1999 Mercury Cougar 6 cyl review from North America

Alternator replaced

Transmission replaced twice

Serpentine belt replaced.

Although I have had the transmission fail twice and the alternator once, everything has generally been OK with this car. Don't get me wrong, getting the transmission fixed twice in two years was aggravating enough for me to immediately sell the car, because the first "fix" was $2700 (AAMCO ripoff artists) and the second "fix" was $2699. I've been driving for the last 2 years with a leaking transmission. I'm not getting it fixed again. It's shifting fine and driving fine. When it stops rolling, then I'll get it towed to the tranny shop.

When my alternator failed, I found a new alternator on eBAY for $30 !! yes NEW, yes $30... I got a sidewalk mechanic to install it for $100.... yes $100. That was almost 2 years ago, no alternator problem since. So much for all the eBAY naysayers....

I commute 150 miles per day in my 1999 Cougar and although its not the "ballsiest" car on the road, it rips other similar cars in the curves and holds its own in the looks department.

Ignoring the trunk that won't spring open, the passenger seat that won't tilt forward all the way, the pesky rattle from the trunk compartment, the 02 sensors, everything else is fine. It has 160,000 trouble-free miles and still ticking. Not to mention it can carry 2 monstrous DJ speakers that are 46 inches tall and 20 inches wide !!!