1996 Mercury Cougar XR7 Review - The End Of The Line... (Sort Of)

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  • Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
  • Low Mile Cars: www.lowmilecars.com/
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    Email: PradelReviews@Gmail.com
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    BFB Test Pass/Fail Spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
    DISCLAIMER!
    The thoughts, feelings, and opinions expressed in this video are the sole thoughts of Zack and no one else. The thoughts expressed in this video do not reflect the owner, dealership, or organization that owns the vehicle featured. The purpose of this video is to provide entertainment with the hope that you will take what you see and formulate your own opinions. DO NOT make a financial decision based off of this video.
    #MercuryCougar #CougarXR7

    Timecodes:
    0:00 - Intro
    1:15 - Drivetrain
    2:48 - Interior
    4:43 - BFB Test
    5:04 - Seats
    5:32 - Back Seats
    6:07 - Trunk / Cargo Space
    6:25 - Exterior
    6:51 - Final Thoughts
    8:47 - Outro
  • Авто та транспорт

КОМЕНТАРІ • 75

  • @Bunaoiudolimr
    @Bunaoiudolimr Місяць тому +26

    Who doesn't love a low mileage cougar in great shape

    • @bobmmann3917
      @bobmmann3917 Місяць тому +1

      Best comment! I wish I'd thought of that.

    • @mitchcyclops2198
      @mitchcyclops2198 Місяць тому

      i first read this as "a low mileage cougar in heat" LOL

  • @geraldscott4302
    @geraldscott4302 Місяць тому +6

    I have a 2006 Grand Marquis with that engine and transmission, with 384,000 miles on it. It works perfectly. Neither the engine nor the transmission have ever had any internal problems. It will cruise on the highway at just above idle, getting 30 mpg. The more gears you put in a transmission, the less reliable it gets. New cars either have so many gears in them, or none at all, in the case of a CVT, they often don't make it home from the dealer. A 3 speed with overdrive is absolutely perfect with the 4.6L 2 valve in a 2 ton car.

  • @rickjames6867
    @rickjames6867 Місяць тому +8

    My mom owned one. It was a 95 XR7, with the purple, blue color changing paint. I was very upset, when my parents traded it in on a Suzuki XL7. Especially, since it was paid off. It had 40 series flowmasters with chrome tips. Car was dangerous, as the rear end was known to break loose. Loved that car. 💙💜✌️

  • @jeffshadow2407
    @jeffshadow2407 Місяць тому +2

    It took me twenty-six years to find a 1997 30th Anniversary Cougar XR7. I liked them when new and I like them today.

  • @sneakerfreak2002
    @sneakerfreak2002 Місяць тому +2

    Yes! I share your sentiments about the seat pattern. It reminds me of being in a library, drs office, government building, etc etc.
    I remember as a kid and a teen being surrounded by this design and it kind of gives you a peaceful Asmr type feeling for lack of a better description

  • @runoflife87
    @runoflife87 Місяць тому +12

    Earlier cars of that gen looked much better. And the platform (MN12) felt very advanced back in the days. I can easily say that this gen Cougar outshines 1986-1992 Eldorado or Riviera by both looks and engineering.

    • @hachiroku8677
      @hachiroku8677 Місяць тому +1

      I agree. I'm not a big fan of mid-life face lifts and the Cougar is no exception. They tried to modernize a car rooted in the 80s with that 90s "blobby" aesthetics, but it looks so weird.

  • @sampik2003
    @sampik2003 Місяць тому +7

    I am biased because I own one, but I think the prefacelift looked better, more... consistent I'd say. And having the ls trim, I got this cool old school digital cluster :)

    • @OLDS98
      @OLDS98 Місяць тому +2

      I think yours looked better also. I hated when they did to the headlights on the face lift. i Liked your for the headlights, the digital cluster and features.

  • @ThomasMercury91
    @ThomasMercury91 Місяць тому +2

    Great video! I love this generation Cougar. The mismatched rear reflector lens bothers me a little bit though. Still a beautiful car.

  • @rightlanehog3151
    @rightlanehog3151 Місяць тому +9

    Zack, I hope you get to drive a mid or late 70s Cougar built on a frame. Those were some of the most fashionable 'personal luxury' cars of the era when personal luxury cars were fashionable.
    At the sign of the cat® 😸😸

    • @geraldscott4302
      @geraldscott4302 Місяць тому +2

      When it comes to late '70s personal luxury cars, the '77-'79 Thunderbird with the wrap over roof takes the cake. GM completely destroyed the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix in '78.

  • @OLDS98
    @OLDS98 Місяць тому +1

    Thank you Zack. The personal luxury/midsized coupe was declining at this time and finally went under in 2002. The Lincoln Mark VIII I thought was quite nice from this era. This car had better looking headlight design before this facelift and offered digital gauges too.

  • @vinnybruce2874
    @vinnybruce2874 Місяць тому +1

    I like the prior style from the prior generation with the backwards V shape elbow window. It looks more like a unique one. Especially the XR7

  • @mrdaykurutakuchannel
    @mrdaykurutakuchannel Місяць тому +2

    Correction, Ford Modular 4.6 V8s are either SOHC or DOHC, not OHV like its predecessors (in this case, an SOHC unit)

  • @Kamikazekims
    @Kamikazekims Місяць тому +1

    my grandfather had one of these as his last car when he passed away

  • @RichardinNC1
    @RichardinNC1 Місяць тому

    I owned a similar '90 Ford TBird Super Coupe with a boisterous V6 instead of the V8. It had the 4sp Auto. Super nice car, quick for its day, decent handling but a good bit of understeer in the dry, oversteer in the wet. No TC in those days. It did have ABS. Roomy enough to take my family on a 1200 mile round trip to Orlando. Unfortunately it had electrical gremlins so I traded it at a loss.

  • @akr01364
    @akr01364 Місяць тому +1

    As a kid starting middle school when this car was built I remember thinking that this looked like a Buick Regal GS to me: which, is really all this is. A last time Boomer mobile meant to smooth over those Interstates and make you remember back to the summer of '69 when you saw the ads for the original. But, in reality was just warmed over Fox Body with nothing much else going for it.

    • @thomasthurston6656
      @thomasthurston6656 Місяць тому

      How does this Cougar look like any Buick GS ?

    • @akr01364
      @akr01364 Місяць тому

      @@thomasthurston6656 Just the overall design ethos: plump, festooned with the oddly out of place filigree for reason. Bloated.

  • @thedefectivechannel2324
    @thedefectivechannel2324 8 днів тому

    This was my first car (I kinda miss it not really) mine wasn’t in near the condition mine had 200k+ and the transmission was going out, left me stranded so many times but one thing I will say in accidents they do great (I backed into a tree, slide off the road after I hit black ice into a ditch, and bumped into someone at a stoplight) and it never got a new dent or scratch, I hated mine for being unreliable but will always love it for being my first car

  • @Karmy.
    @Karmy. Місяць тому +1

    Would love to someday have you review my '02 Mercury Cougar C2 but it needs a lot of work to be in a reviewable state 😔

  • @paintedbird
    @paintedbird Місяць тому

    I had a 92 Cougar LS and a 99 Cougar V6. I loved both of them and the Cougar model in general. I'd love to have another one.

  • @vinnybruce2874
    @vinnybruce2874 Місяць тому +1

    I like the last generation. From 1999-2002 it attract younger buyers It doesn't look like a old grandpa look, but it's a pretty cool car again. I Remember driving the 2000 model in late 1999

    • @DDavEE
      @DDavEE Місяць тому

      I was 18 when that gen came out and wanted to own it. Came really close to buying a used one a couple years later but ended up getting a brand new Cavalier. Wish I had bought the Cougar instead.

  • @Trenton-om9qs
    @Trenton-om9qs Місяць тому +1

    My dad had a 1994 Mercury Cougar when i was young. It was in really good shape but it was an ugly Mint Green color. To quote him "it ran really good but it was so damn ugly"😂. In my grandpas garage is a 1979 Cougar that was bought brand new by my grandparents that has 45k miles on it and it is a time capsule. Imo its a shame Mercury isnt around anymore

  • @mmmfloorpie
    @mmmfloorpie Місяць тому +1

    Why is the driver side reverse light red?

  • @doug6191
    @doug6191 Місяць тому +2

    By 1996, Ford had already given up on MN12 models. Executives were never happy with them. Concieved as a legitimate competitor to a BMW 6 Series, the MN12 was way too expensive for Ford's execs. They slowly decontented the models as the years passed, making them more & more boring along the way. What a shame. But...big coupes were essentially dead by 2000. The MN12 wasn't going to increase in sales as the 90s continued.

    • @91myroc
      @91myroc 14 днів тому

      There was supposed to be a 1998 Model Year for the MN12

  • @alexcurtis8132
    @alexcurtis8132 Місяць тому

    I had an 89 Cougar LS(3.8 V6 unfortunately) for a while...the digital gauges were cool!(Until they went out)...was pretty reliable while i had it and i liked how it drove, just wish it was the 4.6.....also drove an 03 Cougar with the 5speed man. And the 2.5 v6..nice driver but previous owner gutted the MAP sensor and felt pretty underpowered at the time.

  • @johnjones393
    @johnjones393 Місяць тому

    I've owned a couple of these 90s Cougars. Great car if you want something that is different but still it's very reliable even if it's not a hot rod.

  • @jamin63
    @jamin63 Місяць тому

    hey zach, can you review a 2002 focus svt?

  • @vinnybruce2874
    @vinnybruce2874 Місяць тому

    I remember this model. It came out from 1989 to 1994 design plus I like the 1996 refresh with the rounded headlights As well as the Thunderbird. One thing That's odd about the rear taillights. Is the backup light that is supposed to be painted radish And over the years it It washes out, but I drive in 1999 to 2002 With the ford probe looking style triangle new style design at that time.

  • @bazilwreckerloughead
    @bazilwreckerloughead Місяць тому

    My older brother used to have one of these. He must have liked them, because he had 3 in a row!

  • @TheKingxj
    @TheKingxj Місяць тому

    Loved my 1994 XR7 full Tan Leather' I agree one of the best in reliability just oil changes and regular maintenance.

  • @DtM1
    @DtM1 Місяць тому

    I had one. Loved it!

  • @generaloranger6150
    @generaloranger6150 Місяць тому

    I hate it when Ford never made ABS/4 disc standard on the regular Tbird and Cougars... Sometimes you can find loaded ones with sunroof, but no ABS.

  • @dave11686
    @dave11686 Місяць тому +1

    The MN12 platform!

  • @geeksimmer2488
    @geeksimmer2488 Місяць тому

    I never realized how reliable these engines are. Thats why you still see these on the road and most of them are beat to shit but still driving haha

  • @matthrivnak6572
    @matthrivnak6572 Місяць тому +1

    You forgot about the air bags

  • @fgeiger41
    @fgeiger41 Місяць тому

    😂😂😂😂 Not the hospice high chairs!

  • @TheBarth79
    @TheBarth79 Місяць тому +1

    These six rors on trunk what are they for?Regards from Poland.

    • @MrTakaMOSHi
      @MrTakaMOSHi Місяць тому +1

      Luggage rack. I don't think I've ever seen them used for that tho

    • @TheBarth79
      @TheBarth79 Місяць тому

      @@MrTakaMOSHi Thaks.

  • @matthrivnak6572
    @matthrivnak6572 Місяць тому +1

    I like the bigger cougars!

  • @ASpaceMan991
    @ASpaceMan991 Місяць тому

    I liked the red ones

  • @Crispychicken4u
    @Crispychicken4u Місяць тому

    Kind of partial to the sixth generation of cougar with reversed rear window . Paired to the 5.0 . Tho output was 140 hp

  • @michaelsteinbach
    @michaelsteinbach Місяць тому

    Dark green '97 XR7 was y first car in 2001. Never had any problems with it.
    I'm going to guess ahead of the video that it fails the BFB test.
    edit: Wow, that cup holder "flap" is horrible. The 97 had two larger cupholders where the ashtray and coin holders are on this car. The ashtray was a removable unit under the radio.

  • @minipandora22
    @minipandora22 Місяць тому

    Absolutely LOVE a pearl white XR7 !!! #MercuryCougar 🛞

  • @lil_mcgriddle
    @lil_mcgriddle Місяць тому

    this car looks like it would tell me that it sold its grandma for a burlap sack full of mayonnaise

  • @davidp2888
    @davidp2888 Місяць тому

    I had an ‘87 Cougar XR7. It was a tank.

  • @1524mike
    @1524mike Місяць тому

    One of my favorites.

  • @paulwagner4028
    @paulwagner4028 Місяць тому

    90.9 is a baller radio station!

  • @christophersmith1155
    @christophersmith1155 Місяць тому

    WOW. I said this to my friends. it looks like a HOSPICE. WOW...

  • @sonerozgur
    @sonerozgur Місяць тому

    MN12 platform has dual-wishbone suspension in front, AND independent rear suspension. They handle much better than mustangs of same era.

  • @phillyspitta8147
    @phillyspitta8147 Місяць тому

    Gotta do a t bird super coupe if u can find one

  • @markhealey9409
    @markhealey9409 Місяць тому +1

    I never liked the squared off,totally vertical rear window roofline look,but the front end looks cool. Also,why only one reversing light?? Surely it isn't European behaviour,when quite a lot of cars have one white reversing light,& one red rear foglight?? The only American built car I have ever noticed that had factory fitted,integral rear fog lights was an Oldsmobile,in the 90s...can't think now whi
    ch model it was,off hand??

  • @renaokawa6199
    @renaokawa6199 Місяць тому +1

    Hey i used to have one of these it was a lemon and died, got revived, died again, revived again and then died AGAIN l. I shipped her off to the scrapyard after that.

  • @dragos-ioancraciun9810
    @dragos-ioancraciun9810 Місяць тому

    Has a car actually ever passed the bottle test? Maybe you should try changing the bottle because cars aren't generally meant to have a cup holder for a bottle the size of a 2 liter pepsi.

    • @ShootingCars
      @ShootingCars  Місяць тому +1

      About 21% of cars pass. The test is just for fun with no expectation of passing!

  • @Misaniovent
    @Misaniovent Місяць тому

    This car is cool, but...the interior is shocking. Adjusted for inflation, this would be a nearly $40k car. It's wild that Ford ever thought this was acceptable.

  • @jamesruiz4005
    @jamesruiz4005 Місяць тому

    The rear end styling always bothered me

  • @mumwifeteacher
    @mumwifeteacher Місяць тому

    You should dress up like the driver in the vantage motor week reviews of the retro cars you review

  • @jangofett191
    @jangofett191 Місяць тому

    Got a 2010 mercury grand marquis with 60k miles

  • @michaelcoffey7362
    @michaelcoffey7362 Місяць тому

    Nice 😊

  • @morgananderson5058
    @morgananderson5058 Місяць тому

    Fantastic video, you’re my favorite auto channel. Even better than Doug Demuro and regular car reviews!

  • @user-eh8rf1uz5s
    @user-eh8rf1uz5s Місяць тому

    Except it had amazing expensive suspension way more advanced than anything In it's class

  • @kc0lif
    @kc0lif Місяць тому

    last generation was a hatchback wasn't good. that one good.

  • @timcoffey5927
    @timcoffey5927 Місяць тому

    Confused aussie enters the chat (though a personel lurxury vehicle is a step too far for oz)

  • @vintagefancollector1436
    @vintagefancollector1436 Місяць тому

    Overhead cam*

  • @ASpaceMan991
    @ASpaceMan991 Місяць тому

    And you dont want to drive the auto 2001 Cougar, major transmission issues (I owned a green one) They arent half bad.

  • @theballintruth3369
    @theballintruth3369 Місяць тому

    So funny to me cars from the 60s are all so cool even the economy cars but everything since then the economy cars are borderline hideous, from malibus to chrystler 200s and ford taurus. All ugly and nobody cares about them at all