* Reasonable economy for a V6 automatic
* Superb styling
* Exceptional interior space
* Excellent headlights
* Tremendous roadholding and grip
* Cheap to service and insure

* Possibly the worst seats ever fitted to a car. I have leather, but is the average ass in the US so big?
* Rear seats only suitable for people under 5' 10"
* Automatic transmission, completely failed at 6600 miles. New unit fitted
* Should have had the ST200 engine from the start.
* Appalling dealership service, quality of workmanship akin to vandalism
* Car prone to tramlining. Tyres wearing evenly on front, but wanders at speed.
* Standard sports suspension on UK vehicles shakes the fillings in your teeth
* Rear suspension creaks
* Lethargic performance with auto transmission.

This is such a beautifull car. Buying it was an emotional experience in itself.I had intended to purchase a sensible VW Golf turbodiesel,couldnt get the deal I wanted, walked across the road to the Ford dealership and bought this gas guzzler.
My Cougar seems to be fairly well screwed together. Noise on auto gearbox when foot lifted off accelerator at motorway (freeway) speeds, gradually got worse then completely failed. Dealership mechanics scratched both wings quite extensively during repair as wing covers were not used. Both wings need to be resprayed.....still in dispute with Ford.
This car cost me £21,270 (U$26,000) including a £1700 discount. Not so cheap in the UK and our unleaded is U$4.80 a gallon!
Cougar as of January 2001 no longer imported to the UK, this may help residuals.

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FIAT Coupe turbo, loads more performance. Poor reliability

I love the look of the car, inside and out. It's pretty good on gas too.

I've had it in the shop about 6 times now, since July 2000. The brakes grind when you stop. I've had trouble with the truck release. I've had the radio replaced, because the speakers would go in and out of tune. Moonroof squeaks when opening. The most recent problem was a valve of some kind; Only since it's been cold, when you're turning it makes a loud sound. The dealer said it has been happening with a lot of the 99's and its on a national backorder. Also, it shakes a little when you're at higher speeds. It only has 22k on it, I'm dreading whats going to go wrong next.

Even though so many things have gone wrong with it, I still love it. I regret buying a 99' though, I wish I would have bought a new one instead of used.

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I've had a 97' Talon, I've had it in more times than I can count. Cougar is way better.

Zippy engine, comfortable but sporty ride. Big buttons on radio are easy to use and well placed. Looks draw lots of attention. Great value - tons of standard features and options for the money. Decent gas mileage.

Flywheel way too heavy - saps acceleration and takes too long for engine to rev and drop. Questionable build quality. Trunk latch never wants to work right. Crummy shifter - imprecise and mushy. Frost and freeze warning lights always in the corner of your eye during winter.

I dreamed of owning this car since the first spy photo appeared in Car and Driver. Years later, my 1990 Storm threw a rod (after 170,000 miles), and I went down to the local dealership to buy a Cougar. It took a while to find the car I wanted, and I got silver instead of the color I wanted (Spruce Green) because of the impossibilty of finding a 5-speed manual. Test drives with other Cougars went really well, so I decided on the model and options I wanted.
After purchase, a sound/vibration developed somewhere behind the firewall. It seemed to be related to the clutch somehow. The dealership could not pin down the problem, and after several attempts, the car is about the be replaced with a 2001 Cougar V6. Another problem with reliability is the Airbag Warning light coming on occasionally, and then the service guys can't track down what is wrong with it. At first, they replaced the airbag module. Now, they just let it go. The trunk latch never seems to work right. To open it, you have to walk to the back of the car, push the trunk release, and immediately pull the trunk open, or else it relatches. Not dangerous or damaging to the vehicle, just annoying.
The Cougar offers great value for the money and handles well, but it is not a true sports car. More like a luxurious "sport" coupe. The handling is sharp, and the suspension feels good. Brakes are pretty good, and no, ABS is NOT standard like it says above. There is a fair amount of brake dust. Gas mileage is pretty good. I average 24 MPG city driving. Probably 28 - 30 on the highway. The engine is decent, but nothing special. The exhaust note is bland. The valves make more noise than the exhaust pipe. Acceleration is fairly linear, no big VTEC or Turbo jump at high engine speeds. If the flywheel was lighter, the car would be much sportier, but as it is, the engine is slow to respond and the heaviness of the flywheel leeches performance. The transmission is probably right out of a Ford Contour, and it you can feel it. It is mushy and there is really no feel for the gears. You can't shift very quickly like in a Mazda or Honda. Even if you do, the flywheel is still trying to catch up with the clutch anyway.
For just cruising, it's a nice car. The heaviness of the flywheel means that the car will coast forever, and the cruise control is dead on. It looks nice, drives well in traffic or back roads, and looks great moving or sitting still. But if you're looking for sporty, hold out for the Acura RSX or maybe a Toyota Celica.

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Ford Probe - Similar handling and power, Cougar should have been released by Ford as a "new" Probe. Honda Accord - worse value, better reliability

Very Peppy on start not on long run though. Gas mileage is great just about over 28mpg. Alot of reliability,dependable,average mid size for sports coupe. Pick up chicks in no time with my bad A** 2'10 Kickers and 600 watt amp crossfire.

Very good pick up speed on start 0-60 just in 7.5 8secs.
But No TOP END POWER/Top speed 121mph plus it's a Duratec V-6 5-Spd tranny.

Cougar is better than it was Back then and the Gas mileage is better cause it's not a V-8 how it use to be eating the Tank only averaging 20 or 23 the most. But i like the New restyled Cougars Just not that sporty enough but good mid-size coupe. Not sure if i would buy another cougar i kinda like japanese cars have another it's a Nissan Maxima and it's well Sufficient.

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Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T/Eclipse whoops My A** on the Start And Maybe on the long run i know they have governers and the Top Speed on the Eclipse Maybe 115-120mph Not sure.

-Looks-interior and exterior
-Traction (it grips the road like no other)
-small
-safe

-bad blindspots.
-170hp
-Weak sound system
-to quite( i want people to here me comming)

I love it. i got it after i totaled my Explorer and im just so happy with it. At dusk when i have my "pimp'n" lights on everyone stares at me, and there mouths pretty much drop to the ground. All the fly girls like it. i get just as many compliments on this as i did my 01 eddie bauer explorer. im pleased with it and i plan to keep it for about 3 years. So far no quality problems. i got it up to 110mph down 1-94. but then i got scared so i slowed down. :)

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Eclipse's just cant hang with me. Celica's.....need i say more?!?!??
Grand Am's...please i would waste my gas racing one of those

This is a great looking car. I got the RIO red with black window tinting, and the 16" wheels. Every time I stop for gas, or get the car washed someone compliments me on what a great looking car this is! The handeling is great, but it has too much impact harshness, its no BMW in ride, but hey for an american car its the best I've driven in a while. Its also has a nice sounding engine, and confidence inspring breaks. The price is also very good.

The worst problem is a total lack of reliability. I have never had so many problems with a new car. Goes to prove the old poing that never buy a ford/Mercury in its first year. I have also had problem after problem with poor serivce. Where they do as much damage to the car as they fix, and have to return repeatedly to the dealer for the same problems. Example the fuel pump died had the car towad to dealership thank you mercury roadside assitance (they were very curtious). During diagnosis they removed the back seat to remove the fuel tank. They broke the seat anchors and never repaired them. So now the back seat rattles, so now its a second trip to a different dealer. They don't have the parts to fix it but don't tell me. 3 days of having the car sit there, they tell me oh yeah we have to order them, pick it up and will call you when their in. They have not called back. This is the most unreliable car I have ever driven in recent times. I suggest you buy two if you want one, so you can drive one while the other one is in the shop.

I bought this car after careful consideration, and comparisions to other cars like a used Mitsubishi Eclipse, and a new Acura Integra GS-R. Well the between the fact the lease was better on the cougar, and to me had the best looks, I decided to buy one. But I have to tell you I was scared of buying a Ford product becasue of poor treatment I had recieved in the past at dealerships, and their reliability record. I was not dissapointed "Ford: Quality is job one" they say. Which scares me to think how saftey ranks when I see how badly the failed at quality. This car has been in the shop every other month for a warrenty repair, or recal. It has left me dead on the side of the road twice, once at 5000 miles, and once at 17000 miles. The first was an electrical problem, the second was a fuel pump. This car is the biggest POS, and I'm so glad I leased it. I have problems with the trunk lid latching, rattles glaore, and leather seats that are discoluring, throtles that stick, and paint that has pealed, it goes on and on. So far Mercury has performed more than $3232 in warrantry repairs, and the car is once again in the shop as we speak. In two years of ownership the car has spent a grand total of 6 weeks in the shop. This is pathetic for a new car. I have trim pieces coming apart, fuses that blow all the time, a tranny that grinds. All with less than 19,000 miles, and I don't drive it excpet back and forth to work. I would never trust it on a long trip. Just remember at ford Quality is Job one!

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Acrua Integra, Mistubishi Eclipse, and VW Beetle Turbo. Buy any other car! Don't buy only one Cougar if you do. I suggest you buy two Cougars if you want one, so you can drive one while the other one is in the shop.

good gas mileage
sleek
girl magnet
pickup
interior
sunroof
cd changer

ive only had a few problems, LACK OF AFTERMARKET PARTS. but my main concern is, when i shift from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th sometimes i hear a squeek like sound and it sort of worries me. the second is the deck lid doesnt always wanna open, i find myself havin to push the button 2 or 3 times before it actually opens fully. and the third sometimes my "anti-theft" removeable number plate on my radio likes to come loose, therefore causin my radio not to work until set in right. and i understand there are a few recalls for it, if anyone has them, please let me kno, and if anyone can shed some light onto my squeeking problem between gears, id greatly appreciate it

I've only had my car for a few weeks. Overall, I can honestly say I love the car. Its my dream car, I got every option i wanted with it, took me 3 months to find but did. i got a black v6, 5 speed. tan leather interior, power seat, tilt steering, sunroof, 6 disk changer in the trunk,16 inch wheels, all the goodies. the first night i got it, i DEVOURED a 97 mustang gt, and tonight i walked a piece of civic.

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95 probe gt, 94 civic... over accelerates and out handles and out brakes them all

GOOD GAS MILEAGE
FAST
PICKUP
SLEEK
INTERIOR
EXTERIOR

HORRIBLE BLINDSPOTS
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS

I LOVE THE CAR ALOT. BUT IT GIVES ME TROUBLES ALREADY. I BOUGHT IT JUNE 5TH, 2001 AND ON JUNE 12 IT WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE TRANSMISSION ALL OVER THE PLACE.

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ECLIPSE'S-NOT FAST ENOUGH
CAMARO-TOO MANLY
MUSTANG-TOO MANY HAVE THEM

beautiful
sporty

airbag problems
trunk latch sticks
cupholders suck

My car is BEAUTIFUL. I agree that the cup holder and trunk latch suck. There is just one other thing that sucks. Don't count on the airbags. I hit someone head on at about 40 m/p/h, and they never went off. I've heard alot of stories about cougar airbags not going off. Apparantly the sensors aren't on the bumper, like in most cars. They're somewhere ridiculous that would never be triggered. If anyone else has experienced the same problem, please post it.

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none really

beautiful
sporty

airbag problems
trunk latch sticks
cupholders suck

My car is BEAUTIFUL. I agree that the cup holder and trunk latch suck. There is just one other thing that sucks. Don't count on the airbags. I hit someone head on at about 40 m/p/h, and they never went off. I've heard alot of stories about cougar airbags not going off. Apparantly the sensors aren't on the bumper, like in most cars. They're somewhere ridiculous that would never be triggered. If anyone else has experienced the same problem, please post it.

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none really