Faults:

First off I love Ford, but this one is crap. I bought a 2001 Cougar in January 2007, and every other month there's always something wrong with this car.

Ford didn't build this car right. They used parts from that crap Ford Contour and Mystique. Why did they do that; they had some problems. They built problems all over again.

Next I'm buying a Mazda 3; that car rocks, and Ford makes it too. No more Cougars for me. Don't let the looks fool you...

General Comments:

The 2.5 V6 engine is crap when you have vacuum leaks, and other things.

Faults:

Replaced alternator at 35,000 miles.

Replaced brakes/rotors twice, 2004, 2007.

Replaced front/rear sway bars in 2007.

Replaced O2 sensors twice.

Not much else.

General Comments:

I loved this car. I had a 2000 Cougar before it, until it was in an accident a year later; I loved it so much, I replaced it with the newer 2001 model. By the 2001 model year, Ford worked out the bugs in this car.

In terms of safety, it's a heck of a safe car, having been in 2 major accidents with them, and walking out without a bruise.

It has incredible looks that have stood up very very well since it was introduced in 1999. After 7 years, people would still compliment the design. Can't say that about most cars!

I had no problems with the interior design or comfort, I liked it well enough. The leather seats are comfortable on trips. The rear is cramped, but that's normal for this type of car. Ride is comfortable. The car body and interior are very sturdy, never rattled. Sport Suspension package is sturdy and keeps tight on the road. Lots of cargo room when you put the seats down -- I always got surprised looks from people who couldn't believe how much it could carry.

The stock sound system is much improved in the 2001 model over the 2000 -- it wasn't bad, I had no reason to upgrade it.

Repairs were quite minimal for this car. I felt it was highly reliable, and never noticed the 'early warning' signs the dealer was raising -- like, requiring replacements for sway bars and brake rotors. But I'm happy my dealer (Lincoln Heights Ford) was pro-active in correcting these before I had a chance to notice them!

Gas mileage is just okay... not as good as an import. But, I drove the car very hard.

The only 2 or 3 times I ever brought the car in for something for 7 years, was for a power problem related to the alternator, and ABS/Engine lights coming on caused by bad sensors.

My ONLY COMPLAINT about the Cougar... is the lack of engine power. The 2.5L V6 just wasn't enough engine for this car. Acceleration just wasn't there. But, that's a minor complaint for an otherwise excellent car. Brake fade and other things I consider to be normal wear and tear.

I bought the car for CDN$30,000 in 2001. In 2008, I got CDN$11,000 for it. That was an unexpected (good!!) resale value.

I would buy another 2001 or later model year if I could... but there simply aren't very many of them on the market. I've test driven other Fords recently, and didn't like any of them. So, my next car would probably by a 2008 Nissan Altima or Honda Accord.

Faults:

The first day I drove this car off the car lot (carmax), it cut off within a mile. at first I figured it was my shifting, due to being a manual. after a week of driving and it repeatedly cutting off while going down the interstate at 60+ mph, my breaks and steering locking up while chauffeuring kids around.. I decided to look up what was happening online. come to find out there was a fuel delivery module recall... I took it to carmax and told them what it had been doing and there was a recall on the fuel delivery module.. which I was upset due to they had not fixed it before they sold it to me.. they fixed it. after 2 weeks. make sure you buy one that has already had this component fixed!!

At 78,000 miles my sunroof broke. I have rarely used it in the year that I have had the car. only one side of it would slide back. currently getting that fixed.

Whenever going fast down the interstate and hitting the brakes, I get a weird shuddering nose from the front tires.

My front seats are starting to fade from the sun.

I've also noticed that during the summer when I fill my car up, it reads a full tank at 320 miles, during the winter it reads about 420.

The car hesitates when shifting into certain gears.

General Comments:

The overall look of the car is sporty and cute.