole' SadDAM the boot!
Whomever asked about the '99 Cougar -- just search for my username in this thread...and beware. The '99 model did have its share of problems that were all over the place in terms of the reliability/repair scale. Good luck.
Yeah, fish8 -- jobs are sucky in Atlanta right now. I'm in a relatively safe academic job, so I'm stayin' put until things improve, even if the pay stinks.
Subaru is still great. Put about 17K miles on her in the first year -- about 7K more than I did on my Cougar. Longer commute -- maybe? Cougar spent more time in the shop -- much more likely? ;-)
Hey all...I checked this board very regualarly before buying my 2002 Cougar a little over a year ago, but I haven't been back since then. I now have 19,000 miles on my car and am also experiencing a low pitched moaning/groaning noise on cold mornings, but it doesn't start until I start to move, usually in reverse. It first sounds like I'm moving off of a large rock or hit something, then the moan starts. It doesn't do it all the time, which is why I haven't yet taken it into the dealer yet. Is this the idle air control valve, too? From someone who doesn't know much about cars, it seems weird that something with the air control would cause this...I was wondering if it had something to do with the parking brake.
My father in-law is a mechanic...is this something he could fix or is it still covered under warranty at the dealer? Thanks.
abglascock, that just sounds like normal oxidation (rust) on the brake rotors. If it goes away after you first use the brakes, don't worry about it. It's normal. If it continues for any period of time after starting, have it checked out.
I can understand about the job situation, things aren't much better here for me in my area either. I got indefinitely laid-off on February 10th and haven't had alot of luck even getting to apply for bindery jobs. I've made alot of calls here in the past couple of weeks and this is about the worst time of the year for the printing industry as things are really slow right now. I'm just hoping that I find something that pays as well before my unemployment runs out in August. Oh by the way the Cougar's running great. My only aggrevation is when it's really cold and I push the unlock button on my keyless entry it makes the unlocking noise twice and it isn't unlocked. I have to either try and catch it in the middle of the noise or just unlock it with a key.
Sorry to hear about your getting laid off, good luck on finding new employment...I'll put some prayers up for you.
Man, 6,300.00 for a 99 Cougar.... with 40,000 miles...mine has close to 80,000 miles I wonder how much mine is worth....
I plan on driving my Cougar until it falls to pieces...I know I will never get my money's worth out of it if I try to sell it. Hopefully with a little maintenance it will run forever.
I'm interested in buying either 00 or 01 mercury cougar. I really havent much about this vehicle. Basically I'm trying to find out if anyone has had any major probs with the vehicle. Also good feedback about the vehicle is great to hear also.
Well, that's a change. Most people aren't, especially Lincoln-Mercury. The Cougar is a car with great potential that has been abandoned by its manufacturer. Despite this, it's a vehicle of considerable charm. I have a '99 Cougar and it has broken down a couple of times. This may have been corrected in '00 and is almost certainly not a problem with the '01 units.
The tires are no good. The cars come from the factory with either Firestone or B.F. Goodrich tires that don't grip and don't last. I just put Michelin Pilots on. They may not last but they sure do grip.
Once it has good tires and it runs, the Cougar is a splendid GT. It goes far and fast. It's smooth and steers wonderfully. The brakes (I have the 4 -wheel discs) are amazing. As far as power goes, it's fast enough to get out of its own way.
I like my Cougar. I wish it were rear-wheel drive, weighed 500 pounds less and had the torque peak at 3000 RPM. But then I couldn't have bought it for $18,000.
Hello My 2000 Cougar warranty just expired four months ago, and I have 51,000Kl. This morning my car would not start, the car would crank. Had auto club come and try to start it, no luck, had to have it towed in. Of course it was Sunday and Dealer was closed, so took it in to Canadian Tire. They said it was my ignition pick up coil, so they replaced it, as well as changing oil, and spark plugs due to excessive gas from trying to start car. My total bill was $480.00 Canadian. Ouch! My question is should the ignition coil have failed considering not warning light has never come on, and low mileage, and only 3 years old. Does anyone think I have any recourse with the dealer. My Second question is when its cold outside and I start my car, I hear a sound like a hydraulic pump noise, which goes away after the car gets some gas. I have mentioned this to dealer a few times, but they have never solved this problem?
I have a '99 cougar with about 52000 miles. I've already replaced the IAC valve so I know what that hum sounds like. I now have a new hum, this one isn't as loud as the IAC one, and it doesn't go away. As long as the car is moving, it is humming. It goes up in pitch with speed. This just started 3 days ago and seems to be getter louder by the day. Any suggestions as to what this could be?
I'll hopefully be trading in my 99 Coug V6 excellent cond w/ 59K miles. I checked kbb and edmunds for the trade-in price and am shocked. Can I really only expect ~6500? Do you think I can bargain to get more? Anybody with thoughts or experience? Thanks. I'll hopefully be upgrading to a 325i.
Well, you have an orphaned sports coupe that was never popular and has had more than its share of reliability and quality problems. Pretty reasonable that its trade-in value is poor. I doubt that bargaining will get you very far in this situation.
The Cougar actually was popular when it first came out.
However, lack of advertising AND the competition coming out with similar looking sports coupes that DID get good advertising (Celica, Eclipse) really hurt its sales.
Then the abandonment of an upgraded Cougar since you could make a lot more money using it's technology in the X-type Jaguar sealed it's fate.
Like I said earlier, I hope to drive my Cougar till it falls apart. Look forward to getting home, getting it a new exhaust AND some body work...when I finally get out of Afghanistan.
If the New Edge Cougar was popular, how come I never heard of it until I bought one? This car has been maintained below radar acquisition altitude since its inception.
It's probably good business for Ford to upgrade the Cougar to the Jaguar X; I also suspect that you need four wheel drive to handle the 3 liter engine in this chassis.
I have been absolutely thrilled with the Michelin Pilots I put on my Cougar. Traction is great both wet and dry. I drive Highway 17 between Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz a lot. This must be the nastiest road in creation but it feels absolutely pleasant with the Pilots. Today there were 3 accidents going (in the rain) and one coming back (mostly dry). Cat never made a false move.
I just traded in my 99 Cougar with 68,000 on a new 2004 WRX. I only got $5,000 for it, but to be honest mine is beat to hell and had zero options. Also, I probably could have got another $500 for it, if I wasn't buying a car that is in such high demand. The truth is though, that cougars are not worth much. They got no promotion, were only built for a few years, and the build quality sucks.
I loved my cougar when I bought it, but I think it has to rank as the worst car purchase I ever made based on the quality of the car and the rapid depreciation.
If I sound bitter, it is because I am. I wonder if Mercury really appreciates all the damage they did to themselves with the way they handled the cougar? I had never even considered a Mercury before the cougar, and I certainly never will again. They had the makings of a great car, but they never came through in any way: performance, build quality or marketing.
It has been ages since I wrote into this thread, but I do stop by now and again to see who's written in. It seems the Cougar Support Group does not "Chat on" so much anymore. Do any of the other "Original" members ever stop by? I'm bad with remembering names but the ones that come to mind are badulah, stageleft, skip, mouse, dgemini, dasaint, etc. You guys still out there? Still got your Cougars?
I traded my Cougar back in January for a Nissan Altima 3.5SE. I love the Altima but still miss my cat on occasion. The Cougar was a lot of fun to drive and remains one of the best looking vehicles ever to come out of the FMC in my opinion. For these reasons I was sad to see it go, however I needed something that was a little more family friendly with the arrival of my son last summer. I was also growing tired of my too frequent visits to the service department.
I must say that this group, from the early days back in 1998, truly enhanced the enjoyment of my Cougar ownership experience. The group included some really nice people and my wife and I enjoyed meeting some members at the Lake Placid get together in 2000. Although I don't still have my Cougar, I saved my CSG decal that I picked up at the Lake Placid event.
So if you're still reading this post, drop a line before Edmunds axes this thread. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing.
I'm still here, and I still have my '99 cat. For some reason, I always keep cars for 10 years or so. My car has gotten better over the years. The dead starter problem seems to have been fixed, and since I've put Michelin Pilots on it the handling is pretty good.
It still amazes me how poorly Mercury promoted the Cougar; I guess they were happy that Jaguar took the chassis and put a different cat on it.
I guess Cougar owners, whoever you are, don't need support any more.
My 99 is coming up on its 4 year birthday and has 51,000 miles on it. It's been relatively trouble free, with only a front bad wheel bearing beyond the usual filters, brakes, etc. I expect to keep mine for at least a couple more years, so the depreciation is not a major concern. And if you check the used car ads, you'll see the rebates offered on new cars in recent years have driven down the prices of most used cars. I don't think the Cougar is any worse than most. I also don't agree with those who think that if Mercury had advertised more, the car would have sold much better. It sold well in 99, but then didn't keep up with the competition in terms of performance. Mercury had obviously decided that the Cougar was not worth investing development money in and let it die a natural death. Advertising a second tier product would not have helped. They needed to stay competitive and didn't. All in all I am happy with my Cougar. It's fun to drive and also very practical. It's surprising how much stuff you can haul with the back seats folded down. And I routinely get 30+ MPG on a trip. Not bad.
I'm still here, and driving my beautiful '99, even though it has cost me about $900 this year for two problems that should not have happened within the 37K miles that I've driven it.
Today's NY Times "Escapes" section has an article about Pontiac Aztek (UGGGGLYYYYY) owners who have similar complaints. The following is an excerpt:
"Should the calamity come to pass, Aztek owners will at least find themselves in good company. Just in the last few years, carmakers have discontinued several models after embarrassingly short life spans — the Lincoln Blackwood, the Cadillac Catera and the briefly revived Mercury Cougar all come to mind. And at each announcement of a demise, thousands of owners have suddenly found themselves driving cars acknowledged as failures and virtually certain to lose a fair percentage of their resale value.
In 1998, the Ford Motor Company introduced a new version of its Mercury Cougar, which had been a popular and slightly upscale version of the Mustang in its first incarnation in the 60's and 70's and then morphed into a rather bland midsize coupe. The new Cougar was presented as a sleek, sporty front-drive model. In November 1999, John Scullin, a freelance graphic designer from Brockton, Mass., picked up a sapphire-blue 2000 Cougar. "I wanted an older, classic-style car," Mr. Scullin said. "As soon as I saw it, I was sold."
Mr. Scullin's Cougar quickly became his avocation. He spent hours customizing it and chatting online with fellow Cougar owners, many of whom became friends. In 2001, he brought together a six-car caravan that drove 900 miles to attend a CougarFest, an event in Detroit, supported by Ford, in which the car's enthusiasts were invited to tour the plant and hold a cookout.
But the market for a coupe like the Cougar was unhealthy, and the Cougar did not provide a cure. Plans were made to close out the Cougar and it was pulled from the market in 2002. The year the Cougar was discontinued, Mr. Scullin said, Ford stopped supporting the CougarFests for owners of the redesigned, late-model Cougars. "Ford has treated the Cougar as the relative nobody wants around," he said."
I, too, tend to keep a car for 8-9 years as I don't pile up a lot of mileage. 4 1/2 years, and only 42Kmi on the clock.
Still running OK, but in the body shop today for a front bumper cover, a victim of a frozen snobank in a parking lot. My fault, and it'll cost me $600 out the door. At least I got a free rental for the day ;-)
Thanks for asking after us old-timers KRNCH, and congratulations on the family. My kid is going to be 38 this year, so I don't have to worry about car seats in the back.
The Altima is a good buy. It is simply one of the best performance values out there...AND it's a family sedan!
The only drawback is that the Cougar will still handle better. However for straight line performance...the Altima's are simply awesome.
Still plan on keeping my Cougar. Especially since my ex wife messed up my credit by running up a cell phone bill and not paying it. I refuse to buy another car and have a high interest rate.
Hopefully the Cougar will last another five years while I try to rebuild my credit...again.
I am praying that this car hangs int there. Plus, it is still such a good looking car it will still be a beauty 10 years down the road.
Thanks for the congrats, Skip. The little one has been quite an adventure! He's truly awesome!
I agree with you regarding the Cougar's good looks, Dgemini. I wish I could have hung onto my Cougar. With it's relative rareness and great combination of styling, performance and value, I think a well-kept new edge Cougar could be a sought after collector's item some day, despite its disappointing resale value today. And they're a lot of fun on twisty roads!
SO get out there all you bargain-hunting budding car collectors and snatch up those Cougars while you can!
It was nice to hear from some of the "old timers".
I, also, drop by this thread once in awhile. I traded in my '99 Cougar a little over a year ago due to my son being born. The Cougar just didn't cut it with a growing family. He was born in the summer of "01 and by the spring of '02 we traded the Cougar for a Tahoe for my Wife. I do occasionally miss the Cougar. I now drive a '02 VW Jetta and am enjoying it.
When was the last time badulah posted on this thread?
Allot has happened since the heyday of the '99 Cougar for me.......new son, lost a job, got another job and am building a new house and plan to move in less than a month.
When I was car shopping back in 99 the Jetta with a VR6 was the car I REALLY wanted. But the Cougar offered close to what a wanted out of the Jetta as far as performance, it looked better, AND it cost significantly less.
For my next car I plan on getting a VW, however I plan to have it parked alongside my Cougar.
Hopefully I will be able to leave Afghanistan and drive my Cougar in the next 30 days or so. They keep changing when we will be able to go home.
Comments
burnsmr4
More news later after I take the cat over the hills a few times.
Hope you all are having a great holiday!
smedcougar aka Deb
smedcougar
But, I have recently heard a low groaning noise from the power steering when the temperature is 20F or lower. Goes away as the cars warms up, so am inclined to think it's just old age (4th winter for us), although I did have a similar problem with a previous car.
That one turned out to be a fluid leak.
When I get a warmer day, I'll check the fluid level, but I havn't dseen any indications of fluid leaks on the ground where I consistently park.
Anyone had a similar situation?
If so, what was your diagnosis?
Skip G.
Imigliore, interesting comment on the Michelin tires. I suspect the softer ride is because of the H-rating would could mean softer sidewalls versus the V-rating on the BFGs. I may stick with V-rated tires (or higher) when time comes to replace mine.
My 99 continues to run fine. I have 48,000 miles on it and only real problem was a bad front wheel bearing. Had front brakes done this past summer and other than routine maintenance, that's it! I'm wondering about new plugs this coming summer despite the 100K tuneup interval. Also might change the extended life coolant. Anyone out there done either of those?
Jim H.
Haven't posted in a while...right now my Cougar is sitting around...idle waiting for me to get home...again.
Only spent six months home from Korea...and now I am here...any guesses where I might be after I return...if I even get back to the states first.
However I think God things are going well over here for me, it seems we have more to worry about from our own guys than from the enemy, even though they have been getting a little nasty lately.
When I return home my Cougar has an appointment with the body shop. I also plan on getting it detailed afterwards, and I need to get a tune-up and probably get the radiator flushed.
Well, gotta go, happy Cougaring. I am still trusting that God will allow my Cougar to go at least 10 years!
Later,
The first time, the car would 'act' like it was out of gas when the gauge read 1/4 of a tank. The first time I 'ran out gas' I was on the freeway - the gauge read just below 1/4 but the car wouldn't run. When AAA towed me to the gas station and we filled the tank, it only took 10 gallons. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the gauge & pump (told me that it's all one unit).
The second time I filled up my tank and then noticed that the gauge read only 1/2 a tank. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the gauge & pump again.
I've also had battery, sunroof, and brake problems that the dealer has covered under warranty.
I LOVE my kitty, but I'm getting really tired of visiting the dealer. My original dealer has closed, so I've had to find a new dealer too. Thinking of getting rid of my car...it's a bummer to be scared to drive it.
Sorry I haven't posted much lately...I've been sick two different times in the last two months. The flu and most recently a rather irritating cold that is finally going away.
School just started last week so posts will definitely be sparatic.
Have a great week.
smedcougar
Can anyone tell me if they experienced this problem and perhaps found the cause? The heater will only work on High on my 1999 Cougar. Any help or idea how to fix it would be appreciated. I'm assuming it's a resistor, and if someone can tell me where to look for it or if it would be dicfficult for me to replace it... I'd appreciate it :-)
Take care
Jim H.
Now, the good stuff: nothing bad has happened lately. Perhaps the car's diseases have run their course. I average 20 MPG but my commute is only 7 miles. It appears that on longer trips the mileage is 25 MPG or better.
My car has the sport package, which gives you 16" wheels and either of 2 bad tire types: Firestone something or others and BF Goodrich comp T/A's. I had the comp T/A's, which are reputed to be better than the Firestones but they lose traction early and squeal and lasted only 15,000 miles. After going through my second set of comp T/A's I bought a set of Michelin Pilot XGT's. These have far better traction and handling. They're supposed to last longer (50,000 mile guarantee) but I don't know if it's true. They cost like hell so they had better last.
I find the car pleasant to drive. It steers and stops very well. I like the ride and the solid chassis. I like the driver's seat (many folks don't). For $6300, it's probably a good commuter car.
Jim H.
Skip G.
smedcougar
burnsmr4
Smed: sorry about your lay off. I was also laid off in Oct of 2001 and it took about 3 1/2 months to find something. Things will work out.....
Subaru is still great. Put about 17K miles on her in the first year -- about 7K more than I did on my Cougar. Longer commute -- maybe? Cougar spent more time in the shop -- much more likely? ;-)
Later folks!
burnsmr4
My father in-law is a mechanic...is this something he could fix or is it still covered under warranty at the dealer? Thanks.
Angela
Jim H.
Have a great week folks!
Deb
Man, 6,300.00 for a 99 Cougar.... with 40,000 miles...mine has close to 80,000 miles I wonder how much mine is worth....
I plan on driving my Cougar until it falls to pieces...I know I will never get my money's worth out of it if I try to sell it. Hopefully with a little maintenance it will run forever.
Just over 2 months left in Afghanistan....
Take car all
I'm interested in buying either 00 or 01 mercury cougar. I really havent much about this vehicle. Basically I'm trying to find out if anyone has had any major probs with the vehicle. Also good feedback about the vehicle is great to hear also.
Thanks,
Amy
The tires are no good. The cars come from the factory with either Firestone or B.F. Goodrich tires that don't grip and don't last. I just put Michelin Pilots on. They may not last but they sure do grip.
Once it has good tires and it runs, the Cougar is a splendid GT. It goes far and fast. It's smooth and steers wonderfully. The brakes (I have the 4 -wheel discs) are amazing. As far as power goes, it's fast enough to get out of its own way.
I like my Cougar. I wish it were rear-wheel drive, weighed 500 pounds less and had the torque peak at 3000 RPM. But then I couldn't have bought it for $18,000.
My 2000 Cougar warranty just expired four months ago, and I have 51,000Kl. This morning my car would not start, the car would crank. Had auto club come and try to start it, no luck, had to have it towed in. Of course it was Sunday and Dealer was closed, so took it in to Canadian Tire. They said it was my ignition pick up coil, so they replaced it, as well as changing oil, and spark plugs due to excessive gas from trying to start car. My total bill was $480.00 Canadian. Ouch! My question is should the ignition coil have failed considering not warning light has never come on, and low mileage, and only 3 years old. Does anyone think I have any recourse with the dealer. My Second question is when its cold outside and I start my car, I hear a sound like a hydraulic pump noise, which goes away after the car gets some gas. I have mentioned this to dealer a few times, but they have never solved this problem?
However, lack of advertising AND the competition coming out with similar looking sports coupes that DID get good advertising (Celica, Eclipse) really hurt its sales.
Then the abandonment of an upgraded Cougar since you could make a lot more money using it's technology in the X-type Jaguar sealed it's fate.
Like I said earlier, I hope to drive my Cougar till it falls apart. Look forward to getting home, getting it a new exhaust AND some body work...when I finally get out of Afghanistan.
It's probably good business for Ford to upgrade the Cougar to the Jaguar X; I also suspect that you need four wheel drive to handle the 3 liter engine in this chassis.
I have been absolutely thrilled with the Michelin Pilots I put on my Cougar. Traction is great both wet and dry. I drive Highway 17 between Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz a lot. This must be the nastiest road in creation but it feels absolutely pleasant with the Pilots. Today there were 3 accidents going (in the rain) and one coming back (mostly dry). Cat never made a false move.
I loved my cougar when I bought it, but I think it has to rank as the worst car purchase I ever made based on the quality of the car and the rapid depreciation.
If I sound bitter, it is because I am. I wonder if Mercury really appreciates all the damage they did to themselves with the way they handled the cougar? I had never even considered a Mercury before the cougar, and I certainly never will again. They had the makings of a great car, but they never came through in any way: performance, build quality or marketing.
I traded my Cougar back in January for a Nissan Altima 3.5SE. I love the Altima but still miss my cat on occasion. The Cougar was a lot of fun to drive and remains one of the best looking vehicles ever to come out of the FMC in my opinion. For these reasons I was sad to see it go, however I needed something that was a little more family friendly with the arrival of my son last summer. I was also growing tired of my too frequent visits to the service department.
I must say that this group, from the early days back in 1998, truly enhanced the enjoyment of my Cougar ownership experience. The group included some really nice people and my wife and I enjoyed meeting some members at the Lake Placid get together in 2000. Although I don't still have my Cougar, I saved my CSG decal that I picked up at the Lake Placid event.
So if you're still reading this post, drop a line before Edmunds axes this thread. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing.
Cheers,
Krnch
It still amazes me how poorly Mercury promoted the Cougar; I guess they were happy that Jaguar took the chassis and put a different cat on it.
I guess Cougar owners, whoever you are, don't need support any more.
I expect to keep mine for at least a couple more years, so the depreciation is not a major concern. And if you check the used car ads, you'll see the rebates offered on new cars in recent years have driven down the prices of most used cars. I don't think the Cougar is any worse than most.
I also don't agree with those who think that if Mercury had advertised more, the car would have sold much better. It sold well in 99, but then didn't keep up with the competition in terms of performance. Mercury had obviously decided that the Cougar was not worth investing development money in and let it die a natural death. Advertising a second tier product would not have helped. They needed to stay competitive and didn't.
All in all I am happy with my Cougar. It's fun to drive and also very practical. It's surprising how much stuff you can haul with the back seats folded down. And I routinely get 30+ MPG on a trip. Not bad.
Jim H.
Today's NY Times "Escapes" section has an article about Pontiac Aztek (UGGGGLYYYYY) owners who have similar complaints. The following is an excerpt:
"Should the calamity come to pass, Aztek owners will at least find themselves in good company. Just in the last few years, carmakers have discontinued several models after embarrassingly short life spans — the Lincoln Blackwood, the Cadillac Catera and the briefly revived Mercury Cougar all come to mind. And at each announcement of a demise, thousands of owners have suddenly found themselves driving cars acknowledged as failures and virtually certain to lose a fair percentage of their resale value.
In 1998, the Ford Motor Company introduced a new version of its Mercury Cougar, which had been a popular and slightly upscale version of the Mustang in its first incarnation in the 60's and 70's and then morphed into a rather bland midsize coupe. The new Cougar was presented as a sleek, sporty front-drive model. In November 1999, John Scullin, a freelance graphic designer from Brockton, Mass., picked up a sapphire-blue 2000 Cougar. "I wanted an older, classic-style car," Mr. Scullin said. "As soon as I saw it, I was sold."
Mr. Scullin's Cougar quickly became his avocation. He spent hours customizing it and chatting online with fellow Cougar owners, many of whom became friends. In 2001, he brought together a six-car caravan that drove 900 miles to attend a CougarFest, an event in Detroit, supported by Ford, in which the car's enthusiasts were invited to tour the plant and hold a cookout.
But the market for a coupe like the Cougar was unhealthy, and the Cougar did not provide a cure. Plans were made to close out the Cougar and it was pulled from the market in 2002. The year the Cougar was discontinued, Mr. Scullin said, Ford stopped supporting the CougarFests for owners of the redesigned, late-model Cougars. "Ford has treated the Cougar as the relative nobody wants around," he said."
I, too, tend to keep a car for 8-9 years as I don't pile up a lot of mileage. 4 1/2 years, and only 42Kmi on the clock.
Still running OK, but in the body shop today for a front bumper cover, a victim of a frozen snobank in a parking lot. My fault, and it'll cost me $600 out the door. At least I got a free rental for the day ;-)
Thanks for asking after us old-timers KRNCH, and congratulations on the family. My kid is going to be 38 this year, so I don't have to worry about car seats in the back.
Skip G.
As far as I can recall, no one has ever been in my back seat.
I am still around and still driving my cougar.
The Altima is a good buy. It is simply one of the best performance values out there...AND it's a family sedan!
The only drawback is that the Cougar will still handle better. However for straight line performance...the Altima's are simply awesome.
Still plan on keeping my Cougar. Especially since my ex wife messed up my credit by running up a cell phone bill and not paying it. I refuse to buy another car and have a high interest rate.
Hopefully the Cougar will last another five years while I try to rebuild my credit...again.
I am praying that this car hangs int there. Plus, it is still such a good looking car it will still be a beauty 10 years down the road.
I agree with you regarding the Cougar's good looks, Dgemini. I wish I could have hung onto my Cougar. With it's relative rareness and great combination of styling, performance and value, I think a well-kept new edge Cougar could be a sought after collector's item some day, despite its disappointing resale value today. And they're a lot of fun on twisty roads!
SO get out there all you bargain-hunting budding car collectors and snatch up those Cougars while you can!
I, also, drop by this thread once in awhile. I traded in my '99 Cougar a little over a year ago due to my son being born. The Cougar just didn't cut it with a growing family. He was born in the summer of "01 and by the spring of '02 we traded the Cougar for a Tahoe for my Wife. I do occasionally miss the Cougar. I now drive a '02 VW Jetta and am enjoying it.
When was the last time badulah posted on this thread?
Allot has happened since the heyday of the '99 Cougar for me.......new son, lost a job, got another job and am building a new house and plan to move in less than a month.
I hope everyone is doing well!!
When I was car shopping back in 99 the Jetta with a VR6 was the car I REALLY wanted. But the Cougar offered close to what a wanted out of the Jetta as far as performance, it looked better, AND it cost significantly less.
For my next car I plan on getting a VW, however I plan to have it parked alongside my Cougar.
Hopefully I will be able to leave Afghanistan and drive my Cougar in the next 30 days or so. They keep changing when we will be able to go home.
God bless all you guys!