Hi all!
Just become a Cougar owner for the second time.
Recently out of a long term relationship with a Mk II Mondeo Zetec S with RS kit and when it came round to looking for a new motor there was only one choice!
I registered on here the other day just before the site shut down for maintenance so waited before saying hello.
The Cougar is a V6 in silver and is the X-Pack model. I got her from ebay and it took a little while to track down a decent one that was within my budget. Collected her on Monday night and had to drive the 80-odd miles home with the windows open. The previous owner must have smoked cats or something because it was lifting. Halfway up the motorway I discovered the ashtray hadn't been emptied (the interior was a bit of a mess but not so much to show in the photos) so after a quick visit to a service station bin it was put in the boot and I continued up the road.
The folllowing evening after work was spent emptying rubbish from under the seats and under the boot carpet - the best part of a bin-bag full - and giving her a vac and a wipe down inside. The Magic tree is helping but a full valet including steam clean will be carried out this weekend. I'm just glad it has the leather seats or I may have hovered all the way home. Mucky buggers. Also the parcel shelf is tatty with a missing pin but I've already got a new one ready to collect at the weekend.
Exterior isn't too bad - I've seen worse - but could do with a little attention. The worst points being a hand-sized scuff on the passenger door which I think is just beyond polishing out, and the rear wing appears to have been re-sprayed by an angry three-year-old with Stevie Wonder pointing out the bits he's missed. Does anyone know if the wing is easily removed (i.e. bolts behind the trim on the tailgate) if so I would rather remove it and take it to the local body shop than lose it for a couple of days while it's being done. Other than that the laquer is peeling a little on the filler flap & there are a few little dings and stone chips which have been touched up. The front grill has been replaced with go-faster mesh and a new one will be getting sourced soon.
She's running on aftermarket 17" rims aty the moment and while aftermarket styling has never really been my cup of tea they're not too bad. If they clean up ok I might keep them, otherwise I'll be on the lookout for a decent set of originals.
Mechanically she seems sound, though I do have a moose under the bonnet - what is the best fix for this? I've heard cleaning the IAC valve works but is this something I'll have to do every week? If so would it be best to just replace it?
Anyway, hello from Durham, and I'll see you all at the shows this summer
Paul
Just become a Cougar owner for the second time.
Recently out of a long term relationship with a Mk II Mondeo Zetec S with RS kit and when it came round to looking for a new motor there was only one choice!
I registered on here the other day just before the site shut down for maintenance so waited before saying hello.
The Cougar is a V6 in silver and is the X-Pack model. I got her from ebay and it took a little while to track down a decent one that was within my budget. Collected her on Monday night and had to drive the 80-odd miles home with the windows open. The previous owner must have smoked cats or something because it was lifting. Halfway up the motorway I discovered the ashtray hadn't been emptied (the interior was a bit of a mess but not so much to show in the photos) so after a quick visit to a service station bin it was put in the boot and I continued up the road.
The folllowing evening after work was spent emptying rubbish from under the seats and under the boot carpet - the best part of a bin-bag full - and giving her a vac and a wipe down inside. The Magic tree is helping but a full valet including steam clean will be carried out this weekend. I'm just glad it has the leather seats or I may have hovered all the way home. Mucky buggers. Also the parcel shelf is tatty with a missing pin but I've already got a new one ready to collect at the weekend.
Exterior isn't too bad - I've seen worse - but could do with a little attention. The worst points being a hand-sized scuff on the passenger door which I think is just beyond polishing out, and the rear wing appears to have been re-sprayed by an angry three-year-old with Stevie Wonder pointing out the bits he's missed. Does anyone know if the wing is easily removed (i.e. bolts behind the trim on the tailgate) if so I would rather remove it and take it to the local body shop than lose it for a couple of days while it's being done. Other than that the laquer is peeling a little on the filler flap & there are a few little dings and stone chips which have been touched up. The front grill has been replaced with go-faster mesh and a new one will be getting sourced soon.
She's running on aftermarket 17" rims aty the moment and while aftermarket styling has never really been my cup of tea they're not too bad. If they clean up ok I might keep them, otherwise I'll be on the lookout for a decent set of originals.
Mechanically she seems sound, though I do have a moose under the bonnet - what is the best fix for this? I've heard cleaning the IAC valve works but is this something I'll have to do every week? If so would it be best to just replace it?
Anyway, hello from Durham, and I'll see you all at the shows this summer
Paul
