Discussion
Hello all,
I'm a newbie here and I need advice!
I currently have a Ford Puma 1.7 that I absolutely love but with petrol prices going up and I'm now commuting quite a distance everyday I have decided a change in car is required. :-(
At first I was thinking about getting a 1 series BMW diesel or a hybrid car and then the snow hit and I saw them abandoned. Now I'm thinking a small 4x4 diesel but I just don't know if a few months of absolute hell in snowy Scotland can justify the cost and driving around in a big car. I love the look of 3 door Rav4 but as they stopped making them they are hard to track down and nearly always have a high mileage attached.
Do you have any suggestions on cars that have brilliant traction control or 4 wheeled drive that aren't overly thirsty on petrol/ diesel consumption. I HAVE to get around in winter, I can't face another 2 months of having to get the train in major sub zero temperatures while my car is sat at the side of the road.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm getting more and more confused about which route to go down.
Thank you,
Claire
I'm a newbie here and I need advice!
I currently have a Ford Puma 1.7 that I absolutely love but with petrol prices going up and I'm now commuting quite a distance everyday I have decided a change in car is required. :-(
At first I was thinking about getting a 1 series BMW diesel or a hybrid car and then the snow hit and I saw them abandoned. Now I'm thinking a small 4x4 diesel but I just don't know if a few months of absolute hell in snowy Scotland can justify the cost and driving around in a big car. I love the look of 3 door Rav4 but as they stopped making them they are hard to track down and nearly always have a high mileage attached.
Do you have any suggestions on cars that have brilliant traction control or 4 wheeled drive that aren't overly thirsty on petrol/ diesel consumption. I HAVE to get around in winter, I can't face another 2 months of having to get the train in major sub zero temperatures while my car is sat at the side of the road.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm getting more and more confused about which route to go down.
Thank you,
Claire
Shaw Tarse said:
Keep the Puma!
How much will it cost you to change?
Definitely consider this.How much will it cost you to change?
Also consider that we're fast on the way out of winter now, so buying something for winter as we come into weather where you could enjoy the Puma could have you kicking yourself!
Make sure you work out how much fuel you're using in the Puma, pence per mile, then what that number would be in its replacement. Then see how many miles you've gotta do to recoup your cost changing cars, and decide what's more economical!
Puma is a great little car to drive, it can't be that juicy surely ?
118D and the 1series in general I find are fantastic cars are fairly rewarding to drive, most importantly for you is the fuel economy which 118D should return 40+.
But for the cost difference you may aswell stay with the Puma chap.
118D and the 1series in general I find are fantastic cars are fairly rewarding to drive, most importantly for you is the fuel economy which 118D should return 40+.
But for the cost difference you may aswell stay with the Puma chap.
surely the puma must do circa 35 to 40mpg if driven properly?
you would need to do double that (say 60mpg) to see any reasonable returns, and any car that can do that mpg will easily cost a lot more and depreciate much harder than your current car!
just get some winter tyres for the puma, and you're sorted!
you would need to do double that (say 60mpg) to see any reasonable returns, and any car that can do that mpg will easily cost a lot more and depreciate much harder than your current car!
just get some winter tyres for the puma, and you're sorted!
wackojacko said:
Puma is a great little car to drive, it can't be that juicy surely ?
118D and the 1series in general I find are fantastic cars are fairly rewarding to drive, most importantly for you is the fuel economy which 118D should return 40+
But for the cost difference you may aswell stay with the Puma chap
All valid points, but how many 'chaps' do you know called Claire?118D and the 1series in general I find are fantastic cars are fairly rewarding to drive, most importantly for you is the fuel economy which 118D should return 40+
But for the cost difference you may aswell stay with the Puma chap
You already own the Puma, so the cost to you is nil. How many miles would you need to do to recoup the cost of the replacement car?
Also, your car will be fine in most road conditions if you are careful. I saw lots of rear-wheel drive cars (like the 1 series) struggling on the roads this winter, whereas front-wheel drive cars like your Puma were largely ok.
Tim
Also, your car will be fine in most road conditions if you are careful. I saw lots of rear-wheel drive cars (like the 1 series) struggling on the roads this winter, whereas front-wheel drive cars like your Puma were largely ok.
Tim
Was going to post a suggestion of "downgrading" to the 1.4 16v Puma but I've just looked at the stats and seems that the 1.4 actually returns pretty much exactly the same MPG as the 1.7 so seems pointless unless the saving in Tax will help?
Plus, I also imagine the 1.4 will work out far less economical in the long run as you will be pushing it harder than you probably would have the 1.7 to compensate for the lack of power.
Diesel isn't always the answer though. I would perfer to go for a small engined petrol over a big diesel any day. Simply because Diesel is more expensive to buy. The car will cost more too, as will maintenance.
As for 4x4, well, 4x4 and economical don't come in the same package unless you go for something like a Fiat Panda, which there is nothing wrong with. Just think it might be a million miles from a Puma (125hp to 60hp) and you will probably regret it.
Plus, I also imagine the 1.4 will work out far less economical in the long run as you will be pushing it harder than you probably would have the 1.7 to compensate for the lack of power.
Diesel isn't always the answer though. I would perfer to go for a small engined petrol over a big diesel any day. Simply because Diesel is more expensive to buy. The car will cost more too, as will maintenance.
As for 4x4, well, 4x4 and economical don't come in the same package unless you go for something like a Fiat Panda, which there is nothing wrong with. Just think it might be a million miles from a Puma (125hp to 60hp) and you will probably regret it.
Edited by Deluded on Sunday 20th February 16:03
Keep the puma and get some winter tyres, such good cars. Everytime I watch that top gear video it makes me smile.
Best sub £1000 small car IMO
Trev
Best sub £1000 small car IMO
Trev
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff