Buying a Cougar

FumDuk · 10-01-2008, 10:50 PM

I say a Cougar for the 1st time today... Within 20 mins I has a "For Sale" sign on my EL Fairmont, I've been wanting a new car for a while now but just couldn't choose... THEN I SAW A COUGAR

:

Can you guys tell me what to look out for when buying one.
Whats a reasonable price ?
Also, is it hard to find body kits ?

Cheers
RicK

XR5-Boy · 10-01-2008, 11:15 PM

Welcome to the forum Rick

First stuff to look for is the typical repaired damage. Body is ok, just that no serious structural damage. Service history is a goody too. Overall they're a pretty strong car. Take one for a spin and keep an ear out for the odd rattles and not normal noises.

In terms of body kits, there are a couple of places to get them. Ask Abraxas or angelo and they'll be able to tell ya. Depends which model u'r getting. I have a 2000 model, pros is that the shape is the best, cons are that the seats suck. 2001 onwards was the facelift model which had better interior and seats. They changed the front and rear bumpers, not to my liking, but a bodykit will fix that! Look at Abraxas' for some pointers.

Overall, u won't be dissapointed as they're a great car. Not super powerful, but will take corners btr than most

Dshibi · 11-01-2008, 10:07 PM

Hey Rick,

Welcome to the forum, and possibly welcome to the world of Cougars.

Stuff to look for with the car will depend on age and mileage. Obviously, all the usuals, and you should get a feel for the car first and drive it if possible because you need to know if it's the kinda car you can drive and put up with.

A good service history is paramount. These cars can be difficult to get parts for, and a lazy previous owner could cost you big bucks further down the track. Parts are not cheap.

Known problems include alternators failing, door actuators failing ($600 per door), sunroof trouble (mainly in the US, and mainly on the older models). Reviewers would often complain that the front seats were not supportive in the older models as well.

Cougar-Boy's opinion of the model change is purely subjective as I feel the 01 shape was an improvement over the older! Though, I will admit the 99-00 models look more cat like from the front, I like the aggression of the new bumper on the 01's, plus the interior rocks! But, the older models are easier to lower because Ford changed the rear spring setup in the 01's.

Bodykits will be an absolute pain to buy now... it was expensive when I sourced mine, so unless you have a lazy few thousand lying around for supply, spraying and install, you might be better to concentrate on having a nice low car, with some decent wheels a bit like what Mark (pcperfection) has done with his.

Sought after Cougars are generally the 2000 model Eibach edition, but these will fetch higher dollars, or a low km 00 or 01 model in good condition. Most will be out of warranty now, unless the owner was prudent enough to extend it like mine has. Leather interior is a nice option if you can get it, and the manual is the better transmission

All up, good luck, and don't hesitate to ask any questions!

Dan

FumDuk · 12-01-2008, 02:19 PM

Hey guys, thanks for your help

I'm going to see this one on Monday - http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/FORD/COUGAR/details.aspx?Cr=0&__Nne=20&__Ns=pCar_StatusSort_In t32|1||pCar_Price_Decimal|0&distance=500&silo=1000 &seot=0&postcode=3550&__Qpb=true&Model=COUGAR&Make =FORD&__N=4294966463+4294966148+834+285+258+287&__ Nf=p_GeoLocation_String%7CGCLT+-36.76434,144.2813+504.2&__sid=1176E5054AD1&R=52088 41&trecs=3 (I hope that works :S I'm new to forums)
I'm still not sure the difference between the different models, is this a good price?

Dshibi · 12-01-2008, 02:41 PM

Link Here

That link should work.

Looks almost exactly like mine when I picked her up (except the rims). This is the newer shape as you can tell.

Exterior wise, different front bumper and grill, chrome headlights, rims are slightly different.

Interior, updated seats, steering wheel, gear knob and all black, whereas the old model was black and silver. Machined silver grill surrounds for front speakers.

It's an auto, so it'll have cruise control as well. It has about the same km's on the clock as mine does which, considering they're the same age makes sense

It looks to be in good condition, but black can deceive the cameras, so check it for damage etc... deep scratches can be difficult to remove, and black is the hardest colour to keep clean!

Dan

TheCougar · 13-01-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraxas

It's an auto, so it'll have cruise control as well. It has about the same km's on the clock as mine does which, considering they're the same age makes sense

Dan

Manuals can also have cruise control

professorsabre · 13-01-2008, 01:41 AM

Dan that cars not for sale anymore, it's been remove . Rick did you but it already. I know you're desperate to get one, damn you're quick

FumDuk · 13-01-2008, 09:11 AM

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

No, no I didn't get it...
:(

That was the only one worth looking at in Vic, why are all the good ones in Sydney?
That stinks, now I'm going to have to make a damn long trip. Oh well, pfft, maybe a nice eibach with come along.

Dshibi · 13-01-2008, 09:12 AM

Now that's interesting, cos when I was looking all the good Cougars seemed to be in QLD or VIC!

Time rewards those who wait (I think thats some BS quote that might apply now)... and gives you more time to research and save up

Or... you could get what happened to me.

The Car I wanted was sold and disappeared from CarSales.
Reappeared on the Trading Post for sale from an Auction house.
Sold from Auction house.
Reappeared I think on Carsales or Drive for sale from a car dealer.
Sold, to me.

Dan

Dshibi · 13-01-2008, 10:26 AM

As standard kit Jesse? I've not seen or heard of that as a standard option for the manual. (Willing to be proven wrong though!)

Dan

FOCUSonTHIS · 13-01-2008, 10:59 AM

My HR at my work is trying to sell her cougar. It's silver. Bit rough around the edges on the exterior. Maybe worth a look if your interested. Just give me a pm if you are and I will get her details for you.

TheCougar · 13-01-2008, 03:29 PM

Yeah Dan, mine came with cruise control and i love it;

see the "on" and "off" buttons on the left side and the =, +, - on the right

Jesse

Dshibi · 13-01-2008, 03:32 PM

*Shocked*

Wow! I'm certainly convinced Jesse, I'm sure that comes in handy

Pffft... and mine was supposed to have had all the options! hah! Whatever :P

Dan

TheCougar · 13-01-2008, 03:38 PM

Haha damn dealerships, yeah keeps me doin the speed limit on long drives
defently a license saver!

FumDuk · 15-01-2008, 11:35 AM

Hey, I Just got a quote to get a cruize control installed on a cougar and its only like $300, that will be my 1st endeavor if I buy a manual

Also, does anyone have their cougar running on LPG? Go alright?
So I didn't get the one on ebay, but a nice blue one has just popped up, its an 01 manual, pretty high km's though, 175,000... pretty cheap, only 10,990...

Dshibi · 15-01-2008, 12:44 PM

Is that cruise control installed by Ford?

Not sure about the LPG, or why you would? Sure it has the bootspace for it... but...

Sounds like a steal for that 01 model, but the high mileage could attribute to that. Would be worth checking out, and I remember hearing that 'French Blue' is a difficult colour to colour match. But it does look nice

Dan

FumDuk · 15-01-2008, 02:11 PM

No, $300 is for an aftermarket cruise, it would add another 'stick' on the steering column, not the normal buttons...

And as for gas... I prob wont do it, but I drive to Mildura on a regular basis and its a boring 400+ km drive... costs me a bucket in fuel.

That french blue is pretty nice, I'm thinking about getting it for my wife, should be able to almost just swap it for her 2001 nissan pulsar...
The only thing that bothers me about the high km's is that in the next 3 or so years that will be up around the 250,000 to 300,000 km's and will be well and truely worn by then.... It would be better to pay a little more now and be at 200,000 in 3 or so years...

FOCUSonTHIS · 15-01-2008, 03:03 PM

Rick did you end up contacting my HR about her 1999 Cougar she has for sale?

cpapashley · 16-01-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOCUSonTHIS

Rick did you end up contacting my HR about her 1999 Cougar she has for sale?

Hey Focusonthis, did you know that nautilus performance offers an updated dump pipe for the xr5, I think he was keen to get some customers over here in Australia. Just look them up on the web.

FumDuk · 18-01-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOCUSonTHIS

Rick did you end up contacting my HR about her 1999 Cougar she has for sale?

Hey, I've called a couple times now, keep getting her message bank, but I havent left her a message ... I work 3 jobs and I'm really hard to get in tough with, but I'll keep trying to contact her

FumDuk · 22-01-2008, 12:07 PM

I TEST DROVE A COUGAR YESTERDAY !!!!

What a rush, I was FAR to enthusiastic, lol, I really think negotiating the price is an option now....

There are a couple of little marks in the paint, but nothing too bad.
Can you guys tell me how many RPM your cougars sit on while idling, this one sounded pretty high, but its prob normal, I'm not used to smaller engines...

Oh and Focusonthis, I dont think I like the idea of your HR's car, I dont want a car with 180,000 k's on the clock. And the cloth interior is a big turn off for me too, but thanks for the heads-up.

Dshibi · 22-01-2008, 12:39 PM

Well done in getting a drive in a Cougar FumDuk. The idle in our cars shouldn't be too high. I think at or around 1000rpm should be about right?

Dan

cpapashley · 23-01-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FumDuk

I TEST DROVE A COUGAR YESTERDAY !!!!

What a rush, I was FAR to enthusiastic, lol, I really think negotiating the price is an option now....

There are a couple of little marks in the paint, but nothing too bad.
Can you guys tell me how many RPM your cougars sit on while idling, this one sounded pretty high, but its prob normal, I'm not used to smaller engines...

Oh and Focusonthis, I dont think I like the idea of your HR's car, I dont want a car with 180,000 k's on the clock. And the cloth interior is a big turn off for me too, but thanks for the heads-up.

Idle should definitely be at 750, but if you had the airconditioner on and the electric fans are on then it will go up to 950rpm. Don't know about the electric fans on the cougar but mine a way loud in my opinion, however listening to other vehicles from the outside they too can be noisy...guess it boils down to who manufactures the fans.

As long as it is idling fine, and it revs without stumbling all should be fine.

They are such a sweet engine...especially when you have a good exhaust system on them....

:

professorsabre · 22-01-2008, 09:46 PM

It should be somewhere between 750-800. Dan is your at 1000? Does it feel ok or too high?
Rick any mods done to this Cougar, that may affect idle rpm, Let us know.
Cheers
Angelo

Dshibi · 22-01-2008, 10:05 PM

Hey Angelo,

1000rpm was a number plucked out of my head cos I thought it sounded right lol. I haven't looked at my idle speed (or taken notice is probably a better term) so it could be down in the 750s as you said. If I remember I'll check tomorrow when I go to work.

It can't be all that bad as I've just reached a new personal best in fuel economy... 10.9/100!!!

Dan

professorsabre · 22-01-2008, 10:24 PM

That's pretty good economy, I think I'm getting between 12.5-14 and I drive like a grandpa 99% of the time! Going to confirm that as well. Wasn't there a fuel consumption thread somewhere here....... going to have a search
Angelo

Dshibi · 22-01-2008, 10:55 PM

I think the fuel consumption figures are buried in the Cougar/Probe Orphans thread.

Much of my driving too and from work is non stop so I think that's helped improve efficiency a bit. I'm not sure if there's a 'sweet spot' in the rev range or a way to drive the car, cos it has taken a long time to get to 10.9 from 11.0.

Dan

Dshibi · 23-01-2008, 06:23 PM

Yup, confirmed today my idle's between 750-800rpm. A bit hard to tell with only three markers between 0-1000 hahaha...

All's good

Dan

FumDuk · 31-01-2008, 04:14 PM

yup, went for another drive... you guys are right, but 750 rpm sounds good in a cougar :P

MTL10N · 11-02-2008, 01:40 PM

Hi all,

I got myself a 2000 Cougar Eibach around September last year and thought it was about time I started mingling with my kind alike. To give you an indication of how determined and passionate I was about getting a Cougar, I purchased the lion badge 2 years prior to getting my kat. But my first glimpse of a Cougar dates back to even pre-2000. Worth the wait? I think so.

Prior to owning one, I've rarely seen the odd Cougar here and there, but since now possessing one, I've started to notice quite a few Cougars in Syd out and about. I'm just wondering how many are actually registered on this forum or for that fact in Syd/NSW/other states etc?