Owning a Ford Puma today..
Discussion
It's one of those idle ideas based around the fact we've had so much fun this summer with our MGF we think there may be room in our life for a third car for a bit of all weather weekend fun for when the seasons turn.
Something small and not very expensive having splashed out 40K on our new car.
My wife used to have a Puma when I first met her. Apart from my spilling fish and chips over its interior on a date and subsequently cleaning it out and waxing it as a sorry I had little to do with it.
She loved the car and I've heard others praising them.
The one she had when we first met was fairly new and I understand they all rust, now.
So, bearing in mind I'm used to prejudice about cars and their faults having owned a lot of K and KV6 MGs, what's the deal with owning a Puma today?
The only one I really like is that blue special edition Puma Racing though I guess a couple of grand won't get me one. The model my wife had was the 1.7 and I recall it was quite sprightly.
So would one do as a winter weekend toy? I'm not necessarily after break neck performance. More something fun that I can chuck round country lanes in Northumberland.
I'm not a badge snob - clearly :-) I do like an old Ford, but sadly I am snobby about chavvy Supermarket car park at night type cars. Besides as a fat (well built) 45 year old bearded man I have a tiny bit of dignity left.
So tell me about the Puma or something else for no more than £2,000 please.
The K series doesn't scare me. I've had 6 over the last 21 years and never yet had HGF. Piss poor build quality isn't a deal breaker either. What's an MG ZR 160 like? I briefly had a brand new Rover 216 Bubble in 1996 and I liked it.
I suppose a 205 GTI or a Clio Cup would be out of the question?
Something small and not very expensive having splashed out 40K on our new car.
My wife used to have a Puma when I first met her. Apart from my spilling fish and chips over its interior on a date and subsequently cleaning it out and waxing it as a sorry I had little to do with it.
She loved the car and I've heard others praising them.
The one she had when we first met was fairly new and I understand they all rust, now.
So, bearing in mind I'm used to prejudice about cars and their faults having owned a lot of K and KV6 MGs, what's the deal with owning a Puma today?
The only one I really like is that blue special edition Puma Racing though I guess a couple of grand won't get me one. The model my wife had was the 1.7 and I recall it was quite sprightly.
So would one do as a winter weekend toy? I'm not necessarily after break neck performance. More something fun that I can chuck round country lanes in Northumberland.
I'm not a badge snob - clearly :-) I do like an old Ford, but sadly I am snobby about chavvy Supermarket car park at night type cars. Besides as a fat (well built) 45 year old bearded man I have a tiny bit of dignity left.
So tell me about the Puma or something else for no more than £2,000 please.
The K series doesn't scare me. I've had 6 over the last 21 years and never yet had HGF. Piss poor build quality isn't a deal breaker either. What's an MG ZR 160 like? I briefly had a brand new Rover 216 Bubble in 1996 and I liked it.
I suppose a 205 GTI or a Clio Cup would be out of the question?
Seeing as you mentioned the K series...
I had an MG ZS 120+, one of the last ones ever made I think. It handled like nothing else, it was absolutely fantastic to drive even though it wasn't powerful. So good in fact that I'm thinking about another - but perhaps with the more reliable v6 engine. Even changing lanes on the motorway was fun in that car, and that's one of the most boring parts of driving!
Mine blew up on the motorway after two weeks of ownership but the head gasket had been done not long before I bought it and they probably didn't do a very good job - I know of plenty of these that haven't been ticking time bombs and serve their owners well.
I had an MG ZS 120+, one of the last ones ever made I think. It handled like nothing else, it was absolutely fantastic to drive even though it wasn't powerful. So good in fact that I'm thinking about another - but perhaps with the more reliable v6 engine. Even changing lanes on the motorway was fun in that car, and that's one of the most boring parts of driving!
Mine blew up on the motorway after two weeks of ownership but the head gasket had been done not long before I bought it and they probably didn't do a very good job - I know of plenty of these that haven't been ticking time bombs and serve their owners well.
I had a 2000 Puma for 4.5 years which I sold about a year ago. Biggest expenses were new backbox (rust) and cam belt shortly after purchasing, and clutch was going towards the end, but that's all par for the course eh. Only other issue I had was a leaky cam cover gasket, bout £30 and a couple of hours work. Big killer is always rusty rear arches. Lovd mine, have been tempted with the idea of a Racing Puma since
Ghost91 said:
Seeing as you mentioned the K series...
I had an MG ZS 120+, one of the last ones ever made I think. It handled like nothing else, it was absolutely fantastic to drive even though it wasn't powerful. So good in fact that I'm thinking about another - but perhaps with the more reliable v6 engine. Even changing lanes on the motorway was fun in that car, and that's one of the most boring parts of driving!
Mine blew up on the motorway after two weeks of ownership but the head gasket had been done not long before I bought it and they probably didn't do a very good job - I know of plenty of these that haven't been ticking time bombs and serve their owners well.
My MGF has the 120 engine. It blew up on the motorway earlier this month. Lots of steam. Quite spectacular. I feared the worst but it was a busted hose. The HG was fine. I had an MG ZS 120+, one of the last ones ever made I think. It handled like nothing else, it was absolutely fantastic to drive even though it wasn't powerful. So good in fact that I'm thinking about another - but perhaps with the more reliable v6 engine. Even changing lanes on the motorway was fun in that car, and that's one of the most boring parts of driving!
Mine blew up on the motorway after two weeks of ownership but the head gasket had been done not long before I bought it and they probably didn't do a very good job - I know of plenty of these that haven't been ticking time bombs and serve their owners well.
I do like the idea of a ZR 160 but perhaps a 120 would be fun. I've been told I can't have a BRM by my wife because they look stupid apparently.
Would it be a fair comparison Puma Vs MGZR?
My wife used to own one and it was great to drive and the gear change was fantastic iirc
The thing I hated was the seats as they have very narrow back rests; I always felt I was perched on the seat rather than being sat 'in' the seat. Great looks - I reckon if it was just released today it would still look fresh
Every one I see on the road these days are rusty
The thing I hated was the seats as they have very narrow back rests; I always felt I was perched on the seat rather than being sat 'in' the seat. Great looks - I reckon if it was just released today it would still look fresh
Every one I see on the road these days are rusty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
carinaman said:
Possibly not as much fun as the Puma, but what about a KV6 ZS180?
Sadly it would by "our" toy. I raised the possibility of this but she doesn't like them. A shame as again the Rover 216 or 218 I remember from 20 years ago was great. A mate had the Honda version and he loved thatloskie said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
I enjoyed those, thanks/I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
lel said:
I use my puma daily and I wouldn't get rid of it for anything.
Yes you may find something faster and more exotic in your budget but I don't think you can beat the puma for having fun.
This, I also use my puma daily its a cheap and good fun car, great around the b roads nice and nippy with good handling . Only main issue is the rear arches rusting mine have just started. Other issue which may be a personal thing is that the seats are not the most comfortable on a 200mile + journey.Yes you may find something faster and more exotic in your budget but I don't think you can beat the puma for having fun.
loskie said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
£14500 in 1997 = £23000 today!I've always remembered this episode of Top Gear was pretty amazing in its day.
DO IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_lG4GZNsM
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