Bargain basement Puma 1.7 Black

Bargain basement Puma 1.7 Black

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Limpet

Original Poster:

6,292 posts

160 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
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A couple of glasses of red wine on Thursday + an impromptu visit to eBay resulted in me handing over a whopping 174 notes, and piloting this little beastie home down the M4 48 hrs later.



She's a 2000 Puma 1.7 Black edition with 134,000 miles, a remarkably complete service history (full, in fact up to the last one recorded at 111k), a dinked wing and bonnet (looks vandal related), a blowing back box and a badly slipping clutch. But she fundamentally drives really well. Amazingly tight and taut considering the miles, and very responsive. There's a peach of a car in here with a little bit of work and not a lot of money. All warning lights go on and off as expected, fluid levels are all cock-on and look reasonably fresh, no smoke, no knocks or rattles, and idles beautifully. Absolutely everything works, apart from the air-con.

First job is the clutch this weekend. Timing belt change is stamped in the book at 96k so a quick inspection of that will suffice I think. I picked up the replacement bonnet yesterday for a whopping ten quid, in the right colour and ready to fit. Currently searching for a similar wing. Otherwise it's a general check over and crawl underneath to see what's what. Sills are solid, and rear arches, although a little bubbly, are not going to be an issue until at least a year down the line. What I can see of the floor looks OK, but a proper crawl under will reveal all. Absence of suspension noise and responsive steering suggests the bushes are in good fettle too. Rear beam bushes were done 2 yrs ago which is a bonus.

Not sure what the plans are for her yet. Fancied a project, and this came along at the right time. There's potentially a track toy in time, but the idea at this point is to get her mechanically fit and healthy, and as a secondary goal, to sort the cosmetic bits without spending more than pocket change, if I can. So far a clutch and bonnet have set me back just £95!!

Once the clutch is done, a proper clean is needed, and then some more pics will follow. For now, just these slightly iffy ones which were taken with the car completely "as is". More to follow as we go on.









Edited by Limpet on Tuesday 25th August 23:58

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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I had a 350 quid puma for a few months, and loved it. It rand weell, drove well, just mid 30's mpg meant i had to sell due to the milage I was doing. The only other issue was i just mwich they were a big quicker.

My mate had one back in 2000 or 2001 bought one new, chucked me out the car for having muddy shoes lol

dom9

8,040 posts

208 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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I'm looking at these at the moment as I want a little B-road blaster for my commute across country to work. Will be following this with interest!

velocefica

4,636 posts

107 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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These are complete bargain sheds, your looked pretty solid on the arches. Most of the ones under £300 are absolute dingleberries.


buymeabar

165 posts

188 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Happy memories for me there. I had a brand new X reg puma black, with different wheels though as standard. Looked a little like split rims, but I think the same design was shared by the Mondeo at the time. Loved that car so much. Cheap to run, a lot of fun and awesome for ragging round the country lanes (I lived in Norfolk working for Lotus at the time). The missus managed to put it on its roof about 6 months after purchase. Funnily enough, we're in the midst of a divorce now....karma.

buymeabar

165 posts

188 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Happy memories for me there. I had a brand new X reg puma black, with different wheels though as standard. Looked a little like split rims, but I think the same design was shared by the Mondeo at the time. Loved that car so much. Cheap to run, a lot of fun and awesome for ragging round the country lanes (I lived in Norfolk working for Lotus at the time). The missus managed to put it on its roof about 6 months after purchase. Funnily enough, we're in the midst of a divorce now....karma.

Limpet

Original Poster:

6,292 posts

160 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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There's some blistering on the rear arches, but nowhere near as bad as most I've seen. Sills are good too, and having now ventured underneath, so is the floor.

Changed the clutch this weekend. Bit of a swine physically getting the gearbox in and out (it's tight) but otherwise reasonably straightforward. At least no need to mess around dropping subframes and other nonsense.

Drained all the transmission oil out and refilled with fresh 75W 90. Now has a lovely light, progressive, slip-free clutch and even slicker transmission than before. £85 and a day and a bit of work well invested. Driven it in anger now and it sounds lovely and pulls well.

Still to do: Replace bonnet and front wing (got a tidy bonnet for a tenner, ready to fit), engine oil and filter change, and two front tyres.

A few more pics.







NNH

1,515 posts

131 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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buymeabar said:
Happy memories for me there. I had a brand new X reg puma black, with different wheels though as standard. Looked a little like split rims, but I think the same design was shared by the Mondeo at the time. Loved that car so much. Cheap to run, a lot of fun and awesome for ragging round the country lanes (I lived in Norfolk working for Lotus at the time). The missus managed to put it on its roof about 6 months after purchase. Funnily enough, we're in the midst of a divorce now....karma.
I loved my X-reg black Puma from new too! Drove it to Italy and back. My missus crashed it three times in two years, and told me it was my fault because it was too fast, too small and too hard to see - she became an ex-missus, too...

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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So judging by this thread, Pumas are actually very expensive. Sure they go well, cheap to run etc etc, but the rate of divorce seems remarkably high.
Was tempted until I spotted that. nono

NNH

1,515 posts

131 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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bearman68 said:
So judging by this thread, Pumas are actually very expensive. Sure they go well, cheap to run etc etc, but the rate of divorce seems remarkably high.
Was tempted until I spotted that. nono
It only applies to black X-reg Pumas, based on the evidence...

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Not convinced it's a Black edition.

Wrong alloys, bit early on the reg plate, I didn't spot a heated front screen - has it got leather?

Limpet

Original Poster:

6,292 posts

160 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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It's not a Black. I discovered sinice purchase that it's a normal 1.7 in black.

But for 174 quid.....

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Limpet said:
It's not a Black. I discovered sinice purchase that it's a normal 1.7 in black.

But for 174 quid.....
Lot car for the money.

Had a Thunder when they came out - loved it.

BigTom85

1,927 posts

170 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Bargain!

Looks great too, and for the money you've done well.

It's great to see someone getting stuck in with the DIY too. 10/10 smile

James19181

237 posts

111 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Still miss my W132NNY! Great little cars. Michelin PS3s are an excellent, if not entirely bargain, option for tyres

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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These are also really good on Uniroyal Rainsports too. Had my mum's for a while and although a tight squeeze for a man of my build it was a hoot to pedal. Could use a longer final drive though.

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Coincidrnce! Great stuff. I just posted a thread about wanting one of these. Must read the new topics before posting.

What a bargain.

Limpet

Original Poster:

6,292 posts

160 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Thanks everyone for the kind and encouraging words.

It's got a pair of Toyo Proxes on the rear which are in good nick, some nasty budget rubbish on the offside front with tread starting to separate, and an utterly knackered Michelin Energy on the nearside front. Even with this handicap it still turns in sharply and is beautifully throttle steerable. I'm going to sort some tyres out for it as a priority but there are still some driveway jobs to do before it goes on the road properly let alone anywhere near a track. I also want to get an experienced mechanic mate to stick it up on his ramps and give me his (usually crushingly honest) opinion lol

lel

395 posts

122 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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These are brilliant little motors to tinker with, i've had mine for 6 months now and i've loved every single drive!

carinaman

21,210 posts

171 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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Bargain! smile