Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver? (Read 2812 times) previous topic - next topic

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #15 –
I'm DD my 84 turbo coupe. Like areobird said about 30mpg on the highway. I've been driving it for 2yrs as daily driver. No problems I did go through the whole car basiclly. But fox parts are cheap anyhow. I say go for it.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #16 –
Quote
Its moon light blue with grey interior. I was told it was the rarest color becasue it was only used in 96-97 and very few got that color. But I can't find any numbers to confirm that.

I haven't found any info on color breakdowns and the MN12 cars, but I do know that color...it's sharp. If I were to guess, though, the 1997 color Arctic Green Metallic Clearcoat (code D8) was probably the rarest as it had a very late availability (second half of the '97 model year) right before the car went out of production, and also because there were also two other greens that model year so this one just snuck in at the very end. Another uncommon color was the 1993-only Sunrise Red Metallic Clearcoat (code FC), again with late availability. It's a pearlescent red that flips to pink...very cool effect.

Moonlight Blue is stunning though...hang onto that one.

(Sorry about the hijack!)

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #17 –
buy a pos escort or something to beat on! Matter of fact come to RI buy mine 550 bucks TAKE IT AWAY. my mom said the lincoln or the escort IM KEEPING THE LINCOLN!
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #18 –
Rent a trailer and make a trip about 3 hours south. I have a 92 Tempo that needs an engine. It has a short throw shifter and 3 sets of rims that come with it.

PM me if you are interested.

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #19 –
I don't own a car I don't mind driving in the winter. I have an emotional attachment to my sport even though it's rotting away (6 years and counting... my first car) My  near mint turbo coupe, my 79 ranchero (slow as hell but just  cool) and my 84 SVO. The SVO is probably the one I care about the least as weird as that may sound...

The sport is the most driven with the ranchero in 2nd and the other 2 inside. The SVO needs to be finished and the t/c I wanna do up right and it's already been on fire once...

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #20 –
I used my 88 v6 one daily til the engine puked in minus 20 degree weather this year. Put some 50,000 miles on it the last 2 years. The winters have been harsh, and the amount of work needed to get it looking good again is extensive.  I regret it.  IMO, get the older Nissan pickup, like Aerobird Mot. said.  My dad had one for years.  Either that, or something good on gas, as prices are skying again.
1987 TC

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #21 –
, I put about 5,000 miles on in 16 months on my DD Cougar...
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #22 –
Hmm I'm getting mixed signals here. I'm not liking the idea of killing a FOX car with the ammount of salt we get here (slamedcat and I have the same winter salt problem). I've always liked two door coupes so I'm starting to lean toward a MN-12 T-bird or Cougar. It'll probably be a 4.6 car if possible. I'm not too concerned about gas milage as my daily commute is only 2 miles total. I actually only drive about 75 miles a week, most of it on the weekends. I've got about 5 months to figure out what to get though. Any one have any experience with MN-12 cars? Or should I just go all out and get a Crown Vic? :hick:
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #23 –
I've had my MN12 since October. The only recalls I found were for the door latch. The door would pop open if you didn't get it closed all the way and put pressure on it and the climate control blower motor would act up and it would either turn on high all the time or not come on at all.

I've grown to like the car it handles great. Plus you can get drop springs for them still unlike the fox.

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #24 –
A few years ago I was minutes away from buying a beat up, but in good-running-condition V6 '88 Cougar for $200 and I didn't do it.  I wished I had because I wouldn't have to worry about rusting out & the chance of wrecking it in winter like I do with this Neon (which is still a few million payments from being mine.)

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #25 –
i didnt read all of the posts but i put mine through hell daily... not quite daily driving, more like daily beating.  i've learned how to beat those similarly hp/wt cars that rev pasy 55 grand, hit second sooner and make sure to get in 3rd.  but really most of my driving is done on back roads just about wide open, i hit one deer, had at least 20 in my sights.  i dunno why but this car is so much fun to drive, so predictble (been driving it for years now) that i dunno if any other car other than a BETTER one, dunno if there is one i can think of any, that i'd drive.  but daily driving has its benefits and its losses.  my ac's gone and i have a sunroof.  i dunno about other guys but the electronics are tearing holes in headliner from it flapping like a flag (all sides and corners are taught, but it still sags a bit)  had to rebuild the s/r switch, back when my thermostat was screwed and all i could do is keep it out of the idling process with a switch under the dash,  i had to let it warm up and swich it over b/c once the thing was warm the thermo worked.  but i've sense replaced that.  dust gets everywhere.  mainly on my digi cluster and around the front of the steering wheel.  other than that everything stays sharp if you dont let people smoke in the back or throw trash around.  i'm paring up for 150,000 and i got the car with 94,000 miles.  i realize everytime im on the phone, im driving 85mph and honestly im driving those backroads blind folded or at least with only my periferial vision.  the cars just that good.  its not bad on gas unless you play, even with a 5.0 in it.  but the filling stations make things a bit harder.  i've put more than 1000 miles since the trans blew and was fixed and now its grabby... what can you expect?  but make sure your oil consumption is on par b/c too low and the car feels like it has no life.  i checked mine last wed, oil light came on it was about half full. my dad put oil in it and ddint tell me, so i had to stop and get new oil b/c the dipstick was dry yesterday, soon as it had enough oil, i could feel the car through my back again so oil on a daily is very important for fords.

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #26 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;140436
My heart sinks every time I see a Fox car out in the winter now. Good replacement parts (fenders, hoods, bumpers, lights, etc.) are getting pretty scarce in a lot of parts. As much as I love these cars, my tone has changed and I'm now advocating that people get themselves a different daily driver, and keep the Foxes in winter storage, if at all possible. Or, if you can find a Fox that's pretty beat up already, at least you won't have a lot of guilt. I quit driving a Fox daily about a year and a half ago, and haven't looked back...I miss driving one daily, but if something happens to the truck, I won't be nearly as upset. I guess it all depends on your level of attachment to the car, and also where you live. Do the best you can with the situation you're presented.


Trust me, I'd have a DD beater/winter car if I had the money and means to do so.  I cant stand driving my Tbird in any salt at all, or seeing it get dirty in any way.  So far, though, no harm done.  As for attatchment, lets just say I plan on hanging onto this for for as long as I possibly can...hopefully many many many many many years if not more.

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #27 –
I should add.  I drive my Cougar as a daily, but It hasn't been on a snowy road in 4 years......Rain and freezing cold? Yes. Snow and salt? No for snow and they don't really salt here too often anymore.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Fox T-bird/Cougar as a daily driver?

Reply #28 –
Layla's driven snow, sleet, hail, biblical rain, 120* heat, just about everything. I have a cool pic of ice stalactites forming from the hoodscoops after driving in winter of 05. But we don't salt up here ;)