1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 - Test Drive

This is a test drive of the 1978 Mercury Cougar XR7 Hardtop with 35,100 miles on the odometer at time of test drive. Low-mileage Cougar runs like a brand new car.

[@autoshotty]

My first car and still own it today. I swapped out the 351m with a street performance 10:1 comp. 460 with a 3.50:1 nine inch posi.from a donor 76' Lincoln mark X. She is a well mannered fun to drive surprisingly quick car with 30K on the clock.

[@SVDenjoyer]

finally, a video of someone driving one of these

[@curt3990]

Love that car!!! My dad had 1 when I was younger and I remember falling asleep and not woken up until we would get home. None the less that car is amazing! I wish I had it!

[@gojoe2833]

I remember driving a 1978 cougar 4 door from Central Massachusetts to New York city. This was in 1980, the car was extremely comfortable and luxurious. But then I drove a 1977 Model of the same car, a base model. That one handled like the steering wheel wasn't connected to the front wheels, it was obviously in need of front end work. This video brought back memories, thanks!

[@ChadQuick270W]

Awesome car there! That’s how cars should be today. I like that long hood and the good ornament out front. I had a ‘77 Thunderbird with the 351W. It was a good car that lasted me a long time. Nice to see the factory gage package on there as well as A/C that still uses R-12. That makes some really cold air. Super video 👍

[@chev500l8]

20 years ago I had one with a 351-M, used to surprise a couple of unsuspecting people with it.

[@Rottingboards]

I had the maroon with white quarter top, sunroof, electric everything, even electric antenna, Drove so smooth!!

[@rgrndu]

My first car was a grey 78 Cougar with the 302 (?) I bought used in the early 80’s. It was ok as long as the a/c was off but needed a push up hill when the a/c was on.

[@kathyguinto4585]

This is really one beautiful car!.JMG

[@roncook4781]

Sharp looking car!

[@kathyguinto4585]

I must say this car runs good as it looks.John M Guinto

[@Bi6HusodaO6]

I just found one I want to buy hopefully I can work a deal with the seller it’s beautiful with only 100,000 miles on it 351 Windsor

[@sugarjohnson7402]

Ha ha..my second car...got it used for like $800. It was a great big ol car. It wasn't uber quick but if you gave them some distance you could hit 110 -120mph.

[@davejohnson3860]

Very nice! And clean!

[@thsarethbreaks]

My cousin had one of these with a 302. He would drive it so fast that it had a 85 mph speedometer,but the needle on the speedometer would wrap all the way around to 20 mph.

[@lukewarmwater6412]

its been sitting. the carb is empty, you will have to crank it over for a while. when it is cold, your technique works fine, except you must not try to move the car or touch the gas pedal at all untill it is warm enough.it does not have a windsor, it has a 351-m and that puts about 95 horse power to the rear tires. the car gets 17 mpg going down hills. 14mpg everywhere else. it will do 80mph on the freeway for months at a time if you can keep fuel in it. proper warm idle is 850 rpm.... the clock works for around 1200 miles if you got it(the car) from the dealership.

[@jmarcp8916]

Cette voiture est magnifique à l'intérieur comme à l'extérieur.

[@jrquidi2572]

Phoenix baby 🤘

[@milmex317th]

My 1st car bought in Seaside California (us army) Ship to Germany from south Carolina in Germany a big old Mercedes slid down a snow covered hill. Smashed the whole drivers side had to junk it but not before I took out the 357 Windsor and whole drive train sold it to a Germany guy. I don't know what his plans were but got the motor transmission drivetrain axles front and rear plus the Tires and wheels. It was burgundy inside and out.

[@calvincrews3885]

I can’t choose between the Mercury Cougar & Ford Thunderbird even though it’s not mentioned and they’re different but similar

[@vinyprogames2]

Nice

[@tstahler5420]

7 years late. You need to rebuild the carb. If it's using a VV carb, you should replace it. I'd go with a bolt on injection kit.

[@jamestravis1037]

Whatever happened to the car? Did you sell it! I had a 78 Thunderbird..basically the same car....Loved it..

[@kmungerma]

Same here, loved it!

[@pedrocavazos7429]

Awesome car would you sell it if you do how much

[@edevanko160]

Sharp car

[@chev500l8]

Same color as yours, but with black pinstripes.

[@reparacion_movil_sanchez]

I have one of those, Iwish restore it like brand new

[@lucasvanvondel7347]

How is the quality of that type of cars? And are there some Parts left to buy when someting breaks down? I live in Europe maybe there are no parts?

[@sugarjohnson7402]

Quality is typical late 70s American cars. It wasn't horrible. Just heavy and oversized and a bit under powered. Not sure about parts. I would think they are somewhat hard to find major parts but things like breaks, ext. should be fairly easy.

[@falconater68]

2.75 gears will have that effect.

[@billkrause4585]

Ship it to me...

[@ct9827]

My first car not super fast it will hit 120 mph trust me cubic inches rule.

[@sugarjohnson7402]

Ha ha..yep. Mine had the 351W with FMX tranny. Highway gearing. It could move.

[@new2000car]

Factoring in that this was an old school design even when new (overweight, bad gas mileage, poor handling, terrible, slow steering ratio-4 or 5 turns lock to lock)...I can accept all these characteristics because it was reliable in its day, and affordable. What I found unacceptable was the terrible real world braking of these. In panic braking, these things just kept sliding along, not stopping very good at all, even with good tires, or even today's tires.

[@new2000car]

anti-lock brakes would have helped, but it would still be bad.

[@davealderdice3727]

Do you know what you are talking about , you have no clue how to start a car that has sat for awhile

[@davidkoon767]

NO HP

[@gregorgman]

is there no interior on this car? Stupid video. Sorry to be so crass.