Puma 2 Cougar

Why the V6?

There's no tangeable difference in costs but the V6 is a nicer sounding, quicker and more refined package. Coming from a 4-pot you won't see anything wrong with the Zetec. Coming from a 6-pot and the vibration of the 4-pot is more obvious. The V6 doesn't really labour at low rpm either so in slow moving traffic the Zetec seems to jerk you along if you're used to the 6-pot engine which gets it's torque pulses more often.

There's really not much in it though and as I said, if you're used to driving a 4-banger you wont see anything wrong with it.

Not having a timing belt which doesn't last the service interval is nice though*. The only servicing pain with the V6 is unbolting the UIM to help you change the spark plugs every 60,000 miles.


* The service interval for the Zetec timing belt is 100,000 miles, but the plastic idler pulleys have a high failure rate before this so the general consensus is to change the belt and idlers at around 60k. Like most high-compression 4-valve per cylinder engines the Zetec is an interference engine so a timing belt break or jump will result in valve to piston contact.
 
jamie_duff said:
Why the V6?

There's no tangeable difference in costs but the V6 is a nicer sounding, quicker and more refined package. Coming from a 4-pot you won't see anything wrong with the Zetec. Coming from a 6-pot and the vibration of the 4-pot is more obvious. The V6 doesn't really labour at low rpm either so in slow moving traffic the Zetec seems to jerk you along if you're used to the 6-pot engine which gets it's torque pulses more often.

There's really not much in it though and as I said, if you're used to driving a 4-banger you wont see anything wrong with it.

Not having a timing belt which doesn't last the service interval is nice though*. The only servicing pain with the V6 is unbolting the UIM to help you change the spark plugs every 60,000 miles.


* The service interval for the Zetec timing belt is 100,000 miles, but the plastic idler pulleys have a high failure rate before this so the general consensus is to change the belt and idlers at around 60k. Like most high-compression 4-valve per cylinder engines the Zetec is an interference engine so a timing belt break or jump will result in valve to piston contact.
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Simplified as "there is no replacement for displacement" :devilish::devilish::devilish:
 
jamie_duff said:
Why the V6?

There's no tangeable difference in costs but the V6 is a nicer sounding, quicker and more refined package. Coming from a 4-pot you won't see anything wrong with the Zetec. Coming from a 6-pot and the vibration of the 4-pot is more obvious. The V6 doesn't really labour at low rpm either so in slow moving traffic the Zetec seems to jerk you along if you're used to the 6-pot engine which gets it's torque pulses more often.

There's really not much in it though and as I said, if you're used to driving a 4-banger you wont see anything wrong with it.

Not having a timing belt which doesn't last the service interval is nice though*. The only servicing pain with the V6 is unbolting the UIM to help you change the spark plugs every 60,000 miles.


* The service interval for the Zetec timing belt is 100,000 miles, but the plastic idler pulleys have a high failure rate before this so the general consensus is to change the belt and idlers at around 60k. Like most high-compression 4-valve per cylinder engines the Zetec is an interference engine so a timing belt break or jump will result in valve to piston contact.
Click to expand...

The UIM doesn't need removing for a spark plug change, they can easily be replaced with it in situ with the aid of a wobble bar (UJ).

Welcome to the forum Alucard, whichever Cat you choose to go for, get as much history as possible, if the cars been looked after, it'll look after you. (y)
 
lol, i wish.

would i be right in saying the 2.0 cougar is to the v6 cougar, that the 2.0 capri was to the special ? solid enough and still fun ?
 
I presently have one of each....but only until Monday :-(

The V6 has more of the grin factor - that lovely growl, when accelerating, purring when idling.

The zetec is more revvy, but the revs are all useable. The car is lighter and there is less to go wrong under the bonnet IMHO.

Cheaper to run on most aspects.

Depends what your personal circumstances are.

If you do a lot of miles and are on a budget.....go for the zetec.

If you are less strangled by the cost of fuel....perhaps a V6 might be your weapon of choice?
 
Welcome dude! For me it would have to be two things THE V6 RUMBLE and spankingley gorgeous EDGE DESIGN. Every time i look at the cougar, the Ford GT90 concept enters my mind..hmmm If you are going for the two litre, you will enjoy it.
There is also the fact that many people have glanced twice and sometimes approached me to ask what make and model my car was LOL!!!
 
Having never driven a standard 2.0L Cougar I'm not in a position to comment fully. The in Zetec standard form (like mine is engine wise) is slower than the V6. There is one reason and one reason only why I switched from the V6 to the Zetec and that is the 4x4 that came free with the new car :LOL:

Personally I don't think you're losing an awful lot by choosing a Zetec over a V6 - yes you don't get the burble or roar - but the driving experience is just as good (the Zetec feels a bit less nose heavy when cornering than the V6). Whichever one you choose you'll have a riot :)
 
Hello again matey...

Can I ask you mate, firstly - How old are you? and secondly, would the extra cost of running the V6 - fuel & insurance-wise etc, be an issue?

Please don't think I'm talking-down to you here mate - I'm not...I'm just going to try to give you the best and most sound advice I can...and obviously I'm going to have to generalise here a little bit too!

If your much under 22'ish, with say 3-yrs NCB, I would expect that in all honesty, a Zetec would probably be your best option...not just because it is a bit cheaper to run & maintain overall, but because up to now, you've probably been used to slightly smaller cars with rev'ier engines, and getting into a 'Zetec' Cougar would therefore, still seem like a really nice step up - both in terms of physical size and comfort & the feeling of weight & solidity it will give you too...you'll probably appreciate the way the torque of the 2.0ltr engine pulls the car down the road...after your Puma, a 'Zetec' Cougar will feel fairly big and comfortable, and it will probably seem pretty 'torquey' by comparison - for they are still a lovely engine in their own right, and they also have the relatively 'revvy' perfomance charictoristic's and 'singy' sound your more than likely used too, and with that in mind, you'll probably enjoy using the gear's more often too, which will give you a more 'involved' daily drive should you want it...

However, as you may have gathered, the V6 on the other hand can feel more like a car to 'relax' in by comparison...possibly engine-wise, almost a bit 'soft' under normal, everyday driving conditions when compared to the Zetec, simply because the extra torque produced over and above that of the 2.0ltr, really means that you genuinely don't have to change-down through the gears as often - 1200rpm in any gear is enough to pull quite happilly...it almost becomes a habit not to bother changing down...it CAN make you relax too much sometimes and become rather 'lazy'...however, drop it down a couple of cog's, get the rev's up then boot it and it will surge forward pretty dam quickly - I'm used to my 300bhp+ V8 Jag, but even so, the Cougar still puts a BIG smile on my face!...the engine roar's and the exhaust-note growl's on the V6...it really is that good!

If you get the chance mate - drive both and see which one suit's YOU the best - don't listen to the 'V6 is best' arguement too much mate...decide for yourself, as it's you who has to pay for it and it's you who has to live with it afterwards!

Regards - Guy.
 
Depends what you want from a car.
When i got the cat i looked at the FTO both MIvec and non MIvec. IMO theyre great looking and the mivec is 200bhp but the intwerior is really really poor and leaves the car lacking overall plus its small.
I also looked at the GTV6 but they are pricey on insurance and alfa build!
The 406 coupe is also a nice car. but the 3.0 was silly money on insurance.
I chose the cat based on my previous Ford cars. I know theyre little foibles and know theyre cheap to fix IF they go wrong. to be honest i think ford cars tend to take more stick and give less problems as equivelant makes.
Plus i wanted to get away from the boy racer image that most young lads end up with.
The cougar is not a light GP car like a clio172 its more of a comfort car to enjoy travelling in. thats what appealed to me plus the exclusivity and the looks of them. plus the interior is well thought out and attractive
 
if you want to tune the zetec is easier to do as the parts cross over from other makes.
The v6 is harder to unlock but you get more to start with.
As someone said. they're aint no replacement for displacement.
The car is good and no one will say otherwise unless your talking about someone with no interest in cars and knows nothing.

Check the videos section on here for Jeremy Clarkson on the Cougar. nuff said
 
Just to add your rolling in a 1.4 so maybe jus get the 1.7 puma if you want to spank your mates.
they go easy over 150bhp with a few mods and as you know the puma handles great
 
Duratec said:
Hello again matey...

Can I ask you mate, firstly - How old are you? and secondly, would the extra cost of running the V6 - fuel & insurance-wise etc, be an issue?

Please don't think I'm talking-down to you here mate - I'm not...I'm just going to try to give you the best and most sound advice I can...and obviously I'm going to have to generalise here a little bit too!

If your much under 22'ish, with say 3-yrs NCB, I would expect that in all honesty, a Zetec would probably be your best option...not just because it is a bit cheaper to run & maintain overall, but because up to now, you've probably been used to slightly smaller cars with rev'ier engines, and getting into a 'Zetec' Cougar would therefore, still seem like a really nice step up - both in terms of physical size and comfort & the feeling of weight & solidity it will give you too...you'll probably appreciate the way the torque of the 2.0ltr engine pulls the car down the road...after your Puma, a 'Zetec' Cougar will feel fairly big and comfortable, and it will probably seem pretty 'torquey' by comparison - for they are still a lovely engine in their own right, and they also have the relatively 'revvy' perfomance charictoristic's and 'singy' sound your more than likely used too, and with that in mind, you'll probably enjoy using the gear's more often too, which will give you a more 'involved' daily drive should you want it...

However, as you may have gathered, the V6 on the other hand can feel more like a car to 'relax' in by comparison...possibly engine-wise, almost a bit 'soft' under normal, everyday driving conditions when compared to the Zetec, simply because the extra torque produced over and above that of the 2.0ltr, really means that you genuinely don't have to change-down through the gears as often - 1200rpm in any gear is enough to pull quite happilly...it almost becomes a habit not to bother changing down...it CAN make you relax too much sometimes and become rather 'lazy'...however, drop it down a couple of cog's, get the rev's up then boot it and it will surge forward pretty dam quickly - I'm used to my 300bhp+ V8 Jag, but even so, the Cougar still puts a BIG smile on my face!...the engine roar's and the exhaust-note growl's on the V6...it really is that good!

If you get the chance mate - drive both and see which one suit's YOU the best - don't listen to the 'V6 is best' arguement too much mate...decide for yourself, as it's you who has to pay for it and it's you who has to live with it afterwards!

Regards - Guy.
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Cheers mate, am 27 and have been riving 4 years, with nothing on the insurance claims or anything, been a good boy. Luckily my work isn't far away, it's only 8 miles away so fuel should be okish.

stifler said:
Depends what you want from a car.
When i got the cat i looked at the FTO both MIvec and non MIvec. IMO theyre great looking and the mivec is 200bhp but the intwerior is really really poor and leaves the car lacking overall plus its small.
I also looked at the GTV6 but they are pricey on insurance and alfa build!
The 406 coupe is also a nice car. but the 3.0 was silly money on insurance.
I chose the cat based on my previous Ford cars. I know theyre little foibles and know theyre cheap to fix IF they go wrong. to be honest i think ford cars tend to take more stick and give less problems as equivelant makes.
Plus i wanted to get away from the boy racer image that most young lads end up with.
The cougar is not a light GP car like a clio172 its more of a comfort car to enjoy travelling in. thats what appealed to me plus the exclusivity and the looks of them. plus the interior is well thought out and attractive
Click to expand...
I want style, substance, growl, balls but enough comfort to assure me i've nothing to prove.

stifler said:
Just to add your rolling in a 1.4 so maybe jus get the 1.7 puma if you want to spank your mates.
they go easy over 150bhp with a few mods and as you know the puma handles great
Click to expand...
stepping away from the puma, time to step up the ladder... the cougar is where my heart now lays. The 1.4 always got challeneged by silly little mutants in their Saxo's and corsa's.......:sleep: and the little beast left them trailing, although that was back in the day. My puma simply cannot keep up with me anymore so it's time to upgrade full scale.
 
Most of the words you used there would suggest the V6 is worth a drive. The Zetec is a good car but it wont be winning any races. Heck even the V6 gets spanked by any modern commonrail diesel family car. It's still a competent all-round package though.
 
get quotes on both ref insurance and if its a small difference there is no question go for the V6
 
you say that, but has the chap has eluded to he fancies a zetec and modding it.

The zetec is way more tinkerable.....and i know of one zetec that would kick the ass of most standard coug v6's...well, in my opinion.
 
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