1999 Mercury Cougar...Continued

Our Impressions Of The Drive:

Engine Response: Response from both the 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder is good, while the 2.5-liter V6 with the manual transmission is exhilarating. The optimum powertrain for the Cougar is definitely the V6 with the manual transmission. The Cougar with 170 horsepower accelerates briskly and the engine has a pleasing growl. The 4-cylinder engine with the manual 5-speed does 0 - 60 in 10.5 seconds and the automatic does it in 12.8. The 6-cylinder version with the manual transmission reaches 60 m.p.h. in 8.0 seconds as opposed 10.1 seconds for the automatic. These times for a V6 with a manual transmission makes Cougar competitive with some of the high-power imports costing close to twice as much. For those who want still better performance, aftermarket components can turn the V6 Cougar into the equivalent of the Contour SVT -- one of the best performance values in an economy sedan available today. Mercury says to keep your eyes open for high performance versions of the Cougar in the near future.

Shifting The Gears: Ford's MTX75 manual transmission is one of the best available in the price range. Clutch resistance is enough for the driver to feel it engage but not tiring in traffic. The stick has a relatively short throw. Close gear ratios make shifting gears quick and smooth. Another feature is the pull-up collar for engaging reverse. Unlike some other cars where you have to push down on the stick to select reverse, Cougar's manual has a small collar directly below the shifter knob that the driver pulls up on to put the car in reverse. This eliminates that oh-so-tiresome struggle of selecting reverse and repeatedly winding up in a forward gear.

While an automatic transmission is available, we recommend the manual. It gives the driver far better control over the engine's power and delivers much better acceleration for getting on the freeway and passing slower traffic. The optimum powertrain for the Cougar is the V6 with the manual transmission.

Handling: Cougar is based on the Mondeo/Contour/Mystique platform -- one of the most successful platforms worldwide. Developed in Europe by Ford's Small and Medium Vehicle Center, Cougar was designed to deliver European-style handling without compromising the ride characteristics favored by Americans. Ford brought in long time consultant and three time FIA Formula One World Driving Champion Jackie Stewart to help refine Cougar's handling. Mystique's suspension and steering have been recalibrated to improve grip, feel, agility and accuracy. Cougar has a stiffer steering column which responds to small steering inputs. It is fluid, not jittery, and does not require constant correction from the driver. Emergency lane changes can be made with confidence. The car responds as needed. Resistance is greater than in the Mystique while not tiring the driver. Most of all, Cougar is fun to drive and should satisfy drivers looking for European-style road handling at a fraction of the cost of comparable vehicles.

Ride: Cougar's ride is solid and precise, not jittery like many other small sports coupes in its price range. The car has a substantial feel to it -- smooth and comfortable without sacrificing the sporty handling characteristics. On the highway the ride is quiet and not fatiguing. On twisty roads the Cougar performs well without excess body roll. For those commuting long distances to and from work, the Cougar will be a delight while delivering a fun-to-drive feel for weekend jaunts.

What We Liked Most: Cougar is a car that does not sacrifice ride quality for good handling -- making it appeal to a wide range of drivers. Careful attention to detail in the design and execution make it a good value. We also appreciate and commend Ford's new emphasis on safety by introducing "Head-and-Chest" side airbags. This is a sporty, sexy, easy-to-handle European style car.

What We Caution You About: The biggest drawback, as in all small sport coupes, is the low headroom in the back seat. Ford's new edge styling is a big improvement, but only time will tell if it becomes dated-looking too quickly.

Competition: Saturn SC2, Dodge Avenger, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Acura Integra, Toyota Celica.