2001 Mercury Cougar

Until Ford discontinued the brand in 2011, Mercury sat in the middle of the company’s lineup—fancier than Ford but not as luxurious as Lincoln. The brand had its heyday from the 1950s through the 1980s, with cars like the Cougar, Monterey, Montclair, and Turnpike Cruiser still commonplace at classic car shows. Nearly all recent Mercury models were based on Ford counterparts. The Mercury Milan was a gussied-up Ford Fusion and the Mercury Grand Marquis was a more comfortable take on the Ford Crown Victoria. Since the brand has been gone for many years, most Mercury vehicles will lack modern convenience and safety features, and used examples will likely have high mileage.

The Cougar was introduced in 1999 as a small, front-wheel-drive coupe with a large hatchback. The car had excellent handling but a stiff ride. It was available with a 125-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 170-hp, 2.5-liter V6. Even the V6 provides just adequate acceleration. It is available with an automatic transmission that is sometimes reluctant to downshift or with a balky five-speed manual. Six-footers fit comfortably up front and the rear seat is comfortable for a sporty coupe. The Cougar was dropped after 2002.