Faults:

Headlight bulbs keeps blowing.

General Comments:

The Cougar 2 is a nice car, I bought it as a replacement for my Saab Convertible as I felt it represented good value for money, £15,000 for an 11 month old car which new retailed at £23,000. I was looking for a fairly exacting spec, dark external colour (can't stand silver!!) leather interior, auto gearbox, low miles etc. Eventually found one from a Ford dealer in Amazon Green, black leather, auto, heated front seats, climate control, RS alloys (which look gorgeous) full x pack. The car is fantastic I love it, performance is great and it looks fantastic. My only gripe would be running costs. It returns no more than 30 mpg on motorway runs and servicing is always much higher than Ford fixed cost servicing, I also broke a fog lamp lens which must measure 3 inches by an inch and a half and Ford are quoting me £100 to buy and then will charge me to install, but can never get one in in time when I have it serviced. The boot size is great and acts as a mobile office for me! All in all I love the car and have for months been toying with changing for a BMW or Merc diesel, but having got a few trade in prices on the Cougar am probably going to stick with it!! (another downside I suppose, resale value)

Faults:

Fuse blows for heated seat / fog lamps - was repaired, but still blows.

General Comments:

Love the engine roar above 5000rpm.

Made my decision to buy as soon as I sat inside it. The cabin seemed so bright and modern compared to other cars I'd been in. It also had a lot of modern features that weren't in the other cars. The leather seats are the softest, best shaped and the perforated look adds that extra style.

At first when driving the car the rear mirror was obtrusive especially on left turns. However I turned it upside down and it was a lot better.

It is more economical than expected, around town only 28mpg, but on runs reaches 36mp (UK) g.

The styling is provocative. It's not clear whether it's sleek, stylish, aggressive, attractive or ugly. From some positions it looks brutal. From others very sleek, low and wind cutting. Some cars look immediately sweet, like the Celica, but the Cougar gets you all ways, more masculine I think.

It's also bigger than it looks, the boot space is large and two people easily fit on the passenger side. I'm 6ft and wouldn't like anyone sat behind me although it happened.

The car has never let me down in any way. The fuse blowing is an irritation especially in winter on leather seats. Every morning it starts and I can cruise in 5th gear at 30mph or 70mph or I can roar away if someone is slug-like.

Faults:

Nothing... yet!!

General Comments:

Owning a sports car is a first for me. Now the kids are grown up... it's time for the adults to play!

This car meets all our needs. Big enough for 4 (we do have friends, despite having kids!) with a great size boot means that we will be able to tour comfortably in it. The power and performance is exceptional. Nice to know it's there when needed.

I have the cloth seat version - I test drove one with leather, but found I was sliding around like a pea on a drum. The cloth seems much more supportive, although it took a while to get a comfortable driving position. That's a good excuse not to let anybody else drive it!!

Fuel consumption is exceptional for the engine size - recently achieved 38mpg driving on the motorway between 70 and 80, which is pretty good round Birmingham!