I Have An Urge To Ride A Cougar

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 12/09/2014 at 08:22 • Filed to: None

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Specifically a Cougar from the 80's, anyone have experience with them ?

I like how they look, especially from the rear, I dig that droopy ass

Are these turbo model good for track purposes ? I mean RWD, turbo power, proper body on frame and manual, sounds like a winner to me.

Here's a small dump of pictures, enjoy the show!

That body shape

That bra

That rack

That Class

BJ > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:27

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RWL tires + the bra. So 1990s! Do want.

Margin Of Error > BJ 12/09/2014 at 08:27

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Relevant username

Funktheduck > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:29

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My grandfather had a non turbo. Honestly don't remember anything about it other than it was a champaign sort of color with tan interior. May say something about the car. May mean I just don't remember

Sweet Trav > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:40

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You're choosing the wrong Turbo Ford from the 80's

Turbo T-bird with a T-5 manual transmission.

Redbulldidlo > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:42

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I personally hate the 80's cougars, the original was a super intimidating beast. This? Not so much.

505Turbeaux > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:44

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I have alot of experience riding in them and wrenching on a few, but mainly the 5.0l version.

I'll give you a funny story to start the day off. Once upon a time I was in high school, WAY back in the 90s and a couple of friends of mine wanted to play hookey and go to Six Flags in Jersey. I was playing in a band and had a deal with my mom that as long as I was going to school and not screwing around NOT going to school, I could gig in Boston and NYC and be out late as anything. Not wanting to risk the ire of my mom I declined. But my friends still thought it was imperative I was there.

So 5am on the day these guys wanted to go, I wake up to being wrapped up in my comforter and dragged out of the house. Get in the Cougar, I am a little pissed, but more worried I was getting busted. We start drinking beers and bacardis, then drop some acid. We get down there in time for the safari adventure to begin. Notice all the signs that say keep your windows closed at all times. Don't care or listen. So we are buggin out driving through the Safari, goddamn monkeys are in the car with us hanging out, giraffes eating out of our hands. My friend still has pictures of the shenanigans. We kick the monkeys out, go in the park and have a great day, I go home.

Come to find out my mom had already left on a business trip I had forgotten about, and just in case my friends left a note saying they kidnapped me and I would be home that day. No harm, no foul. She never found out.

Just you bringing up cougars makes me think of that crazy day, so thanks.

Margin Of Error > Sweet Trav 12/09/2014 at 08:45

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Is it a good track car ?

Margin Of Error > 505Turbeaux 12/09/2014 at 08:47

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I LOL'd hard !

505Turbeaux > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:49

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haha good!

Jon-o > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:53

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I must say they aren't all that exciting to drive. I've driven my dads 85 manual turbo coupe... It was ok, kind of truck like to be honest. But for something so big it sure handled pretty well on off ramps and all that but they're far too big, heavy and lots of turbo lag. Its not exactly a track car unless it's totally stripped and the suspension is completely gone over and he brakes upgraded they are pretty small for something that heavy. He loved that car but after he built his kit car cobra and 335i as a DD it just sat undriven in the garage as it was the least inspiring of the three.

Margin Of Error > Jon-o 12/09/2014 at 08:55

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:-(

Doe he still have it ?

Sweet Trav > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 08:58

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It's a fox body underneath so if you can get parts for the fox body mustang, it may be able to be turned into a decent track car. you can make decent power out of the Turbo 4, but finding a 5.0l V8 would probably be the cheaper, easier way to make power.

Jon-o > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:00

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naw sadly, he owned it for almost 30 years and it was in immaculate original shape. Let it go for not too much money too since there was very little interest from buyers. It was a shame. However my 96 tbird with the 4.6 V8 is for sale! Doesn't have the slanted back window however...

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:08

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The carpets wore out quite fast on those.

Ill see myself out.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:08

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Avoid the 3.8. For two years, I drove an 87 Cougar with the 3.8 and TBI and it was slow but full of torque for an 80s V-6 car with only 120 hp. Head gasket issues and overheating, electrical gremlins that would make a Porsche 928 owner cringe, and soft, wallowy suspension. But you also get a brown 2-door sedan with the long hood/short deck proportions that look so nice...

wantafuncar > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:09

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The supercharged 3.8 ones can be fun.

I owned a 1989 3.8 base with an auto for about 1-2 years. It handled pretty well, had good brakes, was pretty reliable... but it really wasn't exciting or fun to drive/ride in.

Had a friend who put over 200k on a 5.0l version — don't know what happened to the car, but he did eventually get rid of it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:12

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My grandmother has one of those on her car. It's also the same color,

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 09:34

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cougars with droopy ass

TMI, bro.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 10:06

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Just noticing that this has the same kind of squared off rear window that you liked on the LHS yesterday. How do you feel about the seventh gen Buick Riviera? They're likely going to be more reliable, and they offer a slightly comfier and more luxurious driving experience.

Margin Of Error > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/09/2014 at 10:12

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Holy shit !!!

WANT

Thanks for reminding me, I will write a piece on this car

justAnother G6 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 12/09/2014 at 10:15

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Seconded. Unless you are looking for something large, heavy and lacking in acceleration. But it did have plenty of body roll, so there is that. I had an '84 in college.

bradleyjames518 > Sweet Trav 12/09/2014 at 11:39

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I bought one for $500, I loved it....Installed a cam from the Ford Ranger 2.3l, it is more aggressive and then made a manual boost valve with plumbing components from home depot. Faster than a foxbody with those mods.

It would also slide sidways if you weren't careful with the gas around turns.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Margin Of Error 12/09/2014 at 14:02

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Its nuts how much the cougar has changed over time. My dad has a '67 cougar so I am used to that one which is pretty close to a mustang of that vintage. Then you look at the cougars from the 80s and the mid 2000s and you get wildly different cars. Certainly interesting!

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Margin Of Error 12/10/2014 at 09:44

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I own a rather modified one....

1987 LS with a 5.0 V8 and AOD transmission. Basically the 83-88's are a refined fox platform car with a longer wheelbase than a Mustang (only by a scant few inches). Pretty much anything you can do to a 5.0 Mustang can be done to these. If you're looking for the 2.3L turbo, you're limited to 1983-1986 as the 87-88 Cougar came with either the 3.8 or the 5.0 and the 4 cylinder option was dropped for the Cougar, but still available in the Ford Thunderbird. I'm a member of an enthusiast forum for these cars and have been around them for quite some time as my parents bought a red 1987 V6 new when I was 11 years old. I've owned the one pictured since New Year's Day 1998.

Some good reference websites:

www.coolcats.net

www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com

A facebook group I'm on actually had someone post up a 1985 turbo model for sale with LOW miles. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1375411…

Margin Of Error > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/10/2014 at 09:46

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Nice !! congrats on the car, beautiful specimen, and thanks for the links !

Margin Of Error > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/10/2014 at 09:46

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Your last pics didn't load

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/10/2014 at 09:52

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More comfy? Maybe. More reliable? Depends on which powerplant. Remember that the Riv is a FWD car. My buddy had one from the same era as pictured. Nightmare of a car, but a nice ride when everything worked. My mother had and earlier 1981. She loved that car almost as much as it hated her.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/10/2014 at 09:54

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I just know that the 3800 is supposed to be a reliable engine, as long as you don't also have that touchscreen thing.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Margin Of Error 12/10/2014 at 09:55

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Yeah, FB links don't seem to work any longer in Kinja..... Hope this works :p

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/10/2014 at 10:02

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Yeah, my buddy had the touchscreen. I'll give you that the 3800 will most likely be more reliable than the Ford 3.8.

The old Ford 5.0's are rock solid though. Especially when you leave them stock. Vacuum lines can be an issue as many people remove/change stuff they shouldn't or don't know how to. The vacuum lines on the bottom of the intake manifold on the 5.0 are in their respective places for a reason and if you mess with those you might notice idle issues. The problem gets MUCH worse when you add in higher flowing intake manifold/cylinder heads and a custom camshaft.

T5Killer > Margin Of Error 12/10/2014 at 10:35

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I had a good friend who had a '96 4.6 MN12 Tbird. It was a great car. Like a Mustang that went to finishing school than got a eating problem. It was heavy but had power. He later put PI heads and intake from 99+ Mustang GT and 3:73 gears and a Mach1 torque converter. It was awesome and surprised some people. Sadly his steering column had issues and doors started to sag so he sold it to someone and got a Fox 5.0 LX Mustang.

Schaefft > Margin Of Error 12/10/2014 at 12:16

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Thats a last gen Cougar, the picture below as well.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/10/2014 at 17:07

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Is it a 20th anniversary like the one pictured?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/10/2014 at 18:32

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hers is a regal.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 12/10/2014 at 19:14

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Ah. What year?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/10/2014 at 19:25

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2004, too new to be appropriate.