I spend to much time reading through social media. I try to read every post here and I also read through a ton of the Cougar groups on Fakebook. A few of the old times with recall the old list serve bulletin board and The Classic Cougar Network (TCCN) and the web ring of independent Cougar sites followed by Mercury Cougar. Net while it was independently owned. We have seen a lot of changes. Even this site has seen big changes when Photobucket destroyed so much content and then the change to the current software package. Today its AI powered bad actors that can answer any Cougar based question and know all the rules. But that is not what concerns me.
These cars are puzzles. With lots of broken and missing pieces. We are absolutely blessed that WCCC has such a comprehensive web site. Don has worked for the past 20 years trying to list every part regardless of whether he ever had one to sell. So we have that going for us. If Don didnāt have the part then we had eBay and Craigslist to search. A few years ago a few Cougar parts started to show up on Fakebook market place.
But things have changed. It seems the vast majority of ads on FB are scams. Scammers find a picture on the web and then āsellā the same part several times. Very little is listed on Craigs list. I guess even the smallest fee is too much. And eBay has rendered search unusable. They allow the use of unrelated terms in the ads so you end up with about 90% junk in the return. I know how to use boolean search tools but enough people do not that they are discouraged and no longer search there. Even on this site we have to insist on pictures price and location to slow down scams. If you have been here a long time you may recall Cougar Swap Meet. It was our failed attempt to create an eBay substitute that was taken over by malicious bots. Do you folks see a solution developing any where out there?
I know Iāve become more diligent when buying anything online. I try to keep on the trusted sites / vendors, and hesitate on using eBay for any major purchases. I know the theft / reuse of pictures can be a problem and seems to be an issue being actively worked on due to AIā¦.how do we trust what pics are real anyone or attirbuted to someone.
Although Facebook does serve a market, I still prefer forums such as this when trying to find solutions to problems or āHow Tos.ā However, itās a shame when those forums are shutdown and all of that history is lost and difficult to replicate due to loss of those individuals.
Iām somewhat more concerned with the state of the hobby and how much longer it will last. I know some aspects will remain, while others are disappearingā¦i.e. the social side for example. I guess some of that is due to all of the other things competing for oneās time.
As I went through the process of selling a newer Mustang and going old school with a Cougar, my wife asked me what our son would prefer (i.e. the old vs new car) for when we eventually pass (hopefully a long time). Although my son said pick whatever makes me happy, I knew he would prefer the newer Mustang. That just means I need to get him more involved as I enjoy the Cougar Iām obtaining, and teaching him how to drive a stick
On the positive, I know Iām going to try and attend major shows over the next few year (MCACN in 2026; Ford Carlisle in 2027) to meet others.
Could be frightening all the way around; especially in light of āAIā - aptly named āartificialā. I come through it relatively unscathed because of my reclusive nature, but everything makes me shake my head. Itās quite difficult to maintain a positive outlook when viewing a septic tank. I stopped (selling) on EBay as soon as they required my bank account to do it, and I donāt feel like opening another account for their sake; FB bores me within three posts, and I seldom enter anything myself. My hope is that I am totally off base and something miraculous is going to make all the malicious benevolent! Thanks for the divergence; back under my rock.
Multiple good topics here. Three core issues that come to mind are:
Preservation of Knowledge
Sources of Quality Materials
Relearning Independence
1-The cliche āRTFMā applies now more than ever. Everyone should have shop manuals, Chiltonās/Haynes/Etc derivative manuals, How to Rebuild for every type of engine (Thank you Tom Monroe) hot rodder books, etc. We are returning to the age where you have to obtain information from a physical source, and the days of being able to āGoogleā something and get a remotely trustworthy answer are over. OVER (for unnecessarily dramatic emphasis).
2- This one is really hard. I have my fellow old goats on this forum to rely on for advice on what parts work and what donāt, but we all have an expiration date, so it is a temporary and diminishing database. The fact that trusted names in parts production are now owned and manufactured by businesses that bought into the automotive performance parts business and not the original makers who actually understood and used these parts is not going to get fixed any time soon.
3- The Cougar hobbyist of the future is going to have to be as, or more willing to take risks, try, fail, retry, failā¦than the early folks who were first fiddling around with these cars when they were new. They will also have to embrace fabrication methods, and I think this is one place where new technology may help, since a clever fellow with time and some cash can 3D print parts on top of grind, weld, cast his own.
I read through the posts on this site every night before heading to bed. Obviously, some subjects are of more interest to me than others, but I do scan through them all.
I am a āmemberā of a bunch of the Mercury Cougar Facebook pages, but they get very little of my attention, other than the original post, as many of the replies have incorrect information, or just useless commentary. Trying to correct the posts is just a waste of time, for the most part. I will also spend some time on Facebook Marketplace, but not looking for Cougar stuff, I already know where to find Cougar partsā¦ WCCC, or members of this forum. I also feel a lot more comfortable dealing with the members of this forum, as, chances are, someone else that I already know probably knows them, or knows somebody else, on here, that does. I responded to a Facebook post where the poster was looking for, among other things, a complete tilt-away steering column. I chimed in to say that I have a fully restored/rebuilt column including new wiring harness, vacuum hoses, rebuilt switches, activators, etc. When he responded he wanted pictures, which I supplied, and my asking price. His response to my price was, āWow, pretty steepā. I didnāt respond to that, but thought to myself, if you think that is expensive check out the WCCC web site and you will pay what I want all day long. He was also retiscent to pay for it without using some sort of escrow service, so I sent him the info on a few, but havenāt heard back. I get it, he probably doesnāt know me, and I donāt know him, but on this forum you could easily ask any number of the movers and shakers of the Cougar community that are on here and find out that I am a stand up guy that is not going to send you something that is not as described, or take your money without providing you with exactly what you have paid for. You really canāt get that on Facebook.
Another great advantage is belonging to a local Cougar club, the CCOA, or another local car club, if you donāt have a Cougar club around.
Although I havenāt been on this Forum all that long I find it interesting, and commendable, the degree of trust on this site. I donāt see myself entering into a sight-unseen exchange on FB, but I have done it here on more than one occasion without trepidation. I āfeelā bonded in a strange sort of way. Appreciate you guys, and the forum.
Engagement comes from content. Regardless of the poor quality the Facebook pages produce content. Thatās why they work. The same with eBay. Most of whatās there is either junk or overpriced or both. Most of the buyers are only guys looking get something for nothing. But thereās a lot of them.
A solution has to have content. I love this site but there isnāt enough content on here. The only real engagement Iāve seen since Iāve been back on here is everyone arguing about what a stupid idea cats on a classic Cougar is. I donāt think Iāve seen Don Rush make a single post since Iāve been back. I see him on the Facebook pages. Because thereās content there.
Just my observations, I donāt have the answers.
I would say that at least a third and maybe half of the so called Cougar sites on FB were created by people who have never seen an actual Cougar. They are engagement farms created by Digital Creators that are just trying to generate followers that they can monetize. You will see that they post pictures many times with no comment just to get responses. Or they will post pictures asking for suggestions about modifications. They almost never participate in the discussion with more that one word responses. AI will make those responses more complex. When you see a post on FB in a Cougar group click on the name of the poster then start digging. Look at their profile.
AI is the death of humanity. I see myself tapering off of internet as time goes on. It wonāt be long before AI generated videos are indistinguishable from reality. Itās disgusting and frightening that you wonāt be able to tell what is real and what isnāt.
This is the best you will ever see. Don is planning to retire and it looks like WCCC has a new owner. Cougar values are at a peak - I donāt expect that to last much longer. eBay will be further adulterated in the future - you know it will. Be glad that we are living in the best times.
I agree with you on need for content. I enjoy the āhow toāsā and the project carsā¦especially those original restorations as it gives me a better idea in how they were originally put together. A lot of questions / comments could probably be addressed in accurate ā how toāsā, but that would take a lot of time to organize.
Iām surprised Don Rush doesnāt have more of a presence here, but happy he has the video content from his business. I have to assume some of the āgrey beardsā in this hobby may be tired of posting the same thing, or getting drawn into some conversations.
For at least the past year Don has been actively moving towards retirement. I believe he has cut back to three days a week. Don has poured his life into building the business and the hobby I wish him the best what ever that may be.
This is all very true but the point is itās effective. If you want a solution to compete with that you canāt simply dismiss it because of what it is. Guarantee the vast majority of people liking or replying to that post think itās some guy posting about his Cougar.
If this is true I donāt know why the new owner isnāt engaging with members of the community. If it were me thatās one of the first things I would do.
Oh I donāt know Royce, buying a Cougar for a tenth of the price at age 16, searching/scraping cash together to buy parts (also at a fraction), and going to Cougar club meetings with ample beer, pizza and shop talkā¦ those days were pretty good
Nothing against the forum of course - completely addicted.
