Ford Puma. Talk to me
Discussion
I know I know.
From my 'E36' thread it looks like I was all set to buy a 328 but after a test drive in a Puma I'm now not so sure.
The car I'm looking at is a '98 1.7 with 55k on the clock, it seemed in good condition and drove very well, there were minor rust spots but nothing major and certainly not enough to stop me from buying.
Aside from the rust issues is there anything major to watch out for?
Being Fiesta based it should be a bit good bit cheaper to run than the BMW and probably more fun to drive on the roads that I travel on regularly.
thanks!
From my 'E36' thread it looks like I was all set to buy a 328 but after a test drive in a Puma I'm now not so sure.
The car I'm looking at is a '98 1.7 with 55k on the clock, it seemed in good condition and drove very well, there were minor rust spots but nothing major and certainly not enough to stop me from buying.
Aside from the rust issues is there anything major to watch out for?
Being Fiesta based it should be a bit good bit cheaper to run than the BMW and probably more fun to drive on the roads that I travel on regularly.
thanks!
Mines on 109k and still going strong! Clutch is on the way out but that will be the first one its had!
Tyres are important get rid of the standard p6000s they are cr*p!
Service history is pretty important as the liners wear badly if the wrong grade of oil is used
otherwise great little car.
Tyres are important get rid of the standard p6000s they are cr*p!
Service history is pretty important as the liners wear badly if the wrong grade of oil is used
otherwise great little car.
Edited by balders187 on Tuesday 20th October 19:58
To be fair it is a girls car. Doesn't mean it isn't a very good car, just means the styling and marketing of the vehicle is feminine. My gf has a 2001 1.7 with 52k on in the rarer Medium Steel Blue colour. Very nice handling car, nippy, I wouldn't buy one that has rust already though.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Why is the search on this site so crap? I had to use google to find that.
Why is the search on this site so crap? I had to use google to find that.
I had two, both brand new Puma Blacks with leather. Very nice they were too although I didn't keep either of them long enough to know how well they lasted. Fantastic drivers cars and how much of a money pit can a car that's a jacked up fiesta really be? They are girly tho, no escaping that. If you're er, comfortable with that then go for it.
Somnophore said:
To be fair it is a girls car. Doesn't mean it isn't a very good car, just means the styling and marketing of the vehicle is feminine. My gf has a 2001 1.7 with 52k on in the rarer Medium Steel Blue colour. Very nice handling car, nippy, I wouldn't buy one that has rust already though.
I've never understood this viewpoint. I don't think they're especially feminine and agree with the poster before me, male owners definately seem to out-number females. ETA - Too slow again!
Edited by useyourdellusion on Tuesday 20th October 20:18
Somnophore said:
To be fair it is a girls car. Doesn't mean it isn't a very good car, just means the styling and marketing of the vehicle is feminine. My gf has a 2001 1.7 with 52k on in the rarer Medium Steel Blue colour. Very nice handling car, nippy, I wouldn't buy one that has rust already though.
That is the only downside being the girly reputation but I'm man enough to cope with that!You need to think of it as a 2 seater with a big parcel shelf, unless you are giving someone a short lift, it's not practical for rear passengers, boot size is ok actually but opening a little high for loading, altho my missus has had 4 bags of sand in hers, make sure bushes have been renewed as they effect the handling a lot. The gear stick can buzz in 3rd and sometimes other gears at low to mid speeds, this is a common fault and isn't something that seems to be fixable it's just a quirk of the car as far as I've heard. Ford lowered the cam belt interval for this car, so yours needs changing if it hasn't been.
unless you can locate one of the rare racing puma's - they have a cracking 'wide body' on them & usually carry the registration number ending in FRP (ford racing puma) avoid.
its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.
i'd go for an e36 bmw. i've got a 318is & have decided to add an e36 m3 to my drive as soon as i can find a good one.
much better car than a puma.
its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.
i'd go for an e36 bmw. i've got a 318is & have decided to add an e36 m3 to my drive as soon as i can find a good one.
much better car than a puma.
Edited by fatboy69 on Tuesday 20th October 22:13
Somnophore said:
The gear stick can buzz in 3rd and sometimes other gears at low to mid speeds, this is a common fault and isn't something that seems to be fixable it's just a quirk of the car as far as I've heard.
I found by bending the heat shield away from the gear linkages so that it doesn't brush against it, the buzzing stops.Great car, best car to drive I've ever owned. Punchy engine, communicative steering, sweet gearchange, lightweight by the standards of today's bloated cars. Watch for rust spots at the rear arches, make sure the right oil is in it... otherwise there is nothing to go expensively wrong, it's as cheap and easy to fix as... erm... a Ford Fiesta.
Do it, you won't regret it. Sure, you'll be able to get a faster car or a bigger car or a newer car or one with a "better" badge but none will make you smile like a Puma. It's a blokes car too.
Do it, you won't regret it. Sure, you'll be able to get a faster car or a bigger car or a newer car or one with a "better" badge but none will make you smile like a Puma. It's a blokes car too.
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