The eighth generation of the Mercury Cougar (1999-02) was the result of Ford shifting the Contour-based Probe to the Lincoln-Mercury Division, adopting the Mercury Cougar name in the process. It would be the first front-wheel-drive Cougar since the car debuted in 1967. It was a 3-door sport compact as opposed to a 2-door personal luxury coupe. This 2001 Zn edition of the Cougar seems to be in good original condition in Garden City, Idaho. The Mercury is available from a dealer here on Facebook Marketplace for $9.950.
With the Ford Thunderbird gone after 1998, the 1999-02 Cougar was the first Mercury car in several years offered without a direct Ford model equivalent. While production was strong in 1999 at 88,000 units, demand would trickle to 25,000 by 2001 (and even further in its last year). While the 2.0-liter Zetec I-4 engine was standard equipment, the 2.5-liter Duratec V6 was available as an option, which is the engine in the seller’s car. The transmission is a 5-speed MTX-75 manual.
The Zn model, which was offered for just two years (2000-01), came with special Zinc Yellow paint, a Visteon hood scoop, and a spoiler. The seller says this is one of those cars. And it has a Police Interceptor emblem on the trunk lid – what’s with that? Someone being cute or were these cars used for police work and, if so, why would they be painted yellow?
The body and paint on the seller’s car look to be sound as does the black bucket-seat interior. The Mercury has more than 78,000 miles on it, so the previous owner (s) took diligent care of the automobile. Kelley Blue Book pegs the top dollar for an ’01 Cougar to be in the $5-6,000 range, so perhaps this one has something extra special to warrant a premium.
IIRC the Probe (a Ford version of the Mazda 626 coupe) was supposed to be a front-wheel drive Mustang originally. There was quite a stink from Mustang owners when word leaked out ahead of production. Ford wisely chose to call it a Probe instead, and to sell both cars. I truly wish that this had also happened recently with the Mustang Mach E. I have nothing at all against the Mach E. It is a fine electric vehicle. I just think Ford should have left the Mustang name off of the vehicle. I predict, due to the feedback from Mustang owners, that when the car receives a mid-cycle refresh in a few years they will change the styling to look less like a Mustang, and, shorten the name to Mach E. Both of those things would be acceptable to me and perhaps other Mustang owners. (I wonder if the brainiac who made the choice to sign off on Mustang Mach E name and styling has been let go by Ford)?
The above is my opinion, which may or may not match yours.
The Mach-E was to be called a 2021 Whatever, but top brass decided to attach the Mustang nameplate to it at the last minute because the nameplate is cool and sporty. (as apposed to say C-max or some garbage like that) Still a mistake to align it with the Mustang family if you ask me.
Perhaps the 2021 Maverick and the new unibody pick up should have been the 2023 Couior. Maybe I should apply at Ford. Haha
Small world. Looking to buy a 2 door car and stumbled across a 2000 Ford Cougar with the six cylinder 2.6 petrol engine. This is in Europe and the model was offered from 1998 to 2002. It is identical to the car featured above, except for the scoop. Eighty eight thousand kilometres on the clock and going for about UK£ 2,000.
The Ford Probe was a joint project with Mazda and had nothing to do with the Contour.
That’s right.
The Mercury version of the Contour was the Mercury Mystique. My father-in-law owned one.
Mike a coworkers sister owned the Mercury Mystique. They glossed it the Mercury “mistake” lol. Total lemon 🍋 nitemare that pos was.
This one is a nice example, probably q fun driver short geared diff, 5spd manual and about 165hp and tq. Like a Celica
Seems the confusion may just be unclear phrasing that this model was based on the Contour platform and originally intended to become the 3rd-gen Probe, but then last-minute Ford decided to market it as a Mercury Cougar instead.
Where have all the Cougars gone, long time passing.
Correct , but the 3rd generation probe was to be contour based. This would have been it had ford not dropped the name. Also I agree with the post about the Mach E , I did write a letter same as I did back un the early 90s about the “mazstang” but I guess not enough other people did. I also agree that I actually really liked the probe , particularly the MK II, and the Mach E would be ok if the called it any thing else.
My old-timer’s disease has struck once again. Thanks for the correct information SubGothius and Christopher. I googled it and found out that yes the Cougar was based on the 3rd gen Probe which was based on the Contour. Ow!!! My head hurts, lol.
Before coming out with absolute statements in the future I must ask my good friend “The Google” to verify my memory.
https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/last-mercury-cougar-was-one-weirdest-ford-products-ever-281474979915027
And we all know that everything on Google and the internet is 100% fact….LOL
Go with experience, rather than the internet.
Exactly! NOTHING in common with the Ford Probe…
However, almost bought one new. One of my favorite cars that I had as a winter car was a Ford Contour with a 5 speed/V6….It was not even the SVT version and it cranked!!!
MANY HONDAs/MIATAs and other similar cars were destroyed by me entering a highway, when either they are on my bumper or I was on theirs…..75% of it was my power and a manual, and the other 25% was their surprise when I passed them when I was behind them!!! LOL It was sooooo funny!
If it was cheap, I would put that this Cougar in my collection, since you cannot find a well taken care of Probe GT, I had one of them new, with that beautiful change color paint!
I wish Barn Finds would give contact info when a car is on FB marketplace, not all have that.
Fran,
FB marketplace does not permit contact info like a phone number to be posted- if a seller does include a number, it will get hidden. You have to contact them directly via the ad
Then get it…it’s free, lol. Jeebus.
THESE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A COUGAR. That E-Bay Badge on the trunk that reads POLICE INTERCEPTOR makes it look like more trash than it already is….. https://www.ebay.com/itm/253388740691?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3aff255853:g:N24AAOSwW1JdPwgz&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSg3Ye8yTWgOW7pmE1t838dmgn1F%252BLVnC9To79S010WTny8GvYcsU8FrRM5fQ9PNvOJ9KnHWbv9FLipE%252Fgzyel197qWN5WIpM3Mp5f9MMKTXNF0UMmekSwoAlFkI%252F%252FnRotTMHYNaJD7%252FqEcHIEGyq7unU8Uk6XtnUN3A6%252BXMpi%252BceErzaqVrck7OiZPMZfVMYVUPYFXAhDFYcnAfbly1UnVTZLQqweA5w7JBctxLE1yr7%252BhrQL2aEmdFknUR7Hore7cWxw0kvaqL50KzmBU81PxMsLrbqWJavdRbETosw3s0GSJFYNpoeVnURQs4ARwNDnspvGuNhI4b%252BDYC5NT4G7lFJ0LJh9ooU6782hbxXaZruljLxrtQyzrTrBPBmQVQnj6LeRFrCqzUBuhPY9dW7IfeH0i4qvwaJsNMnhU%252FlC5eFtKaPERO3K1bZ7IkvgHEhQ140Q2aRWjMjEMP0X2TII4h7JG7XO57QkCJh1So05mZ1B%252FsL%252F18uvZLqpIu6fvHZw4ObQlxktsekR%252F1R5Zs8UvK8uwULok2zEagqXPX5CqVCZS7uGg1%252FblvO8PmE19TSHf%252BKXwnYonLU70PirXQlyOW1irP019wanEM6g01Iw6%252BbQGAmXkdx2sBAAqdIH5CjfGBfsYKNPus9ORfKiHg9r17P5xQJRc2aIN5GZ4%252FV1cecTGOwmYm%252BpPr0KZ%252FJtu3vp40d3pKe4m%252Bx%252FFqc8pW8NADy%252B5I3IPddslZZkg%252FCjUoIbJQ2k7I23wKEbzG4X504RLHtoJNIjluaNl7o%252FnP0hSsC89nJhQ62f4SCiJ7dpm7zds2PbfMCrSLIhtLl%252B0Ua2I7CVXPl%252BfXPYxQHJqwBwTA%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMqu_EwcNf
That badge is easily removable unlike the embarrassingly superfluous eBay link that you posted
That’s not a Cougar. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not my idea of a Cougar.
Ford and Mercury should be ashamed of themselves.
I worked in dealerships back then, I had a lot of demos. The best back then was the then new SHO with a stick, hit third at 100, fourth at 140 and ran out of room. LX Mustang 5.0 stick and a full size Cougar next. These things were pretty quick but not my cup of tea. The $5.00 Interceptor badge is crap, get rid of it.
2nd gear in an SHO was good up to 100 mph ?
When these first came out, Dad and I stopped by the LM dealership to check it out. The bottom contour of the seat was like 2 logs lashed together… it could not have been more uncomfortable. At least this one has better seats. Dad had a Probe GT with the turbo that was a hoot, but not a very practical family car.
This Cougar was based on the Contour, sharing engines and suspension amongst other under the skin items. The Probe was a completely different animal, based on the Mazda 626/MX-6 platform. Both were great driving cars but cheap gas and V8 Mustang and Camaros did the Cougar and Probe in. Glad to see one live on.
Calling this a Cougar is like calling this a NOVA ……. https://www.google.com/search?q=1985+chevy+nova&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS970US970&sxsrf=AOaemvIKL6fGqwY2MBU2SlYmoq5-plJfNg:1641163740000&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiYjfatk5T1AhUJkWoFHVN4AFMQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1920&bih=912&dpr=1#imgrc=CKGK4oWsVKxSQM
Not surprised by all the “tHaTs nOt a cOuGaR” comments. Same ones who think “iTs nOt a rEaL cOrVeTte iF iT aInT gOt rOuNd tAiL liTeS”
Yuk. Ugly and regardless of underpinnings I agree with Angel_Cadillac; NOT a Cougar and not worthy of the name.
Define what a Cougar actually is then
An upmarket variant of a Ford RWD performance coupe, if not derived from a Thunderbird then a Mustang (as with the first-gen Cougar).
I’m firmly of the camp that automakers can do whatever they want with the trademarks they own. Sometimes it works as a business decision despite the grumblings from the old model’s fans (hello, four-door Charger); in this case it failed to live up to its’ potential because Lincoln-Mercury dealers had already racked up a doleful record with youth-oriented cars. Cougar, Probe or whatever, it would’ve been more successful in Ford Division.
Exactly! They own these nameplates, not the old grumplings (some of whom are obviously on this thread)
I’ve always liked these , regardless of the name. I know it’s not a personal luxury car. And yeah the Mach E bothers me. But at least this was a sporty car , like the original cougar . (yeah I know , front wheel drive and no V8 )
Didn’t like Ford styling under Telnack or Mays – didn’t like the Mustang, Taurus, and especially hated the pimples (see the light lenses) on this model Cougar, and the arc, as a styling theme.
When you click on the market place add the first thing you see is KBB telling you the price range of the vehicle is $3523 to $5234. So your next question might be what makes this one worth $9950? I asked myself that question and I can’t find a good answer why the price is so high. Don’t get me wrong the car looks pretty nice, fairly low mileage and looks to have been taken care of but still the price seems high. Take at least 4 K off the sale price would seem about right to me.
A car I’d rather forget. Ugly. Mercury had the absolute worst marketing in this era of any manufaturer ever. Hence the fact that they are no longer with us.
nice lookin Focus
8^0
turbo! turbo! turb…
I totally missed this as a FoMoCo vehicle. Also liked Probe for what it was & there’s a guy that’s got a fairly well maintained one in my area. Helped my late Grandma buy a Contour, as it fit her needs at the time. Being a former BOSS 351 owner, I cringed when Ford made the “Mustang” MachE. What the h…. !
Whine away old boomers! This is as much a Cougar as any other one. This was a fantastic driving and handling car. These killed in the G-Stock class in SCCA autocross.