Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: EricCoolCats on September 30, 2016, 04:06:04 PM

Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on September 30, 2016, 04:06:04 PM
Just wanted to let everyone know that the all-new COOL CATS site is now launched and live. It works natively with smartphones and tablets now, and I've redone all the photos on the site as well. It was about 4 months of work that, frankly, I thought would drag on through winter but fortunately things worked out to be a lot sooner than that.

Thanks to quite a few people here, there's a lot of new and/or corrected info, a few new articles, and lots more photos than I'd ever be able to collect by myself. For that, you have my eternal thanks.

If anyone sees something that's not quite right, or has something to contribute, or I forgot to give you credit somewhere, please let me know. Thanks!

http://www.coolcats.net
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: MexCougar on September 30, 2016, 04:50:51 PM
Excellent work ! i love it !
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: rodsterh on September 30, 2016, 07:32:13 PM
Wow, looks great!!  I've only browsed it quickly but can see how updated it looks and how much info it contains.  Believe it or not, I just tried to access the site about a week ago and it wasn't available.  Thought maybe it went away and I was sad.......    Now I'm much happier. :o

Thanks for all of the time and effort you put into it, you deserve many Thanks!  :bowdown:
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Billyf17 on September 30, 2016, 08:19:45 PM
Looks awesome.  I'll have to spend a few nights going through each nook and cranny.  A lot of stuff on the old site that I referenced many times, especially with my current build.  The site has been super helpful ever since I found it after my dad bought my 84...15 years ago.  Glad to see it still receives much deserved love.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Loaded87IROC on October 01, 2016, 09:36:39 AM
Looks great!

Thanks for your hard work.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 01, 2016, 10:16:24 AM
Looks great!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: mcb82gt on October 01, 2016, 08:47:16 PM
Very nice!  Appreciate all the  work...
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Beau on October 02, 2016, 04:19:09 AM
Nice!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: 50tbrd88 on October 02, 2016, 12:59:03 PM
Thanks for the hard work, Eric.  I think I speak for many of us when I say that my car would never be where it is today without the coolcats website.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Aerocoupe on October 03, 2016, 08:54:26 AM
Great job man!  Really like the flow and look of the "new" site.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: jcassity on October 04, 2016, 01:38:21 PM
u da man as always
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: 83TB on October 04, 2016, 09:20:09 PM
Looks good
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 04, 2016, 09:50:43 PM
Do you approve the submissions for the car pictures? Tried a couple times to add mine. The first I noticed I had a pic that was too big, but the second time everything appears to be good.

Just checking.

Thanks!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Tbird232ci on October 05, 2016, 03:24:50 AM
Looks like butt.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: V8Demon on October 05, 2016, 08:03:43 AM
Hi Shawn!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Tbird232ci on October 05, 2016, 02:49:10 PM
Hi Paul!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 05, 2016, 09:58:13 PM
Quote from: Chuck W;457330
Do you approve the submissions for the car pictures? Tried a couple times to add mine. The first I noticed I had a pic that was too big, but the second time everything appears to be good.

Hmmm...I checked and didn't see anything in the pending approvals. If you'd like to try again, please go ahead and let me know also. I need to test the system out anyway.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 06, 2016, 08:27:44 AM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457346
Hmmm...I checked and didn't see anything in the pending approvals. If you'd like to try again, please go ahead and let me know also. I need to test the system out anyway.

OK. It'll have to wait until tonight. I got no error messages, so I assumed that it went through. I double-checked my pic sizes, etc, and it was all within spec.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 06, 2016, 08:27:51 AM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457346
Hmmm...I checked and didn't see anything in the pending approvals. If you'd like to try again, please go ahead and let me know also. I need to test the system out anyway.


OK. It'll have to wait until tonight. I got no error messages, so I assumed that it went through. I double-checked my pic sizes, etc, and it was all within spec.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: thunderjet302 on October 06, 2016, 11:48:40 AM
The auto dimming rear view mirror you have pictured on the site is from my Thunderbird, which actually has the mirror from a 90-92 Mark VII. It doesn't work like the description at all as it is electro-chromatic and doesn't have the motor to turn the mirror, like the older Ford auto dimming mirrors. The one in my car just has "OFF, LOW, HI" functions.

Just a FYI :)
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 06, 2016, 10:00:52 PM
Eric.  OK, I just submitted it again.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 07, 2016, 09:58:45 PM
Sorry Chuck, we had a hiccup. Please try one more time and I'll let you know if it was successful. Apologies...
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 07, 2016, 11:28:10 PM
Still no dice.

Getting "United States" is not valid value for "Country" error when submitting now.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: rodsterh on October 07, 2016, 11:34:12 PM
Quote from: Chuck W;457386
Still no dice.

Getting "United States" is not valid value for "Country" error when submitting now.

Oh no..... we've been sold to China! :rice:
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 08, 2016, 09:54:19 AM
LOL Not quite. :)

That error should not pop up now. Apologies for all this, we added a bunch of security and some of the parameters weren't correct. Hopefully they're all set now...let me know...
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Kitz Kat on October 08, 2016, 05:30:04 PM
I looked all over this sight for something different, It took me a while to figure it was your net sight. It is definitely nicer. will put my car in soon.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: rodsterh on October 08, 2016, 10:16:25 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457388
LOL Not quite. :)


OK, good to know, I was worried there for awhile. ;)

Again, great job on the new website....
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 09, 2016, 10:46:34 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457388
LOL Not quite. :)

That error should not pop up now. Apologies for all this, we added a bunch of security and some of the parameters weren't correct. Hopefully they're all set now...let me know...

OK, well I submitted again. No error messages, but no confirmation that it went through.
:)
Let me know.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 12, 2016, 08:48:05 PM
So... did it work?
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 12, 2016, 09:21:57 PM
Don't think so. It's not in the database awaiting approval so something wasn't right. We're still working on it, I'll let you know. We'll do a few test submissions first.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 13, 2016, 07:55:58 AM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457443
Don't think so. It's not in the database awaiting approval so something wasn't right. We're still working on it, I'll let you know. We'll do a few test submissions first.

OK, cool.

As far as I know I included everything and the pics weren't too big. Maybe I'll try later w/o the pics.

If you can add it, some sort of dialog box might be good to include, just to confirm receipt of info.

Site looks great, however!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 13, 2016, 07:27:15 PM
That's actually what was being worked on. It seems alright now, give it a whirl.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: Chuck W on October 13, 2016, 10:02:10 PM
Looks like it went through!
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on October 14, 2016, 12:00:23 AM
Yep, worked great! Thanks for the patience LOL
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: BCA on November 08, 2016, 05:23:03 PM
The site is looking great Eric.
Still probably the most informative and easy to use site dedicated to a single model from the 80's.  :headbang:
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on November 10, 2016, 01:39:39 PM
Thanks Brent. :) I just redid AeroCats also: http://www.aerocats.net

So yeah...after 25 years, I'm still in love with these cars. Don't have the time to collect, fix, and drive them anymore, but my heart will always be with them.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: JeremyB on November 10, 2016, 03:51:18 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457785
So yeah...after 25 years, I'm still in love with these cars. Don't have the time to collect, fix, and drive them anymore, but my heart will always be with them.

How often/much do you drive the '84 GS and '86 Convertible?
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: BCA on November 10, 2016, 05:49:41 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;457785
Thanks Brent. :) I just redid AeroCats also: http://www.aerocats.net

So yeah...after 25 years, I'm still in love with these cars. Don't have the time to collect, fix, and drive them anymore, but my heart will always be with them.

Looks good too and it’s nice to see a decent site for the MN12 series cars as well.

I was working at the FLM dealer back in 1989 and I was in love with the SC/XR-7. I was saving every penny and doing everything I could to try and figure out how I was going sell my ’85 and order a Bright Red XR-7 with a manual transmission. By the time that I came close to being able to afford it, they had dropped the SC engine and manual trans for the XR-7 so I lost interest.

I still have a soft spot for the Bright Red '89-'90 XR-7's, but in hindsight, I’m so glad that I never went through with it as I don’t think the MN12 styling has aged very well in my eyes. The slab sidedness of the car bothered me a little back then, but it really bothers me a lot more today. I know I am a bit biased, but overall the MN12 cars just don’t have as much character in their styling that my ’85 has.
Title: COOL CATS Update
Post by: EricCoolCats on November 10, 2016, 11:00:55 PM
Quote from: JeremyB;457790
How often/much do you drive the '84 GS and '86 Convertible?

Not very much. Let's put it this way: I fill up each car's fuel tank once a year, on average. Local shows and cruises, that's about it for me anymore. Our roads are pretty punishing here also, which makes me want to drive less.


Quote from: BCA
I was working at the FLM dealer back in 1989 and I was in love with the SC/XR-7. I was saving every penny and doing everything I could to try and figure out how I was going sell my ’85 and order a Bright Red XR-7 with a manual transmission. By the time that I came close to being able to afford it, they had dropped the SC engine and manual trans for the XR-7 so I lost interest.

I still have a soft spot for the Bright Red '89-'90 XR-7's, but in hindsight, I’m so glad that I never went through with it as I don’t think the MN12 styling has aged very well in my eyes. The slab sidedness of the car bothered me a little back then, but it really bothers me a lot more today. I know I am a bit biased, but overall the MN12 cars just don’t have as much character in their styling that my ’85 has.


I hear you man. When I got my first car in '87 it was at the end of that model year (June). My parents thankfully bought the extended warranty for the '84 and we ended up having to use it quite a bit (turns out we had a bad EEC processor, but not before replacing a LOT of parts first). So I was always at the dealership, which I did not mind one bit. I remember a new '88 dark Blue Max Cougar sitting on the showroom floor, the sun coming in through the window and hitting that paint just right. My mom didn't care for the back window on the 1987-88 cars and preferred the flat 1983-86 style, and at first I thought she was right, but after seeing that Max I was just in love. It was always the Fox love first.

So throughout 1987 and 1988 I made almost monthly trips to the dealership until they finally got the '84 straightened out. I remember seeing the 1989s there for the first time. There was disappointment on my face with the squared-off side window. That was unexpected...I know it was for more visibility and honestly, it does fit the car well but I was so used to that triangle. And yeah, the slab-sided styling was very 1990s but you could see where it was coming from with the Taurus/Sable. It was fresh and different and not unattractive. Once Autoweek started publishing photos and articles with the IMSA Cougar, that just cemented my admiration for the car. But that's just it: I have always had admiration for that body style...but never had the urge to own one. It just seems like more maintenance, more things to break, more issues that require taking it to a shop or dealership to repair instead of me repairing the car in my garage with basic tools. I never caught the MN12 bug in full, just on the surface. I never get tired of Foxes, ever. But I still appreciate the MN12 cars for what they were, and actually have more information on them as opposed to Foxes. It's a constant balance for me.

Just wish I could go back 30 years and start again. What wonderful times...