Is it wrong to want a cougar??

Obscure certainly, thirsty definitely, rust prone - its a Ford isn't it? Not very quick, a bit American in the handling department but a good long distance car. Fersure there aren't many about, all I can say is, if you MUST have one, take your time and get the best one you can find.
I've never owned one but by a strange fluke 2 of my customers have them and I've worked on them and driven them, both have starship mileages and are quite rotten but keep going.

Steve

A customer has one that I've had to work on. As well as the rust watch out for electrical issues, I've been chasing a fuel gauge issue on his for a while, central locking doesn't work and electric windows are intermittent.

I'd certainly recommend driving one before going balls deep and buying one. Driving his really doesn't do anything for me

The Cougar is the fat sibling of the Puma - and the Cougar badge worked much better for Mercury than it did for Ford

Hmmmm, interesting...

These cars look very much 'of their time' but with regards to what they're like they just don't feel very special!

I worked at Ford in the early 2000's and we had Cougars on the forecourt (the car not the hussy!) and they took their time moving!

Today though I suppose they're somewhat of a curiosity and worth nabbing if you can find a good one if only for future memory jogging...!!!

If you want one now is the time to buy one for sure...

1997 Cougar concept as teaser

I've had two Fiat Coupes, they were both absolute nightmares. Fun when they're working though!

13-03-2011 16;27;00 by dbizzle_, on Flickr

13-03-2011 16;37;00 by dbizzle_, on Flickr

(^^^inexpert exhaust cutout courtesy of previous owner!)

Ive owned a few and they have been great cars. Mpg isn't bad (38 mpg on a run) they are massive inside. 4 adults fit easily in it and the boot is massive. Both the 2.0 and 2.5 v6 have different issues but very few compared to a lot of other cars. Make sure the belts are replaced on the 2.5. If the serpentine belt snaps its a real pain to get to. Rust isn't too bad and ive never owned one with any electrical issues. Maybe ive just been very lucky? Sorry I forgot to say handling isn't bad at all. Its a motorway cruiser as opposed to a sportscar but it goes around bends well and is comfortable.
Ive owned a Fiat Coupe aswell and as said before mine was a bit of a nightmare. Electrical issues everywhere.

My friend had a fiat bravo I think it was, it had the 2.0 20valve hgt engine supposedly 155bhp. Which he beleived is the same engine as the fiat coupe just with no turbo, that thing really shifted alot and with an air filter sounded almost like a Ferrari.
The engine in his was great, just the rest of the car completely fell to bits haha

It really doesn't look much the same!
I can see Coupes going up in value in future, yet all I can see if the future for the Cougar is the scrap yard and threads like this!
Coupes also use a two excellent turbo engines which have tons of potential, the Cougar though?

No harm in having love for the unloved, but I don't see these being on a par at all.