Why so many Puma STs for sale?

[Toyoda]

I'm looking for a warm hatch and these Puma STs are everywhere on the 2nd hand market. Why so many?! Literally every plate going up to 24 so it's not like its lease deals coming to an end unless 1year leases were popular on these I suppose. It's sort of the car I want but not quite. They just seem ridiculous value for money 2nd hand, Performance Pack being an essential of course and £18k or so gets one with low miles on a 23 plate.

Other cars around this age/performance level are the i20n but much rarer and look a bit pony. I'm not looking for a proper hot hatch like the Focus ST or i30N but what else would anyone recommend at the £18K ish or ideally lower price point?
Cheers!

[South tdf]

Ford made thousands of Pumas as Focus and Fiesta production slowed down. Lots went to rental firms, short term lease providers and Motability. The ST probably had the best manufacturer support / discount package.

[ChrisH72]

I quite like the Puma ST.

Problem it has is the Fiesta is slightly cheaper still and is arguably the more complete car. Its a proper hot hatch. The Puma is more of a family SUV but making it really sporty will give it a harsh ride which SUV buyers probably don't want.

If you don't need the added height or bigger boot I'd just get a late fiesta ST3. But if you like the way the Puma looks then I don't think it's a bad buy.

[Nyloc20]

We changed our 70 plate Fiesta ST Line X recently for a 21 plate Puma ST. The Fiesta was great, owned by us from almost new to 40k miles with no problem. I’m an old git with arthritis so we wanted something with a higher ride, I’m not an SUV fan generally. With fortunate timing we managed to get our friendly Ford dealer’s wife’s car as they needed a Kuga for their growing family. Specce’d fully loaded by the dealer from new, it’s fine, not the most stylish shape and loads about but I don’t care about that. I haven’t seen another ST on the road since we got ours. It’s the 1.5 engine so quite nippy although I’d have been happy with the 1.0 engine.
The steering is a bit sensitive but overall we’re very happy with it so far.

[jonwm]

It's the best selling new car in the UK this year

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

South tdf said:

Ford made thousands of Pumas as Focus and Fiesta production slowed down. Lots went to rental firms, short term lease providers and Motability. The ST probably had the best manufacturer support / discount package.

This is my understanding of it. In the years since its launch it was sold or leased in great numbers. Many of those leases have now ended with the cars being returned and subsequently on the market.