1999 Mercury Cougar

By John Terauds

Forget pressing barbells or munching wetland grasses on a Paleozoic diet. To look good and feel like a million bucks, sin a little instead. Go get yourself a 1999 Mercury Cougar V6,

okay?

For the same price as the equally mood and image-enhancing New Beetle, the new Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique-based Cougar serves up everything a moderately-priced sporty coupe should.

The proof lies in measuring Mercury's sex kitten against the Seven deadly Sins.

So let's start with Lust.

Ford's New Edge styling wraps the works in a striking combo of mild bulges and crisp creases. The result, in my case finished in come-get-me Rio Red, caught the come-hither of many an onlooker.

The designers worked their wares adroitly inside, too, blending cat's eye vents and interesting shapes around the front passengers.

But a true driver's lust is aroused by a smooth-talking engine with a bit of bite to its bark, and here, the 170 hp, 24-valve twin-cam Windsor-made V6 is a Casanova.

The fives-peed manual shifter rewards the driver's touch and the hydraulically activated clutch couples the works with ease and discretion.

An electronically controlled four-speed automatic will set the more passive driver back an extra $1045.

Abetted by a tight unibody, Ford's European engineers tweaked the Contour's already excellent suspension and steering to give Cougar the moves to match its promise.

The single ratio power steering feels a bit heavy in tight city manoeuvring, but at speed its response is linear and predictable.

In other words, the Cougar will make you proud behind its fat rimmed, height adjustable wheel.

Voila, that covers Pride, Sin Number Two.

The Cougar redeems itself when it comes to Gluttony, the third Christian no-no.

The trip computer told me the Cougar doesn't drink while you drive. It sipped 11.8 L of regular every 100 km in very enthusiastic urban driving.

Envy? Yes. Several people expressed their desire for a Cougar and for my job.

Avarice. Well, Cougar might inspire you to drive more, but it won't incite you to spend more.

The V6 model starts at $21,795. This includes a great sound system, air conditioning, power windows, power locks and Securi-Lock anti-theft system (made in Markham), beefy P-215/50R-16 tires on alloy wheels, an air filtration system and heated exterior mirrors.

Can you say bargain, kids?

The sixth sin, Wrath, didn't have a chance.

I may have been a bit disappointed at how cheap the controls on the otherwise pleasant dashboard felt. I may have wondered at the location of the power seat switch (bottom left hand corner of the driver's seat cushion) and the release for the hatchback

(driver's kick panel). But a raised eyebrow does not wrath make.

The last of the Bad Seven is Sloth. This is no lazy car, and it is involving enough to help dissuade the driver from becoming complacent.

But should the pilot suffer a lapse, adding traction control and anti-lock options to the four-wheel disc brakes should help put car and passengers back on an even keel.

For those who prefer their car to be a LaZ-Boy in disguise, leather seating surfaces, cruise control and a trunk-mounted CD changer are all available from the Flat Rock, Mich. factory.

I think that in the final tally, the Devil would surely be happy to give this feisty feline an approving poke with his red-hot trident.

There is a 125 hp four-cylinder model available for $19,995, but I think if you're going to sin, it's best to go straight to hell with the V6. PRICING INFORMATION

Mercury Cougar V6 $21,795

V6 Convenience Grp. $1000

(incl. Premium sound w/CD or cassette, rear wiper, remote

entry)

V6 Sport Group $1500

(incl. larger front brakes, upgraded tires, fog lights, sport

seats and many smaller items)

Polished alloy wheels $277

Anti-lock brakes $731

Traction control $350

Power sunroof $826

Power driver's seat $375

Trunk CD changer $610

Delivery charge $740

Air tax $100

Total price $28,304

This test was conducted with a Cougar supplied by Ford of

Canada.