Racing Puma Running Costs...

[Lewis's Friend]

Im looking to get a racing puma in around a year (maybe less if car prices keep falling!). But i was wondering what they're like to run day to day. In my head i have them down as being fairly cheap to run compared to other sports cars in the same bracket.

So my question is; are they?

They recieved rave reviews, but would they cripple my rather sick bank balance!? I'd be looking to do around 10k miles per year...

Any comments would be useful...

[Alexbturbo]

Might be worth asking on the Puma People forum as they have a FRP section with members who should be able to help you out

http://www.pumapeople.com/forum/index.php

[Mutton]

Parts can be expensive - especially the unique ones to the FRP. The front Alcon brake calipers will also need servicing every year as they are not sealed units (motorsport jobbies). Great looking and handing car - I'd love to have one to go along with my FRS.

[Lewis's Friend]

Ok, cheers for that. I'll try the Puma People site and see what they say.

Thanks for the responses...

[mondayo]

I think in this months Autocar mag, they have an article about affordable fast cars (2nd hand ones) and they featured the Racing Puma....not sure exactly which mag it was, as I was just flicking whilst stuck im a queue.

[FWDRacer]

By a bad one and you'll wish you'd taken your own life. Have look at some of the comments on Pumapeople - parts are scarce and silly money is required to obtain bits from horders.

[edfrp]

As previous posters have said, some unique parts are expensive. Regular servicing is important (cambelt interval is every 5yrs or 80k miles), the Alcon brakes in particular need regular maintenance to keep them in good health. If you're using it everyday, then have a thorough test drive before buying to ensure you can live with it day to day. As an everyday car, the regular Puma might be considered a better option.

Otherwise, it's not an overly expensive car to run considering the driving experience rewards.

Buying a cheap one can potentially bring all kind of grief if you're unlucky. In some respects it's a good thing to view at least three across the price range before buying.

The Racing Puma Owners club has a dedicated forum http://frpoc.freeforums.org/portal.php, plus www.Pumapeople.com also has a dedicated Q and A section for Racing Puma (as well as plenty of other Puma info).

Fast Ford and Performance Ford mags have run pretty good buying guides for the FRP in the last 12 months. FF was December 2007 edition, PF was August 2008.

[hbwold]

Parts are expensive but on the plus side servicing costs are pretty affordable. So if I was to look for one I would definately make sure it was recently serviced and that most major parts had been changed or looked at recently like the brakes.

The magazine feature is in this weeks Autocar and the Racing Puma was rated the best choice against if I remember rightly an Impreza P1, Audi S3 and Civic Type-R which isn't bad! They make a great sound and look great but have been criticised with not having the power to match the chassis.

[space_cowboy]

I have one and the parts are expensive. Front calipers £450 each Front Discs £200 each, front bumper around £1000 not painted.

Drinks petrol like its going out of fashion (maybe I just have a heavy foot).

If you get one look around as there are some dogs around and some mint ones. One is currently for sale 25k miles for £10,000. So if you have a tidy one they should hold their value fairly well.

Absolutely love mine even with the expense real hoot to drive and you dont see many about which I like.

[edfrp]

space_cowboy said:

Drinks petrol like its going out of fashion (maybe I just have a heavy foot).

Owners I've known who have had poor mpg have had sensor problems - you might want to get that checked out. In the 7 years I have been running mine it has; and is still, capable of delivering over 40mpg.

[M3_chaz]

Yeah mine was great on fuel. Well barr when on a fast M-way drive, but then so are most low geared cars.