Cougar V6

[davamer23]

Hello all, just wanted to share my new run around for when I need use of a car whilst SWMBO is in work and has our Fiesta.
I've been looking for something for a while and I had seen this on A/T a few weeks back but dismissed it initially as I was looking for an E46 coupe. However, having looked at a few with big mileages and rather tatty bodywork/interior etc etc, I decided that my budget wasn't enough for a half way decent one and I should either increase the budget (not keen on that as I have a holiday in sept to pay for) or look for something else.
So looking again this morning I saw this ad again.
So here's the car:no apologies for crappy I Phone pics as they aren't that crappy IMO. Lol




2000 X Cougar V6, 98k miles, I'm the 3rd owner. Owner number 1 was an ex Ford employee given the car by Ford as a retirement gift! Bridgend Ford Stamps in the book from new upto 2012, 2nd owner, the guy I had it from, bought it in 2012 and there's two stamps from an Indy during his ownership. Has the X-pack. Interior is super clean. Everything works, IMRC fixed last year. Zero Rust, looks like it's been garaged all it's life.



Issues: Key fob needs a battery
Rear Tyres have date stamp of late 2007 so I'll be changing them, fronts are good.
O/S Rear Wheel Bearing needs changing.
Scrape on rear bumper.






So there you go: Less than 100k miles,Full Service History, V6 smooth, really really clean! Drives great apart from the slight rumble of the O/S/R Bearing. Gearbox and clutch is great and thanks to the IMRC fix you get the second wave after 3000rpm.
Never gonna be fast or as good in the twistys as an E46 but I think it's a bit of a bargain.

Astonishing Value at just £700.

Thankyou for looking.

[davamer23]

No plans to mod but I may get the urge in time. I should just spend on consumables and general maintenance, keep the bargain a bargain.

[davamer23]

Does look in that pic to be quite shagged don't it? Lol. Well I'm just about 11st soaking wet so don't think I've had much impact. The photo makes it look broken but it's not in reality.

[davamer23]

Definately marmite and it's not something I would've chosen otherwise but it's a lot of car for £700 T&T. I'll keep it till next spring most prob then I'll have more money for a nice 6cyl e46.

[davamer23]

Costs update: Key Fob Battery £2 swapped in seconds.
Gas struts on boot lid £11.99. They were a little tired and gunky at each end. That job was a right Pita. Took 3mins.

Rear wheel bearing assembly arrived today Fleabay special £29.99. Will change that on Monday as I have a day off.

[davamer23]

This is always nice to see: liking the label the 1st owner gave the service book

[davamer23]

It is very nose heavy and I can see why it goes through front tyres! Definately a cruiser as opposed to a sports car. The v6 is very good though, it's like an auto cos I can go everywhere in 5th and it's never laboured. Avg mpg over the 1st 150 miles I've done is 30mpg which seems to be about the norm with these. Decided I'll do an oil and filter change on Monday too now just for my own piece of mind. Thanks for the positive comments chaps.

[davamer23]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Why don't you rotate the rear tyres to the front and let the V6 eat them? Seems a waste to bin the tyres just because they were manufactured seven years ago, unless of course they are showing signs of deformation, cracking etc?

It's an idea but they are showing signs of deterioration, was the only advisory on the last mot.

[davamer23]

I might beat you to it, £300 a steal even as a spares vehicle.

[davamer23]

Ha, thanks. My tongue was firmly in cheek on that though. Hope it goes well. You'll have to do your own readers cars thread should you buy it.

Update on mine:
I've put new rear tyres on as they were cracking and unevenly worn. Checked all the bushes etc and they are fine so the uneven wear must have been a legacy of previous worn suspension bits. The tyres were over 7 years old.
Got 2 dunlops for a great price fitted.

I've done myself the Oil,Filters, coolant change and front discs and pads.


That's it for now- got a holiday in sept so my spare pennies are going on that.

The V6 is growing on me more every time I drive it.
Favourite is 3rd gear out of a roundabout onto a nice dual carriageway or open road when it hits the 3500rpm mark, it just takes off! Lovely noise too.

[davamer23]

Quick update, car is running great and nothing to report cost wise other than fuel and £50 for MOT today. Passed with no advisories! Very pleased with that outcome as i'd set aside some cash to get it through if need be.

Merry Christmas to me.

[davamer23]

joshc said:

Always liked these, what's the mpg like?

On a run I can just about get 35 if I'm good.

I'm averaging 27 at the moment.

[davamer23]

Well, Thread update Time. After 12 and a smidge months of trouble free motoring and just shy of 5k miles the Cougar has just this evening been sold to make way for the stupidly cheap lease deal Peugeot 208gti I ordered in June which is due in a couple of weeks.

Doing the sums on the cougar it cost me £700 to buy and I spent a total of £425 in the 12 months of ownership including MOT, tyres, brakes, servicing etc. it never failed me and was a very good ownership experience. The v6 was a peach and fairly frugal for what it is. Avg mpg over the 12 months 27.8mpg.

It's new owners travelled the 150 miles to South Wales from Paignton to view/purchase the car. Very pleased to say that I got back the £700 I purchased it for 12months ago. Result!

Nice and easy transaction, husband and wife arrived at time they said they would. It was being purchased for the woman who had already owned a Cougar for 6 years but hers had suffered a crash and although repaired they said it wasn't the same to drive. So they knew what they were looking at. Did all the usual checks and the pre agreed £700 deal was on.

I wish them luck with it, it was a great car for me. So fairwell V6. (Pic from my advert)