Once this kitty cat is in twisty terrain, things brighten up considerably. It goes a long way to proving that Ford is currently building some of the best-handling front-drive cars on the planet right now. Like Terrell Davis cutting through the Falcons' defensive line, the Cougar is smooth, balanced, sure-footed, and exciting. Around sweeping bends, it avoids the tendency of other front-drivers to load up the front wheels. Instead, it does a nice job of spreading out the load between the four tires. Really tight bends will aid in pointing out that the steering is a little too heavy, but that's really all there is to complain about.
Our test car rang up at $19,370. Whether deliberate or not, Ford has designed a car that does not have direct competition in the compact/import performance car market. It's slower than an Integra GS-R, a turbo Eclipse (and probably the 2000 Eclipse, as well), or even a Civic Si. A VW GTI costs more, but offers better features and quality in return. So perhaps the fate of the Cougar, in terms of the car enthusiast, will lie in the hands of the aftermarket. The initial signs are good. For a new car, the Cougar has amassed a good collection of available parts. Paxton has been developing a supercharger kit, and Mercury also has a supercharged concept Cougar. The available four cylinder engine could also be popular with parts manufacturers, given that it also appears in the Contour, Focus, and ZX2. With more platforms to build parts for, the more likely companies are to do so. We also see no reason why it wouldn't be possible to adapt the SVT Contour's engine goodies (worth an extra 30 hp) to a V-6 Cougar.
So the Cougar isn't quite a big cat yet. It has the agility and the looks. But it needs to flatten its ears, get a bit meaner, and grow a sharper set of teeth.
Inside Track
Why is this girl staring at me? My boyish good looks? I'd like to think so, but it's more likely a matter of her staring at my car. I'm driving this white Cougar. The car is pretty spacey looking. I liked the interior, and I thought the seats were comfortable. There's also adequate room for people in back. But if you like speed, I highly recommend avoiding putting people back there. I tried mashing the pedal and all I got was weak and slow acceleration without any indication of whether or not I was going to hit the rev limiter. For more power, perhaps you should consider going across the street to the Honda or Acura dealer.-JW
It has taken me one month to figure out what I really think about the Cougar. A month ago, I would have focused my little rant here on the negatives of the car. But my thoughts have had ample time to congeal and reflect, well, operate in general. So, what do I think?
The car is underpowered, despite its V-6 powerplant, but handles nicely. In terms of performance, the car is quite capable but not rocking. It is post-Vitology Pearl Jam. Where the car really excels is in its design. It's a wonderful car to look at. And this is, perhaps, the single most important thing that has happened since I drove the car: I've had a chance to see them on the road. And they stand out. The Cougar is not very American in its looks. (It's hard to pinpoint from where the design was derived.) The attention to shape is distinct: arched bodylines, triangular taillights, circular vents inside.
That's it. That's what my thoughts have done in this down time. It has had time to appreciate.-RC
I was excited to get behind the wheel of the Cougar. I'd seen enough of them on the road and at the shows to know that-from a strictly aesthetic point of view-the car is definitely a stand-out. My drive time consisted of following The Romans One (a three-year Los Angeles resident) on a short one-hour journey to return the car on the last day of our test. How was I to get a feel for the car with only an hour of seat time? Luckily, I was following Brently.
By Big Bad Brent
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