3

Vancouver.

TEST DRIVE

VHE MERCURY Cougar
and its Ford equivalent, the
Thunderbird, are the only
mid-sized, two-door, rear-
wheel-drive sporty coupes
available for under $30,000.

Everything else in that category
is well over $40,000.

That's because most mid-sized
cars have switched to front-wheel-
drive.

Placing the engine and transaxle
sideways in the front eliminates the
weight, complexity and bulk of a
centre drive-line tunnel and rear
differential.

However, rear-wheel-drive is
better for handling because it pro-
vides a balanced 50/50 front/rear
weight ratio.

That's why mid-sized luxury/
performance coupes. such as the
Lincoln Mark VIE and Lexus
SC400, still offer rear-wheel-drive.

That applies to the Cougar and
Thunderbird as well.

Though not sports cars, they
offer better handling and a sportier
driving feel than most front-wheel-
drive cars of comparable sizes.

With a long hood, short rear-
deck, wide stance. and available V8
power, the Cougar and Thunderbird
retain the traditional character of an
American rear-wheel-drive sports
car,

The current Cougar body stvle
first appeared in 1988, and the
styling hasn't changed much since.

Though the Cougar and
Thunderbird are mechanically
alike, the Cougar has a traditional.
upright rear window -— a styling
feature that people seem to cither
fove or hate.

For the 1994 model year, the

Cougar gets a mildly restyled grille
and front bumper. new taillamps.
and bodyside moldings.

The big changes are a dramati-
cally restyled interior and the avail-
ability of the 4.6-litre overhead cam
V8 engine, which replaces the
enduring 5.G-litre pushrod V8.

The position of the controls is
now closer to the driver and the full
analog instrument cluster is now
standard equipment.

Though heating and ventilation
controls are the rotary type, the
stereo uses pushbuttons, even for
the volume control.

A four-speed automatic trans-
mission with a floor shifter is stan-
dard equipment and a button on the
shifter locks out fourth gear when
it’s not needed.

A manual transinission is not
available on the Cougar.

For a base price of $20,895, the
Cougar XR7 offers a 140 horse
power 3.8-live V6 engine.

But for an extra $690, you can
have the 205 horsepower 4.6-litre
overhead cam V8 engine — a
smoother, quieter, more powerful
engine that makes passing and
accelerating much easier.

Even though it has avo niore
cylinders, the 4-6 litre V8 is only
marginally thirstier than the V6,

averaging 11.2 litres per 100 km
(26 mpg) compared to 10.5 1/100
km (28 mpg).

Cougars are well equipped.
Standard equipment includes driver
and passenger airbags, air-condi-
tioning, power steering, am/fm
stereo cassette with four speakers,
power windows, intermittent
wipers, centre armrest and storage
bin, leather-wrapped shift knob,
and a six-gauge instrument cluster
that includes a tachonieter.

Options include: four-wheel disc
brakes with anti-lock brakes and
traction contro], alloy wheels,
power sunroof, leather upholstery,
power seats, cellular telephone, CD
player, remote keyless entry, and
premium stereo,

Qne note of advice: | would rec-
ommend ordering traction control.

In slippery conditions, it helps to
prevent the rear driving wheels
from losing traction and possible
loss of steering control.

Low-speed traction control is
available on the Cougar in combi-
nation with the dise brakes/anti-
lock brake option.

Thave to admit that | was sur-
prised at how much the Cougar
offers for $22,000, particularly
when equipped with the -1.6-Ltre
V8.

Price as tested $27,569
Base price $20,895
Type two door, five-pi
coupe

Layout longitudinal front
engine/rear-wheel-drive
Engine 4.6-litre V8. SOHC X
2, 32 valves

Horsepower 205 @ 4,500
rpm

Torque 265-ft-ibs @ 3.200
rpm
Transmission
automatic

Tires P205/70R-15

Curb weight 1,690 kg (3,726
Ibs)

Wheelbase 2.870 mm (113.6
in.)

Length 5.077 mm (199.9 in.)
Width [,$46 min (72.7 in.)
Height 1.333 mim (52.5 in.)
Fuel consumption City: 13.4
¥i00 km (21 mpg): Hyy: 8.8
100 km (32 mpg)

Warranty three years/60,000
kms

enger

four-speed