Puma - Your opinion and what to look for?
Discussion
Right,
We have just sold our Audi A3, made a €700 profit too, not bad for 6 months and 5k miles!
So we have the task of buying ourselves a new car!!!
We have a viewing of this 1.7 Ford Puma: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2664721
So what are your opinions? and what should I look out for?
Seeing as the Puma is a lot cheaper than our Audi, I intend to have some fun and spend some time and money on it, What would you change/ upgrade?
Cheers guys and gals
J
We have just sold our Audi A3, made a €700 profit too, not bad for 6 months and 5k miles!
So we have the task of buying ourselves a new car!!!
We have a viewing of this 1.7 Ford Puma: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2664721
So what are your opinions? and what should I look out for?
Seeing as the Puma is a lot cheaper than our Audi, I intend to have some fun and spend some time and money on it, What would you change/ upgrade?
Cheers guys and gals
J
Look for rust (especially the rear arches) and signs that its been trashed. Would spend my money on a waxoil treatment, rebushing front suspension, cambelt/serevicing- do they really need upgrading?
I adore them, I think the gearchange and responsiveness is the best of any car I've driven.
I adore them, I think the gearchange and responsiveness is the best of any car I've driven.
Great cars in 1.7 form. As said, rear wheel arches rust through in no time. Engine is generally reliable. They're old cars now, so you'll have to look out for wear and tear on suspension components and make sure they have some decent boots on them.
Not massive amount of room in the boot, but sufficient. Interior is pure fiesta with mock silver metal finish on the centre console, but a standard stereo is ok, it's just a particularly special place to be. Great drive though. Been trying to persuade my missus to replace her car with one, but she's not having it.
Not massive amount of room in the boot, but sufficient. Interior is pure fiesta with mock silver metal finish on the centre console, but a standard stereo is ok, it's just a particularly special place to be. Great drive though. Been trying to persuade my missus to replace her car with one, but she's not having it.
Quite a nice little car in my opinion. My aunt has one (the 1.7), quite comfortable, ok space inside (still comfortable though) and a nice car to look at (doesnt show its age too badly). But best of all they are fantastic value for money: Low mileage examples ie under 20,000 go for £1500!
Be sure though to check the car carefully for rust, especially for rust.
Go for it!
Be sure though to check the car carefully for rust, especially for rust.
Go for it!
Along with the rust on the rear arches you should watch out for the bushes all round.
I've had mine for 5 years now, had both front and rear bushes done. Will need the fronts doing again soon. (None ford parts were used first time round)
Also brake lines, mine and also my partner’s pumas have had rust issues. Cambelts are another to look out for, I can’t remember the mileage/year they recommend to change it.
Great little cars, fun to drive and easy to modify... and fix
Check out the puma websites as they have plenty of information on everything imaginable (puma related of course!) projectpuma and pumapeople.
Hope that helps alittle
I've had mine for 5 years now, had both front and rear bushes done. Will need the fronts doing again soon. (None ford parts were used first time round)
Also brake lines, mine and also my partner’s pumas have had rust issues. Cambelts are another to look out for, I can’t remember the mileage/year they recommend to change it.
Great little cars, fun to drive and easy to modify... and fix
Check out the puma websites as they have plenty of information on everything imaginable (puma related of course!) projectpuma and pumapeople.
Hope that helps alittle
As previously mentioned. Check out the suspension components and tyre wear for signs of allingment being out. They use mostly fiesta parts and have a different chassis and are slighly heavier. Thus, they go through these parts a little quicker than one would wish. Brake pads/disks go quicker too as they are quick crap without a mondeo upgrade or something, but these parts are very cheap. Rust on rear arches have been mentioned. 1,7vct belt change is at 100,000miles I believe. or a certain number of years, I cant remember.
Looks like a decent car.
Looks like a decent car.
Agree - Look for rust in the rear wheel arches.
Don't believe the myth that they are all holey already - We paid £550 for my daughter's and it's got just a few small bubbles.
The 1.7 is a great engine, but make sure it's been looked after (I hear some parts are no longer available) as it's unique to the Puma. If it rattles, walk away, there are LOTS of 1.7s around.
People trash the 1.4 and it certainly not as sweet as the 1.7, but it's nowhere near as bad as keyboard experts say - You still get 90% of the Puma experience and except on wide, straight roads it's virtually as quick as a 1.7
Never tried the 1.6.
Like most old Fords, though, it'll rattle and feel a bit cheap, but parts are bargain basement priced, so you can replace most bits easily and cheaply (except the odd ones which are Puma specific, including some body panels).
M
Don't believe the myth that they are all holey already - We paid £550 for my daughter's and it's got just a few small bubbles.
The 1.7 is a great engine, but make sure it's been looked after (I hear some parts are no longer available) as it's unique to the Puma. If it rattles, walk away, there are LOTS of 1.7s around.
People trash the 1.4 and it certainly not as sweet as the 1.7, but it's nowhere near as bad as keyboard experts say - You still get 90% of the Puma experience and except on wide, straight roads it's virtually as quick as a 1.7
Never tried the 1.6.
Like most old Fords, though, it'll rattle and feel a bit cheap, but parts are bargain basement priced, so you can replace most bits easily and cheaply (except the odd ones which are Puma specific, including some body panels).
M
The Puma tends to get good reports from those that have owned or driven them. Yes there are better/ quicker cars but thePuma is fun to drive, I miss mine.
2 common gripes are the gear knob (hot in summer & freezing in winter) and the boot lid which dumps gallons of water in the boot if It hasbeen raining!
2 common gripes are the gear knob (hot in summer & freezing in winter) and the boot lid which dumps gallons of water in the boot if It hasbeen raining!
Garlick said:
RiggersMy own SOTW special
I might have to investigate waxoil possibilities meself, and I've got a feeling that the suspension bushes might need looking at sooner rather than later...
good choice of runaround, I say!
Getting the tracking done as soon as I bought would've saved me a set of front boots.
Check that heater mixery thing isn't buggered - being on the side of the road watching all the coolant pissing out wasn't much fun.
The suggested tire pressures are understeer city - I've found that running 28 psi all round is the way to go
Check that heater mixery thing isn't buggered - being on the side of the road watching all the coolant pissing out wasn't much fun.
The suggested tire pressures are understeer city - I've found that running 28 psi all round is the way to go
hora said:
The two things that I'd add is its a 1.7 engine.
Its is essential- totally essential that it has only Ford stamps. Anything else walk I'd say.
'I did the servicing myself' - walk.
At that age and with a slightly different oil you are looking at lining wear.
Take it out- get it to 3,500 revs at circa 75 and listen for a rumbling- thats a sign.
Honestly.
Oh the second thing is there are no cupholders
Other than that the 1.7 engine is amazing- love mine how it kicks itself in 5th gear (no need to shift down) to overtake others on the motorway.
I got lucky. I ran one from 90k to 130k with no service history with no issues. Its is essential- totally essential that it has only Ford stamps. Anything else walk I'd say.
'I did the servicing myself' - walk.
At that age and with a slightly different oil you are looking at lining wear.
Take it out- get it to 3,500 revs at circa 75 and listen for a rumbling- thats a sign.
Honestly.
Oh the second thing is there are no cupholders
Other than that the 1.7 engine is amazing- love mine how it kicks itself in 5th gear (no need to shift down) to overtake others on the motorway.
Don't really get the 5th gear kick, maybe you mean it has more 'go' as it will be at 4,000rpm.
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