Ford Cougar

boardsuser1

Any advice on these cars please?

Looking at a 2 litre version with a full years nct on it.

Has the cloth interior.

Scrapped my Puma today so looking for something that isn't known to rot, those ones aren't.

I've had Escort's, Mondeo's, Focus's so I am fond of the brand.

Those Cougars are rare.

The only ones within my budget are all 2 litre.

It would be a second car, i.e only used on rare occasions for myself.

The Focus is the family wagon.

colm_mcm

Haven't driven one in years. They'll feel very old at this stage I'd say.
They're rare and unusual, but I don't know if I'd pay the crazy insurance for what is essentially a prettier old model Mondeo.

I know you're saying about rust, but what about a Sport Ka?

boardsuser1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Haven't driven one in years. They'll feel very old at this stage I'd say.
They're rare and unusual, but I don't know if I'd pay the crazy insurance for what is essentially a prettier old model Mondeo.

I can drive it through my own insurance.

Confirmed it with them before renewal.

It's a 00 with 115,000 on the clock.

Are they as enjoyable as a puma?

colm_mcm

Nowhere near as enjoyable as a Puma.

boardsuser1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nowhere near as enjoyable as a Puma.

Crap. Better off heading over to the UK for another 1.7 Puma or buying the cougar as a Sunday driver so?

My Puma was crushed this morning, kept a lot of parts from it.

JoeA3

I'd say they're rare for a reason. The Puma was (is?) a cool little car, the Cougar never was. It'll feel very very old and tired now - if you manage to find one that isn't a mobile shed.

boardsuser1

JoeA3 wrote: »

I'd say they're rare for a reason. The Puma was (is?) a cool little car, the Cougar never was. It'll feel very very old and tired now - if you manage to find one that isn't a mobile shed.

Photo above your comment showing my 1.7 Puma being taken to the crusher today.

I couldn't battle rust the way I tried with that.

A racing Puma is the one, but commanding serious money.

I thought the cougar would be nice as it's rare.


I rarely see them on the roads.

Would you buy one personally?

I've found good examples to date.

JoeA3

I'm surprised you're finding them at all. I can't remember seeing a Cougar on the roads for at least a decade!

Shame to see the Puma in that state... I think a more realistic replacement would be a tidy 3 door Zetec (Zetec-S?) Fiesta. Go back a few years and they'd be small money.

boardsuser1

JoeA3 wrote: »

I'm surprised you're finding them at all. I can't remember seeing a Cougar on the roads for at least a decade!

Shame to see the Puma in that state... I think a more realistic replacement would be a tidy 3 door Zetec (Zetec-S?) Fiesta. Go back a few years and they'd be small money.

I was thinking a cougar for rarity.

Yeah the Puma was rotten underneath so I stripped it.

A 3 dr fiesta would be nice.

bazz26

Cougar won't drive or handle like the Puma. Cougar is more American Ford than European Ford. Mk1 Focus ST?

JohnBoy26

The ford cougar rusts too. If it must be a ford a mk6 fiesta would be the best option imo. They don't rust badly like previous fords, are reliable enough and they are modern-ish.

boardsuser1

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The ford cougar rusts too. If it must be a ford a mk6 fiesta would be the best option imo. They don't rust badly like previous fords, are reliable enough and they are modern-ish.

Back to a VW then.

boardsuser1

bazz26 wrote: »

Cougar won't drive or handle like the Puma. Cougar is more American Ford than European Ford. Mk1 Focus ST?

Has the American look to it alright.

Budget is just under €1k

It's only a second car/a Sunday driver for myself.

Been a Ford man all my life at heart.

But the rust issues have been a killer.

I just fancy a nice coupe at this stage.

freddieot

Waited patiently years ago or this car to come out here. Very disappointed when it did. Interior was very nice but to be honest so was the 2.0 Mondeo in high spec at the time. The 2.0 was also faster then the Cougar. Top that off with a higher price and no wonder they bombed here.

Since then I've probably driven about 30,000 around the US over the years and I think I've seen one or two. The one I looked at in the dealership here, was the only one I've ever seen in Ireland.

However, nice rare and interesting car. I'm surprised old ones are that price to be honest. Could be fun as a weekender alright.

Comic Book Guy

Had both the 2l and 2.5l versions about 10 years ago, just liked them.
If ya do find one the thing to look out for in a test drive is Pinking, was a common enough issue with them.

boardsuser1

Cheers freddie and comic book guy.

I'm sitting in the bloody fence now.

The examples I have sourced are rust free shockingly even underneath.

I take onboard JohnBoy's point that it's a Ford.

It might be a daily runner for a while if I buy one.

My diesel focus barely made it up the hill yesterday.

Must be the turbo working intermittently.

There is a nice X pack model in Dublin but she is too highly priced.

Are those things really going to appreciate?

Interesting seeing what the pinking term means also, never knew that.

JohnBoy26

KC161 wrote: »

Back to a VW then.

Nothing wrong with a mk6 fiesta tbh

boardsuser1

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Nothing wrong with a mk6 fiesta tbh

Rust

Sammy_Jankis

I had a 2ltr and the 2.5 with x pack. Much preferred the 2.5. The sound and power is superior. No cruise control and the only cup holder is in the back! Boot is enormous so great for going on trips.

Didn't have any engine problems. Just remember the mirrors are quite delicate, similar to the puma. Took months to sell it. Got 900 for it and that was 7 years ago. Any questions just ask.

colm_mcm

KC161 wrote: »

Rust

02-08 model

boardsuser1

colm_mcm wrote: »

02-08 model

Just been offered a 2003 Fiesta in the last hour, test just out, 80k, 800e.

He'll never get that.

coolbeans

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/302256687562

Is there nothing to be said for a SportKa? They look great, drive well and rust free ones can be found.

JohnBoy26

KC161 wrote: »

Rust

Not on that model, they don't have rust problems like the previous fiesta and previous fords. They are a lot more modern too compared to the ka/fiesta from the 90's/early 00's and they don't tend to give many problems at all.

colm_mcm

coolbeans wrote: »

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/302256687562

Is there nothing to be said for a SportKa? They look great, drive well and rust free ones can be found.

See post #2

Only the 8 valve engine in them but still fun.

boardsuser1

colm_mcm wrote: »

See post #2

Only the 8 valve engine in them but still fun.

I know some of the guys on the Ford Puma owners group have them. Rare enough where I am though.

JohnBoy26

coolbeans wrote: »

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/302256687562

Is there nothing to be said for a SportKa? They look great, drive well and rust free ones can be found.

Its difficult to find a rust free one tbh.

boardsuser1

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Its difficult to find a rust free one tbh.

I only know of one StreetKa in my locality.

It never moves and is covered over most of the year, it sits next to a Puma, again that doesn't move either.

Both are rust free examples though.

I think he has a MK1 Fiesta and a cougar at another location.

A former Ford worker in Cork.