Ford Cougar, yes or no ?

Attu90 · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:16

Im after a new car and ive always liked the Ford Cougar but i really dont know much about them apart from knowing they are based on the Mondeo.
Im looking at getting a 2.6 V6 with xpack (leather and air con etc), has anyone on here had and what does every one else think of them ?

Skeeter · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:21

Only OcUK has the answer...

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:30

Take a look at the Astra Coupe.

I was also looking at the Cougar but found the Astra Coupe to be better in every way...

Cheap, Fast, Nice... Ive had my Coupe for about 6 months now and love it ...

Skeeter · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:35

Sime said:
Take a look at the Astra Coupe.

I was also looking at the Cougar but found the Astra Coupe to be better in every way...

Cheap, Fast, Nice... Ive had my Coupe for about 6 months now and love it ...

Having driven an Astra Coupe (for all of 1 mile) and been a passenger in one, im going to dissagree with you on this. I thought it felt cheap, wasnt fast, and definately wasnt nice.

The fact the doors are 4 miles long meaning you cant get in or out in car parks is a good enough reason to not like them!

But then, I dont like the Couger either... so im probubly bias.

[TW]Fox · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:36

Sime said:
Take a look at the Astra Coupe.

Then walk past it.

I was also looking at the Cougar but found the Astra Coupe to be better in every way...

Jez · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:38

Attu90 said:
what does every one else think of them ?

I think they are rubbish, and you should buy a better car. You did ask

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:42

Probably not the best forum to be asking this question in really. Everyones just gonna tell you to get a Mondeo...

[TW]Fox · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:42

I'm trying hard not to but tbh the Cougar is a two door Mondeo with a 'coolness' price premium on it. So the sensible choice is.. err.. ummm..

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:46

I test drove a cougar, the 2.5 V6 and found it suprisingly dull...Really cramped inside aswell (for the insane size of the car)

[TW]Fox · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:48

Sime said:
I test drove a cougar, the 2.5 V6 and found it suprisingly dull

I'd understand that if you hadn't then gone and bought a Vauxhall Astra :confused:

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:53

[TW]Fox;11945371 said:
I'd understand that if you hadn't then gone and bought a Vauxhall Astra

Well for the price I got my astra with all the bits and bobs leather heated seats, air con, mint condition, low milage all for £2000 + my old car, the choice was pretty simple...

tbh the Astra Coupe isnt insanely fast BUT its fast enough for me, low insuance group, imo nice to look at and as I said, I was offered a really good price.

[TW]Fox · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:54

Sime said:
Well for the price I got my astra with all the bits and bobs leather heated seats, air con, mint condition, low milage all for £2000 + my old car, the choice was pretty simple...

tbh the Astra Coupe isnt insanely fast BUT its fast enough for me, low insuance group, imo nice to look at and as I said, I was offered a really good price.

All of those things don't appear to address the fact you found the V6 Cougar boring.

Skeeter · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:57

The Astra Coupe is slow, cheap, tacky, boring, and you have to be a woman to not look gay in it.

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:57

[TW]Fox;11945397 said:
All of those things don't appear to address the fact you found the V6 Cougar boring.

Well I did...Although the guy I was buying it off was litterally giving it away so im thinking something was very wrong with it...When I put my foot down it almost chuddered to up speed when accelerating and didnt get anywhere...

Although saying that I did also test drive a ST24 mondey and that was great fun but couldnt afford the insurance

Also I wasnt a HUGE fan of the styling

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:59

Skeeter said:
The Astra Coupe is slow, cheap, tacky, boring, and you have to be a woman to not look gay in it.

Cheers mate!

Skeeter · 23 Jun 2008 at 00:59

So you found 'A' V6 boring, not 'THE'...

Sime · 23 Jun 2008 at 01:00

Skeeter said:
So you found 'A' V6 boring, not 'THE'...

Maybe but the V6 I tried in the cougar put me off it big time

Rilot · 23 Jun 2008 at 08:35

My ex missus has a Cougar V6 and I've driven it a fair bit.
It drives like a Mondea V6 which is no bad thing but, as Fox says you pay a small premium because it's a coupe.
Engine is nasty to work on because of access problems. It's fine in the Mondeo engine bay but it's pretty crammed in to the Cougar.

All in all, it's a fine car if you like the styling and are willing to pay for that over a Mondeo.

Attu90 · 23 Jun 2008 at 10:49

Thanks for the replies, I started looking at Mondeo's but i prefer the look of the coupe and there are just to many Mondeo's around, i want some thing "different".
Ive had a new Astra SRi for the past year (company car) but my wife has told me its got to go (its her company) and as its a 2nd car i dont want to be spending a fortune.

Sime, im surprised you found the Mondeo ST24 fun to drive but not the Cougar, as far as I was aware I thought they were pretty much the same car just with a different body ?

Rilot · 23 Jun 2008 at 11:09

Attu90 said:
Sime, im surprised you found the Mondeo ST24 fun to drive but not the Cougar, as far as I was aware I thought they were pretty much the same car just with a different body ?

Noo, the ST24 is a very different car. The engine is more highly strung and the chassis is well sorted. The Cougar is more like the Ghia X 2.5 V6 in terms of drive.

One thing to watch on the Cougar is it has very odd tyre sizes (215/50 VR16) which severely limits your choice of rubber. Only premium tyres are available so factor on £100+ per corner. According to the owners club a lot of folk fit 55 profile tyres and live with the speedo underreading.