1997 Mercury Cougar XR7 30th Anniversary review from North America
"Don't expect more than six or seven years out of it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The plastic intake manifold cracked at the heater core return line, causing coolant to fill the #3 spark plug hole and grounding the spark plug. Coolant steam fogged over the windshield and almost caused an accident. Ford had initially recalled these intake manifolds, then decided to indemnify only their fleet customers.
The driver side door is beginning to sag and will need to be re-hung.
General comments?
When new, this car performed beautifully; but it was poorly engineered and will not last much longer despite meticulous care and upkeep.
Recommended reviews
| Nice, but unreliable with costly repairs |
|
| A Great V-8 |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.6L SOHC V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 2 miles |
| Most recent distance | 143000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Crown Victoria |
| Date of Entry | 23rd July, 2004 |