RE: SOTW: Ford Puma 1.7
Discussion
Papa Hotel said:
10 Pence Short said:
Papa Hotel said:
10 Pence Short said:
Great little cars. Not sure the 1.7 is quite as reliable as it should be, though.
Heard many horror stories? I haven't.Certainly not unique in that it happens to lots of manufacturers, but so be it. I just wouldn't use engine reliability as a selling point of the 1.7.
Still a good car and still running with a replacement engine, though.
The bushes/springs/shocks are now knackered at 120,000 odd miles but then that's just life with a car of that age and mileage.
I looked at lots of these for my wife 18 months ago, (although our budget was more then twice SOTW's).
They were all rusty (in not always obvious ways), a bit too small inside, and with terrible interiors. This was such a shame, because I love the look, they are meant to be such fun to drive, and I was enjoying the idea of borrowing it now and then!
In the end we bought her an Alfa 147 (I realise I am biased) for the same money. The 147 was light years ahead in terms of just about everything (and no, it has never once gone wrong). I still might consider a Puma if the right one appeared, though.
I mean, this little Ford has "future classic" written all over it if original and rust free, surely?
BTW - I ran a MX3 V6 (which as noted is similar) for a few years a long time ago. Amazing little drive, but very silly fuel consumption for the engine size and the parts were very very expensive indeed!
They were all rusty (in not always obvious ways), a bit too small inside, and with terrible interiors. This was such a shame, because I love the look, they are meant to be such fun to drive, and I was enjoying the idea of borrowing it now and then!
In the end we bought her an Alfa 147 (I realise I am biased) for the same money. The 147 was light years ahead in terms of just about everything (and no, it has never once gone wrong). I still might consider a Puma if the right one appeared, though.
I mean, this little Ford has "future classic" written all over it if original and rust free, surely?
BTW - I ran a MX3 V6 (which as noted is similar) for a few years a long time ago. Amazing little drive, but very silly fuel consumption for the engine size and the parts were very very expensive indeed!
marcosgt said:
Papa Hotel said:
Hellbound said:
If I were female....and a student...I'd have one of these.
Elaborate.
M.
I agreed with it at that point. Less so after re-reading.
SimonSaid said:
It really is worth watching the Top Gear video again - I had forgotten how brilliant it was. A truly epic bit of driving from Tiff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
Ha! Old Top Gear! Funny video though as you see shades of New Top Gear in it can't you, power sliding around an airfield, three blokes pissing about in the car together, at least one presenter with terrible hair...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
My girlfriend used to have one of these, thankfully in silver. Her's had heated front windscreen, cd player & air con, can't remember what that pack was called.
It was brilliant fun, such a good car to drive, handled well. You won't find a quicker gear change out there. Revvy engine too, made by yamaha if I rememebr.
Her's was a 2001 and signs of rust started showing in 2006 so we punted it. Shame really as it was a brilliant wee car.
It was brilliant fun, such a good car to drive, handled well. You won't find a quicker gear change out there. Revvy engine too, made by yamaha if I rememebr.
Her's was a 2001 and signs of rust started showing in 2006 so we punted it. Shame really as it was a brilliant wee car.
2 stories puma's remind me of.
1) Friend of a friend had one, his absolute P&J, would bore anyone silly about it...best car ever made etc. Parked it over two spaces in the pub car park etc.
2) My local paper had a 'my car' bit for a while. People writing in about their V12 E-type their dad owned and passed on, or their vintage Aston with Le Mans history or whatever....one week a guy wrote in about his puma. Again obviously thought it was the best car ever, he had 'always wanted a proper sports car' and used to 'get challenged at the lights sometimes buy people in hot hatches...but I just let them go, I know I could win if I wanted to'
maybe it was the same bloke...
My Brother tried to buy one a few years back, we looked at about 5 and they were all in terrible shape (interior and wheels mostly) but they were pretty good to drive, nice and responsive.
1) Friend of a friend had one, his absolute P&J, would bore anyone silly about it...best car ever made etc. Parked it over two spaces in the pub car park etc.
2) My local paper had a 'my car' bit for a while. People writing in about their V12 E-type their dad owned and passed on, or their vintage Aston with Le Mans history or whatever....one week a guy wrote in about his puma. Again obviously thought it was the best car ever, he had 'always wanted a proper sports car' and used to 'get challenged at the lights sometimes buy people in hot hatches...but I just let them go, I know I could win if I wanted to'
maybe it was the same bloke...
My Brother tried to buy one a few years back, we looked at about 5 and they were all in terrible shape (interior and wheels mostly) but they were pretty good to drive, nice and responsive.
Edited by varsas on Friday 29th January 11:21
SimonSaid said:
It really is worth watching the Top Gear video again - I had forgotten how brilliant it was. A truly epic bit of driving from Tiff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
That was ridiculous, holding slides like that in a FWD car!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
Papa Hotel said:
marcosgt said:
Papa Hotel said:
Hellbound said:
If I were female....and a student...I'd have one of these.
Elaborate.M.
better brakes and headlight bulbs needed (headlights are dire as standard), rear lamps can leak water past their gaskets, replace the dampers and springs when the originals are shot, and they are a cracking little car to zip about in! Valves stick if wrong oil is used/servicing skimped on, puma racing style 4 branch exhaust manifold helps the breathing a lot, would have another any day! Great SOTW!!
1.7 Pumas are as much fun to drive as a 1960s Mini Cooper S.
Lovely gearbox and fine revvy engine. Great FWD chassis.
Build quality not great and they do suffer from rot. Cramped and difficult to see out of. Comedy rear hatch fills the boot with water if you open it too quickly when it's wet.
1.7 motor not the most durable. Colleague at work had one with about 75,000 miles on the clock and it drank oil.
Did I hear somewhere that they have a potential nicasil lining problem a la BMW E36 328?
I rather like them.
Lovely gearbox and fine revvy engine. Great FWD chassis.
Build quality not great and they do suffer from rot. Cramped and difficult to see out of. Comedy rear hatch fills the boot with water if you open it too quickly when it's wet.
1.7 motor not the most durable. Colleague at work had one with about 75,000 miles on the clock and it drank oil.
Did I hear somewhere that they have a potential nicasil lining problem a la BMW E36 328?
I rather like them.
LotusAlfaV6bloke said:
I looked at lots of these for my wife 18 months ago, (although our budget was more then twice SOTW's).
They were all rusty (in not always obvious ways), a bit too small inside, and with terrible interiors. This was such a shame, because I love the look, they are meant to be such fun to drive, and I was enjoying the idea of borrowing it now and then!
In the end we bought her an Alfa 147 (I realise I am biased) for the same money. The 147 was light years ahead in terms of just about everything (and no, it has never once gone wrong). I still might consider a Puma if the right one appeared, though.
I mean, this little Ford has "future classic" written all over it if original and rust free, surely?
BTW - I ran a MX3 V6 (which as noted is similar) for a few years a long time ago. Amazing little drive, but very silly fuel consumption for the engine size and the parts were very very expensive indeed!
Agree. After spending weeks finding mine I came to the conclusion that prices and condition are all over the place. If this one's straight then it's a steal, but for this price I would suspect it's far from it!They were all rusty (in not always obvious ways), a bit too small inside, and with terrible interiors. This was such a shame, because I love the look, they are meant to be such fun to drive, and I was enjoying the idea of borrowing it now and then!
In the end we bought her an Alfa 147 (I realise I am biased) for the same money. The 147 was light years ahead in terms of just about everything (and no, it has never once gone wrong). I still might consider a Puma if the right one appeared, though.
I mean, this little Ford has "future classic" written all over it if original and rust free, surely?
BTW - I ran a MX3 V6 (which as noted is similar) for a few years a long time ago. Amazing little drive, but very silly fuel consumption for the engine size and the parts were very very expensive indeed!
Consensus seems to be on these early ones service is important because they are nikasil. If it's using oil walk quickly away. Front geo can be out of line if the wheels have been knocked, so check for uneven wear
Bit of a dual personality car - red-line is close to 7k and there isn't much going on below 3k but they will happily climb hills in 4th gear . Once you get above 4k it's
Fuel tank is tiny and so's the back seat, although the person sitting behind the passenger will have more space because of the dash design.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff