Buying a Puma...
Discussion
I am interested in buying a Puma 1.7. It looks very clean and its from a trader who tells me there is absolutely no rust. The mileage is fairly high - although under 100k. My only concern is that the service history doesn't show a cambelt change. The dealer is offering to replace it or knock off £200 from the price.
Does this sound like a good deal? If it hasn't been replaced until now, will it have done any damage?
Are there other things to look out for?
Thanks
Does this sound like a good deal? If it hasn't been replaced until now, will it have done any damage?
Are there other things to look out for?
Thanks
Hi, I've owned a 1.7 before but it wasn't in a puma.
I don't know how many miles the engine had done, but it was always quite tappy (i think they all are) and the oil was always fairly clean.
Id say check the usual things, oil level, condition of coolant, under oil cap etc. Make sure it sounds ok and on a test drive I'd drive the car up to the rev limiter as this is where all the power should be.
As for the cambelt, It should have had one but without proof I'd want it doing. Water pump too.
And check for rust, sills and rear arches mainly!
I don't know how many miles the engine had done, but it was always quite tappy (i think they all are) and the oil was always fairly clean.
Id say check the usual things, oil level, condition of coolant, under oil cap etc. Make sure it sounds ok and on a test drive I'd drive the car up to the rev limiter as this is where all the power should be.
As for the cambelt, It should have had one but without proof I'd want it doing. Water pump too.
And check for rust, sills and rear arches mainly!
If the belt hasn't already gone then theres nothing to worry about on that front, best get the dealer to do the change as it requires specialist tools and a pain to do - probably more that £200 worth. All Puma's have rust in the rear arches due to the stupid carpet Ford fitted in the archliner, check them out carefully as its all to easy for a cheap filler repair job to re-rust after a few months.
Try and and get a later Puma late 1999 onwards, bigger brakes.
Normally you can tell if its a late model as it'll have a digi dash, and 9 spoke alloys rather than the propellers but not always.
Look out for Lux pack, so Air con,Electric Mirrors,Heated windscreen.
I'd ask them to knock off nearer to £300 for the cambelt and then take it somewhere and get it done your self as they may say its been done !
Check rust around the rear arches, sill under where the door closes.
Also check the condition of the Rear subframe brushes as pumas like to eat these.
On a test drive make sure no suspensions clunks etc can be heard, also if its a 1.7 open it up and make sure it you rev it from 4k right up to 6kish make sure it feels like there is a bit of a kick in at around 4k as the VCT will be working ok.
Make sure its had lots of oil services as Sigma engines like oil,
Gun metal grey Thunders are highly sought after.
Normally you can tell if its a late model as it'll have a digi dash, and 9 spoke alloys rather than the propellers but not always.
Look out for Lux pack, so Air con,Electric Mirrors,Heated windscreen.
I'd ask them to knock off nearer to £300 for the cambelt and then take it somewhere and get it done your self as they may say its been done !
Check rust around the rear arches, sill under where the door closes.
Also check the condition of the Rear subframe brushes as pumas like to eat these.
On a test drive make sure no suspensions clunks etc can be heard, also if its a 1.7 open it up and make sure it you rev it from 4k right up to 6kish make sure it feels like there is a bit of a kick in at around 4k as the VCT will be working ok.
Make sure its had lots of oil services as Sigma engines like oil,
Gun metal grey Thunders are highly sought after.
Edited by Yorkshirepadd on Friday 23 April 01:41
Yorkshirepadd said:
Try and and get a later Puma late 1999 onwards, bigger brakes.
Normally you can tell if its a late model as it'll have a digi dash, and 9 spoke alloys rather than the propellers but not always.
Look out for Lux pack, so Air con,Electric Mirrors,Heated windscreen.
I'd ask them to knock off nearer to £300 for the cambelt and then take it somewhere and get it done your self as they may say its been done !
Check rust around the rear arches, sill under where the door closes.
Also check the condition of the Rear subframe brushes as pumas like to eat these.
On a test drive make sure no suspensions clunks etc can be heard, also if its a 1.7 open it up and make sure it you rev it from 4k right up to 6kish make sure it feels like there is a bit of a kick in at around 4k as the VCT will be working ok.
Make sure its had lots of oil services as Sigma engines like oil,
Gun metal grey Thunders are highly sought after.
I've only really been looking at face lifted models. I knew the alloys were different but didn't realise about the brakes or dash. Thanks for the advice on checks to make. Even though I'm a mechanical novice I should be able to do those. Normally you can tell if its a late model as it'll have a digi dash, and 9 spoke alloys rather than the propellers but not always.
Look out for Lux pack, so Air con,Electric Mirrors,Heated windscreen.
I'd ask them to knock off nearer to £300 for the cambelt and then take it somewhere and get it done your self as they may say its been done !
Check rust around the rear arches, sill under where the door closes.
Also check the condition of the Rear subframe brushes as pumas like to eat these.
On a test drive make sure no suspensions clunks etc can be heard, also if its a 1.7 open it up and make sure it you rev it from 4k right up to 6kish make sure it feels like there is a bit of a kick in at around 4k as the VCT will be working ok.
Make sure its had lots of oil services as Sigma engines like oil,
Gun metal grey Thunders are highly sought after.
Edited by Yorkshirepadd on Friday 23 April 01:41
I would very much like a Thunder but they're still a good £500 out of budget. I wouldn't mind a Millennium either, if only they had made them in other colours...
yeh the thunders are very sought after, there the nicest colour ones to own imo.
im on my second puma now and i love owning it, its a great little car to have a and huge fun to drive.
If you do buy one then make the most of the puma's great handling and replace all the bushes with powerflex ones and fit an OMP lower strut brace, just tightens the car up so much and makes it even better in the corners!
The engines are failry strong... there was rumor that the 1.7's were weak and feable, but i dont particially drive mine like miss daisy and its never let me down yet, oil changes are recomended every 5000 miles and make sure you use a good oil, i put millers 5-30 in mine and its always serviced regular, if you look after it then it will go way past 100k, my mate has an FRP with 150k on the clock and it still feels crisp and responsive, as it if it was new!!
Oh and if it has OE spec ford wishbones dont bin them!! there £95 each from ford and there the only wishbones the powerflex bushes will fit it!
if you need any more info log onto www.projectpuma.com
im on my second puma now and i love owning it, its a great little car to have a and huge fun to drive.
If you do buy one then make the most of the puma's great handling and replace all the bushes with powerflex ones and fit an OMP lower strut brace, just tightens the car up so much and makes it even better in the corners!
The engines are failry strong... there was rumor that the 1.7's were weak and feable, but i dont particially drive mine like miss daisy and its never let me down yet, oil changes are recomended every 5000 miles and make sure you use a good oil, i put millers 5-30 in mine and its always serviced regular, if you look after it then it will go way past 100k, my mate has an FRP with 150k on the clock and it still feels crisp and responsive, as it if it was new!!
Oh and if it has OE spec ford wishbones dont bin them!! there £95 each from ford and there the only wishbones the powerflex bushes will fit it!
if you need any more info log onto www.projectpuma.com
Thanks for all the helpful info.
Anything to say about these two?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010... (With the dealer offering a cambelt change)
Anything to say about these two?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010... (With the dealer offering a cambelt change)
Edited by jonnydm on Saturday 24th April 22:19
Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff