1999 Mercury Cougar V6 - Alley Cat

Our one-hour tour turned into four hours inside one of Mercury's latest rolling creations, thanks, in part, to Brent's exceptional navigational skills. As I said, I had admired the Cougar from the outside for quite some time. Sitting on the freeway, surrounded by cars that were moving at the extreme rate of 2 feet every 5 minutes, I had a chance enjoy the interior. I liked the textures and everything was laid out simply enough. It's cutting-edge, but not to the point of being overbearing. The fact that traffic wasn't moving gave my fellow freeway dwellers a chance to admire the Cougar. Personally, I like the look of the car. In an automotive world where everyone is pumping out generic sedans, the rounded two-door is a refreshing sight.

Where this car falls short is in the power department. It looks cool. It even sounds cool. But step on the gas and you find yourself waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more. Maybe I was fooled by the sound. The Cougar sounds as if it's ripping up the pavement when in reality it's just trying to get going. With any luck, the aftermarket, or the guys at Ford SVT can get the Cougar up to speed.Literally.-MP