Hi all, new to the forum. Not new to Cougars, we have had 2 previous Cougars when they were brand new (as company cars, we were never that rich
)
So I was looking around last year for a cheap stopgap car, but wanted something that I knew we would like, and thought 'I know, we always loved our Cougars, let's get an old one as they are now stupidly cheap'. So I acquired a beautiful Melina Blue 2.5L on a W plate, full black leather interior, 12 months MOT, FSH and only just over 70k on the clock. I thought I was robbing the guy, honestly, it was so cheap.
Brought her home and she was giving us a fantastic drive, like going back a decade in time and putting a real smile on my face! I've had a good, trouble free year with her, so I will say up front that she owes me nothing and I don't regret buying.
However, now the problems have started to kick in, and I find that Ford have stopped supporting these cars. Bugger.
I've been reading around the net, and it appears that I have the dreaded fuel pump problem (losing power when the tank is about 1/4 full, especially when going uphill. Fuel sender not reading correctly. ). She has also just started to spill about the last £5 worth on the forecourt when filling up, really embarassing
That is a real bind, as I have to keep her topped up as full as possible, but without overfilling and spilling. Call into every garage I pass and look like a cheapskate by putting in a tenner then!
I've just had a decent sized leak of power steering fluid fixed, luckily my local garage is very practical and worked out a way to bypass the cooler or it would have been curtains.
Also just had a back brake caliper, deep joy it was same as the Mondeo. Yaay! Parts off the shelf and no need for a 2nd mortgage.
So, how are other owners getting on with maintenance issues? I would love to know just how much is shared with the Mondeo. Also does anyone know if I can fit an alternative fuel pump and sender as they are just not available through my Ford dealer and Ford UK kind of snort in derision when you tell them how old the car is.
Or I might just start an online campaign 'Bring back the Cougar'
So I was looking around last year for a cheap stopgap car, but wanted something that I knew we would like, and thought 'I know, we always loved our Cougars, let's get an old one as they are now stupidly cheap'. So I acquired a beautiful Melina Blue 2.5L on a W plate, full black leather interior, 12 months MOT, FSH and only just over 70k on the clock. I thought I was robbing the guy, honestly, it was so cheap.
Brought her home and she was giving us a fantastic drive, like going back a decade in time and putting a real smile on my face! I've had a good, trouble free year with her, so I will say up front that she owes me nothing and I don't regret buying.
However, now the problems have started to kick in, and I find that Ford have stopped supporting these cars. Bugger.
I've been reading around the net, and it appears that I have the dreaded fuel pump problem (losing power when the tank is about 1/4 full, especially when going uphill. Fuel sender not reading correctly. ). She has also just started to spill about the last £5 worth on the forecourt when filling up, really embarassing
I've just had a decent sized leak of power steering fluid fixed, luckily my local garage is very practical and worked out a way to bypass the cooler or it would have been curtains.
Also just had a back brake caliper, deep joy it was same as the Mondeo. Yaay! Parts off the shelf and no need for a 2nd mortgage.
So, how are other owners getting on with maintenance issues? I would love to know just how much is shared with the Mondeo. Also does anyone know if I can fit an alternative fuel pump and sender as they are just not available through my Ford dealer and Ford UK kind of snort in derision when you tell them how old the car is.
Or I might just start an online campaign 'Bring back the Cougar'