Friday 24th July 2015

Shed Of The Week: Ford Cougar V6

One owner Cougar looks tempting, just a slight issue with the brakes to worry about...

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As those of you who have been paying attention may be aware, Shed lives in a rambling old pile on the outskirts of a small West Country village.

One owner for 16 years? Commitment!

The sub post office that serves as the throbbing nerve centre of his eBay-based import-export business is run by a divorcee, a Carol Vorderman lookylike who likes to bend over a lot and whose idea of a perfect man is someone with short sight, a long pension and a devil-may-care attitude towards handling poisonous substances.

Last week she told Shed that she'd like to pop over to his one day and perhaps help him strip something down for a full service. The other rambling old pile in Shed's life is rather more aware of what's going on than Shed thinks, but so far, mostly for legal reasons, she has kept her counsel and confined her actions to the covert installation of a GoPro in Shed's workshop.

All of which adds nothing to our story this week, other than to serve as a contrived intro for another kind of Cougar, albeit one with double overhead cams and a big back end, woo-hoo matron, eyup missis etc, to whit, this spiffy and unmolested one-owner 2.5 V6.

Not the most exciting lump, but it is reliable

Quick history lesson. In the late 1990s Ford got the notion that reviving the Capri might be a good idea. Then they forgot that idea and launched the Cougar. In its defence, the Cougar was a coupe, like the Capri, and also like the Capri it promised more than it delivered: the drive was more boulevardier than back-road bruiser.

Four years after it appeared it disappeared, killed off by lukewarm press comment and general apathy. Nowadays, some might say the Cougar is starting to edge nervously back into a weakish glow of acceptability. If you are of that opinion, you'd do well to find a better starting point for your guilty Cougar desires than this week's Shed.

We had one of these fellas in SOTW back in early 2014. It was a late replacement for a much nicer first choice in Melina Blue that some thoughtless swine went and bought just as we were going to press. It (the replacement) got a good old-fashioned kicking from a few of our readers, mainly it seemed on account of the Transformers badge that somebody had foolishly glued onto its bonnet.

Squint and those vents look like GT90 wheels

Obviously the main issue is the non-functioning ABS unit. Kindly, the vendor is including a new one in the sale. Less kindly, he isn't fitting it. But is this actually a problem, or even the problem?

Well, as with so many things in life, it depends. ABS going bad can manifest its ills in different ways. The car might get itself into a right old tiswas and think that every single driving situation is one that requires the ABS to kick in NOW, and again NOW, oh I see you're doing 8mph on a dry road, best activate the anti-lock NOW, NOW and yes why not NOW.

Then again, it could be down to nothing more technical than a lump of crapola in the rotor or on the sensor, but if it is a bust module and the symptom is a total absence of ABS function, well, as long as you're an expert driver - and let's face it, on this website who isn't? - there's nothing much to stop you carrying on driving (in every sense) until MOT time comes around.

Cougar by name, cougar by nature? Erm...

The owner doesn't divulge the symptoms of his ABS difficulty, but he does say the car drives 'absolutely fine' which suggests it's just the warning light coming up on the dash and therefore nothing more troublesome than our old friend the failed sensor. But let's not tell him that because he's factored a more complex repair into his price, which as a result is a very fair one, especially given the very low mileage, and double-especially if you can mitigate your purchase costs by flogging off what may be a redundant module.

Anything else to watch out for, other than that shocking granddad steering wheel, which is no owner's fault, and the decision to fit Sparco rear seatbelt protectors, which is? Surprisingly little. Cams are chain driven, and these Duratec V6s are understressed engines generally on account of the fact that nobody bothers to rev them out, because all that does is increase your fuel consumption.

Just the ABS warning light to worry about...

Warning lights are a known fault. If the coolant one comes on when the level is fine, the switch needs replacing. Faulty contact switches in the lock striker will leave your interior light on, flattening the battery and disabling the anti-theft system. There's a revised striker for that. Remote boot opening can be an issue too, and rear brakes can squeal (especially in the wet) if you haven't got the right pads in. Gears inside the IMRC housing (Inlet Manifold Runner Control - Ford's less than ideal variable intake length system) get gummed up, severely inconveniencing the secondary inlet butterflies. Sometimes you can fix it by ripping off the plastic cover for enhanced cooling and shoving some graphite lube in there. Early water pumps had the dreaded plastic impellers - again, like most things on older cars, better designed replacements will effect a permanent cure.

Other than that, and a bit of an appetite for tyres, it's all good. Decent springs and dampers will firm up the handling and 30mpg is achievable in lizard mode.

Here's the ad.

This is a ONE owner car from new.
Bought by myself way back in Sept 1999.
This Cougar V6 has been part of my life for the last 16 years. I have now finally decided that its time to go - And let another enthusiast cherish this car.
The car has been well looked after - and has mostly Full Ford Service History.
Car has never let me down - EVER!
However - The ABS unit has decided not to play anymore and is currently not working - I have bought another ABS unit that will come with the sale - I just dont have the time to fit it. (hence the bargain price for a one owner mint condition cougar for under a £1000.
The car drives well and looks great for a 1999 Registered Cougar!!!
The car is MOT'd until March/April 2016
and drives absolutely fine.... I use the car daily
I would like this to go to anther Ford Cougar enthusiast who will look after her as I have done....
I don't have to sell the car! so please no silly offers or time wasters.
If you want a cougar for £600 + then dont buy mine as I class this as MINT for the year!!!
Just to add - This is no 100,000 miles + Cougar!!! The Car has never been smoked in .
Back Seats are as NEW!!!

Need any more info - Please contact myself.

[knitware]

I like this! This could be a good example to buy and store, I guess it was never an enthusiasts car which could hamper future classic status.

[optimal909]

Quote: "Cams are chain driven, and these Duratec V6s are understressed engines generally on account of the fact that nobody bothers to rev them out, because all that does is increase your fuel consumption."

Nonsense. Some may argue that you have to rev it in order to get it go.

I for one think it is an excellent engine with a decent combination of fuel consumption+reliability+sound+performace.

[2smoke]

I'll take the cougar from the post office instead ta! ;-)
These just don't do it for me, despite this one looking in good condition. ABS fault would put me off too.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

knitware said:

I like this! This could be a good example to buy and store, I guess it was never an enthusiasts car which could hamper future classic status.

Nor were mk1 Fiesta 1.1 CL's to be fair.
It might take a few years mind?

Great SOTW btw, I genuinely 'lol'd' whilst reading the intro

[Strawman]

I thought the cougar was a rebranding/face list exercise after Ford got sick of people laughing at their Probe, or was this a totally new car, the Probe was the rebirth of the Crapi surely?

[jamieduff1981]

I had a 99T 2.5 V6. It was my first petrol car. I loved it dearly and have many happy memories of that car. Being a 20something I lowered it slightly and fitted slightly bigger wheels. It wasn't the slug to drive that journos proclaimed it to be. I was never impressed with the Puma oddly enough.

Ride quality was never great and the seats not very comfortable over long distances, but for a young lad back in 2003 with a 4 year old V6 coupe for £7,000 I was delighted with mine.

I still think it looks good.

[VolvoT5]

So dull, I can't see the appeal at all. Might as well buy a V6 mondeo of similar age... at least you get 5 doors and usable rear seats with that.

[Digga]

optimal909 said:

Quote: "Cams are chain driven, and these Duratec V6s are understressed engines generally on account of the fact that nobody bothers to rev them out, because all that does is increase your fuel consumption."

Nonsense. Some may argue that you have to rev it in order to get it go.

I for one think it is an excellent engine with a decent combination of fuel consumption+reliability+sound+performace.

IIRC, was the Duratec V6 not the basis for the current Aston V12 lump?

Sure it sounds decent enough anyway, but I think a lack of street cred and enthusiast appeal at the time of launch would likely hamper future classic status.

[jamieduff1981]

VolvoT5 said:

So dull, I can't see the appeal at all. Might as well buy a V6 mondeo of similar age... at least you get 5 doors and usable rear seats with that.

Rear seats were fine for medium sized adults and the boot was bigger than a Mondeo's.

For someone of limited means it's a great way not to have too look at a Mondeo's reflection.

[J4CKO]

Dont really want a working one, so a broken one, not really

[MadDog1962]

Looks like it would be fine as a low mileage hack. You could run it for a year and toss it if it failed it's MoT.

Doesn't light my fire at all otherwise. More stylish than a lot of 16 year old sheds though.

5 out of 10 must try harder.

[Digga]

jamieduff1981 said:

For someone of limited means it's a great way not to have too look at a Mondeo's reflection.

Obviously, this is subjective, but I think any recent Mondeo looks better. Cougar always looked a bit ungainly IMHO.

[LotusEspritTurbo]

Always liked look of these, something to do with the Ford "Edge" design. Never know why you don't see more modified Cougars out there.

[VolvoT5]

jamieduff1981 said:

Rear seats were fine for medium sized adults and the boot was bigger than a Mondeo's.

For someone of limited means it's a great way not to have too look at a Mondeo's reflection.

Rear seats may be fine for 'medium sized adults' but there is no access really, who wants to be climbing in and out of the back. IMO the Cougar is so ugly I would rather have a Mondeo (not that I particularly like those either).

Estate practicality with similar performance :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-FORD-MONDEO-ZETEC-S...
or
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[ContiLean]

There are Ford Cougar enthusiasts?

[jamieduff1981]

ContiLean said:

There are Ford Cougar enthusiasts?

Yes,

A fairly close knitt but welcoming group on a forum who meet fairly regularly. Some fabricate parts for others and some help others with repairs. Nice bunch.

[pSyCoSiS]

That's actually not a bad SOTW. Not really my cuppa, but, I think the Cougar still looks relatively fresh and modern, even by today's standards.

It's always good to buy a car from it's original owner, as it gives a bit more confidence that they have known the car and looked after it during it's entire life. I mean, if it was a bad car that always went wrong, would they have kept it for that long?!

[RESSE]

LotusEspritTurbo said:

Always liked look of these, something to do with the Ford "Edge" design. Never know why you don't see more modified Cougars out there.

Someone has had a go:

[365daytonafan]

Strawman said:

I thought the cougar was a rebranding/face list exercise after Ford got sick of people laughing at their Probe, or was this a totally new car, the Probe was the rebirth of the Crapi surely?

Cougar replaced the Probe but is was an all new car. Probe was based on Mazda MX6 while the Cougar was based on the Mondeo.

[Swampy1982]

oh....

http://www.motorstown.com/images/ford-cougar-v6-02...