Puma Millennium
Discussion
Nearly a year ago I bought a cheap little Puma off Ebay - it's story is told here.
As it's turned out to be a great little car, I thought I'd buy another one - only this time one of the special editions. The main one that offers something different seems to be the Millennium, by virtue of it's unique paint colour and the special leather Recaro seats.
I've been on the lookout for a cheap one for a while, but one that isn't an absolute shed has been difficult to find, but a couple of weeks ago one popped up on Ebay, a mere 140 miles from me. No tax or test, which didn't unduly bother me, and a quick phone conversation with the vendor revealed that there were no significant mechanical woes apart from a blowing exhaust, and that it hadn't been put through an MOT test when the old one had run out. Photos seemed to reveal a bit of rust in the usual Puma place on the rear arches, but not too bad compared to most of the cheaper end of the market Millenniums, and most importantly the Recaros are in good nick with no rips or tears or wear.
A deal was struck, and last week a friend and I nipped up the M5 armed with nothing but hope, optimism and an Ifor Williams!
The journey there and back was uneventful, and once the little Puma was unloaded back at base a good look over revealed a car that I'm more than happy with. The rear arches are starting to rust, and look like they have been painted before and the exhaust needs repairing as the backbox has a big hole in it, but other than that it looks like it starts, stops and steers OK, so the short term plan is to fix the exhaust and chuck it through an MOT to see what else I need to do!
Longer term I'll get the arches done properly with fresh metal and probably get it resprayed at the same time - the sills all look solid, so hopefully it won't need welding for the MOT.
It's done 120k, and has three previous owners, and has a reasonable service history, with a cambelt done at 75k.
I'm sure a suspension refresh will be warranted, so I'll probably replace the shocks, springs, wishbones and rear bushes at some point, providing they don't need doing for the MOT of course!
As it's turned out to be a great little car, I thought I'd buy another one - only this time one of the special editions. The main one that offers something different seems to be the Millennium, by virtue of it's unique paint colour and the special leather Recaro seats.
I've been on the lookout for a cheap one for a while, but one that isn't an absolute shed has been difficult to find, but a couple of weeks ago one popped up on Ebay, a mere 140 miles from me. No tax or test, which didn't unduly bother me, and a quick phone conversation with the vendor revealed that there were no significant mechanical woes apart from a blowing exhaust, and that it hadn't been put through an MOT test when the old one had run out. Photos seemed to reveal a bit of rust in the usual Puma place on the rear arches, but not too bad compared to most of the cheaper end of the market Millenniums, and most importantly the Recaros are in good nick with no rips or tears or wear.
A deal was struck, and last week a friend and I nipped up the M5 armed with nothing but hope, optimism and an Ifor Williams!
The journey there and back was uneventful, and once the little Puma was unloaded back at base a good look over revealed a car that I'm more than happy with. The rear arches are starting to rust, and look like they have been painted before and the exhaust needs repairing as the backbox has a big hole in it, but other than that it looks like it starts, stops and steers OK, so the short term plan is to fix the exhaust and chuck it through an MOT to see what else I need to do!
Longer term I'll get the arches done properly with fresh metal and probably get it resprayed at the same time - the sills all look solid, so hopefully it won't need welding for the MOT.
It's done 120k, and has three previous owners, and has a reasonable service history, with a cambelt done at 75k.
I'm sure a suspension refresh will be warranted, so I'll probably replace the shocks, springs, wishbones and rear bushes at some point, providing they don't need doing for the MOT of course!
Potto said:
99% Sure thats my old car!
Registration end with RJ?
You'll find it has some polybushes under there. And for some reason a lock barrel to lock the gearshift.
I loved that car, spend sooo long trying slapping ACF50 on those wheelarches.
I love PH sometimes! Yes, sound like the same car. Showing 80k now. When did you own it,If you dont mind me asking?Registration end with RJ?
You'll find it has some polybushes under there. And for some reason a lock barrel to lock the gearshift.
I loved that car, spend sooo long trying slapping ACF50 on those wheelarches.
I sold it to a friend of a friend a couple of years ago. They seemed like mechanically sympathetic people. The exhaust on it is a full system, 4-2-1 manifold on the front. I used to work as a valeter when I owned the car so it was frequently polished (something you will have to do to keep the paint from going flat) and used to give the seats a frequent leather feed.
It was my brother's before I owned it and he was OCD about it as well..
If you get cold feet about the sale let me know, i'm getting all nostalgic, but when i sold it I rarely saw another Puma in nearly as nice condition.
It was my brother's before I owned it and he was OCD about it as well..
If you get cold feet about the sale let me know, i'm getting all nostalgic, but when i sold it I rarely saw another Puma in nearly as nice condition.
The smoked indicators and yellow brake calipers were a giveaway, however the fact that the yellow was still bright and vivid and also the fact that it had no rust gave it straight away. Pumas with no rust are like rocking-horse poo nowadays.
When it was bought new by the first owner (previous to my brother) it was one of his 4 cars, he was a proper petrolhead as well. It only did about 20k miles in the first five years IIRC and was garaged all that time hence the reason it looks in such good condition.
When it was bought new by the first owner (previous to my brother) it was one of his 4 cars, he was a proper petrolhead as well. It only did about 20k miles in the first five years IIRC and was garaged all that time hence the reason it looks in such good condition.
Great cars, had mine 6 years, but has been sat down the drive for over a year now.Its a early car Nov 99 number 64.
Treated it to some OZ racing super T and 195/45x16 rubber, Racing Puma lowering springs and a Fiesta RS1800 leather gear knob
And before lowering, Moon Buggy has landed
Treated it to some OZ racing super T and 195/45x16 rubber, Racing Puma lowering springs and a Fiesta RS1800 leather gear knob
And before lowering, Moon Buggy has landed
Edited by T66ORA on Monday 19th May 22:13
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