Ford Puma?

[Mudflapps]

Long time lurker & have enjoyed reading these suggestion posts for a long while.

Partner is looking to buy a Ford Puma. Anything to look out for or any better options to suggest (e.g. 2008).

Budget approx £15k. Looking for less than 30k miles and the newer the better.

Thanks all!

[WPA]

From what I understand the Ecoboost engine is not the best

Mazda CX30 is another option

[Truckosaurus]

WPA said:

From what I understand the Ecoboost engine is not the best

Not all Ecoboosts are equal. The larger ones with dry belts are perfectly fine. The smaller 1.0 ones with wetbelts need perfect servicing.

[WPA]

Truckosaurus said:

WPA said:

From what I understand the Ecoboost engine is not the best

Not all Ecoboosts are equal. The larger ones with dry belts are perfectly fine. The smaller 1.0 ones with wetbelts need perfect servicing.

All Puma's apart from the ST or diesel are the 1.0 or 1.0 MHEV

[ChrisH72]

I've had a few Ford's in the past including the original Puma coupe. All were great to drive and never have me any problems.

With a £15k budget you'd be getting a 2 or 3 year old Puma depending on spec. They all use the 1.0 ecoboost (found in most Ford's these days) unless you count the Puma ST which is out of budget. I believe most problems would have been sorted so reliability wouldn't worry me.

I've eyed the Puma up as our next family car which will mainly be used by my wife. Never tried one but reviews suggest it's best in class to drive. Also worth a look is the Skoda Kamiq and Seat Arona.

The Mazda CX30 looks good value but I haven't checked if they're down to £15k yet. I have an mx5 ND with the later 2.0 engine. Its a great drive but still doesn't feel particularly quick despite its small size and weight. I think in a larger family SUV the turbo engines are a better bet and might be more relaxing to drive.

[Mudflapps]

Thanks for the quick responses

I'd heard the horror of wet belts in older Fiestas and wrongly assumed that issue would have been resolved by now.

All the 1L Pumas still using wet belt then?

I'll have a proper look at the CX-30. Similar price range to the Puma. Performance isn't too much of a concern. Everything of this age should be fine I'd hope.

[BenS94]

The 1.0 EcoBoost from late 2018 onwards is chain driven. My mother loves hers. The later EB has far more grunt than the earlier too.

[g40steve]

BenS94 said:

The 1.0 EcoBoost from late 2018 onwards is chain driven. My mother loves hers. The later EB has far more grunt than the earlier too.

Finally some truth & not rumours & myths that started with the very first eco boost motors 2012.

Mrs has 1.0 155 Puma & mines 1.5 ST3

[demic]

My wife’s lunched its gearbox at three years old and only 22k. Lost second gear completely. Not my wife’s driving style before any smart arse pipes up!

[BenS94]

demic said:

My wife’s lunched its gearbox at three years old and only 22k. Lost second gear completely. Not my wife’s driving style before any smart arse pipes up!

Yep, thats common with the slightly later cars, I have two friends, both Richards, both with 155 bhp Pumas... same issue on both, chipped teeth on a cog. One started with a noise at just 100 miles/1 week in, the other about 25,000 miles/6 months in (driving school)

[ChrisH72]

I remember reading on a forum that the 2nd gear issue was most common on 20/21 reg 155 models. Wet belt not an issue as all Pumas will be chain driven.

Honestly I wouldn't let it bother me. All cars can have faults and the Internet is full of horror stories. Take the PSA 1.2 puretech for example, my dad has had his Citroen with that engine for 8 years now with no problems whatsoever. Modern cars are pretty reliable if you look after them on the whole but all have the potential to go wrong and cost money.

I did check the prices of the CX30 and it appears you can get them for under £15k so could be worth a look. They're nice cars with a very upmarket interior. Should drive okay and be reliable enough.

[WPA]

BenS94 said:

The 1.0 EcoBoost from late 2018 onwards is chain driven. My mother loves hers. The later EB has far more grunt than the earlier too.

When I asked on here, I was told whilst the later ones are chain the oil pump drive is still a belt

For context my dad has a 2022 MHEV St-X line version, he is not a fan and has always been a Ford fan, ride is very lumpy (19" alloys) and the infotainment is clunky to say the least plus endless menus also MPG is not brilliant.

I have a Mazda CX3 and the interior is leagues ahead in terms of quality and finish, the Puma does not even have a rest for your clutch foot

[BenS94]

WPA said:

BenS94 said:

The 1.0 EcoBoost from late 2018 onwards is chain driven. My mother loves hers. The later EB has far more grunt than the earlier too.

When I asked on here, I was told whilst the later ones are chain the oil pump drive is still a belt

For context my dad has a 2022 MHEV St-X line version, he is not a fan and has always been a Ford fan, ride is very lumpy (19" alloys) and the infotainment is clunky to say the least plus endless menus also MPG is not brilliant.

I have a Mazda CX3 and the interior is leagues ahead in terms of quality and finish, the Puma does not even have a rest for your clutch foot

My mothers is on the 19s, I thought it was quite smooth, but she did come from 2 Mini JCWs. Supposedly the earlier cars have the odd "better" bits to them which were later dropped.

[demic]

ChrisH72 said:

I remember reading on a forum that the 2nd gear issue was most common on 20/21 reg 155 models. Wet belt not an issue as all Pumas will be chain.

Yes the wife’s was a 70 plate. ST Line-X 155hp. It was nice to drive, the engine really punchy and apart from the gearbox it was fairly reliable. It had a few minor electrical issues (none that rendered it undriveable) but then they can affect most cars these days given it only takes one duff sensor to trick the car into thinking it’s going to explode!

I would say that it felt cheap, cost cutting apparent everywhere. I know it’s based on the Fiesta but given the premium Ford were asking over it then you’d have expected a bit better fit and finish.

If you get one and planning on keeping long term then keep the rear doors and sills clean, they are proper filth traps. The amount of muck that built up was quite unbelievable. Hopefully Ford have done got the rustproofing right otherwise in a few years it’ll be hard to find one without holes in the rear doors!

[Mudflapps]

Thanks all. Sounds like the Puma is about as reliable as anything else and nothing to be put off by.

The CX-30 was initially dismissed on looks but could be worth getting inside if the interior is a step above.

[ChrisH72]

Have you considered the Kamiq?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024091941...

Reviews are pretty good.

[BenS94]

Mudflapps said:

Thanks all. Sounds like the Puma is about as reliable as anything else and nothing to be put off by.

The CX-30 was initially dismissed on looks but could be worth getting inside if the interior is a step above.

Personally I'd go Mazda3 instead of CX-30 as the expanse of black plastic to fade is not good...

[LightningBlue]

Rather than UVs a decent Focus ST could be tantalisingly close to your budget and mileage requirements and would be a lot more fun to drive

[ChrisH72]

LightningBlue said:

Rather than UVs a decent Focus ST could be tantalisingly close to your budget and mileage requirements and would be a lot more fun to drive

I've been through this with my wife's car. She has the family car which allows me to have my mx5. Now if it were up to me, our family car would be a hot hatch and there are plenty that would do the job. But it's not my car and I respect the fact that she doesn't want that kind of thing. I suspect the OP is in a similar position.

In reality there's nothing wrong with having an SUV. Look around and you'll see they're a pretty popular choice. Performance and handling are not everyone's top priority which I think is fair enough.

[Mudflapps]

ChrisH72 said:

I've been through this with my wife's car. She has the family car which allows me to have my mx5. Now if it were up to me, our family car would be a hot hatch and there are plenty that would do the job. But it's not my car and I respect the fact that she doesn't want that kind of thing. I suspect the OP is in a similar position.

In reality there's nothing wrong with having an SUV. Look around and you'll see they're a pretty popular choice. Performance and handling are not everyone's top priority which I think is fair enough.

You're correct- this is the situation. A Focus or Mazda 3 are likely better but I won't be driving it.