Newbie and potential future owner

D

dmc4708

Active user
Jan 12, 2014
73
45
Surrey
Hi all,

Just reading up on Cougars and found this site, so thought I would sign up.

I'm looking for something fun to use as a temporary run around for a while and was inspired to look at a Cougar by a friend who owns a C1 2.5 V6.

Is there a list of areas I generally need to look out for/check on when viewing a Cougar? Prices seem to vary greatly from as little as £400 all the way up to £2000 - what should I be looking to pay for a good condition Cougar with 70-90k miles on the clock?

Confort wise, is there any benefit of the C2 seats over the C1?

Thanks in advance
 
Main areas to look for are the front wishbones (bushes cannot be replaced, so whole wishbone has to be swapped) and the rear subframe. Both will probably need doing on most Cougars that haven't already had them done, budget for about £300 for each of the two jobs. A slipping clutch or a dying alternator (battery light will come on at high revs) are also fairly large and costly jobs.

Cost wise, £750-£1000 should see you in a very tidy car. People will obviously chance their arm for more, but don't be drawn in.

The C2 seats are a hugely improved design over the C1s. The side bolsters are far more supportive and the seats themselves are more comfortable. Cloth C2s are good, leather C2s are pretty much Holy Grail-esque.
 
Thanks for the advice. Should I steer clear of cars with exceptionally low or high mileage? (e.g. there is an ebony cat available with 47.5k miles on it)

I am scouring the likes of Auto Trader/eBay/exchange & mart/pistonheads and car & classic on a daily basis to see what is available.

I know I am narrowing my options with the following but ideally I am after:
2.5 V6
Manual transmission
Leather interior

Preferred colour is silver, but tourmaline is also catching my eye.


There was a V6 leather interior, silver C2 available last week but when I called it had already been sold :(
 
Hi mate and welcome to the forum. I have a C2 in Amazon Green and it is a lot more comfortable to drive than the C1. As Rich has said in his post above, there are a few good examples available out there, just take your time and you will find the right one for you.
 
I personally find the C2 interior less comfy and I don't like the style, reminds me of my mk3 Mondeo, you are better off getting a cougar with 130K on the clock than one with 70K as it is more likely to have had the clutch and the wishbones already replaced, provided the engine hasn't got any knocks or rattles and has oil in it the V6 is pretty bullet proof. When you test drive it press every button turn every knob lights on full beam and crank the stereo up and watch the dash illumination if it dims you may be looking at replacing the alternator in a few months, if it has a sun roof I would suggest leaving it shut as the mechanism is prone to breaking and look for a good one with no rust check the underside by tapping something metal against it rust areas will sound less tinny you should get a good one for £850 - £1100
 
dmc4708 said:
Thanks for the advice. Should I steer clear of cars with exceptionally low or high mileage? (e.g. there is an ebony cat available with 47.5k miles on it)
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These cars, (and the car they're based on) are motorway mile-munchers. Grand Tourers. At their age and all things being equal - including servicing - I'd much prefer one that's done 100,000 mostly-motorway miles to one that's done 47,500 miles of town driving.

I know I'd get another 100,000 out of the first one. I'm not sure I'd get a further 100,000 out of the second. And the first one will probably be far cheaper.
 
I haven't ruled out a C1, nothing wrong with them at all, from my searches that's all that is available at the moment. Like anything the good ones don't hang around for long.

This one on the face of it looks tidy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Coug...8305372?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cd992a9dc but digging a little deeper and it's been for sale since early August 2013 - surely someone would have snapped it up if it was any good?

The low mileage example I mentioned earlier is this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ford-coug...d=100052&prg=9057&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=261348305372& Auto box though so that's a no for me.
 
What are the thoughts on this one? Overpriced? Bodywork look very clean.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Ford...2264837?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item58aa2e0585

Should the 'bad points' be anything to be concerned about, or could most be remedied fairly easily?
Air Con/Climate Control needs looking at. (i.e. it leaks)
Fuel Gauge reads too high (since it was replaced, never bothered me).
Two worn areas on drivers leather seat have been repaired but not dyed (dye kit is included).
Passenger sun visor has cigarette burn (£5 from breakers)
Small half inch mark on passenger door card.
Heated Clearscreen only working on one side
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The air con problem would concern me to be honest at that sort of price I would expect a late model low mileage car that has no faults
 
Bad Points
Air Con/Climate Control needs looking at. Maybe just needs a regass but i would enquire.

Fuel Gauge reads too high (since it was replaced, never bothered me). Needle just needs refitting properly.

Two worn areas on drivers leather seat have been repaired but not dyed (dye kit is included).
Passenger sun visor has cigarette burn (£5 from breakers)
Small half inch mark on passenger door card.

Heated Clearscreen only working on one side Blown fuse.


Might be a bit pricey, but i would be more inclined to check mechanicals and lower body panels. Needs a thorough test drive.

EDIT: Could "freebird" be the same x member?
 
After procrastinating for over a month, yesterday I finally bought a Cougar.

It's a frosty C2, 2.5 V6, leather interior, FSH, 83k on the clock, with a fresh MOT and 6 months tax - 2 owners from new, last owner has had it for 9 years. I will treat it to a service next month.

The trip computer was indicating 36.3 mpg on the journey back from Northampton to Surrey.
 
I was quite pleased with 36. It's stable mate get's 24mpg at best on a run.

Will post some pics shortly.

- - - Updated - - -

A few pics of the Cougar with it's V6 powered stable mate.


DSC_1256_zps6b4d081c.jpg


DSC_1255_zpsd8f61af0.jpg


DSC_1253_zpsbc56136c.jpg
 
Wow! That is like sub zero cool :) on my list of cars to own before I buck the kicket is a BTTF replica. Kudos Sir! And lots of it ;)
 
Mako said:
That is tremendously cool.
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Lucid said:
That is, indeed, very awesome.
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V6SINGH said:
Wow! That is like sub zero cool :) on my list of cars to own before I buck the kicket is a BTTF replica. Kudos Sir! And lots of it ;)
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I'm obviously missing something here. Specifically, some tremendously, awesomely, sub zero cool thing that you three can see but I can't. Looking at this thread right now, I have post #15 as Steve saying get some piccies up, then post #16 as Chris saying that something seemingly invisible is tremendously cool.
 
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