Beauty. The 6 cyl engine for oomph to get out of trouble. Lots of trunk space.

At the curb it's hard for my old dad and fat friend to get out of the car. Tight steering, and the coolant light. Risky front bumper.

I bought (with dad's cosign, but my $ :D)a plain white '99 used cougar with 11k miles on it, with theft-guard and a 6 cd changer in the trunk, and it was a dream come true for a first car, and to train on too. Been up and down the west coast on road trips, and everywhere I go, someone points it out to call it a beautiful car. Strangers smile at me for driving it, but Mustang drivers seem to look down on me. In the past three years, with on-time maintenance, I haven't had a stressful thing happen, except the one time I got rear-ended by a truck. The steering is tight, and the coolant light turns on when I'm parked on an incline (even when it's good), and the windshield fluid sprayers don't work (so I go to the gas station for a squeegie, big deal). The front bumper is easy to ruin if you don't drive the dips well (or if you run off the road into a muddy ditch.) The cupholder, it holds cups up to 44 oz., and I haven't spilled anything yet, so why are other reviewers whining? I love the little mechanical gizmo sounds it has with the locks and the hatch. When you hold back on the overdone vanity details, because this car doesn't need any, the expensive tires aren't a big problem. It is scarier in the snow, but hot and dry uphill at 90 mph is fine. The brake dust does collect fast, but with a weekly wash it's not a concern.

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Hondas, Suzukis, Toyotas, other Fords.

Looks great and I love the special colors Cougars are made in. I have a laser red. It's really expensive to repaint though....two days after I started driving I hit a car (on homecoming night) and it cost me 400 dollars just to get a little bit of paint put back on. The sound system is awesome....but it's factory so by now the bass is getting a little worn out. I LOVE the interior. That was a major thing for me, it had to have a sleek inside. The black/gray is a great combo and the silver lining of everything makes the car look really sleek.

The gas milage suxs. I only get 22 mpg. The highest I've ever gotten was 23mpg. As opposed to my sisters Toyota Echo, she gets 35mpg!!!! The engine could be a little more powerful, but if it was anymore, we'd prolly be getting 18mpg! I wish the radio system played better. My friend has a Pontiac Grand Am GT and she has an amazing sound that comes from just the radio..the bass is really high. One last thing, I hate driving Calvin the Cougar (my car's name) in the snow. He kind of sucks driving in it.

The Mercury Cougar 2002 is my first car and I must say I absoloutely love it!!! I've had it for one and a half years now and I've had a few minor problems, but they've all been covered under the three year warrenty. It rides pretty nice and I often find myself at the envy of everyone that doesn't have such a sporty looking car. It is pretty roomy for a two door, more roomier than a Pontiac Sunfire..which my friend drives. Overall I LOVE IT!

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None..! Well except my dad's Toyota Camry and thats a pretty nice car.

very stylish, good sound system, love the interior (black and grey design/ not cheap!) get up and go!!! grat car for the price!!!

grat car, can't think of any!!!!

I am not sure why everyone is crying about their cougars. I bought mine almost a year ago brand new and have not had a single problem. I will agree that the tires are expensive and hard to find but that is expected with any sports car. My cup holder works great, i have not had any problems with it. As far as the back seats they could be a little roomier but if you have seen the Celica's back seat we have a ton of room. The backseats work great for my 3 year old's carseat so they don't bother me, plus i don't have to sit back there.

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Neon - piece of sh*t!! escort - sucked

Car is very sporty in appearance.

The car has had many problems for example, the brakes were replaced one month after I brought the car, the entry to the trunk only works with the key entry, air filteration system has made a noise since day one, just to name a few of the mechanical problems. I would not recommend anyone buy a Ford car after the problems I have had with this car. If you are looking to buy a car buy a car steer clear of the Ford/Mercury.

The cougar is a sporty car but has many mechicanl problems. Do not buy.

Smooth power between 30 and 90 mph. Loads of boot space for a sporty car. Head turner.

Wish I had leather seats. My model doesn't have heated windscreen but I did know what I was paying for. Tyres a bit pricey.

The motive for many of these reviews seems to be to soundoff. I drive aCougar in the UK where there seem to be a lot of fans for a trouble free car. Maybe UK garages take more care? I bought my Cougar for a song with 28K on the clock. I've never had a problem with it BUT I do look after it. It's a relatively rare car in the UK. Again maybe Ford garages here see them as a novelty and take more care? I've run the car for two years now and never had a problem with it.

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The looks alone made this car a must have! From the beautiful laser red exterior to the edgy, sleek black interior, this car was (and still is) a real head turner! The V6 engine really gets up and goes...the sound system is exceptional, and yes, I LOVE the cupholder (although everyone else on here seems to hate the front cup holder in the 99 model cougar, it works as a great cell phone holder!) The gas mileage is good, but definately not great (on average a little over 25 miles per gallon.) The ride is overall pretty smooth, although the center console is a little shaky and their is some minor interior rattle that can get annoying at times. The spoiler is very attractive, and unlike other sports cars I've driven, does not cause a very bad blind spot. The 16" Alloy wheels are gorgeous and really add something to the car, although tires are somewhat hard to find, and on the expensive side too!

Some of the problems have been covered under the dealer's "gold-check" certified warranty, and others, well, let's just say we still love our cougar although it has caused us some grief at times! The first week we had the car, the hood release stopped working. We took it to the dealership and they informed us that Mercury has admitted that the hood release/trunk release is a pretty flimsy setup on the 99 Cougar (fixed for free under warranty.) We also found out in the first few months of owning our cougar that the former owner had not taken the car in for all of the recall repairs, so we got those taken care of for free at our local Mercury dealership. The defroster grille on the interior of the car kept popping out of place, so we took it to the dealership and it was also repaired for free. The trunk latch stopped working, so the dealership took care of that too (recently the trunk latch has again stopped working, so the only way to get the trunk open is to use the keyless entry trunk release.) The rear window defroster became inoperative, so we had to shell out some dough to get that fixed. At around 50k miles, we took the car in for a rather pricy comprehensive tune-up at the Mercury dealership (although the users' manual states that the car doesn't need a tune-up until 100k, we decided to get it done now to save us mechanical headache in the coming winter months.) The dealership informed us that we would definately need to get a new battery and alternator (the first time it has had to be replaced on the car, mind you) and the O2 sensors needed to be replaced (whatever those are!) I'm sure this list sounds rather lengthy, but trust me, this has been a great car, and the few problems that we have had with the car are minor. It is very dependable, affordable, attractive transportation...that my family and I love seeing parked out in the driveway :)

I have been driving my 1999 Mercury Cougar V6 for almost three years now. We got a great deal on it at an end-of-the-year clearance sale at our local Chrysler Dealership. Our Cougar is LaserTinted Red, Automatic with 6-cylinder engine. Ir has the power package, rear spoiler, 16" alloy wheels, cd player, remote security...pretty much everything except for a power sunroof and leather interior. We have had very minimal problems with this car, and for the purchase price, I must say now that we have definately gotten our money's worth. We have had a few problems, but luckily none major (yet! knock on wood) The Cougar has around 57k Miles on her now, and she still runs like the day we bought her.

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1999 Ford Escort ZX2 Coupe (a WONDERFUL car that we have never had a single problem with, although it isn't near as attractive as our Cougar!)

fast, sporty

fuel system

Since we purchaced our cougar we have had to replace the fuel pump 5 times, the first one went out at 10,000 miles, no one can seem to figure out what is causing them to go out therefore the problem will continue. Called Ford customer service department after 5th fuel pump was replaced and was told that the Ford solution is "to keep taking my vehicle to their service department and have the repairs done and then for me to pay for it". Among this major fuel problem we have also had problems with front suspension, air conditioner, several different switches, and the oxygen sensor.

I purchased my cougar new in 2000. A week after I got it the alternator went out in the middle of a busy highway in Chicago. The dealer put in a new alternator and now 3 years later I have to have a new alternator again. The car has only 55,000 miles on it. Now the car is knocking and is not driveable. I have spent 300.00 on oxygen sensors and now I don't no what the cost will be. The dealer wants 427.00 just to replace the altenator. I asked the dealer for help with the alternator but it is mimual assistance. The warranty on the alternator is 3 years so it is not covered.... This car is a financial drainer. I will never purchase another ford mercury product!!!!!

Sporty-looking, laser red color is great. Handles nicely

Blind spots bad, brakes squeal, power loss

Had problems since day one w/car choking, struggling in low gears, power loss. Dealership replaced intake something. It still does the same thing and also feels like I'm pulling a camper at times. Dealership says car is fixed. Car is not fixed. I need help! Bought brand new!

Looks Nice and handles great

The fuel pump, Expencive tires, Possible Air intake Problem, And coolant light coming on?. I also heard of the water pump impellers breaking off the shaft or even discintergrating and getting inot cooling system thus distroying your moter and know way of know about the problem until it is too late. So it is also a good idea to get an after market water pump with metal impellars.

Fun car to drive when it is running right. Its a good idea to buy the extended warrenty, because you are going to need it. When you buy a new style cougar make sure the fuel pump has been changed. I also have a problem with the coolant light coming on when it is cold but once it warms up and you shut the car off and start it up again it goes off, a misstry, ford doesnt know why BIG SHOCKER. I also had a problem with the RPM's. when I stepped on the clutch the would shoot up to around 6 grand then dropping back down,and yes my foot is off they gas pedal, also a mistry to Ford, BIG SHOCKER. That problem was fixed with an after market air intake. I stumbled on to that one. still a mistry to me and also Ford. Your best bet when your warrenty runs out take it to a private garage not the dealership. They rape you anyway they can not that other garages dont do the same but the rapping will cost allot less