Puma Millennium

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Discussion

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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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!











harry kular

2,770 posts

225 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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Brilliant cars, after a few years of driving crap and vans, they made me enjoy driving again!

What are the seats like? The whole time I had mine I was scouring ebay etc for a set.

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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Seats are OK - another pic



Interior being good was a major plus point!

RSteve

174 posts

149 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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Good stuff, on the lookout for a Puma Thunder myself!

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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I think I've bought another one!

harry kular

2,770 posts

225 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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You can't leave it at that! Tell all!

ebay claimed another victim on a Saturday night? biglaugh

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all


Confirmed purchase today, collect Thursday - it's a 4 hour train ride to collect a car I've not even seen in the flesh. What could possibly go wrong? hehe

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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Rollcage said:


Confirmed purchase today, collect Thursday - it's a 4 hour train ride to collect a car I've not even seen in the flesh. What could possibly go wrong? hehe
hehe so where abouts is it?

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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It's somewhere near Woking, and I am in Plymouth.

Not the end of the world I guess!

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all
Rollcage said:
It's somewhere near Woking, and I am in Plymouth.

Not the end of the world I guess!
At least it's not Glasgow!

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all
Yeah, could be much worse. Quite looking forward to seeing it - a bit of digging has it being photographed and described as "rust free" earlier this year. That will be a miracle if true!

Has a Miltek exhaust on it as well.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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Ooh, rust free would be nice.

Had a Puma Thunder from new in 2002, and it was a great little car - then had a loan of an FRP for a few months. Still have a soft spot for them.

Potto

85 posts

185 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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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.

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Monday 19th May 2014
quotequote all
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?

Potto

85 posts

185 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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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.

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Monday 19th May 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the info, I will report back! Nice to know the car has been cared for previously.

How did you spot it was your car?

Potto

85 posts

185 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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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.

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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I did wonder about the calipers! Oddly, my other Puma Milly has smoked repeaters as well!

Really looking forward to seeing this now!

T66ORA

3,474 posts

256 months

Monday 19th May 2014
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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 biggrin








And before lowering, Moon Buggy has landed biggrin



Edited by T66ORA on Monday 19th May 22:13

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

191 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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^^ That does look rather nice!

How did the alloys and lowering affect the general feel of the car?