2002 Mercury Cougar. Please read all of the text.
7/10/22: I apologize if you have written in the past and not gotten a response from me. The notification system does not work and I had no idea there were messages waiting for me here.
Some things to consider if you buy:
1) I cannot transfer the current license plates to a buyer.
2) Test drives will be limited to very short ones, perhaps only in the complex parking lot.
3) This car runs and drives but has an issue with its transmission with intermittent leaks. Sometimes it will regurgitate ATF while parked after driving.
It is a fully loaded Ultimate model. If there are some Cougar aficionados out there who have DIY skills or access to a shop, you can turn this into a reliable daily driver at a reasonable cost and have a great car.
The transmission will need some attention, but I don't know the extent. Perhaps it is a simple matter like a cooler issue, fluid change, an adjustment, sensor change, solenoid, etc. ? Or...? A few weeks ago, it was not leaking. Now it is. This problem has come and gone in the past, so I don't know if it will fade away again on its own, or if the leak is here to stay. Given that it is a CD4E transmission with just under a hundred thousand miles on it, it may be rebuild/replacement time.
The paint is a little dull (detailing would make it look better), and there are 5 or 6 minor dents, but there is no cracked or broken glass. No major bodywork is needed. For its age, it is in pretty good shape. I don't mean to focus on the negatives, but am merely trying to disclose them.
2002 Mercury Cougar hatchback
• strong 2.5L V6 engine, regular oil and filter changes
• alloy wheels with Kumho Ecsta super high performance tires
• properly aligned
• well optioned, 6 disc CD changer, A/C, leather upholstery, rear spoiler, alarm system, 2 remote key fobs
• clean, blue TX title in hand
• perforated gray leather upholstery, black carpets, clean, not matted, tears are confined to driver's seat cushion
• no cracked or broken glass
• interior trim and plastic intact and not cracked
• new brakes in 2012
• two or three of the wheels have been reconditioned to remove curb rash from the previous owner.
• new left rear caliper installed 7/2020, Motorcraft fuel pump and alternator installed in 2017, new water pump and rear shocks, and new serpentine belt a short time before that.
• sunroof switch and remote hatch release motors have been disconnected (hatchback opens with key)
• no stored DT codes or warning lights
• recent state inspection in October of 2022
Good cosmetic condition considering its age. No pulling to either side on highway and still handles very well in the corners.
Pre-existing conditions: Transmission problems, sunroof is disconnected, rear remote hatch release motor is out, tears in driver's seat cushion upholstery, cloudy right side headlight lens, some small dents on the hood over the right strut tower caused by some boxes in storage that collapsed and fell over on it, and three chips in the paint closer to the center.
That is not a dent on the left side, but a distorted reflection.
I'd prefer to be paid in hundreds, not twenties, in a cash sale. No trades of any kind. No financing. I check for counterfeit bills. There is a Bank of America nearby, so if you have an account with them, we can visit the branch at the time of sale.