2000 Ford Cougar 24v X from UK and Ireland - Comments

New automatic gearbox fitted at 6,500 miles under warranty.

Ford will rue the day they did not offer the ST200 engine from the start.

The only Cougar model worth considering is the 24v X with leather seats. The 2.0 litre version is all show and no go and the seats in the cloth trimmed models are the most uncomfortable ever fitted to a car. Car and Driver magazine in the USA remarked that the comfort of the non-leather seats was "like sitting on four pine logs!"

The 2.5 V6 engine is a smooth performer until a note of harshness creeps in at higher revs. This engine does have an annoying tendency to hold onto revs after gearchanges. My Cougar has the four speed automatic box, and this unit appears to be well suited to the engines characteristics.

Fuel economy I have found to be outstanding. Keeping to UK speed limits on a run you should achieve between 33 to 35 mpg. Round town expect 24 to 28 mpg depending on your driving style and mood.

The ride is firm at low speeds but improves greatly the faster you go. Cougars exported from the US have the sports suspension package as standard. Corners can be taken at insane speeds such is the confidence this car inspires. Very high lateral G forces can be achieved and the Cougar is one of the quickest cars on a slalom course.

Don't be put off by the 2.5 V6 engine. It is very cheap to service and basically only requires oil changes up to 30,000 miles. The long life spark plugs are not replaced until 100,000 miles!

Unusually, my automatic gearbox dramatically failed at only 6,500 miles. Apart from that (and that was enough), nothing else has gone wrong. Remember, this is a car designed to survive a Chicago winter and a summer in Phoenix.

It is a beautiful looking car with a practical hatch arrangement. However the rear seats are only suitable for people under 5'8".

Great review, except about the seats, on all leather seats I seem to slide about, but the cloth ones were much better and this 'sitting on logs' expressions is balls... They're perfect, perhaps the reviewer had piles..!!!

Would agree with most of the comments, but dispute the mpg for the around town figure, I would suggest 22 - 24 mpg on 2.5 auto, even in 'economy' mode.

As a member for UKCougar.com, the Ford Cougar Owners Club for the UK, I feel I have to add that even in the club, there are wide and varied reports about fuel consumption. Some people report as little as 23mpg in manual form, whereas I commute in rush hour traffic with a manual and get between 31mpg and 34mpg. I normally get 35mpg on a long run at 70mph.

I would be surprised if autos weren't the same story, and I whilst I completely believe the figures stated above I would suggest that the owner's of thirstier Cougars are possibly guilty of enjoying the power more often than others.

Just my 2p.

The Cougar is now getting older; mine is a 1998 2.5 V6 X. I love it having bought it near Southampton in 2004 and have driven it most days for over 3 years. The V6 is so smooth and responsive. The mpg from this 85,000 mile engine is about 30 + on average. I have got 35 on a run, but around local trips it comes down to 28 or 29 mpg. Going to work on dual carriage and driving sensibly (honest!) it gives me 32 over the week. Tyres can be expensive, but but just look after them and they last well over 20k miles on the front, longer on the back. It's a great looking Ford, sleek and silver in my case. The boot area is very large for a coupe style car. Generally if you find one in good condition, buy it and have some driving fun. It does need to be driven to have fun, but it will also cruise nicely and calmly on motorways at a very good speed! I like the extras, heated seats, electric heated front screen that gets rid of frost and steam very quickly. The air con is very effective, good standard Ford kit that works very well. Mine did pack up while in my ownership and almost did not get fixed due to the costs quoted by Ford. However a local Air Con specialist diagnosed the problems, came to my home to replace all and shaved about half off the Ford quote! Having said all that, I am now selling her, just because I like to have the chance to drive other cars for a while... but, it will be very tempting to buy a newer model! One day this will be a collectors car, the style was ahead of its time and still looks good against many of today's 'look-a-like' shells that appear across the range of marques. (ps I'm over 50 so the insurance is no problem for me - sometimes it pays to get that bit older!)

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