Mg zr or ford puma
Discussion
Right narrowed my search down to these two cars. Like the look of both cars but both have there faults. The puma tends to suffer with rust and the mg head gasket which is better for me as i can repair cars but cant weld. I dont really like the look of the inside of the puma and perfer the zr. But as i have a zs is it worth down sizeing to the zr. Haven't driving either of the cars so would like to know what they are like to drive and own on a day to day bases and which one would you go for.
The puma can be bought for less money than the zr and i believe they are cheaper insurance wise but haven't looked for either.
The puma can be bought for less money than the zr and i believe they are cheaper insurance wise but haven't looked for either.
Have a drive of both and see what floats your boat.
I've not driven a ZR, but have been in one and it seemed pretty good, if a little uncomfortably stiff on bad road surfaces. Practical if you need a bit of versatility, and the grey and the blue ones look pretty good imho.
The Puma is small inside, plasticky, not ideal for a six footer and the arches rust before your very eyes ( but the rest seems to stay solid). To add to this you wouldn't want to sit in the back of one for very long if you have legs and the boot opening is an unhelpful shape. But... by god do they drive well! If you like your noodley b-roads have a go down one in a decent Puma - you won't be dissapointed.
I've not driven a ZR, but have been in one and it seemed pretty good, if a little uncomfortably stiff on bad road surfaces. Practical if you need a bit of versatility, and the grey and the blue ones look pretty good imho.
The Puma is small inside, plasticky, not ideal for a six footer and the arches rust before your very eyes ( but the rest seems to stay solid). To add to this you wouldn't want to sit in the back of one for very long if you have legs and the boot opening is an unhelpful shape. But... by god do they drive well! If you like your noodley b-roads have a go down one in a decent Puma - you won't be dissapointed.
MG CHRIS said:
Right narrowed my search down to these two cars. Like the look of both cars but both have there faults. The puma tends to suffer with rust and the mg head gasket which is better for me as i can repair cars but cant weld. I dont really like the look of the inside of the puma and perfer the zr. But as i have a zs is it worth down sizeing to the zr. Haven't driving either of the cars so would like to know what they are like to drive and own on a day to day bases and which one would you go for.
The puma can be bought for less money than the zr and i believe they are cheaper insurance wise but haven't looked for either.
Try a 200BRM, better than both The puma can be bought for less money than the zr and i believe they are cheaper insurance wise but haven't looked for either.
The Puma is nice, good bolt action gearchange. A fairly willing motor, but if you drive a VVC (or even a 1.8i K Series), then the Ford will feel strained and lacking in power.
Small boot and rear seats in the Puma and easy to get lots of rain water in the boot off the hatch when you open it.
But its a good drive, very chuckable, a coupe, good looking and likely to be a classic at some point.
The ZR is a better all round car in terms of space. Good chassis and quite chuckable too and a noticeable amount faster with the right engine.
I dont know see. I like the look of the zr but is it worth it when i already got a zs. My next door neighbour has a puma and he loves driving it but ive never driving one myself just dont like the inside. Is there anyhting you can do to it to make it look better. Rust the main downside of them for me though.
apparently pumas rust so badly on the rear arches, that you can't get arch repair panels anymore! but (not accepting any responsibility for this information!) peugeot 206 front arches can be made to fit, and whole wings are quite cheap...
puma was almost impossible to see out the back iirc
always fancied a zr, nearly gone for one a few times. once head gasket done properly, you won't have to do it again. and you won't have to change your user name!
puma was almost impossible to see out the back iirc
always fancied a zr, nearly gone for one a few times. once head gasket done properly, you won't have to do it again. and you won't have to change your user name!
Eunos said:
Just out of curiosity, would you consider a Mazda MX-3 over a Puma? IMO a far better looking & handling car. Plus you don't have all the rust issues of the Puma, my 14 year old '3 is clean as a whistle underneath and not a bubble of rust anywhere.
They are v6 right. If so insurance will be stupid for me.
I have 2 Pumas, they rust, they drip water into the boot when you open it when wet, the seats don't offer much support, the rear seats are pointless, the rear view mirror obscures your vision if you are 6ft, the interior is as cheap as it looks but wears well, the brakes are lacking on early cars, to window trims rust inside the rubber, 5th isn't really enough for the motorway, you'll want a 6th... the heater control valve is unreliable and likely to crumble into pieces... I could go on.
The thing is all of this and more is forgotten as soon as you get enough open road to have a play, they are addictive little things. I bought mine as a cheap daily driver to keep my special car for "best" - I sold the special car a year ago and still have the Puma (and another) because it brought me more smiles per mile.
I haven't experienced a ZR unfortunately but all I can do is echo the comments to try both cars and if you get a Puma get one where the niggles have been sorted out already.
The thing is all of this and more is forgotten as soon as you get enough open road to have a play, they are addictive little things. I bought mine as a cheap daily driver to keep my special car for "best" - I sold the special car a year ago and still have the Puma (and another) because it brought me more smiles per mile.
I haven't experienced a ZR unfortunately but all I can do is echo the comments to try both cars and if you get a Puma get one where the niggles have been sorted out already.
vx220 said:
apparently pumas rust so badly on the rear arches, that you can't get arch repair panels anymore!
Not entirely true. You can get repair panels for the arches from a company in Germany for around £100. The finish of them is apparently very good (I have just ordered some myself). I've driven both and the Puma is certainly the better car to drive and is cheap as chips to run. If you can find a rust free example (not many around) then it would certainly be top of my list. They are cracking little cars.
The puma is such a love hate car, I love driving mine. The engine is willing and loves to rev, the gearchange is sweet and it really handles well. I hate watching it rust infront of my eyes, I hate how poor the brakes are and I hate using it for my daily motorway comute. Yet I have no doubts that I would buy one again.
T'is true that 206 front arches can be used to repair puma rear arches. o/s/f to n/s/r and n/s/f to o/s/r.
I have never driven an MG ZR but I hear good things about them, would still prefer a puma on looks alone though.
T'is true that 206 front arches can be used to repair puma rear arches. o/s/f to n/s/r and n/s/f to o/s/r.
I have never driven an MG ZR but I hear good things about them, would still prefer a puma on looks alone though.
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