Dillema over a newer Cougar

poose

Events Co-Ordinator
Club Moderator
Jun 19, 2012
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Haydock
Sorry this is a long list to look at, been looking for a newer Cougar and seen one on Ebay that looked good but didnt make its reserve so struck a prce of £750, its an auto, 68k miles, full x pack mot aug and tax feb 13, owned by a mechanic. Its over 120 miles away so be a trip to collect but checked past MOT and have some concerns over it what do you think, advisories on current MOT apparently fixed.
Thanks if you take the time to have a look over it.
Registration mark:

X601
Make/Model:FORD / COUGARColour:BLACKVIN/Chassis No:WF0HT61L8X5252417Approximate date of first use:26/09/2000Type of fuel:petrol
Date of test:11/08/2012Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:67,996 MilesTest number:656494522238Test expiry date:10/08/2013
Full Test History, starting with first recorded vehicle and test results

Registration mark:X601
Make/Model:FORD / COUGARColour:BLACKVIN/Chassis No:WF0HT61L8X5252417Approximate date of first use:26/09/2000Type of fuel:petrol
Date of test:17/11/2006Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:39,530 MilesTest number:261101226324Test station name:CAINE'S MOT CENTRETest station number:1ALZ39Test station telephone number:01554744755Test class:IVTest expiry date:16/11/2007No Advisory Notice issued

Date of test:02/05/2008Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:49,610 MilesTest number:211813528148Test station name:CAINE'S MOT CENTRETest station number:1ALZ39Test station telephone number:01554744755Test class:IVReason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Front both Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Front both front lower arm bushes Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
No Advisory Notice issued

Date of test:09/05/2008Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:49,620 MilesTest number:591430338121Test station name:CAINE'S MOT CENTRETest station number:1ALZ39Test station telephone number:01554744755Test class:IVTest expiry date:08/05/2009No Advisory Notice issued

Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:55,572 MilesTest number:212416429119Test station name:CAINE'S MOT CENTRETest station number:1ALZ39Test station telephone number:01554744755Test class:IVTest expiry date:08/05/2010Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front strong advise Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)
Front both fronts Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)
Rear strong advise Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Date of test:28/04/2010Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:60,697 MilesTest number:944398410132Test station name:pANTEG SERVICE STATIONTest station number:74251Test station telephone number:01554775218Test class:IVReason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)
Advisory Notice issued
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Date of test:28/04/2010Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:60,697 MilesTest number:293148510119Test station name:pANTEG SERVICE STATIONTest station number:74251Test station telephone number:01554775218Test class:IVTest expiry date:08/05/2011Advisory Notice issued
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Date of test:11/04/2011Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:64,727 MilesTest number:775201201173Test station name:WEST END GARAGETest station number:V102230Test station telephone number:01554 770800 / 01554 756Test class:IVTest expiry date:08/05/2012Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Rear chassis Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
Offside Rear chassis Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
Nearside Inner Rear sill Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
Offside Rear sill Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear sub frame corroded but considered excessive

Multiple changes in details between tests, last changed on 25/04/2012
Registration mark:X601
Make/Model:FORD / COUGARColour:BLACKVIN/Chassis No:WF0HT61L8X5252417Approximate date of first use:26/09/2000Type of fuel:petrol
Date of test:16/04/2012Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:67,302 MilesTest number:408407702154Test station name:WHITE'STest station number:1AKY56Test station telephone number:01554770339Test class:IVReason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Rear CENTRE Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Rear BRACKET Anti-roll bar missing (2.4.G.1)
Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1) **DANGEROUS**
FRONTS brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Advisory Notice issued
SERVICE?-CHECK VEHICLE RECORDS
REAR W/BLADE TORN
R-TAX EXPIRES=31/10/12
205/50/16 X 4

Change of details
Registration mark:T2JSJ recorded at time of test on 16/04/2012
Change of details
Registration mark:T2JSJ recorded at time of test, changed to X601 on 25/04/2012 by DVLA.

Date of test:30/05/2012Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:67,927 MilesTest number:846451852153
Test station name:BOUNDARY GARAGETest station number:62943Test station telephone number:01522 721006Test class:IVReason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)
Nearside Rear missing Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Date of test:10/08/2012Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:67,979 MilesTest number:948993022282Test station name:SCATLIFFE MOTORSTest station number:V100143Test station telephone number:01522 788585Test class:IVReason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Rear Brake back plate(s) securing device excessively deteriorated (3.5.1j)
Offside Rear Brake back plate(s) securing device excessively deteriorated (3.5.1j)
Parking brake efficiency is below requirements (3.7.C.4b)
Service brake imbalanced on a steered axle (3.7.C.2c)
Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Advisory Notice issued
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Date of test:11/08/2012Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:67,996 MilesTest number:656494522238Test station name:SCATLIFFE MOTORSTest station number:V100143Test station telephone number:01522 788585Test class:IVTest expiry date:10/08/2013Advisory Notice issued
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

This completes the test history for the above vehicle as recorded on VOSA's MOT Computerisation Database
 
hmm, few things to pick out there

looks like the wishbones were done in 2008

no test in 2009?

after years of advisories on the subframe it finally failed this April, to the point that the ARB mount had rusted/sheared off
test was in LLanelli

six weeks later it's in Lincoln and failed again on the subframe, advisory on drop links, front discs and ARB bush

three months later still in Lincoln failed on rear brakes, advisory on play in steering - rack? and front drop link
would appear the front disc and rear drop links are sorted by this point

passed the very next day with the brakes seemingly sorted but still with steering play and drop link worn

at the very least Id be getting cast-iron proof that that rear subframe was done properly
Is it still in Lincoln? shoot Rik a PM and see if he'll take a look at it for you in exchange for beer tokens
 
its X601 now

Perhaps its just me but compared to my recent MOT's thats a sh.t load of work if half of its been done. If it was me i wouldnt go near as i would suspect further corrosion that you may not be able to see easily (e.g. inner sills).
 
its X601 now

Perhaps its just me but compared to my recent MOT's thats a sh.t load of work if half of its been done. If it was me i wouldnt go near as i would suspect further corrosion that you may not be able to see easily (e.g. inner sills).

Yeah what I was thinking, my Cougars two years older and solid as a rock underneath, think I will keep looking for now.
 
I wouldn't want a car owned by a mechanic unless I knew the mechanic and the car well beforehand. Shoemaker's children and all that. From those advisories it sounds like the car has been maintained by someone experienced in knowing how much longer something will last. That's great if it's your own annual budget, but not so good if you're buying a car with a great deal of deferred maintenance.