Ford Puma. Talk to me

[Papa Hotel]

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

[deevlash]

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car

Tiff Needell, Evo, Autocar, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Parry Jones think youre wrong.

[ceriw]

deevlash said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car

Tiff Needell, Evo, Autocar, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Parry Jones think youre wrong.

I have a 330ci msport which i use for trips through europe.
My g/f has a 'girly' 1.7vct puma (125bhp)- I am 6ft4 17 stone - and in my humble opinion the puma is an excellent responsive drivers car, and if the professional drivers above don't convince an open mind of that either, well...

Incidentally, initially I was very sceptical about the puma... but then I drove it through europe to deliver it to her. It really is a very rewarding car to drive in many respects.

If you have the cash for the 155 bhp FRP, or even an IMTECH 1.6 turbo....

[sday12]

Papa Hotel said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

Have you tried those rear seats? Also anyone over the size of 5'9 will struggle on a long journey.

[ceriw]

sday12 said:

Papa Hotel said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

Have you tried those rear seats? Also anyone over the size of 5'9 will struggle on a long journey.

This is true.... the rear seats are ok (we found) for up to a 5ft 5'er but nothing greater.
If I'm in the front -6ft4- then an amputee might be happy on the rear seat.

[Mr Gearchange]

fatboy69 said:

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.

Edited by fatboy69 on Tuesday 20th October 22:13

Sorry but that is absolute, uninformed bks.

[sday12]

ceriw said:

sday12 said:

Papa Hotel said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

Have you tried those rear seats? Also anyone over the size of 5'9 will struggle on a long journey.

This is true.... the rear seats are ok (we found) for up to a 5ft 5'er but nothing greater.
If I'm in the front -6ft4- then an amputee might be happy on the rear seat.

And just when you think you're in they close the hatchback and the glass smashes around your head.

[ceriw]

sday12 said:

ceriw said:

sday12 said:

Papa Hotel said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

Have you tried those rear seats? Also anyone over the size of 5'9 will struggle on a long journey.

This is true.... the rear seats are ok (we found) for up to a 5ft 5'er but nothing greater.
If I'm in the front -6ft4- then an amputee might be happy on the rear seat.

And just when you think you're in they close the hatchback and the glass smashes around your head.

yes, I agree, its small back there.
I'll amend that to read an amputee with head, or their tall headless other half... anyway - don't buy the puma if you are greater than 2.5

[Somnophore]

Yeah if you get one, you either need a friend/partner who has a proper 5 seat car or just be aware you're never giving more than 1 person a lift. I have a 5 door golf, when it's more than me and her we take the golf when it's just us we usually take the Puma, although if it's a long journy we take the golf as the puma can be tiring on long journeys but also because we are both insured on my car but I'm not insured on hers.

[rallycross]

they are great to drive, cheap to run, in fact its hard to find something as good for the £££ spent, brilliant steering, nice revvy engine, crisp gearchange and they look good. Only down side is drivers seat feels too high up.

on the 1.7 cambelt needs to be done at 60k or 6 years, it costs £250 - £350 to get that done. 1.6 is surpisingly close in performance in normal use but cheaper to insure and cambelt is 10 yrs or 100k.

look out for worn rear suspension bushes will hear a clonk when you go over bumps.

rust gets them on the rear arches and bottom of the sills near the rear arches.



If you are doing lots of motorway trips a 328 will be so much better though.

[jet_noise]

Dear raf gti,

there's a dedicated website clincky.

One of these has been on my shortlist for the winter along with a Ka. I have to say I preferred the feel of the Ka although the Puma was quicker of course. I like quite an upright short armed driving position and found my head almost above the windscreen in the Puma,

regards,
Jet

[RobDickinson]

Had one for 6months, loved it, wasnt good on motorway cruises but a blast apart from that, picked it instead of an st170, as a 2nd car to the RX8.

Tho coul dhave eaisly got an mx5 instead.

[Papa Hotel]

sday12 said:

Papa Hotel said:

fatboy69 said:

its not a particularly good car. its just another average 2 seater 'sports' car.

I wouldn't take advice on the Ford Puma from someone who thinks it's a 2-seat sports car...

Have you tried those rear seats? Also anyone over the size of 5'9 will struggle on a long journey.

I wouldn't dispute that the rear seats aren't massive but they're not so small as to be insignificant. Everyone elses friends must be considerably bigger than mine though, I must be the only person on Pistonheads that doesn't regularly ferry giants around. My point was that the Puma is not a 2-seat sports car. Above who says it is really knows nothing about it and only a moron would take their advice.

[Chris71]

What are they like on the motorway?

I've never driven one for more than a short blat. Have to say on that I found the body control to be good, nice turn in, crisp revvy engine and well-weighted steering, but the feedback wasn't quite up to the sort of levels I was expecting. Still a better all round package than most warm FWD cars though. The only thing is the boot is really pretty tiny.

Another random question - am I right in thinking you can get some with HID headlights?

[Lucie W]

90%+ of pumas will have rusted already, it's cheap to put right so I wouldn't worry about it. Mines the 1.4 and I love it. I can't see why someone would want to have a KA over a Puma, unless you want a newer car. As has already been said, the cambelt will need changing if it hasn't been already, and the bushes are likely to need replacing too. I need mine replacing before its MOT in December.

Obviously the bmw is in a different league, but for a much cheaper fun drive, the Puma is definitely a good idea and apart from one or two people in this thread, I have never ever heard anyone say a bad thing about them!

[RobCrezz]

fatboy69 said:

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.

Edited by fatboy69 on Tuesday 20th October 22:13

Nither the Puma, or the FRP are 2 seaters.

318is are crap and slow.

[ceriw]

Chris71 said:

What are they like on the motorway?

I've never driven one for more than a short blat. Have to say on that I found the body control to be good, nice turn in, crisp revvy engine and well-weighted steering, but the feedback wasn't quite up to the sort of levels I was expecting. Still a better all round package than most warm FWD cars though. The only thing is the boot is really pretty tiny.

Another random question - am I right in thinking you can get some with HID headlights?

I understand that the use of HID headlights is illegal - I looked at this because the standard lights are really quite poor. They are fittable though, and fineable too. Probably.

I drove my g/f's puma 3000 miles on motorway last year to deliver it - I really found it to be smooth responsive and perfectly fine. I'm used to the msport suspension set up on the 330 but I do prefer a harder ride than most I guess? G/f never complains about the firm ride either. She's an enthusiastic driver.

SHe had the 1.4lux first as a taster, but enjoys the 1.7 much much more.

She has adjustable coil over suspension and 18" rims which make the car very direct. McQueen would've approved.

Edited by ceriw on Wednesday 21st October 10:05

[damci]

Fantastic little cars I'd personally take one over an E36 BMW all day, every day unless it’s an M3 Evo. Watch out for rusty arches they all rust even if there’s none there now they will rust in the future if it’s not treated properly. Cambelts should all be replaced by now, if it hasn't then that’s a £300+ job from Ford. Also things like suspension bushes may be a little tired and need replacement.

[Mr Gearchange]

They aren't great motorway cars but I do a lot of motorway driving in mine and whilst they are noisy the seats are comfortable - I'm 6 foot 5" and i ache less having got out of the Puma after 2 hours of motorway driving than I did in my A4.

If you really want some fun in one put P6000's on the rear and something decent on the front and find some empty wet roundabouts - huge easy to provoke oversteer*

• this may or may not be a good idea depending on how quick your hands are!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Mostly it's been said. Check cambwlt is changed, it will have rusty arches and maybe sills. Check service schedule has been stuck to properly! Correct oil and coolant.

Build quality is not up to BMW standards and it feels.cheap imho. 1.7s did have a cylinder liner issue but not sure how you check it! Heater valve will break repeatedly but an easy fix.

Cd stacker 6006 is rubbish and will eat your cds. I don't like the driving position - too high and hard seats that you sit on rather than in. Doesn't feel special inside, and visibility. Is poor - small rear window and large a and c pillars. Water pours into the boot if you open hatch fast.

Having said that, I love my wife's. It's nippy and handles really nicely. Go for it!