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My reasons for wanting to test-drive the 1999 Mercury Cougar were motivated by pure selfishness. I've been wanting to get my hands on it since the first time I saw it. Plus, the affordable price tag makes it easy to imagine actually owning one.
My weeklong experience with the Cougar made one thing apparent: People either loved the look of the car or hated it. I love the look, so I like to believe all the head turning that occurred was done purely out of admiration. The laser-red metallic (think fresh strawberries) Cougar has unusual body lines. A sculpted crease begins under the lower door panels and arcs under the rear bumper. Twin projector beam headlamps are protected by raised bubble-shaped housings and the rear tail lights are appropriately cat-eyed. An optional rear spoiler, available on the V6 version, can be ordered to finish off the rear end. Unfortunately, our test vehicle was not equipped with one. And to complete the new design, the antenna is centered at the top of the roof, making it an easy way to identify other Cougars on the road.
The interior is simple, almost stark. The only decoration on the dashboard are the round air vents, reminiscent of cars in the 50s. Controls for the windows, mirrors, and locks are easy to identify and operate, and are illuminated at night. Ditto for the radio with one minor exception. When driving in third or fifth gear,...