Opinions on car: 98=02 Mercury Cougar

[bds0688 10+ year member]

Over the summer I'm savign up for a car, as I am tired of my POS escort. My friend/coworker has a 2000 Mercury Cougar she may be selling at the end of the summer. I should be able to pay for it in cash by then.

Anyhow, it's a 5 speed with the 2.5, power everything, sunroof that works, power driver's seat.

I've driven it a couple times around the block, noticed nothing alarming or bad about it. I'm going to get the VIN and do a carfax, see if any warranty work/recall serivice*fuel pump* have been done.

Opinions on aftermarket? Etc. I have no intentions of making it fast. Just a nice system, wheels, and maybe tint. It's black so I'm thinking partially smoked lenses as well.

Thoughts? Things to look for? Thanks for any input.

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[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

They're alright cars.

 

[konechiwa 10+ year member]

they were so great they stopped making them.

I know that for sure.

They do look nice. I thought about gettting one for awhile, and then remembered it was an older ford- bought dereivitave American slum auto company.

So i changed my mind.

 

[DD_Dave 10+ year member]

I use to have an 01 it had the V6 with 5spd it was a nice ride...I hated getting rid of it...

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

I've had 3 Ford vehicles made from '98 to '01 and the total visits to the dealership for repairs was 1, and it was covered under warranty.

If you take care of it, it'll take care of you. The past owner of a car's care of that vehicle will tell you more about the running condition than carfax will.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I test drove I believe it was a 2002 back in 2002, so brand new. It was a special edition, with bigger rims, tires, ground effects, wing and some other ****. Was a v6 and I don't know, just didn't care for it. Wasn't very responsive and was a dog for a v6. Felt like a smaller 4. Loved the look of it back then, but glad I didn't get it.

I imagine it is better than your Escort though.

 

[86yota 10+ year member]

Dont let the fact its a Ford scare you. AS long as it has been maintained Fords are great cars, just like everything else. My Grand Marquis has 175k on it and it runs and cranks like a champ and passes emissions easily!

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

I've had 3 Ford vehicles made from '98 to '01 and the total visits to the dealership for repairs was 1, and it was covered under warranty.
If you take care of it, it'll take care of you. The past owner of a car's care of that vehicle will tell you more about the running condition than carfax will.

I can't recall if she bought it private party or from a dealer, I'll ask about it. I know she isn't going to dump a lemon. She has another 4 door car for her kids, and bills and such. So, the first thing on her list to go will be the cougar. It was an indulgence more than anything.

bigbang, the escort is such a dog that I get kind of excited when I chirp tires in a 2.2 V6 Sebring. I don't want/need fast. Just something newer, better looking, and different than the escort.

Plus, everyone around here has DSMS, V6 stangs, civics, etc. No one has a cougar. So in terms of modifying and such, it'd be a little different than the norm. Not looking to streetrace, just something better than the escort.

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

Dont let the fact its a Ford scare you. AS long as it has been maintained Fords are great cars, just like everything else. My Grand Marquis has 175k on it and it runs and cranks like a champ and passes emissions easily!

The fact it's a Ford doesn't bother me. The escort is just a lemon in general. My old 91 cavalier was a rust bucket, but ran like a champ. I don't assume any other vehicles from these companies **** as hard as those two. Just bad luck with my first two cars.

 

[TylerDurden08 10+ year member]

my 95 thunderbird has 384,000 miles on the original engine. American Cars 4 me.

 

[sdmtnbiker420 10+ year member]

ford = piece of ****

do it if youre retarded

they dont lose value exponentially for no reason...

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

ford = piece of ****

do it if youre retarded

they dont lose value exponentially for no reason...

That was insightful. Thanks.

 

[rollerdj 10+ year member]

i had an 2000 cougar. it was ok. what ever you do, don't put air ride on one. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

i had an 2000 cougar. it was ok. what ever you do, don't put air ride on one. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Oh, don't plan on that at all. I just want something better than my Escort, in every regard. This seems to fit the bill, and I can do my homework on it with plenty of time to back out if needed.

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

Meh ...

Looks good, but I'm of the same opinion as BBT ... Unresponsive and surprisingly weak.

 

[Mr. Opportunist 10+ year member]

ford = piece of ****

do it if youre retarded

they dont lose value exponentially for no reason...

x2

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

Meh ...
Looks good, but I'm of the same opinion as BBT ... Unresponsive and surprisingly weak.

I imagine they're weak and unresponsive. I wasn't thrilled with first gear, but I didn't beat on my friend's car. No money to fix it if I were to **** it up. But, it is more responsive and powerful than the escort.

Thanks for the opinions so far.

 

[dan7532 10+ year member]

get maintenance records. girls don't like to change teh oilz

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

If you end up with it let me know I have a brand new set of performance brake rotors and custom Euro Cougar tail lights...

 

[Odd-io 10+ year member]

IMO this thread and the sex change thread should be merged.

that is all.