1991 Mercury Cougar XR7 review from North America
"A great car in every aspect of luxury and sport features for a low price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The alternator went bad at 85,000K. $160 to replace.
When purchased, air did not work, so I replaced the compressor and freon gas.
Still not very cold.
Shocks (electronic auto-ride) went out in the rear. Still have not replaced them, though I plan to.
General comments?
The V-8 is rated at 200HP and 275lbs. of torque. Pretty quick, but does not handle well in turns and rough roads.
Rear wheel drive spins easily on wet roads and does not drive too well in snow. But once you learn how to handle car in snow, no problem. Just use driving skills.
An absolute load of features for a low priced vehicle. Such as dual 6-way power seats with power lumbar and bolsters, power windows, locks, outside mirrors, steering with mounted cruise control, AM-FM cassette/CD with premium audio and sub woofer, information center (oil, radiator, fuel, windshield wash levels), automatic head lamps and keyless code entry.
Comfortable front seating; limited legroom in rear. Premium cloth with embroidery (XR7) on the front seats with adjustable head rests.
I had the car repainted in monochromatic (all body color, minimal chrome trim) Candy Apple Red metallic, installed a rear spoiler, dual chrome exhaust tips, and fog lamps.
The only complaints I have is the gas mileage and ride, though rides best on highways. The gas mileage is 15-16 city and 17-21 highway. To me it's horrible!!
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| Probably was good when it was new |
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| 1989 - Cougar LS 3.8 V6 standard It has been a reliable car, but fraught with nuisances and inept repair personnel |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.0 L V-8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 83000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 93000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 8th December, 2001 |