Cougar - Any Good ?

KooGar

New user
Apr 15, 2014
8
0
Staffordshire
Hi, I'm on here as a newbie (although I used to be registered a few years back, but forgot my log-in and I used my old work email to register, so cant get the reminder - dumb eh?), I used to own a T reg 2.0 Zetec about 5 years ago, but due to work, money etc I had to let it go and have been restricted to the world of the Focus ever since.
However, money is in a better situation right now, and after my old man bought a Mustang a few months back, I've been itching to get a Cougar back again. So, after looking for a few weeks, I've seen a some and was wondering if anyone on here knows the history of the cars.
It seems to me that the best people to comment on the history, good/bad points of a car would be the last few owners. I don't want to end up buying a dog and face a massive repair bill weeks after, or like my old frosty - a leaky tailgate (which even Ford couldn't fix). So i'm putting it out there to see if anyone has owned any of these cars in the past or knows of them and can give advice. Not sure if this is in the right section or not, so mods, if not then I'm sorry, please relocate me :)
The Cars/Reg i'm thinking of are:

Silver 2.5 V6 in Hull - Y846 SLF
Silver 2.5 V6 nr Derby -V57 GTW (was on private plate - L19 AUP)
Black 2.5 V6 in Leicester -X551 BCJ

Oh yeah and I'm Paul from nr Stoke ... Hi
 
I gotone off ebay, a V6, as far as I can tell, underbody rust can be an issue and besides that if it has a sunroof make sure it works.
I did usual checks, water, oil, clutch, suspension, electrics
 
Welcome Back Paul, can't help with any of the rego you mention, have you done reg number seach here --> https://forums.ukcougar.club/threads/5221-Reg-numbers-Updated?p=459104#post459104 to see if they have been in the club, might be worth a go,

All i can say about the car in general is check the sills and rear subframe for tin worm, as Paul says check the sunroof works if it has one, (mine only goes up/down) these days due to the runners, generally i think for a 15 years old car its a realiable old beast, mine gets used every day 50 mile round trip work and back i guess i was pretty lucky with mine i got it Dec 2012 with only 38,500-ish miles it had been cossetted pretty much throught its life, so i would say if you can find one similar go for it (y)
 
Thanks Bobsleigh, i'll check the sunroof, my last one didn't have one but it might be nice to have it this time.

Cheers Frosty - although, the link doesn't work for me. don't think I have the right membership
 
Thanks Bobsleigh, i'll check the sunroof, my last one didn't have one but it might be nice to have it this time.

Cheers Frosty - although, the link doesn't work for me. don't think I have the right membership

Opps, i've checked those rego's against whats listed and non of them are listed, doesn't mean they have never been here i spose'
 
Cheers for trying for me, I was just hoping on the off chance that one of the members might have previous owned one of them.

To throw a spanner in the works, I've just seen a Blue one and it looks pretty sweet in Blue too ! aaaarrggghh

Silver or Blue ?
 
Hi Paul, welcome to ukcougar.org.
I suspect the first things you'll notice is how the price has dropped on these cars, a perfect time to pick up a bargain.
Barring the odd exception, the underbody is generally good, but always have a good look.
Rear subframes are starting to fail so have a good look at that aswell.
Sills are showing signs of corrosion on some, especially where the jacking points are at either end. Have a good hard tap around and under the rear sill jacking point areas, give those a really good thump and listen for bouncing rust flakes inside that quarter panel, get your ear on the panel.
Front suspension wishbones, rarely fail, and most cars by now really ought to have had these renewed depending on the life they've led.
worn rear anti-roll bar droplinks can be the cause of a noisy rattly back end, but are very cheap to buy and easy to replace.
Enjoy the ride (y)
 
Buy on quality, not mileage would be my tip.

A 150k looked after example with a Cougar is generally a better proposition than a 50k one that's never been warmed up properly and kept in a damp garage.

My view at least.
 
Yep, couldn't agree more. Must be a full moon.

Obviously there's a limit to that - a 150k miler is going to start needing some expensive parts if they haven't been done already, but don't shy away from a well cared-for one just because it's in the low 6 figures.
 
There don't seem to be many decent blue for sale any more. When I had the old silver one, I used to notice almost as many blues.
Cheers for the advice on the high milers too, I was just looking for 70-100's and that limits the amount alot
 
It probably goes without saying, but on your test drive make sure you take it up to 5000RPM a couple of times and watch the battery light.
 
The more I look, the more I want a blue one ... But they're like hens teeth from what I can see.
Just browsed the pictures forum and there are some awesome looking machines on here. Just wish the uk got all the Mercury colours too
 
Yeah I'm going for the V6 partly because my old one was a 2.0L and also because my dads got a mustang V6 and I feel left out when I hear the growl