And it shows. Well, just. Mainly when you go round corners - the steering just isn't precise enough for the rest of the car.

This is a big bug bear of mine - Ford powered steering, its always too vague, whatever car of theirs you are in. I am fortunate enough to have two Alfas with their fast rack steering, and nothing else i have driven comes close. Alfa show that it IS possible to have power steering with feel, and ford for all their might can't get this.

Apart from this the Cougar is fun. It is a big car - being based on the Mondeo, and with its 2.5 V6 is built more for straight line fun ratehr than going round corners.

It is also an American design and the exterior shows this. though for an american design it is really quite good - if you have had the misfortune to go there and hire a blob like clone that passes off for American styling you will know what I mean. The interior is not very spacious - this is a coupe after all, and is not finished to everyones likeing with lots of different coloured plastics and ovals everywhere. I quite liked it as it makes a change from montonic grey/blacks.

It is quite well equipped with air con etc, though this is quickly becoming standard (from the new year all my beloved Alfa will have it as standard on all their new cars).

But the Cougar is a fun drive, in a laid back way - use the power, and don't expect too much out of the handling and you will enjoy it - a lot!