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Topic: Serious Thoughts.... (Read 1261 times) previous topic - next topic

Serious Thoughts....

I was thinking in my old posts. Every week i was posting about how to fix my car for this, for that, what is this, etc etc. Some of us may be thinking "his car is a completely , every week he has a different problem" . And since my cougar is broken, i didnt do anything to it. The only thing that i did the day after that incident was remove my old audio system and put all at the F-150. I´ll left that in this truck, since my father was very good with me, avoiding me from big fines and giving me good advices. Well, i only work now with the explorer and the F-150, but hey, there is not much to  do with those trucks, all are Ok, are well maintained and no modifications cant be done "by hand", like my old cougar. There was some issues with both trucks, but i solved nearly all of them (only left the sunroof problem at the X, still dont open completely, requires some time...) but is not the same thing.

    Well, im here thinking in some questions. Can i spend money again  in a 20 years old car ? Its worth to get again to the road a beater ? my car is a beater ! the windows can be open by hand, no A/C, minimal factory equipment, rust ath both fenders, some at the bottom of the doors, some at the rear fender.....rust rust. Maybe at the image the cougar looks great and shiny, but is only for me, for others is a 20 years old car, but i appreciate the super good-looking  besides any car....

Should my Cougar Be saved ? im not sure....
1985 Mercury Cougar V6
1989 F-200 V8
1996 Explorer V6
2001 F-150

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #1
dosent the cougar make you smile? My freinds all go through cars like I go through computers. First hicup it gives them they get a new one. You will have problems with other cars.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #2
How common are Cougars in Mexico? If you've got the only one around then you're driving something unique. If they're everywhere then don't sweat it - try out some other cars and see what you like. If Cougars are common you can always find another one...

I'm still having trouble with the concept of rust in a tropical environment. You wanna see rust? Come to Nova Scotia ;)
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #3
It all really depends on what the car means to you, not what its worth in dollar signs

Both my birds are very important to me, i have a lot more emotion wrapped up in them than anything, and just because of that, im willing to put all kinds of work into them, even if its more work than what the cars worth

i mean hell, my 3.8L car only Blue Books 350 bucks private party, does it matter to me? not at all
It's Gumby's fault.

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #4
this was my 85 when i first got it sitting in a junkyard,  Now after alot of work and actually very little money here is is now.  It can be salvaged just depends on how much you want it.  everything you described is easy to fix, except the rust but it is fixable, post some pics let us see.

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #5
yea when i got mine out of a juckyard for 500 bucks it looked a lil better then tbird85's 85 but it had a blown main. but where i live there is maybe 5 of them that i see and they are all beaters. different color fenders rust everywhere. so i keep it becuase its really unique. also becuase i love tbirds, this is the car that i have wanted sense i was about 8. now its ran like  i had to much alot of money and time into it. but its starting to get there and when im at a red light i look around and i see nothing even close to it.

if you still look at it like man i wish i could drive it and you really love the car for what it is not the beater or the 20 year old car your friends see, then i say keep it. if you think blah i would like somthing different, let it go.

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #6
If the car has no personal value and you are tired of spending money on it, get rid of it.

If the car means something great to you no matter how old or rusty, to an extent, you won't mind putting money into it to fix.

If you can get away with driving the trucks and keeping the cougar, go ahead and do that. I was able to solve nearly all my problems with my cougar once I stopped driving it every day. Since February, when I stopped driving it, I have gotten to the point where it now runs better than it did when I first got it. Now the car is a lot of fun as opposed to that 17 year old car that keeps taking my money.

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #7
I Really Appreciate All Your Comments....Thanks Guys !

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dosent the cougar make you smile?

Yes, very much. Even at times i stayed looking at my car only for fun for 20 or more minutes....

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How common are Cougars in Mexico? If you've got the only one around then you're driving something unique.

Well, they aren´t common to the day. There are some, but in poor condition, relatively, mine and maybe other at the city were in decent shape. And for Driving something unique, its absolutely a fact. When i was living with my parents, we were living at a uncommon side of the city, and i left the Cougar parked at the driveaway. Some of my friends, from ANOTHER STATES that didnt know even where i live, found my house...."How did you found my house ? .....I simply saw your Cougar from far...." and that feeling was Super Nice...

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i have a lot more emotion wrapped up in them than anything, and just because of that, im willing to put all kinds of work into them, even if its more work than what the cars worth

And i feel the same for my car. Every week a different work or mod in the car. And yes, its my first car, and my Brother , My Father and I decided to get again to the road that  without engine and pant it red....

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It can be salvaged just depends on how much you want it.

This is my main problem...

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if you still look at it like man i wish i could drive it and you really love the car for what it is not the beater or the 20 year old car your friends see, then i say keep it. if you think blah i would like somthing different, let it go.

I Hear from the people, mmm, 22  years old or less, they say "why do you drive such ? the THUNDERBIRDS are gone.."
And when its from people from 25 or more , they say "Nice Car, I like your Cougar, what model is it ?

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If the car has no personal value and you are tired of spending money on it, get rid of it.
If the car means something great to you no matter how old or rusty, to an extent, you won't mind putting money into it to fix.

Totally agree about the personal value.
Spending money, well, like many of us, i´ve also spent 2 or more times more money than the car value without complaining. Sometimes when i only had 5 bucks or less, all of them have to go in gas only to take a Ride in the old car, what the hell, tomorrow will be another day...but like many of us again, im a student and putting money fixing a car ,at least will take some time to get all the parts...



Well Guys, sorry for the Long Post, but i appreciate really all your comments. Thanks. I´m Going to fix the Cougar. It´ll take some time, but i also have this enormous source of Information. Thank you guys....
1985 Mercury Cougar V6
1989 F-200 V8
1996 Explorer V6
2001 F-150

 

Serious Thoughts....

Reply #8
I'm sure ill post for everyone here, anything we can do to help just ask.  My car has been a work in prgress for 3 years now, I just dumped another 3.5K in the motor and still havent started the interior, Im like you and most people on a budget,Wife going to school a 2 year old daughter,  I do have priorites, but it will come along and when your finally done.  You can pat yourself on the back and know YOU did it, as you drive it up to the rally in Ohio to show off your work..