-Eye-catching styling
-Handsome interior design
-Nimble handling
-Awesome brakes
-Comfortable seats
-Impressive cargo space

-Disappointing acceleration
-Disappointing audio system
-Small side mirrors
-Lackluster fit and finish
-Questionable body durability

The body styling caught my eye immediately, and the French Blue, especially paired with the C2 package, is to die for! The car hugs and road, steers nimbly, and the passenger compartment is quite comfortable and functional. Better leather than on most seats. The brakes are firm and super-reassuring, a real plus on Los Angeles roads. I continue to marvel at the amount of trunk space (a tremendous shortcoming of the Stealth). Seems like Mercury got the big things right, but where they faulter is on some of the smaller ones (e.g., a midget cup holder, shallow map pockets, intermittent wipers whose speed varies little through most of the range of adjustments). The side mirrors are certainly stylish but the size of postage stamps (watch those blind spots), and the rear view mirror distorts terribly in "night mode." Acceleration is decent now that the car is new (less than 2000 miles), but certainly doesn't live up the car's looks and may prove disappointing as the engine ages. The stereo system, well, why offer a cool in-dash CD changer but package it with such a wimpy amp and disappointing speakers? (And what were they thinking when they included a mute button that doesn't pause the CD??) My biggest concern, however, is body integrity. I had the car s-i-x days when I was rear-ended at a very low speed, but nonetheless the entire rear bumper must be replaced (I use the future tense because the bumper is currently unavailable from Mercury - guess no one is supposed to get in an accident for the first six months of ownership). The paint is s-o-f-t; I've been behind the wheel for every mile on the odometer since it left the dealer and don't remember being showered with pebbles by any passing truck, but the hood nonetheless already has a couple of chips/dings. Weatherstripping is not adhering in several places.

Don't get my wrong, my heart still races every time I step outside and see my Cougar parked at the curb, and I love the comments from other people ("What kind of car is that?"). I just wish the entire package was as impressive as the Cougar's looks.

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Dodge Stealth - no comparison, the Stealth is far superior (but, to be fair, significantly more expensive)

Great design, sleek, fast-not exactly quick on starts but once your going it just acts like it has turbo. Excellent pickup on the highway, taking it down the interstate (no one around) at 65mph then accelerating arriving at 140mph in no time and feeling smooth all the way, YES it can do more than 123mph as an earlier reviewer wrote maybe they forgot a limiter on mine and can find noone who says it has one, I see 150mph on the speedo and while I've never tried top-top speed I think it could go more than I've reached. I had a idiot tailgaiter on my ass on an off-ramp and just hit the accelerator reaching 100mph from 55mph leaving them eating cat exhaust. I love the pickup it has. The enjoyment per dollar is very high, I highly reccomend the Cougar, I bought the first year production (something I usually never do) had some expected bugs but didn't change my mind about owning it.

Yes the trunk spring had to be replaced, too weak of a spring to fully release lid. No squeaking of brakes as some have had. Nothing else to report so far.

I feel like I've made an excellent choice in vehicles, I bought a first year run vehicle when usually I don't and have some bugs at first, nothing major at all and now that I've had it for 1-1/2 years nothing has happened. I of course keep regular maintenance on it (a big part of any car care) other than that no problems whatsoever. Everyone who has been in it or drove it love it. It has very good gas mileage.
All in all the amount I spent on the Cougar was very well spent, you can't say that much anymore.

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Celica,Hondas,Sebring these cars while good don't quite feel like the Cougar, some are whiny sounding some just too heavy.

nice 6 cyl...peppy great passing power...3rd gear is just wonderful, the car is just crying for an upgrade to get her up to 225hp, and move the power to rear wheel or better yet all wheel drive..when i first got it when they came out it was a great conversation piece...comments comments and more comments...but do make it look good.

the snow driving is not so hot but i paid for the performance wheels and tire set, but i pay more in the winter when i get it stuck...
6cyl needs some nitro to compete with eqlipse
needs more of a cockpit feel like that of the eclipse some where to rest the elbow when shifting the first center console fell short, speakiing of the center console...its a little flimsey but i think they fixed all of that with the new addition.

looks great....feels great...runs great...i look great in it...and affordable..my recommendation is to wait for the cougar s.....rummored to have 200hp...but thats still won't do it ford is being stingy because if they move the car into some muscle, place the power on the rear wheels or all, the car has the potential to pass up the mustangs lousy body style(mustang needs a diet)
don't get me wrong though this is a great car i have owned it for 2 years and its only been in for oil changes, and a cosmetic visit....no problems...its a nice highway ride....very solid....just as quite as a mercedies..well almost..but nice
Since i live in the north and I "have" to get to work regardless of the weather this is my last week with the black cat, i hope she goes to a nice home...jeep land here i come...wranglers on a train to me...can't wait, i've wanted one since i was a boy...dreams do come true, well almost anyway.

happy driving,
cattle

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Durability, power, handling, interior space

Rusting a bit, but if taken care of properly isn't much of an issue, passenger auto seat belt sticks some times, somewhat limited field of view.

My Cougar was purchased as a program rental in 92' It served as our everyday family car for 8 solid years in the back woods of Wisconsin. I've had it at college in Minneapolis for a year now and it has never let me down even with it's 142k miles. A couple years ago it had a preventative valve job done and our ace dealer put a re-ground head gasket from a Ford Windstar in it. ]=) But even with mini-van parts, she still fires-up on the coldest Minnesota winter day, and cruises down I-35 like a champ.

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I don't think anything can really compare to this large American automobile.

Luxury interior, and that's about it.

Engine is weak. Goes through brake rotors like they are nothing. $1000 to fix blown head gasket. No recalls on any of the problems!

Replaced brake pads twice in last year. In shop currently for blown head gasket($1000 to fix!). Transmission screwing up all the time.

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Ford Thunderbird- Cougar has more luxury, but they are basicly the same thing!

Good Value. Handling.

Where to begin...Shotty construction. rough ride. noisy ride. rattling. broken radios. etc...

This car has so much potential but the fact that it is produced by Ford Motor Company has doomed it from the start. I purchased the car in January of 1999 and presently have 22k miles on it. I have had this car in the shop more times for more problems than any car I've ever owned [and I've owned some junky cars] From day one, the car rode like it needed it's tires balancing. After 6 trips to the dealer and 6 times having my tires balance in 1 month, the car still road like a pile of dung on wheels. After hitting a small pothole, the rear control arm snapped. After hitting another pothole, the front rim bent. I have been and am still pursuing the lemon law with very little luck. I would not recommend this car for anyone unless you plan on living at the Mercury dealer for the rest of it's life. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun car to drive [occasionally] but it is still constructed very poorly. My door latches have been replaced [manufacturers defect], my windows have come off the track [manu defect], the Radio AND CD player have both been replaced [radio 2 times], the trunk release works when it wants to, the dashboard rattles.. I could go on but will spare the gory details.

DON'T BUY THIS Pile of CRAP!!!

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None!!!!

I don't know where to begin! This car has been a nightmare for me.

Since January 2001 I have been to the dealership once a week. The problems all started when I had to have the engine replaced at 92 000 kilometers. Since then I have had problems with the brakes, tye rods, catalytic convertor, the vapor exhaust system etc, etc, etc. The latest problem is with the engine warning light coming on. Every time it comes on (a total of 5 times now!) I take it in to be serviced and a different code comes up on the diagnosis each time. The last time it came on was less then 24 hours after it had been fixed. The dealership has gone out of their way to help me but can only do so much. I have been advised to get rid of it ASAP but can't afford to do so. Ford Canada has been of little help but did offer me a customer appreciation certificate. A certificate worth 1500$ towards the purchase of a new Ford vehicle. What a joke!!!!! I'll never buy Ford for the rest of my days.

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I have never owned a vehicle that has caused me so many problems and will never purchase another Ford vehicle.

Looks

There is not enough room here!

I got this car after Ford bought back my 1997 Probe due to a check engine light problem they couldn't fix. One month after I got the car, the warning light came on to tell me my brake pads were wearing out. I took it in for repair and they "fixed" the problem. Four months later the light came on again and they again "fixed" the problem. They fixed it so good that when a brake pad fell off and the rotar was being ground down due to metal on metal - the light never came on. One of the brake pad sensors apparently rubbed on a tire and was worn through to bare wires and the light never came on! Gee do you think they disconnected the light on me??? I do! I have had problems with the trunk latch, the idiot light to tell me coolant is low and the one to tell me the washer fluid is low, the speakers go in an out when you go over bumps (but it never happens for the mechanic!) the vent on the dash pops up if you put defrost on high (absolutely necessary in WI!) I just paid $580.00 for a brake job and have gotten absolutely no assistance from Ford when I tried to talk to them. They admit that at 45,000 miles the car should not need new brakes, especially since most of my driving is highway driving, but they won't do anything about the problems. I have been waiting over 5 months for the part to come in to fix the idiot light problem (apparently it is on back order because so many people have the same problem!) I could live with the uncomfortable back seats and the useless cup holder if it weren't for all the other problems! I think I want my Probe back!

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Handling is bloody amazing. Looks. Top end power. 'Exciting' in the snow. Made in USA (hooray, we can get parts). Price. Gas Mileage.

Shoulda got a manual. Stereo blows. More brake dust than a BMW. A little slow off the line. Some quality issues (like when will the trunk latch behave?). More expensive than imports to modify. You must be below this line to ride in the back seat -. It doesn't buy me beer.

Well, we're not winnin' all the stoplight drags with an auto, but handles like a fine sports coupe from europe, the power steering is completely opposite to your mom's oldsmobile. This car looks even sexier moving sideways than it does at 140+mph (go get the sport package and a radar detector). Wide tires make the snow and ice a challenge, but the parking brake can be used to remedy the problem. Some questions have no answers, like 'Why is there no redline on the tach???', 'What's up with that d*mn trunk latch??' and 'How many engineers does it take to operate the cupholder??????????' Remember folks, that windshield is like 36,000 square feet, so keep the heat on in the cold 'cause there's no fog lights inside the car. If you liked this review, send beer, or an exorcist for the trunk latch.

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Looks, handling

Reliability, workmanship, rear visibility, Reliability, workmanship, Reliability, workmanship, Reliability, workmanship, Reliability, workmanship, Reliability, workmanship, Reliability, workmanship,

I bought the car for its looks and performance. I had some misgivings buying a Ford product, especially one manufactured in Flat Rock, but I was wooed by the looks and handling. Big mistake!

As soon as I drove the car off the lot, the trunk/hatch started rattling. That was only the beginning...the brake warning light came on shortly after, and I wrestled with the dealer for a while to take care of that. The car quickly developed other rattles that I can't track down. After 37,000 miles the front rotors warped enough to require replacement, right after the warranty expired...no relief from the dealer or Ford. The car makes a loud hum until it warms up; I've heard this same symptom in other ngs. After 37,000 miles, the car uses (not loses) about a quart of oil every couple of weeks. What a piece of crap!

On top of all that, for some reason, Lincoln-Mercury dealers seem to have, for some reason, the most unreliable, rude, and unsympathetic repair departments I have ever come across. I can't wait to get rid of this car and go back to Saturn or Toyota.

Hopefully, for you prospective owners, this has improved in 2000-2001, but I for one, will never by a Cougar again. In the words of the immortal Alfred E. Neuman....ecccccchhhhh!

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Previously owned Saturn SC-2, Toyota Celicas,