I took my shifter boot off when people started reporting the issue with the 2000 models. My shifter looked like the one that TommySVT posted earlier. Didn't really examine it well though. Were the metal shifter assemblies also painted black? Perhaps I should check again.

Those pictures were taken from the 2000 Ford Service Manual - the same pictures are used for Contiques and Cougars. So the picture above is of the metal tower?Weird.