My Cougar's gonna feature in a magazine!

funwoody said:
Did you ever manage to contact the guy in Houghton with an original probe?
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I had a few people tell me about the car and send me photos. Unfortunately it wasn't in great condition and I couldn't get anyone interested in buying it. I have two already!

Given the fact it had stood so long, needed new tyres, brakes etc, there was rust in the rear arches and the usual sun roof made it uneconomical to put on the road with prices as they are. Nobody was willing to spend £300 on a car that needed all that work (and about £800) spent on it when £1200-£1500 buys a minter.
 
Just a quick update on this, the issue with this feature should be on sale around early/mid April, "at all good newsagents" (and a few bad ones I imagine :) )

I've been told that the images from the shoot are looking great, getting really excited to see it now (and also a little nervous about what sort of write-up it'll get - I'm really hoping the journalist who test-drove it came away with some good impressions!)
 
martw80888 said:
Just a quick update on this, the issue with this feature should be on sale around early/mid April, "at all good newsagents" (and a few bad ones I imagine :) )

I've been told that the images from the shoot are looking great, getting really excited to see it now (and also a little nervous about what sort of write-up it'll get - I'm really hoping the journalist who test-drove it came away with some good impressions!)
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thanks, I've been checking shelves but haven't seen it locally so I will probably order it.
Can you confirm, is it issue 4 you will be in ?

Cheers
 
I don't buy car mags anymore, but i can't wait for this "special" to appear. It's just so good to hear of one of these cars being chosen and deemed good enough for a glossy feature. (y)
 
I dropped into WHSmith on the 5th to see if it was out.
Found issue 3 (February-March 2016) on the shelf.
Inside it was the unhelpful February
-March issue out on 5th February.
So I'm guessing the April issue should be imminent.
edit; checked the website, is due 13th April.
 
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Well, it's out. And out of a group of Cougar, Calibra, Alfa GTV6, Pug 406 coupe and Corrado VR6 the Cougar came... last. Even behind the Calibra. And, from what I can tell, only because the journo didn't like the styling as much as the others - such things are subjective I suppose. I feel a bit let down to be honest, and I feel like I've let everyone here down too. Sorry everyone. And he got the URL for this place wrong, I definately told him the correct one and watched him write it down!

At least the photos look good - although Mrs. W isn't too thrilled that she appears in them! When I get round to it I'll post the pics we took on the day.
 
I had a feeling the Alfa and Corrado would be at the top - but behind the Calibra? Sorry but no - the Calibra looks horribly dated these days where the Coug still looks fresh.

The V6 engine in the Alfa is a proper scream though - lovely sounding engine.
 
Everton said:
the Calibra looks horribly dated these days where the Coug still looks fresh.
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I always quite liked the looks of the Calibra, but in terms of driving experience the Cougar wins in every way. The Calibra's basically just an old Cavalier FFS! I'd guessed the Alfa and Corrado would be at the top, but I thought the Coug at least had a good chance at 3rd.
 
You havn't let anybody down Mart, how can you account for peoples taste. I agree, a lot of "reviews" work from re-defined published reviews and not from actual owners. You should still be proud that your car was chosen. (y)
 
I'm with Al here. You presented your car in good faith but you think you let us down? Pfft.

You haven't let anyone down mate. It's a shame that your car's potential wasn't seen, but that's not your fault. That's the fault of the person who reviewed it.

He's entitled to his opinion of course. It's just a shame that he's completely wrong. So sad.

Heh.
 
Don't be a plonker. You turned up and gave the car some much-needed exposure. I thought the article was excellent, a balanced and fair review of all five cars, but when it comes down to peoples tastes there's only so much you can do. For me the Calibra is beautiful and now extremely rare, but let down by the interior. The Alfa is fantastic but needs too much looking after, the Corrado is probably one of the most accomplished cars ever made, but has no soul, even with that wonderful engine, and the Peugeot has a fantastic V6 (I had the same engine in my Laguna) and looks like a Ferrari but again the interior is boggo 406.

Therefore the Cougar is the best all-rounder, and I chose to drive one, so it must be the best:LOL:
 
backseateducation said:
Don't be a plonker. You turned up and gave the car some much-needed exposure. I thought the article was excellent, a balanced and fair review of all five cars, but when it comes down to peoples tastes there's only so much you can do.
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You're absolutely right, of course. I was overly down on it last night, probably the effects of a couple of beers after a long week at work. And a little irked that I had to go and buy a copy because the promised free copy hasn't shown yet.


Anyways, some photos from the day (they're not the best quality because I took them on my phone):
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The 406 was a lovely example in a really nice colour. That particular car was the one pictured in the UK sales brochure, the owner's father used to work for Peugeot and bought it from the company when he retired. The Calibra was from Vauxhall's Heritage fleet and only had about 10K miles on it. The Corrado was immaculate and also a slightly unusual colour (called Blackberry apparently)



Mrs. W took these next ones as we were coming in after driving around in formation for the large picture at the start of the article. That was a tricky - trying to stay in position at 30mph following a SsangYong with the photographer hanging out of the boot, desperately trying not to rear-end the Corrado in front, side-swipe the Calibra next to us or dropping back into the path of the 406 behind. And having to move over every so often to allow the Ferrari 458 that was lapping the track at the same time to come past us. Could've done with about 3 pairs of eyes!
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Something else we were sharing the track with - a lightly disguised McLaren.... something. There were 3 of these tearing around, doing donuts and testing their launch control. I took these pictures before I noticed the sternly-worded sign stating that taking pictures of cars you weren't with was forbidden and could lead to being thrown out of the facility! Got away with it fortunately.
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All in all, a very cool day.
 
I read the article too and was a little miffed the coug came last, they basically blasted the multicoloured grey interior and the air vents (actually I really like the vents)! But they said it drove really well.
As for styling, well I always liked the Calibra - but I do think the cougar looks better. I hate the Corrado front IMO it looks like a tank in comparison. The 406 ain't bad but look at the rear ends in Marts first pic - which looks better? ( that's a rhetorical question).
Anyhow Mart you didn't let us down, your car looks great in the article and I can only repeat what's been said, it's another persons opinion.
What I thought was interesting was the prices. They must be talking forecourt prices.
 
kittylover said:
they basically blasted the (...) air vents (actually I really like the vents)!
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Tinfoil hat time. When Clarkson reviewed the Cougar, he said that one of the best things about the interior was just how effective the air vents (and HVAC in general) are.

Since he is absolutely, unequivocally, 100%, thoroughly correct - the only better I've ever seen was on a Merc convertible - any motoring journalist who disagrees is part of the anti-Clarkson circle-jerk.

Heh.
 
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