Same I was just outside of my job smoking a cigarette and seen one drive by that was in pretty good shape than I remember when I was a kid before I could even drive I season one of them
The car was released in 1998 in the UK, and mine is from the first batch registered, making it one of the oldest globally. With 90k miles, it still feels and looks amazing. The engine is pretty bombproof, but whatever does go wrong, it can usually be replaced cheaply since the Mondeo (sister-car) is one of the most common cars on the road here.
The 2.5L Duratec engine is one of the best sounding V-6 engines that I can recall. It was incredibly smooth and was addicting to rev, especially in the SVT version for the contour.
I think the SVT contour had the same 3.0 that was in the escapes eventually. Pretty sure they were from the same engine family though and not just by name
I actually have one of these, same color, same year. It now has 240,626 miles on it. Other than a few minor issues the engine still pulls and it's a joy to drive around. Say what you want, but unless you drive one, you won't understand...
I had a 99 2.5 v6 auto and it was terrible. My mechanic friend said it's a nightmare to work on. Fun to drive when it worked. never thrashed it, maybe previous owner did.
+Benjamin Burkhardt yep, auto in these were horrible. I owned 2 different red v6 5 spds. The water pump fan broke on both of them, but I noticed right away in the second one. Not performance cars, by any means. Good enough for what they were.
+rrpostalagain I worked for a Ford dealer from 1998 to 2006. The Contour / Mystique / Cougar drove nice *for the times* but were among our least reliable cars as they aged. The V6 was worse. After about 5 years and 75000 miles: The V6's plastic water pump impeller would slip on the shaft and provide no engine coolant flow. Lots of V6 overheating issues. And...the engine main wiring harnesses didn't hold up to engine compartment heat. We had tons of Check engine lights and driveability issues which were only cured with COMPLETE replacement of the harness.
I remember that car. It handled great. It was like driving a cartoon it handled so great around corners and curves. It was a very fun car! And the v6 was smooth as silk. So much fun to drive with the 5 speed!
I own two of them - one Zetec and the other the Duratec V6. The way they hustle through corners is absolutely unreal for a car based on the CDW27 platform. They're a product of their time, sure. An Audi A5 will totally lose it if pressed. But I love driving them both and they have no problem adapting to modern technology if you're willing to spend some effort.
Very true. This car looked pretty damn good in 1999. They aged really quickly though. within a few years they looked dated. Strange how it happened so fast.
lol @ "%100 correct" . I see dumb fucks do this 100$ but JM I gotta hand it to ya Ive never seen a percentage sign BEFORE the number. There's a first time for everything. Merry Christmas!
It was the last minute change to call this model " Mercury Cougar". It was supposed to be the new generation "Ford Probe". I think it should have stayed as the Probe. It would have prevented the flak from the disappointed classic-car folks. The car is quick (not competitively fast by any means), fun to drive and sexy looking. Poor marketing is what really hurt the sales.
+FrostyCoug Probably would have done better as a Ford, as it was effectively the coupe version of the Contour, so would have complemented it nicely. I wonder if politics were at play, since the Mustang had updated exterior and engines for 99 and they didn't want a new Probe cutting into V6 Mustang sales. I'd buy the argument of classic car folks being annoyed, except for Fox and MN12 platform Cougars of the 80s and 90s sold well.
Totally different cars actually. The old Probe was based on a Mazda platform, while the 99-02 Cougar was on Ford's own CDW27 platform. Someone is Ford's marketing thought it would help sales if they tied the new car to the heritage name "Mercury Cougar". They were wrong. I think that in shape, form and function the new-edge Cougar is closer to the old Probe than the classic Cougar.
In Europe it was the "Ford Cougar" and it was the Mercury Cougar in the US. I had a 99 with the 2.5L 24V DOHC (auto) and that car was a rocket ship and handled like it was on rails. Had a mechanic friend of mine pop the hood and he said, and I'll never forget this, they packed 10lbs of shit into a 5lb sack. They had a special tire on it two. When I would go to order new tires for it and give them the size, the person on the other end of the phone said "you have a cougar don't you?" It was the only car that took that size tire. And it ate them up. It was such a soft compound that was great for handling but didn't last long. Went from and 84 tbird to a 99 cougar. Not too bad for my first two cars. I miss them both but I would take the Tbird back any day. I loved the Cougar too, but that bird will always have a special place in my heart.
@@TorquilMcLeod , honestly, if they were going to end the Mercury Cougar on the right note, then it should have been on that SN95/Fox Body platform instead, oh, and a nice V8 option would have been wise to sell with the vehicle as well.
How did a car with such history like the Cougar come back as this? Should have named it something new... They were just trying to capitalize on the name. Looks like an Eclipse.
+NikateeN my opinion on this was that this was to be the next Ford Probe however, the Probe got such a bad rap that they changed the name. All the testing had been done for it's release so they weren't going to scrap the whole car so...they just changed the name
Ryan96se. the probe never had a bad rep, it was a top performing hatch in the segment and always got great reviews. ford gave the car to mercury in an attempt to save the brand, but small hatches/coupes were losing sales everywhere so it was never going to help merc on the volume side of things.
DrewLSsix I agree. I love both of my Ford Probes. They have been very reliable. As an owner I get too many people telling me how big a piece a junk they were. They have a hard time proving it to me. Both of my rides have over 300,000 miles and mostly original :-)
This design of the Mercury Cougar I liked then and still kinda like today, because it was different. I still REALLY adore the original Mercury Cougar from the late 60s and early 70s as well.
I remember being so excited by this car I had to drag my mom to the lot to check it out! Although I ended up getting a Honda Accord coupe, I still remember going to check this car out!!
I did the exact same There are still many 99 Accord Coupes on the road. I haven't seen a Cougar on the road in 10 years! Must not have been a reliable car.
@@mitchflorida not reliable at all I owned a 2000 v6 nothing but problems with everything but the engine, loved that car though still have it just sits in my driveway
I did too. I ordered mine with a v6 in a manual transmission came in around $19,400 not a bad brand new car price for these options. Of course in retrospect I would have bought an Integra 😂 I just kind of wanted to stand out get something different and this was the best looking car at the time
@@nate678 , I wonder if the 1998-2002 Ford Cougar/Mercury Cougar would have been better with the steering, gasket, and sealing issues fixed, as well as had the ability to be RWD instead of FWD, and also had more potential for power and torque under the hood?
@@paxhumana2015 I don't know. I kept mine for about a year and a half and sold it while I was still halfway new. But it was pretty damn quick for the time plenty of torque for a V6. Main complaint was uncomfortable seats and rubbery transmission could never get that damn thing jammed into third quick enough
I had a 97 Ford Contour SE v6 sport 5spd Manual. Great handling and a lot of fun to drive. However.. the clutch had an odd uptake and was fragile and VERY expensive to replace. And the electrical system was one nightmare after another.
The Ford Cougar (or Mercury Cougar as known in the US) was a nice looking car and with right care was a great run for the money. A sports coupé equpied with the V6 engine "Ford V6 Duratec 2.5l" and gave the driver about 225 km/h (140 mph) with 0-100 in 8.6 sec. Not anything Mustang calibre, but the whole concept of the Ford Cougar was to sell an affordable sports like car for evrey day usage and with a friendlier gas-milage consumption. With the "X-Pack" available on the larger engine; included leather upholstered and heated front seats, with six-way electric adjustment for the driver's seat, and a Ford RDS6000 six speaker radio with six CD autochanger = Luxuary at the time for a lesser price. The Ford Cougar was (putting) its power down effectively and (tackling) twisty roads with confidence.” The standard wheels had 215 mm wide tyres, which greatly contributed to its cornering abilities. The Cougar was meant to be a sports car for the masses and competed against the likes of; Peugeot 406, BMW 3 Series Coupé, the Audi A5 series etc. and even if the Cougar is gone (1998-2002), it holds that "classic" value today that makes it far more interesting and exciting then its former rival car makers offerings of the same time. Personally I would any day invest in this car then any of its rivals as this is still as of 2021 a great looking car that is classic and "modern" combined.
It maybe is only my opinion, but I have never been a fan of the "Mercury" brand. Why? Because all it is is serving as some dumb middle brand that is totally not needed. You have "Ford", a classic brand and with a rich history and billions of users - And you have "Lincoln", a brand that Ford owns to make there most luxurious cars with all that is related to that market. Mercury? Why even have a middle brand? Ford realized this all to late, not until 2011 and that was 73 years to late when they sacked the middle-brand. Former CEO Alan Mulally saw this miles away but all others was stubborn with keeping an unneeded brand. Love Ford, love Lincoln, never Mercury. Peace.
These were throw away cars. I remember seeing them along side the Mitsubishi eclipse of the same era and thinking they looked the same (1999 - 2000 ish). Then they quickly disappeared.
Yea, I've had one since new. 175 hp is actually OK but sometimes , the SVO. V6 in the taurus might be interesting sometimes. when I want to go fast my M'cycle can easily go faster than my skills.
I own a black 93' Ford Probe GT and a woman living nearby has recently bought a black Ford Cougar, which I see almost everyday. It's fun seeing my cars "little brother", reminds me Of how good these cars are as they are still out having fun on the streets! Wish they made a new Probe and Cougar!!
When they released the Mustang EcoTec, I thought the same. It should've been a new Cougar instead, with a bit of a body mod (somewhere between Mondeo and Mustang)
I had one of these and loved it! Mine was a red v6 automatic. Fun little car. Before it I had a 92 Cougar LS and loved it too. I miss the Mercury brand and especially the Cougar. I wish Ford would put out a special anniversary edition of the Cougar. I'd be there with cash in hand to buy!
Yea the engines in these cars were rock solid the main issues they had were with the wiring. I know in the south where it gets SUPER hot the plastic insulation on the main engine harness tends to split and rumble..leaving bare wires . Spent 10 years in auto salvage and seen it ALOT....mind you thoes cars were 10+ years old....
I got my 99 V6 still. Only 122k on it. Has had a mess of repairs in the last 10k miles. But, after I got it all sorted she still runs great. Now only if I can get the damn AC cooling again id enjoy driving it.
my 00 v6 cougar was the same, around the same mileage nothing but problems and loved the car to death still, blew all my money on trying to fix it but gave up when the engine light and trans light were flashing for a month straight and the suspension was trashed, bought a Lexus lol, but would rather have my cougar
Although I'm a JDM fan this is one of few American cars I really like. I might've bought one for my first car but I found lots of bad reviews, doesn't seem like a very reliable car sadly. If it had a better reputation I would totally drive one, it looks really good!
Oh and by the way, Jeremy Clarkson actually liked this car when it first came out. It was sold in Europe under the Ford brand. But, I do have to agree with him that it's not as good as an Alfa Romeo. The Cougar is a great car, but nothing beats an Alfa.
I didn't realize how much of a good looking car this is even by today's standards. If you haven't heard a straightpiped 2.5L Duratec V6 from Ford, I'd suggest looking it up on RUclips....
abu ess I have a straight stainless steel piped v6 cougar to twin back boxes, which drops the v6 rasp sound, to a low comforting rumble it also produces a unique purring sound
@NSDAP Enthusiast 88 Ford's Sigma engine is butter smooth and begs to be revved, sound is subjective... a lot of people think V6 engines sound terrible.
@Rec Pro, and yet the car is still good in its own way if you know how to modify it properly. Yes, I like the classic muscle car Mercury Cougar as well, but even the Fox Body Mercury Cougar vehicles were beasts if they were tuned right, and ditto even for the malaise era Mercury Cougar and Ford Thunderbird models as well.
Ford could have released it as it was intended, as a third generation Probe. Ironic, that Ford initially wanted to replace the Mustang with the Probe, would end up replacing the Cougar instead.
+herrgolf Here In Europe it was sold as the Ford Cougar. I remember loving this car back then, and they were very common. Now they've mostly disappeared :(
After the demise of the Probe, I had high hopes for this Cougar being a worthy replacement. Unfortunately, they never materialized and the market agreed.
You call yourself TrollBuster, yet you and your friends ironically sound like trolls. Also, if this vehicle was RWD, and had some of the other issues ironed out, then it would be a damn good tuner/drift car.
I test drove a '99 Cougar back in the day and it made my short list mostly for the 'modern' look and cheap v6 w/ manual. I remember my list was down to Eclipse GST, Grand Am GT, Svt Contour and Civic SI. Ended up buying a forest green SVT Contour. The Cougar and the more potent Contour sounded great, but the manual transmissions were below average even for that time period especially compared to the Diamond Star cars or Honda.
When this came out ,it was about the time I was looking to by my first new sport car. But the 1999 gt mustang was what i finally chosen at the end . I did enjoy driving my mustang, especially the back seats😉 . But I still have a soft spot for that cougar I did test drive it, a shame I haven't seen one for a long time now on the road.
My buddy had one of this in black it did look good and i really like the gauge cluster very sporty but i still out ran him in my 2005 chevy malibu good old days 😂
It very nice modern nice looking car with projector headlamps. But personally in my opinion at least it needs a rear wheel drive conversion and coyote engine swap.
This was my very first new car, I bought one right when it hit the lot back in late August 1998. It was an o.k. little car , I got the V6 in a maroon color, with an automatic.I tinted the windows and put a Sony CD player in it. Those goddam seats were so uncomfortable, the engine was peppy and did a fine job. The ride was tight and steering was tight. I always said it was Ford just wanting to make an Eclipse wanna be. What was so weird is my boyfriend at the time got a new truck in the same day.
Do you guys have reviews for the W-Body Cutlass Supreme? I'm dying to see a '96 review, comparing its 0-60 and 1/4miles to mine and see that old boat sail around the cones! HAHAHA
Matt Thompson yes that's what i'm trying to say if the engine and trans are proven reliable then why are these cars so notoriously un-reliable when it comes to the drive-train? it makes no sense
+Antwon Jenkins I still have an SVT contour... 2.5 duratec but with 200 hp not 170.. and it is still pulling strong.. the problems are really simple.. they are just a little tight to work on.. because of the space.. but they are reliable if you keep them well... some mechanics and stupids say that they are unreliable because they don't know how to work on them.... they are simple and easy if you search on forums... my svt still runs strong and is still very well kept... it has been more reliable than other cars I've had... including a honda accord..
nop. in the 2.5 I only use a large extention to change the rear spark plugs.. and in the front I just remove 2 bolts to move the IMRC out of the way.. 10 minute job.... in the 3.0 duratec wich is in my brother's mazda 6 it is what you saod.. you have to move a lot of shit... and it is a pain in the ass in the 2.5 it is really simple
I remember going to the dealership with my dad when I was about 7 to test drive a black top of the line Cougar with the 5 speed.. he was going to trade his purple F-150 5.4 for it, but than my mom wanted to go home so we left and he didn’t get it, but we did have a silver 2001 Mustang GT at the time too, such great memories!!!
I had one new in 2001 v6 5spd, was a sweet ride . One the Hwy I had it up to 220kph and you could steer it with one finger, very smooth. My beef was that it was in for repairs a lot but that’s Ford for ya…. Also had a 95 contour v6 5spd before that, same issue of repairs as well.
RIP Uncle Paul and dad. This was the first car I went over 100 mph in when I was a kid with my uncle. Next thing I knew, a few months later my dad bought one as well.
I test drove a brand new one in 99 and thought it would be a great car own. Five minutes into the test drive the gauges went nuts and the thing broke down in the middle of the street. I remember a less than enjoying walk back to the dealership with the salesman. I couldn't get back into my car and away from there fast enough!
Wow! It broke down as a new car on a test drive? You always worry that it's going to break down soon after you drive it home, but to die at the dealership? Holy cow! 😆🤣
I truly believe that this was to be the next Probe but they changed the name to Cougar because the Probe was dead by the time this car was ready for production. The Probe has a 2.0 and a 2.5 also.
I had a beautiful restored 1969 Cougar XR7 when this car came out. I drove to the LM dealer and asked to test drive one. You should have seen the look on their faces when I pulled up. I thought it was a neat car. Unfortunately it ran out of gas at a gas station but the dealer had the key to the gas cap. Man was he pissed when he came to pick me up!
I have a cousin that has one it’s a 2000 model. She brought it in 2003. Good little car only had the transmission replace twice, it has over 200,000 miles on it.
Mercury made a very limited number of Cougar Rousche models in '99. I'd love to see one in person, they were quite beautiful. Every now and then, you'll run across someone online who found one for dirt cheap from someone who didn't know what they were selling. There are knock off body kits, but some actually have the official Rousche manufacturer sticker and product/registration number on the driver side door jam.
If these made 200 horsepower they would have sold so many more but competing with eclipse gts, prelude and even tiburon it was hard to make a case to buy one of these
What's he loading into the hatch there? " The luggage compartment will easily swallow your nuclear waste cylinders with the rear seats folded."
Javelin antitank rocket, headed to the Ukraine, LOL.
Hah, nuclear waste! The original flex-fuel. That would explain his hairline too!
Looks like a case for something, maybe tripod ? Definitely looks well used lol
No it's the screams he works for monsters INC
So I’m on the toilet..I read your comment before the watching. 🤣🤣 Thanks for the laughs..and regularity!
No John, no more Deville
I was gonna say the same thing haha...CT6 is pretty much spiritual successor I guess.
lol I went to comment that exact statement, but you definitely got here first
+scterka Deville Touring Sedan DTS. Carried on for the rest of the 2000s...then XTS.
+scterka Well, he got 2 out of 2 and that ain't bad.
+scterka if you're going to nitpick from a comment made 17 years ago... then you might was well comment that the Mercury brand is dead also
Loved the way these looked back in the day.
Same I was just outside of my job smoking a cigarette and seen one drive by that was in pretty good shape than I remember when I was a kid before I could even drive I season one of them
I saw one of these a few days ago and totally forgot they existed. They still look pretty good 25 years later
I just bought a 2002 and I agree, really nice looking cars
This lamb concurs.
Too bad they completely sucked
Ford's new edge styling of that era has held up well.
you used to see these things everywhere in the early 2000's!
The car was released in 1998 in the UK, and mine is from the first batch registered, making it one of the oldest globally. With 90k miles, it still feels and looks amazing. The engine is pretty bombproof, but whatever does go wrong, it can usually be replaced cheaply since the Mondeo (sister-car) is one of the most common cars on the road here.
They call the Ford (UK/EU) Mondeo the Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique on my side of the pond.
The 2.5L Duratec engine is one of the best sounding V-6 engines that I can recall. It was incredibly smooth and was addicting to rev, especially in the SVT version for the contour.
The 2.5 duratec 4 banger that came out ten years later sounds pretty awesome too.
i took my ex in this car up in the park in the night to give me head .
year 2008 . great time and space
It was smooth because it was a Mazda engine.
I think the SVT contour had the same 3.0 that was in the escapes eventually. Pretty sure they were from the same engine family though and not just by name
@@jackdough8164 the contour didnt have the 3.0 Duratec, only the 2.5 Duratec
I actually have one of these, same color, same year. It now has 240,626 miles on it. Other than a few minor issues the engine still pulls and it's a joy to drive around. Say what you want, but unless you drive one, you won't understand...
I had a 99 2.5 v6 auto and it was terrible. My mechanic friend said it's a nightmare to work on. Fun to drive when it worked. never thrashed it, maybe previous owner did.
+Rally Boyd I don't know man, this was free, it might have some issues but it was free.
+Benjamin Burkhardt
yep, auto in these were horrible. I owned 2 different red v6 5 spds. The water pump fan broke on both of them, but I noticed right away in the second one. Not performance cars, by any means. Good enough for what they were.
+rrpostalagain *impeller not fan
+rrpostalagain I worked for a Ford dealer from 1998 to 2006. The Contour / Mystique / Cougar drove nice *for the times* but were among our least reliable cars as they aged. The V6 was worse. After about 5 years and 75000 miles: The V6's plastic water pump impeller would slip on the shaft and provide no engine coolant flow. Lots of V6 overheating issues. And...the engine main wiring harnesses didn't hold up to engine compartment heat. We had tons of Check engine lights and driveability issues which were only cured with COMPLETE replacement of the harness.
Not enough cat puns.....
or older women seeking younger men puns...
audioblinker every time he ended a sentence *without* one it felt weird
Meowcury Cougar. It purrs like a kitten.
I remember that car. It handled great. It was like driving a cartoon it handled so great around corners and curves. It was a very fun car! And the v6 was smooth as silk. So much fun to drive with the 5 speed!
I own two of them - one Zetec and the other the Duratec V6. The way they hustle through corners is absolutely unreal for a car based on the CDW27 platform.
They're a product of their time, sure. An Audi A5 will totally lose it if pressed. But I love driving them both and they have no problem adapting to modern technology if you're willing to spend some effort.
They did handle well. Had a V6 Sport.
They said it was underpowered and not smooth.
@Believe Inyourself Sounds like you had a problem between the seat and the steering wheel.
I wish i was old enough to drive then i was only 4 lolz
Really a great looking car at the time, very modern, projector headlights looked awesome in 99!
+Kingsoupturbo This thing's styling was a minor revelation when it first appeared. Loved it then and still mostly like it today.
+kz1000ps i didn't like the 2001 face lift
Very true. This car looked pretty damn good in 1999. They aged really quickly though. within a few years they looked dated. Strange how it happened so fast.
+Kingsoupturbo The 99 Cougar's design cues would be used for the next decade in many cars
+Kingsoupturbo The 99 Cougar's design cues would be used for the next decade in many cars
Sadly the Cougar name plate was dropped in 2002 and the Mercury brand was dropped in January of 2011
:'(
If they still put this into maybe Mercury stills be alive
@SlitWristMisfit There wasn't a Ford version of this Cougar in the United States... the same with the 91-94 Capri.
Every single Mercury was a rebadged Ford except for this one
Yep
4:48 whoa listening with headphones you *really* hear the audio jump between left and right balance as the car goes through the slalom 😅
This and the 04-07 Accord Coupes look very similar especially in the back ..
lol @ "%100 correct" . I see dumb fucks do this 100$ but JM I gotta hand it to ya Ive never seen a percentage sign BEFORE the number. There's a first time for everything. Merry Christmas!
2 door accord, 4 door had weird tail lights
lmaoo literally one time my friend flew up to a random accord coupe at a gas station and blared his horn at it thinking it was me
@@noahh.8737 lol that’s funny lol
The Ford Probe that never was, lol.
whoohaaXL they both "never was" 😂😂😂
the ford puma that never was lol
This was the same platform as the probe
vector6977 the EXACT SAME,, But if I'm not mistaking overseas they pretty much sold this vehicle under the Ford brand as the Ford Puma
@@vector6977 nope, same platform as the contour. Probe was on the mazda 626 platform.
It was the last minute change to call this model " Mercury Cougar". It was supposed to be the new generation "Ford Probe". I think it should have stayed as the Probe. It would have prevented the flak from the disappointed classic-car folks. The car is quick (not competitively fast by any means), fun to drive and sexy looking. Poor marketing is what really hurt the sales.
+FrostyCoug Probably would have done better as a Ford, as it was effectively the coupe version of the Contour, so would have complemented it nicely. I wonder if politics were at play, since the Mustang had updated exterior and engines for 99 and they didn't want a new Probe cutting into V6 Mustang sales. I'd buy the argument of classic car folks being annoyed, except for Fox and MN12 platform Cougars of the 80s and 90s sold well.
+FrostyCoug Did not know that. So did they just change the headlights and tail designs to look "catlike"? Thanks for sharing that info.
Totally different cars actually. The old Probe was based on a Mazda platform, while the 99-02 Cougar was on Ford's own CDW27 platform. Someone is Ford's marketing thought it would help sales if they tied the new car to the heritage name "Mercury Cougar". They were wrong. I think that in shape, form and function the new-edge Cougar is closer to the old Probe than the classic Cougar.
In Europe it was the "Ford Cougar" and it was the Mercury Cougar in the US. I had a 99 with the 2.5L 24V DOHC (auto) and that car was a rocket ship and handled like it was on rails. Had a mechanic friend of mine pop the hood and he said, and I'll never forget this, they packed 10lbs of shit into a 5lb sack. They had a special tire on it two. When I would go to order new tires for it and give them the size, the person on the other end of the phone said "you have a cougar don't you?" It was the only car that took that size tire. And it ate them up. It was such a soft compound that was great for handling but didn't last long. Went from and 84 tbird to a 99 cougar. Not too bad for my first two cars. I miss them both but I would take the Tbird back any day. I loved the Cougar too, but that bird will always have a special place in my heart.
@@TorquilMcLeod , honestly, if they were going to end the Mercury Cougar on the right note, then it should have been on that SN95/Fox Body platform instead, oh, and a nice V8 option would have been wise to sell with the vehicle as well.
How did a car with such history like the Cougar come back as this? Should have named it something new... They were just trying to capitalize on the name. Looks like an Eclipse.
+NikateeN my opinion on this was that this was to be the next Ford Probe however, the Probe got such a bad rap that they changed the name. All the testing had been done for it's release so they weren't going to scrap the whole car so...they just changed the name
Ryan96se. the probe never had a bad rep, it was a top performing hatch in the segment and always got great reviews. ford gave the car to mercury in an attempt to save the brand, but small hatches/coupes were losing sales everywhere so it was never going to help merc on the volume side of things.
DrewLSsix I agree. I love both of my Ford Probes. They have been very reliable. As an owner I get too many people telling me how big a piece a junk they were. They have a hard time proving it to me. Both of my rides have over 300,000 miles and mostly original :-)
***** That is correct. It is more foreign than domestic. I've been getting parts I need from Mazda for years
Ryan96se I had a 94 probe gt. 5spd. Loved it. Miss it.
I always liked these Cougars!
You have to love the cameraman being at the end of the slalom right in the path of the car if it happens to miss its mark.
This design of the Mercury Cougar I liked then and still kinda like today, because it was different. I still REALLY adore the original Mercury Cougar from the late 60s and early 70s as well.
This version and the classic Cougar are original, beutiful designed vehicles.
I remember being so excited by this car I had to drag my mom to the lot to check it out! Although I ended up getting a Honda Accord coupe, I still remember going to check this car out!!
+Acc0rd79 You dodged a bullet!! lol
+Keaton Belliston
I beg to differ...
I did the exact same
There are still many 99 Accord Coupes on the road. I haven't seen a Cougar on the road in 10 years! Must not have been a reliable car.
@@mitchflorida not reliable at all I owned a 2000 v6 nothing but problems with everything but the engine, loved that car though still have it just sits in my driveway
@@mitchflorida I just bought a 2002 with the V6
I sure liked my '00 Cougar! It looked just like the test car and also had the V6 and manual!
I did too. I ordered mine with a v6 in a manual transmission came in around $19,400 not a bad brand new car price for these options. Of course in retrospect I would have bought an Integra 😂 I just kind of wanted to stand out get something different and this was the best looking car at the time
I had the same one too 00 silver v6 but it was auto :(
@@nate678 , I wonder if the 1998-2002 Ford Cougar/Mercury Cougar would have been better with the steering, gasket, and sealing issues fixed, as well as had the ability to be RWD instead of FWD, and also had more potential for power and torque under the hood?
@@paxhumana2015 I don't know. I kept mine for about a year and a half and sold it while I was still halfway new. But it was pretty damn quick for the time plenty of torque for a V6. Main complaint was uncomfortable seats and rubbery transmission could never get that damn thing jammed into third quick enough
Got a buddy that had one of these with a V6 in it.. I liked how it was laid out on the inside.. It seem to be a good car to him..
Accords are much better in every way. They're still around. The Cougars aren't.
@@tmo2798 I think I've got the only Cougar still on the road in the Metro Detroit area, the only other one I've seen was a yellow '99 in a u pull yard
Had a 99 red 4cyl 5spd cougar. Absolutely loved that car. Fun and great fuel mileage.
I had a 97 Ford Contour SE v6 sport 5spd Manual. Great handling and a lot of fun to drive. However.. the clutch had an odd uptake and was fragile and VERY expensive to replace. And the electrical system was one nightmare after another.
Pretty solid car. My brother had one back in 2005. I sill see them today.
This little car has more personality and style than most of the bland vehicle designs today.
The Ford Cougar (or Mercury Cougar as known in the US) was a nice looking car and with right care was a great run for the money.
A sports coupé equpied with the V6 engine "Ford V6 Duratec 2.5l" and gave the driver about 225 km/h (140 mph) with 0-100 in 8.6 sec. Not anything Mustang calibre, but the whole concept of the Ford Cougar was to sell an affordable sports like car for evrey day usage and with a friendlier gas-milage consumption.
With the "X-Pack" available on the larger engine; included leather upholstered and heated front seats, with six-way electric adjustment for the driver's seat, and a
Ford RDS6000 six speaker radio with six CD autochanger = Luxuary at the time for a lesser price.
The Ford Cougar was (putting) its power down effectively and (tackling) twisty roads with confidence.” The standard wheels had 215 mm wide tyres, which greatly contributed to its cornering abilities.
The Cougar was meant to be a sports car for the masses and competed against the likes of; Peugeot 406, BMW 3 Series Coupé, the Audi A5 series etc. and even if the Cougar is gone (1998-2002), it holds that "classic" value today that makes it far more interesting and exciting then its former rival car makers offerings of the same time.
Personally I would any day invest in this car then any of its rivals as this is still as of 2021 a great looking car that is classic and "modern" combined.
It maybe is only my opinion, but I have never been a fan of the "Mercury" brand. Why? Because all it is is serving as some dumb middle brand that is totally not needed.
You have "Ford", a classic brand and with a rich history and billions of users - And you have "Lincoln", a brand that Ford owns to make there most luxurious cars with all that is related to that market. Mercury? Why even have a middle brand?
Ford realized this all to late, not until 2011 and that was 73 years to late when they sacked the middle-brand. Former CEO Alan Mulally saw this miles away but all others was stubborn with keeping an unneeded brand.
Love Ford, love Lincoln, never Mercury. Peace.
These were throw away cars. I remember seeing them along side the Mitsubishi eclipse of the same era and thinking they looked the same (1999 - 2000 ish). Then they quickly disappeared.
The most aerodynamic Cougar yet, all it needed was a bigger version of the Duratec V6, preferably a 3.0-liter or 3.5-liter.
Yea, I've had one since new. 175 hp is actually OK but sometimes , the SVO. V6 in the taurus might be interesting sometimes. when I want to go fast my M'cycle can easily go faster than my skills.
I own a black 93' Ford Probe GT and a woman living nearby has recently bought a black Ford Cougar, which I see almost everyday. It's fun seeing my cars "little brother", reminds me Of how good these cars are as they are still out having fun on the streets!
Wish they made a new Probe and Cougar!!
When they released the Mustang EcoTec, I thought the same. It should've been a new Cougar instead, with a bit of a body mod (somewhere between Mondeo and Mustang)
This car was definitely ahead of it's time in looks and performance!
No. Escort was much better.
@Salt Maker Escorts are still around, Cougars aren't. Weak v6 putting out about the same as the Escort's 4-banger. C'mon, son.
@@tmo2798 , it is only weak if it is stock. Were it worked on, it would shame a Ford (UK) Escort.
@@paxhumana2015 Those cars aren't worth working on. They are disposable garbage. Better off with a Honda...
Bought one 4 years ago spent $7,500 pimping it out drove it for 3 weeks before a delivery trucked t-bone it at a four way stop. :(
Sold nearly 90k the first year. The next 3 years sold 90k together. And then the Cougar went extinct. Probably Global Warming...
One of the problems, I think, for this generation was the lack of power. It should have had a 3.8-liter version of the Duratec V6.
I had one of these and loved it! Mine was a red v6 automatic. Fun little car. Before it I had a 92 Cougar LS and loved it too. I miss the Mercury brand and especially the Cougar. I wish Ford would put out a special anniversary edition of the Cougar. I'd be there with cash in hand to buy!
Yea the engines in these cars were rock solid the main issues they had were with the wiring. I know in the south where it gets SUPER hot the plastic insulation on the main engine harness tends to split and rumble..leaving bare wires . Spent 10 years in auto salvage and seen it ALOT....mind you thoes cars were 10+ years old....
I got my 99 V6 still. Only 122k on it. Has had a mess of repairs in the last 10k miles. But, after I got it all sorted she still runs great. Now only if I can get the damn AC cooling again id enjoy driving it.
my 00 v6 cougar was the same, around the same mileage nothing but problems and loved the car to death still, blew all my money on trying to fix it but gave up when the engine light and trans light were flashing for a month straight and the suspension was trashed, bought a Lexus lol, but would rather have my cougar
Although I'm a JDM fan this is one of few American cars I really like. I might've bought one for my first car but I found lots of bad reviews, doesn't seem like a very reliable car sadly. If it had a better reputation I would totally drive one, it looks really good!
I would love to get a 5 speed with the Duratec. Sounds like a great combo. Such a slept on car.
Worked on only 1 in my entire 20+ yr career, yet dozens of Mystakes and Contours....
I remember seeing many with exploded rear bumper covers for some reason
The design was way ahead of it's time. The front end looks more or less like a tesla
Oh and by the way, Jeremy Clarkson actually liked this car when it first came out. It was sold in Europe under the Ford brand. But, I do have to agree with him that it's not as good as an Alfa Romeo. The Cougar is a great car, but nothing beats an Alfa.
PLENTY of cars beat an Alfa Romeo.
I still have my 01. runs great no probs. 200 k and still bitchin'
parts are hard to find tho. ford quit with these
These always reminded me of the Mitsubishi Eclipse
I didn't realize how much of a good looking car this is even by today's standards. If you haven't heard a straightpiped 2.5L Duratec V6 from Ford, I'd suggest looking it up on RUclips....
abu ess I have a straight stainless steel piped v6 cougar to twin back boxes, which drops the v6 rasp sound, to a low comforting rumble it also produces a unique purring sound
@Suicidal in Cleveland absolutely agree. The SVT version of the 2.5 V-6 had an intoxicating sound and was incredibly smooth.
@NSDAP Enthusiast 88 Ford's Sigma engine is butter smooth and begs to be revved, sound is subjective... a lot of people think V6 engines sound terrible.
To this day I still can't believe Ford put such a good name on a car like that.
I like this Cougar as much as I like the 1st Gen model. My mom had a late 80s model. Didn't care for it.
@Rec Pro, and yet the car is still good in its own way if you know how to modify it properly. Yes, I like the classic muscle car Mercury Cougar as well, but even the Fox Body Mercury Cougar vehicles were beasts if they were tuned right, and ditto even for the malaise era Mercury Cougar and Ford Thunderbird models as well.
Ford could have released it as it was intended, as a third generation Probe. Ironic, that Ford initially wanted to replace the Mustang with the Probe, would end up replacing the Cougar instead.
This would've made much more sense and would've sold better as a Ford.
+herrgolf Here In Europe it was sold as the Ford Cougar. I remember loving this car back then, and they were very common. Now they've mostly disappeared :(
No way then it would cut into the Mustang's sales...
Mustangs weren't sold here, most european Mustangs were individiual imports.
SuperDuty455
That was directed at herrgolf
ford puma is similar
Is it me, or does the drivers side door not match the rest of the car? All in all not a bad looking car for the time.
FLJAMESFL they probably had to replace it, being a press car maybe someone had fucked it up
Roddy Dykes yep. A journalist probably hit the cameraman in the middle of the slalom.
I noticed same thing... its been repainted
Was supposed to be the third gen Probe, but ford killed the name talking about replacing the mustang with a Probe, so they made it a cougar.
"If it's your car you won't be riding back here anyway" Man you just don't hear that kind of honest language at other magazines. So savage.
After the demise of the Probe, I had high hopes for this Cougar being a worthy replacement. Unfortunately, they never materialized and the market agreed.
You call yourself TrollBuster, yet you and your friends ironically sound like trolls. Also, if this vehicle was RWD, and had some of the other issues ironed out, then it would be a damn good tuner/drift car.
I test drove a '99 Cougar back in the day and it made my short list mostly for the 'modern' look and cheap v6 w/ manual. I remember my list was down to Eclipse GST, Grand Am GT, Svt Contour and Civic SI. Ended up buying a forest green SVT Contour. The Cougar and the more potent Contour sounded great, but the manual transmissions were below average even for that time period especially compared to the Diamond Star cars or Honda.
When this came out ,it was about the time I was looking to by my first new sport car. But the 1999 gt mustang was what i finally chosen at the end . I did enjoy driving my mustang, especially the back seats😉 . But I still have a soft spot for that cougar I did test drive it, a shame I haven't seen one for a long time now on the road.
I had a 2002 4 cylinder Cougar and loved it. I wish it would have been more popular so that it could have hung around a few more years.
My buddy had one of this in black it did look good and i really like the gauge cluster very sporty but i still out ran him in my 2005 chevy malibu good old days 😂
How times change. Back then, I hated the Cougars. Now that I am older, WOW, I just love a good looking Cougar! :-p
Mine is coming up on 150k miles and I love it! The thought or refurbishing it has crossed my mind a few times, but I know I'd be throwing away money.
Underrated, hidden gem of a car...or so I've heard
I lovedddd these as a kid
Funny how slow they were lol
Mine was a V-6 and it was not slow.
I have a 99 and I love it.
When I was out shopping for my first car it was between this, the '99 Civic EX coupe in that forest green and a Camry. I went with the Camry 🤦🏿♂️ lol
I believe the Aston Martin V12 engine is essentially two Duratec V6 engines welded together.
From what I have heard, that is correct. Lol.
Quite modern looking.
The design is vomit inducing.
@@Knightrem your mother is vomit inducing!!
It very nice modern nice looking car with projector headlamps. But personally in my opinion at least it needs a rear wheel drive conversion and coyote engine swap.
I would actually love to see someone do this.
I still miss my 2001 Cougar. It was a great car and the shifter was a blast and quick.
I like cougar womans
gil zur My wife is a cougar. She is nine years older. Num-Num
This was my very first new car, I bought one right when it hit the lot back in late August 1998. It was an o.k. little car , I got the V6 in a maroon color, with an automatic.I tinted the windows and put a Sony CD player in it. Those goddam seats were so uncomfortable, the engine was peppy and did a fine job. The ride was tight and steering was tight. I always said it was Ford just wanting to make an Eclipse wanna be. What was so weird is my boyfriend at the time got a new truck in the same day.
Anthony Strunk ❤️
Mercury Cougar 1999 Good memories
"But hey, if it's your car you won't be riding back here anyway!"
Fuckin killed me
I do have one question... how in the hell did this thing not overheat..
It stays hot for a long time
Do you guys have reviews for the W-Body Cutlass Supreme? I'm dying to see a '96 review, comparing its 0-60 and 1/4miles to mine and see that old boat sail around the cones! HAHAHA
there was an old one, with the 2.8 v6 but it was uploaded by a user. motorweek might've made them delete it
Love that Grand Tourismo muse towards the end 🙃
If the engines and platform were "proven" and "reliable" how come these cars are widely regarded as unreliable lol
+Antwon Jenkins hey my ford contour with the 2 liter zetec is still going strong! Only problems are their stupid electrical connections
+Antwon Jenkins Mondeos of that day were very reliable. Probably an issue with the American equivalents.
Matt Thompson yes that's what i'm trying to say if the engine and trans are proven reliable then why are these cars so notoriously un-reliable when it comes to the drive-train? it makes no sense
+Antwon Jenkins I still have an SVT contour... 2.5 duratec but with 200 hp not 170.. and it is still pulling strong.. the problems are really simple.. they are just a little tight to work on.. because of the space.. but they are reliable if you keep them well... some mechanics and stupids say that they are unreliable because they don't know how to work on them.... they are simple and easy if you search on forums... my svt still runs strong and is still very well kept... it has been more reliable than other cars I've had... including a honda accord..
nop. in the 2.5 I only use a large extention to change the rear spark plugs.. and in the front I just remove 2 bolts to move the IMRC out of the way.. 10 minute job.... in the 3.0 duratec wich is in my brother's mazda 6 it is what you saod.. you have to move a lot of shit... and it is a pain in the ass in the 2.5 it is really simple
Can the ford contour SVT be a candidate for a retro review?
Had a 2001 5spd v6. Great fun little car but the previous owners neglected it. Definitely ahead of it’s time.
I remember going to the dealership with my dad when I was about 7 to test drive a black top of the line Cougar with the 5 speed.. he was going to trade his purple F-150 5.4 for it, but than my mom wanted to go home so we left and he didn’t get it, but we did have a silver 2001 Mustang GT at the time too, such great memories!!!
I had one new in 2001 v6 5spd, was a sweet ride . One the Hwy I had it up to 220kph and you could steer it with one finger, very smooth. My beef was that it was in for repairs a lot but that’s Ford for ya…. Also had a 95 contour v6 5spd before that, same issue of repairs as well.
When was the last time you saw one of these on the road?
RIP Uncle Paul and dad. This was the first car I went over 100 mph in when I was a kid with my uncle. Next thing I knew, a few months later my dad bought one as well.
That driver's side door sure is a whole other shade of silver than the rest of the car
Good stylin' for 1998.
I test drove a brand new one in 99 and thought it would be a great car own. Five minutes into the test drive the gauges went nuts and the thing broke down in the middle of the street. I remember a less than enjoying walk back to the dealership with the salesman. I couldn't get back into my car and away from there fast enough!
Wow! It broke down as a new car on a test drive? You always worry that it's going to break down soon after you drive it home, but to die at the dealership? Holy cow! 😆🤣
75 aces It sure as hell did.
My Cougar flew like a cat out of hell!!! Long live My Cougar! I had him from 2000 until 2012 and he drove and drovvveee!!
mine had nothing but issues but just went and went and WENT. only time it ever broken down was when the alternator went
I truly believe that this was to be the next Probe but they changed the name to Cougar because the Probe was dead by the time this car was ready for production. The Probe has a 2.0 and a 2.5 also.
Yeah, I thought the same too. This was suppose to be the next Probe technically.
My first car! It was so cool back in the 2000's.
This car looks really good considering how bland modern cars look today, and good luck finding a mid-sized front wheel drive v6 nowadays.
If a Mitsubishi Eclipse and a Chevy Cavalier had a baby...
I had a beautiful restored 1969 Cougar XR7 when this car came out. I drove to the LM dealer and asked to test drive one. You should have seen the look on their faces when I pulled up. I thought it was a neat car. Unfortunately it ran out of gas at a gas station but the dealer had the key to the gas cap. Man was he pissed when he came to pick me up!
I've always wanted one of these.
the only cougar i ever considered getting inside of
I have a cousin that has one it’s a 2000 model. She brought it in 2003. Good little car only had the transmission replace twice, it has over 200,000 miles on it.
"There will probably always be a DeVille"
I always wanted one of these !
I always wanted one of these back in the day
It should have been rear wheel drive and had the 4.6 v8 in it. There would b alot more on the roads today if they did that
Mercury made a very limited number of Cougar Rousche models in '99. I'd love to see one in person, they were quite beautiful. Every now and then, you'll run across someone online who found one for dirt cheap from someone who didn't know what they were selling. There are knock off body kits, but some actually have the official Rousche manufacturer sticker and product/registration number on the driver side door jam.
Pause @ 2:46 that's Brian Roberts, Motorweeks executive producer
If these made 200 horsepower they would have sold so many more but competing with eclipse gts, prelude and even tiburon it was hard to make a case to buy one of these
The Mercury Probe 👀.