RE: SOTW: Ford Puma 1.7

[Stevesh]

I know they are significantly more than the SOTW budget but I still hanker after a Racing Puma.

They definitely did not look girly (even though a lowered standard car doesn't IMHO)

Steve

[collateral]

Brim to light I seem to have gotten high 30s mpg on my 1.7

Don't think there is much difference between the 1.4 and the 1.7 when it comes to fuel because the 1.4 has lower gearing. 1.7 can do 60 mph in second and 100 in 4th, if your private test track is long enough, of course

[2volvos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49TPk2AW5c&fea...

This is one quick Puma...not sure how much Puma there is in it though...

There's an on board vid as well on the Shelsley Walsh site

http://www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/multimedia/

[deevlash]

the Puma has been SOTW before!

[size13]

Stevesh said:

I had one of these from '98 to '01 and loved it!

I lowered it, fitted better pads and discs on the front and used to do track days in it.

I sold it for a bugeyed Impreza WRX.

DOH!

Steve

Bloody hell! Apart from lowering and tracking mine, I did exactly the same thing!

[Gridl0k]

Never driven a Puma but judging by some wet-road Fiesta handling on the same chassis I definitely fancy a go in one.

There's an FRP around here (on an FRP number plate too so I guess an enthusiast) - very under-rated car that, I suspect. How many did they sell? What was the cost comparable to?

[collateral]

Gridl0k said:

Never driven a Puma but judging by some wet-road Fiesta handling on the same chassis I definitely fancy a go in one.

There's an FRP around here (on an FRP number plate too so I guess an enthusiast) - very under-rated car that, I suspect. How many did they sell? What was the cost comparable to?

I think they were dear compared to what the same amount of cash would get you elsewhere at the time, and didn't sell well because of it.

Body panels are reportedly getting hard to find

[Stevesh]

I think they wanted to make 1000 but only ended up making 500.

They were £23k new and an Integra was £19k and an Impreza £21k.

Steve

[Paul6217]

Wasn't the Puma featured in June 08 a better buy - longer MOT, nicer colour, lower mileage.. this was 1½ years ago yet for the same asking price

[cooperd5]

I always loved these, bought one a couple of years ago and ran it a year, 37 mpg avg and great fun. I had a cambelt done for about £150 so they're cheap to run, did the other servicing myself. Mine was R reg and suffered with rusty arches and a shabby interior but I'd have another.

As for space... well, I had 4 mates in it, one 18 stone, one 16 stone and 6'4" and another 6-footer! Bit of a squeeze lol



Coops

[the_hood]

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.

Have a quick search and you'll find quite a few disgruntled owners who've had engine failure. Put me off buying one as a runabout.

[Papa Hotel]

the_hood 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.

Have a quick search and you'll find quite a few disgruntled owners who've had engine failure. Put me off buying one as a runabout.

Oh right.

Edited by Papa Hotel on Friday 29th January 18:11

[Agent Orange]

PH said:

rivals like the Vauxhall Tigra, Renault Megane Coupe, Mazda MX-3 and the truly awful Toyota Paseo.

Lets face it you'd have to going some to be the worst car than that list. I know the Puma is "fun" - all fast fords are at the very least that, but it never quite did it for me. It was lacking something.

I think it just looked wrong. Too tall with too high suspension and not wide enough. The Racing Puma I quite like but still appears to ride way too high.

Probably didn't help working with a Puma bore who really did not take jokes about his "Fiesta" well.

[Blakey79]

We had a 2001 1.7 Puma for 6 Months, and it was a great drive, great grip, handling was great, remember barreling into a roundabout at silly speeds and it just gripped and gripped. Interior was plain and the engine needed revving quite hard to perform but was a great drive, sold it for a sportka that was fun as well..

[Papa Hotel]

Blakey79 said:

We had a 2001 1.7 Puma for 6 Months, and it was a great drive, great grip, handling was great, remember barreling into a roundabout at silly speeds and it just gripped and gripped. Interior was plain and the engine needed revving quite hard to perform but was a great drive, sold it for a sportka that was fun as well..

I think you might want to re-read your last sentence, you've said you sold it for a sportka!

[forzaminardi]

Great Shed. No nonsense, good proper honest wee car.

Beats the Lexus, Renault AND the Alfa.

[McAndy]

Oooh, that's tempting! I must remember to be on the set of 'Honey I Shrunk My Friends' when I need to give more than one person a lift though...cracking Shedding chaps!

[hairykrishna]

Chapppers said:

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!

Excellent little clip. They need Tiff back on Top gear.

[stormrider2]

hairykrishna said:

Chapppers said:

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!

Excellent little clip. They need Tiff back on Top gear.

for some reason tiff really annoys me. not even sure why.

[rallycross]

Pat H said:

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.

Spot on comments (lots of rubbish also being spouted on this thread!).

At this budget the Puma is probably the best fun to drive car you can find.


As said above;

look out for

rust (rear arches, rear of sills).
rear suspension bushes (void bushes?)
engines using oil.

Surprisingly the 1.6 and 1.7 dont feel that different to drive (20 bhp less).

The Racing puma is a very different car;
Starting price is £4500 for a poor example, good low mileage ones are few and far between and expect to pay £7k plus.

FRP gives you rarity value but otherwise I found it to be low geared, noisy, overly harsh suspension, not anywhere near fast enough, squeeling brakes, uncomfortable seats, even with 160 bhp I found it needed an lsd on track and very few have one fitted - so buy n Integra Type R instead - better in every respect.