1999 Ford Cougar V6 from UK and Ireland - Comments

One big thing has gone wrong with my car. I crashed it. This could be down to my driving, but as I've had my license for five years and have done driving as extreme as the Iraqi desert, I don't feel I am totally to blame as the corner I skidded on (at low speed) was covered in leaves and mud and also the car does not feel too great round corners. Anyway, the crash (albeit small) resulted in my bumper taking a whack which in turn splintered my radiator which is why it is now in the hand of a repair garage.

I will start off with the bad things. As stated above, I do not find this the greatest car for taking corners. My previous car was a 1994 Ford Escort 1.8 which I loved to bits and miss terribly. That little baby was great for driving round all kinds of roads, but as I am based in Cornwall while my friends and family are still in Kent I needed a motorway cruiser which is why I now have my Cougar and not my Escort.

Under the bonnet, it has a 2.5 V6 engine which on paper should be blisteringly quick. Instead I find it a bit lazy and not quite as fun to drive as my old Escort.

There are only two seat in the rear which have very little headroom for any normal sized people whilst the dashboard is just a bit on the tacky side.

You may now be thinking that I do not like this car much, but I do. This only cost me 4995GBP and for that I got a great looking car that was five years old with 53000 miles on the clock with a 3 month warranty. Passengers in the back may be a bit squished, but I get loads of room in my luxury bucket seat. For my money I also got a CD player and Climate control which is just brilliant. The boot is absolutely huge so shifting equipment in no problem.

It is extremely smooth and refined on the motorway with only the pleasant growl of the engine to be heard. The engine may not be brilliantly powerful, but this has the positive side of being surprisingly economical when driven sensibly. It also has traction control which can be turned off and on with the press of a switch. Didn't do me many favours though.

All in all, it is a pain having a crash at the best of times and I do find that the handling is not the best if you have to drive through country lanes. that said, if you drive mainly on A roads and want a bargain sports car then have a look at the Cougar, it could be just what you want.

I have read a couple of reports that Cougars are bad in corners, but mine is very well balanced and exceptionally predictable and grippy. I also fine the engine the perfect compromise between power and economy. I think "lazy" is a bit harsh for the engine, though it is certainly laid back. It will however overtake from 50mph in 5th on normal sweepy single carriageways which is a luxury normally reserved for turbodiesels, although the V6 will rev to 6750rpm should you find you need to hold a gear for a few notches on the speedometer.

Coming from a 1.8 Escort I would suggest that author above's Cougar has worn or damaged suspension due to the apparent corner phobia.

It is possible though, that the author was simply expecting more from the car over the Escort. Personally I went to test drive a 231bhp Mazda RX-8 and was left unimaginably underwhelmed and disappointed in it with is whiney little Wankel engine which revs to about 9000rpm yet hasn't enough torque to pull the skin off a custard.

The author above could perhaps feel the same way?

I too had a problem going around bends and crashed, but I love the style so I'm keeping her and now the works been done she looks like the day I bought her cool moon dust xx.

I have owned a Cougar for six months now and really like the car, but do find the handling a little woolly.

I appreciate that it was never intended as a back lane racer and treat it accordingly, there is nothing particularly wrong with the handling, but it does not inspire total confidence near the limit.

Having owned cars from mk1 3ltr Capri to m635 BMW, I think I have experienced a fair range of cars and think the cougar is one of the best I have ever had.

Happy drifting.