Used Ford Cougar Coupe 1998 - 2002 review

Our favourite is the 2.5 V6. It's smoother than the 2.0-litre, gives better performance and has a pleasantly crisp exhaust note when it's working hard. That makes it a far more enjoyable car to own and drive and, to cap it all, there's not a huge penalty in economy over the 2.0-litre model.

Stick with the five-speed manual gearbox, though, as this makes for a more exciting - and faster - drive. The automatic simply doesn't cut it in a supposedly sporty coupe.

The 2.0-litre is dependable and will suit most drivers, but it's not even quick enough to keep up with hot hatches, so you'll need to adopt a more laid back attitude on the road.

Each car has its own trim level, but try to find a V6 model with the optional X-Pack, which has leather upholstery, a CD autochanger and metallic paint. You'll most likely be looking at independent used car dealers and private sellers now, because the last Cougar was sold new in 2002.

Our favourite is the 2.5 V6. It's smoother than the 2.0-litre, gives better performance and has a pleasantly crisp exhaust note when it's working hard. That makes it a far more enjoyable car to own and drive and, to cap it all, there's not a huge penalty in economy over the 2.0-litre model.

Stick with the five-speed manual gearbox, though, as this makes for a more exciting - and faster - drive. The automatic simply doesn't cut it in a supposedly sporty coupe.

The 2.0-litre is dependable and will suit most drivers, but it's not even quick enough to keep up with hot hatches, so you'll need to adopt a more laid back attitude on the road.

Each car has its own trim level, but try to find a V6 model with the optional X-Pack, which has leather upholstery, a CD autochanger and metallic paint. You'll most likely be looking at independent used car dealers and private sellers now, because the last Cougar was sold new in 2002.