Ford Puma, 330Ci or....

[Deep Thought]

I've decided its time i bought a new "project" - i'll break the good news to Mrs Deep Thought at a later date, probably from a "seeking forgiveness" standpoint.

Prerequisites would be :-

• no more than a couple of thousand.
• Headroom in the price it can be bought at to do any work required and still get out the other end on price (ie, not spend more getting it up to standard than its going to be worth)
• No ridiculous amount of work required. Happy to replace body panels, sort out some tin worm issues, but nothing too heavy duty.
• Value likely to go up

Candidates would be so far :-

• Ford Puma 1.7 - can be bought for £500 or less needing sills welded and arches. Clean ones making maybe £1500 so enough headroom in the price to make it worthwhile
• BMW 330Ci M Sport. Still some avail under £2K. Mint ones start at maybe £3-4K.

Cars i've done before and want to thus avoid :-

• MX5. I've had loads of those.
• Clios. Done the 172, 182, 197, 200 thing
• MG TF.
• MG ZT
• MG ZS
• Golf GTIs
• MINIs

So what should i add to my very short short list?

[Integroo]

Mk2 MR2s? Can be get ropey one's for a 1000-1500ish.

[ALTO77]

i have owned both and from memory the puma was much more fun, handling was excellent on the puma, bends and roundabouts could be taken at speeds that my brain didn`t think were possible, not the most refined of things but the little 1.7 engine pulled really well, on paper figures would classify it as slow but keep the revs up (which it seemed to love) and the little thing would suprise you with the pace it could carry. The BMW was much more refined but with the M sport suspension and 18" wheels that mine had i always found the suspension a bit harsh and it seemed to tramline a lot, the engine was good, pulled really well and made a decent noise, but I never really gelled with it and it did throw up some big bills for general supension component replacement etc. I don`t have any thoughts of ever owning another one, the puma on the other hand was cheap as chips to run but then I wouldn`t want one as my only car, but a well taken care of Puma as a second car would still be a great idea in my opinion.

[Ahbefive]

Classic impreza?

[ANIL-4tdkf]

Ford Puma Thunder.

I have one that would be classed as a project, sat in my garage for nearly 2 years (Sorn'd)

Think previously owned by a Pistonheader here.

Currently deciding whether to restore, turn into a trackday car or sell.

Handling is sublime.

[DJ_AS]

Mitsubishi FTO

[TameRacingDriver]

I've had a Puma and an E36 328 so similar enough. The BMW is a nicer car, more relaxed, bit quicker, more comfortable, better looking, RWD etc. That said, the Puma was more fun to rag around, it wasn't quick but the handling was excellent and it was small and light enough to feel agile and give an acceptable turn of pace, was more raw and exciting, and the Puma was never left behind by the BMW on anything except a decent straight.

Depends what you want really.

I've got an MR2 Mk3 now. I would seriously look at those if you can make do without any practicality.

[Deep Thought]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I did read the posts at the time

Had a couple of mk2 MR2s and a mk3 MR2s, and whilst i wouldnt rule them out i dont think i'd go out looking for one again - although if the right one came along....

Mitsubishi FTO - yes, good call

Scooby WRX. I'll mull that one over.

Checking gumtree, facebook and autotrader for all of those within a 50 mile radius....

[TameRacingDriver]

I would consider an EP3 Civic Type-R too. The steering is crap, but nearly everything else about them is good or excellent. Especially the engine. That noise!

[TheVole]

ANIL-4tdkf said:

Ford Puma Thunder.

I have one that would be classed as a project, sat in my garage for nearly 2 years (Sorn'd)

Think previously owned by a Pistonheader here.

Currently deciding whether to restore, turn into a trackday car or sell.

Handling is sublime.

The reg isn't GV51 EKA by any chance, is it? If so, I'd like it back!

[culpz]

325ti? Ignis/Swift Sport? Yaris T-Sport? Panda 100HP? Twingo GT/133?

[thetapeworm]

Puma definitely, I've had a couple and they are seriously fun, with a few enhancements (and rust repairs) they can really hold their own on road and track. If I was to do it again I'd look at some seats with more bolster, the car could corner far better than I could cling on to the wheel

[ANIL-4tdkf]

TheVole said:

The reg isn't GV51 EKA by any chance, is it? If so, I'd like it back!

No. I think it maybe Rob Dickinson's.