99-00 vs. 01-02

[KnappstamaN]

i like the 01/02 much better. Better headlights, front bumper, rear bumper, generally stock rims. The interior is way better. Dash, center console, door panels, seats, trim, accessories, steering wheel, airbag, etc.

Im trying to upgrade all my 99 features to 01-02 features.

[fordrule]

i tried to stay for the most part 99-00. but when i found a 01 in a junkyard and it still had the interior. i have a lot of the interior in my car now. i wish i had gotten more since they smashed it for the exterior i was good until now. but i will never say that the 01-02 exterior is better than the 99-00...all i gotta say is the roush/visteon kits only came stock on the 99-00. i know people have fitted the visteon on 01-02 bumper but has roush front and rear valences been seen on any other than 99-00 bumpers.

+10 for 99-00 exterior.....
+2 for the 99-00 on interior
+1 for the 99-00 for the 2tone interior that came stock...

[Rikenbomb]

Originally Posted by mellott73

i like the body features of the 99-00's but i like the interior from the 01-02's

Same here. They put more thought into the interiors of the '01+ models.

[Topik]

99=RETURN STYLE ftw

[giants_0023]

01-02s. I like the grill and headlights on them better, as well as the steering wheel and shift knob. Other than that, they're the same as far as I can tell.

[ChenZhen]

I honestly don't think I would have given the coug a second look if it were just the 01/02 bumpers (no offense). I agree with the others who have said that it kills the lines, and there's a much larger selection of bodykits for the 99/00 that match and enhance them. I always wondered why they changed it.

As for the headlights, I'm kinda torn. I'd actually prefer the casing (smooth) of the 01/02 headlights and the inserts of the 99/00. I'm not sure if anyone has tried that mod, but that's the way I always wished they'd made it. Overall though I like the 99/00 headlights better because of the mean look.

As for the interior, I don't think many will argue with the fact that the 01/02 is superior, but I don't think that it's enough to overcome the cosmetics of the exterior.

[NorCalCoug]

Originally Posted by carajo

The 99's - especially the early ones - were very individualistic. Each one came off the line with it's own personality. You can't find a later model that had power seats without leather, and a whole bunch of other quirky ones that people on here have.

01/02 had power seats available as non-leather. My 01 had power driver's seat, despite being cloth.

I like the interiors of the 01/02 much better. You don't have the ****ed up cheap looking two-tone plastic, the finish was much nicer. Perforated vinyl door inserts were much better looking than the cloth crap in the earlier models. Also aluminum pedals in the sports package 01/02 Cougars ftw. I prefer the front and rear bumper of the 01/02 as well. I just didn't like the front bumper of the 99/00 bodystyle, something just felt slightly off to me. A 99/00 with a Roush kit looks superb though. I think it's because the chin angles "up" in the 99/00 whereas the 01/02 is flat. I like a more rakish look than a sudden upturn at the front of the car. Hence why I like how the Roush kit gave it a lip to work with that went the right direction, at a downward angle.

[Abraxas]

When I started looking at getting a Cougar I liked the 99-00 moreso, as it appeared more cat like etc. Something about the styling looked right compared to the 01 (we didn't get the 02).

Interior, there was no question the 01 was far better. Lost the silver touches across the dash, put the nice rings around the speaker grilles, changed the front seats for the better, new steering wheel and gauges.

Then, I knew I had to have the 01, and the exterior grew on me. Now to the point where I think the 01 exterior looks more aggressive than the 99-00.

But... they look awesome regardless!

Dan

[TheWingsER]

i always like the 99-00 better then the 01-02 but i do like the head lights on the 01-02.. so my vote had to go 99-00..

[Tygerr]

Originally Posted by NorCalCoug

01/02 had power seats available as non-leather. My 01 had power driver's seat, despite being cloth.

I like the interiors of the 01/02 much better. You don't have the ****ed up cheap looking two-tone plastic, the finish was much nicer. Perforated vinyl door inserts were much better looking than the cloth crap in the earlier models. Also aluminum pedals in the sports package 01/02 Cougars ftw. I prefer the front and rear bumper of the 01/02 as well. I just didn't like the front bumper of the 99/00 bodystyle, something just felt slightly off to me. A 99/00 with a Roush kit looks superb though. I think it's because the chin angles "up" in the 99/00 whereas the 01/02 is flat. I like a more rakish look than a sudden upturn at the front of the car. Hence why I like how the Roush kit gave it a lip to work with that went the right direction, at a downward angle.

My stock cloth seat has power. I agree with everything you said though. The 99-00 front just looks like it's missing something, and lip kit fixes that.