View Full Version : questions prior to purchase
Hello everyone,
Im seriously thinking about buying a cougar and I was hoping you could answer some of my questions....
first of all , 2.0 or 2.5, ive got insurance quotes and theres only 50 quid a year difference, so how do the two engines compare in terms of reliability , fuel consumption, performance etc?
more generally what should i look for in particular when inspecting a prospective purchase (i know about the usual stuff like accident damage, re-sprays etc, i was wondering about faults more specific to the Cougar)
Are there any stupily priced parts or parts that wear out unusually quickly I should be aware of?
thanks for your help
Marc
Cougarbloke
10-09-2002, 10:27 AM
If you're not bothered about using a bit more petrol get the V6, I get an average of 29mpg.
You cannot get the X pack with the 2 litre, therefore you cannot get leather seats...the cloth seats seem to be very poor quality.
As far as having problems with either engine I know that some guys have had problems with oil starvation with the duratec V6 which will wreck your engine. This problem can be prevented by fitting a new sump which Ford now fit to all new duratecs.
I've now got 33k on my V6 and haven't had one problem with the car.
The only thing which annoys me is the often squeeky interior which hasn't really been put together properly.....:banghead: or maybe it's the chassis which isn't stiff enough.
Thanks for that , would anyone with a 2.0 litre car care to comment on fuel consumption ?
what about the perceived performance difference between the two engines ?
I must admit im leaning towards the 2.0 from the simplicity of maintainable point of view (I always do my own spannering, don't trust garages to do the job properly) I already have two sports cars and I just need the cougar to be a comfortable, cheap to run gt/motorway cruiser
with three seats and a reasonable boot but a bit more interesting that a mundano i mean mondeo.
If you are going to buy a Cougar it has got to be the V6 , the 2L is just not powerful enough for this sort of car
Skinful
10-09-2002, 04:10 PM
Agree with Damo, cannot think of any reason to buy 2.0L. Sorry Stuart! I use my V6 on Motorway everyday, travelling 70 miles. Returns approx. 31 miles per gallon, including town stuff evenings and weekends. Apparently if you fit an Ecotek Valve thingy you can improve on this.
BlackV6UK
10-09-2002, 05:14 PM
The V6 is the one to go for - the 2 litre just doesn't live up to the promise of the looks.
The only annoying expense on the Cougar is the tyres - if you stick with the standard wheels, the tyres are an unusual size and expensive. This is easily avoided by switching to 17 inch wheels when you next need tyres - not as expensive as you think when you consider the saving you'll make on tyres.
Doug.
NorCalCoug
10-09-2002, 07:31 PM
On tyres you can switch to a 225/50/16 or 225/45/16 with no issue really. Both tyres have a far wider selection at a much lower cost than the rather absurd 215/50/16 stock tyres. And you'd be surprised how many bodies.. uh.. I mean how much cargo you can fit in the Cougar's boot. It's quite large. :biggrin:
Cougarbloke- for squeaking, try a rear strut tower brace. It helped a great deal in my car. :)
Groove
10-09-2002, 08:19 PM
It has just got to be the v6, i tried a 2lt before buying the 2.5v6 and it didn't compare. My fuel consumtion acording to the comp is 32mpg on the usual school and shopping trips. As for tyres i have today ordered a pair of Falken 512 rimsave 205/50/16, for £75 each, i have had falken before and really rate the tyre, the 512 i am told is the updated 502E.:)
Hope this helps........Groove.
I appreciate the v6 will be a nicer engine, but dont forget im not looking for a sports car just a gt/motorway cruiser (so all the parameters i care about engine wise can be achieved by gearing alone!)
Has no one on this list got a 2L engine to give me some real world consumption figures, and someone whose driven both to give me some seat of the pants data on how different the two cars feel?
We do have a huge ford dealer in York , but they seem to have hundreds of 1.6 foci and 1.8 mondeos, and couldnt even produce a 2l focus for me to drive!...
BlackV6UK
10-10-2002, 02:10 PM
I've not driven one far, but apart from the extra welly it really doesn't feel that different. The 2 litre isn't a slow car and you won't be embarrased on the motorway with 135bhp or so.
Most of the non-engine parts are the same, the main exceptions being that the V6 gets :-
- traction control (I find this very handy after my constantly wheelspinning Probe)
- and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution - which you don't ever consciously notice until you don't have it - although you shouldn't be braking hard on corners, this looks after you a bit on those occasions when you leave it a bit late by giving the most brake force to the wheels which have the most grip.
- the V6 badge on the back - which I expect we all look for when another Cougar drives by.
On the plus side, some experts believe the 2 litre will soon hold its value better than the V6 due to the extra fuel consumption - you get 40mpg or so easily.
It doesn't sound like you've a big heavy right foot, but if you do, forget these stories of 32mpg. On weeks when I'm mostly in town I get 24mpg, on motorways (when my speed tends to be on the wrong side of 80) I'll get 27 and on typical Scottish A-roads I'll manage 30 - 32. I'd say my average is around 26.