Controversial? Our 2020 Ford Puma!
Discussion
Behold, its our new steed! Well, it’s the good lady wife’s daily driver if I’m being precise.
It’s a Ford Puma! An SUV Puma!
And we financed it too.
Angry yet?
Our Puma
I’m a massive Ford fan, always have been. The Mrs was on the lookout for something new and liked the Jaguar E-Pace. However, with a recent house move meaning she is closer to the office, and with me not wanting to change my very old Cayenne, we couldn’t see the point in two big cars. I suggested the Puma. We looked, she liked, we bought. Happy days!
We’ve gone for the Titanium 1.0 Ecoboost model which is petrol only. The next model up in the engine range is the Mild-Hybrid which seems like a total waste of time, with more to go wrong, and extra money but having very few of the advantages of true hybrid. The alternative to the Titanium spec is the ST-Line, which has a sporty body kit and a different interior spec.
Our Titanium comes with fully fabric seats, which we preferred to the ST as they are softer for us dodgy-back folk and a bonus that they have massage function too! Very swish! There is a touch-screen dash with all the latest tech, including a sat-nav with built in traffic, DAB radio and two USB ports for music. There is lots of driver-aid tech which I’ve not played with yet, such as lane departure warning etc, and it also has speed sign recognition which is displayed on the dashboard too.
Titanium comes with standard clocks (rev and speedo) as apposed to a full width LCD screen in the ST-Line, but this didn’t bother the Mrs and personally, I’m old school and still like traditional clocks.
Dashboard colour scheme at night is a light blue which looks really nice.
Dealer
Dealer was friendly enough – a fairly straightforward transaction with a deal that I was happy with. Collection and ordering are now devoid of glitz and extended handovers due to Covid, but he still managed to make it a special day for us and no complaints.
Sat with its stablemate. Garage decorating not yet finished, bare with me
Features
Seems a nice thing to drive, with enough room for our family of three. The boot has a big hole where you’d expect a spare wheel, and that gives you plenty of handy luggage space.
It has a 3-year warranty and 2-year or 18,000-mile servicing intervals which is great, so it should work out pretty cheap to own.
Problems
Yep!
I tried calling for an appointment at Ford to get it looked at, but that’s not easy – Ford use call centres so getting through takes forever. I called our sales rep and he said its best to come down and make an appointment with them directly, which we did. Initially we were offered an appointment for September, which we said was no good given the problem and so they moved it forward to 12th August.
First is we spotted a scratch on the rear panel when we got home, which I thought looked too deep to polish out. Another issue was the DAB radio doesn’t work which just showed “5A” on the screen permanently, and no matter what I pressed I couldn’t get it to work. We took it back to make an appointment for the third problem (which we’ll come on to) and they polished out the scratch there and then, and sorted out the DAB radio. Apparently, that was user error, but I’ve no idea what they did because I pressed every friggin’ button there was to press and nothing made it work!
Problem number three: The Alarm. My worst nightmare of any car issue is a faulty alarm system. The bloody thing just goes off at random – including in the middle of the night. Horn blaring, alarm screeching, waking up everyone on the street, and you can’t lock the car without it setting the damn thing.
On the first night, on arriving home from a meet up with some mates, I decided to put it into the garage because it wouldn’t shut up - Wifey had gone through several hours of this pain in the arse before I got home. So rather than leaving it unlocked for opportunistic undesirables to root through outside, instead at 11pm at night I was clearing out all the crap that’s in the garage to make space for the Puma – and in doing so my daughters scooter fell over and has dented my Camaro. So, that was another sodding job to do as well. £80 lighter and a visit from dent company sorted that though.
The Puma was taken in earlier this month and the issue has been identified with the interior sensors, but the parts aren’t available so we’ve got to wait until they come in. In order to fix them they’ll have to take off all the inner roof lining to replace the sensors, so I’m already expecting that sort of repair is going to lead to more problems further down the line. In the meantime, whilst it is possible to disable the interior sensors, you have to do it every single time you get out of the car, which is really annoying. There is a setting for this in the menus, but it doesn’t remember your choice, which makes you wonder what’s the point of the setting?
Overall
It’s great to have a Ford back in the family, they are my favourite brand, especially one this new with all the tech to play around with. But the problems with the Alarm has taken the shine off already and as the dealer can’t do anything until the parts arrive – with no expected date – we are left having to remember to actually turn it off it every time we take it out, which we don’t.
I'll keep this running report updated if anyone is interested?
It’s a Ford Puma! An SUV Puma!
And we financed it too.
Angry yet?
Our Puma
I’m a massive Ford fan, always have been. The Mrs was on the lookout for something new and liked the Jaguar E-Pace. However, with a recent house move meaning she is closer to the office, and with me not wanting to change my very old Cayenne, we couldn’t see the point in two big cars. I suggested the Puma. We looked, she liked, we bought. Happy days!
We’ve gone for the Titanium 1.0 Ecoboost model which is petrol only. The next model up in the engine range is the Mild-Hybrid which seems like a total waste of time, with more to go wrong, and extra money but having very few of the advantages of true hybrid. The alternative to the Titanium spec is the ST-Line, which has a sporty body kit and a different interior spec.
Our Titanium comes with fully fabric seats, which we preferred to the ST as they are softer for us dodgy-back folk and a bonus that they have massage function too! Very swish! There is a touch-screen dash with all the latest tech, including a sat-nav with built in traffic, DAB radio and two USB ports for music. There is lots of driver-aid tech which I’ve not played with yet, such as lane departure warning etc, and it also has speed sign recognition which is displayed on the dashboard too.
Titanium comes with standard clocks (rev and speedo) as apposed to a full width LCD screen in the ST-Line, but this didn’t bother the Mrs and personally, I’m old school and still like traditional clocks.
Dashboard colour scheme at night is a light blue which looks really nice.
Dealer
Dealer was friendly enough – a fairly straightforward transaction with a deal that I was happy with. Collection and ordering are now devoid of glitz and extended handovers due to Covid, but he still managed to make it a special day for us and no complaints.
Sat with its stablemate. Garage decorating not yet finished, bare with me
Features
Seems a nice thing to drive, with enough room for our family of three. The boot has a big hole where you’d expect a spare wheel, and that gives you plenty of handy luggage space.
It has a 3-year warranty and 2-year or 18,000-mile servicing intervals which is great, so it should work out pretty cheap to own.
Problems
Yep!
I tried calling for an appointment at Ford to get it looked at, but that’s not easy – Ford use call centres so getting through takes forever. I called our sales rep and he said its best to come down and make an appointment with them directly, which we did. Initially we were offered an appointment for September, which we said was no good given the problem and so they moved it forward to 12th August.
First is we spotted a scratch on the rear panel when we got home, which I thought looked too deep to polish out. Another issue was the DAB radio doesn’t work which just showed “5A” on the screen permanently, and no matter what I pressed I couldn’t get it to work. We took it back to make an appointment for the third problem (which we’ll come on to) and they polished out the scratch there and then, and sorted out the DAB radio. Apparently, that was user error, but I’ve no idea what they did because I pressed every friggin’ button there was to press and nothing made it work!
Problem number three: The Alarm. My worst nightmare of any car issue is a faulty alarm system. The bloody thing just goes off at random – including in the middle of the night. Horn blaring, alarm screeching, waking up everyone on the street, and you can’t lock the car without it setting the damn thing.
On the first night, on arriving home from a meet up with some mates, I decided to put it into the garage because it wouldn’t shut up - Wifey had gone through several hours of this pain in the arse before I got home. So rather than leaving it unlocked for opportunistic undesirables to root through outside, instead at 11pm at night I was clearing out all the crap that’s in the garage to make space for the Puma – and in doing so my daughters scooter fell over and has dented my Camaro. So, that was another sodding job to do as well. £80 lighter and a visit from dent company sorted that though.
The Puma was taken in earlier this month and the issue has been identified with the interior sensors, but the parts aren’t available so we’ve got to wait until they come in. In order to fix them they’ll have to take off all the inner roof lining to replace the sensors, so I’m already expecting that sort of repair is going to lead to more problems further down the line. In the meantime, whilst it is possible to disable the interior sensors, you have to do it every single time you get out of the car, which is really annoying. There is a setting for this in the menus, but it doesn’t remember your choice, which makes you wonder what’s the point of the setting?
Overall
It’s great to have a Ford back in the family, they are my favourite brand, especially one this new with all the tech to play around with. But the problems with the Alarm has taken the shine off already and as the dealer can’t do anything until the parts arrive – with no expected date – we are left having to remember to actually turn it off it every time we take it out, which we don’t.
I'll keep this running report updated if anyone is interested?
Thanks for the replies everyone!!
The user manual suggests you turn the ‘Ask on exit’ function on and then when you turn the ignition off you use the information display controls on the steering wheel with the toggle button to choose Perimeter Sensing. Doesn’t sound hugely onerous.. sounds like one flick (at most) and click OK?Yep, thats right. There are actually two settings, one is just a fit-and-forget, so you choose which type of alarm you want and thats it. Trouble is, the car forgets what you chose and so you have to do every time you get in. The other option as you say is that the car asks you every time you turn it off. It is indeed one flick and a click of the OK. Now that's not a problem... except when you forget to do it... or even worse, you forget if you have forgot to do it and run either the roulette of a 3am wakeup, or go outside and turn the car on-and-off to get the option back up and make sure you select it. It's not hard, but it is a pain in the ass. If you could just permanently set it to partial alarm, that would be simple and I'd not even have it repaired, in order that they don't have to take the interior to bits. Sadly, you can't. 
bigandclever said:
Cloudy147 said:
In the meantime, whilst it is possible to disable the interior sensors, you have to do it every single time you get out of the car, which is really annoying. There is a setting for this in the menus, but it doesn’t remember your choice, which makes you wonder what’s the point of the setting?
I’m just being nosey The user manual suggests you turn the ‘Ask on exit’ function on and then when you turn the ignition off you use the information display controls on the steering wheel with the toggle button to choose Perimeter Sensing. Doesn’t sound hugely onerous.. sounds like one flick (at most) and click OK?
If you could just permanently set it to partial alarm, that would be simple and I'd not even have it repaired, in order that they don't have to take the interior to bits. Sadly, you can't. NDNDNDND said:
Let's get to the real question here: why don't you own a Mustang?
haha!! I wanted Bumblebee. The movie sold it to me. (running report here) Edited by Cloudy147 on Friday 28th August 19:27
Hi all,
Thanks again for your comments!
This apparently triggers a red flag against the dealer and that impacts the salesman directly. I got a call just a few days after submitting the survey to be told this by a not overly happy salesman.... But the good news was that amazingly the parts had just arrived for our alarm. What a coincidence eh?
Post fitting I'd have the opportunity to fill in another survey which will set things straight for the salesman if they've done a good job. Which they did, so I did.
The service at Ford isn't the same as the 'premium' brands though. The car was not washed, it was parked 'somewhere' in their massive car park and I had to go searching for it and they left grubby finger marks all over the headlining where the grease man had been fitting the new parts. I had to spend half an hour sorting those with Autoglyms finest (one of the stains hasn't fully come off, still need to sort that).
But as for the car itself, all has been well and no issues to report. DAB radio sounds noticeabley better than FM. The Ford App on your phone records your journeys so you can track how 'green' your drive was, mpg etc. It doesn't pair to the car though I've noticed, the app is on both phones and sometimes it'll record our journeys in my car rather than the Puma.
We had a courtesy MHEV model whilst ours was having the alarm repaired and the Mrs commented that it definately feels more nippy off the line than our standard petrol engine. Ours isn't exactly slow, but I think the MHEV is highlighting improvements that this sort of tech is bringing.
All in all these are just niggles. The car itself so far has been fine and the Mrs really likes it.
Average mpg is showing as a smidge under 40, which I think is very good given it is mainly used on non-motorways.
Thanks again for your comments!
Yaboo said:
Reviving this thread: how are you finding it a couple of months in?
All good so far. We are 1,200 miles in (more than I'd anticipated actually) and the alarm has been fixed. Hurrah! When you buy a new car from Ford you are asked to fill in a survey and, as I was to discover, anything other than stellar marks has a direct affect on targets/bonus of your sales rep. I completed mine honestly and stated the rep was very good, but the car has problems which aren't yet fixed.This apparently triggers a red flag against the dealer and that impacts the salesman directly. I got a call just a few days after submitting the survey to be told this by a not overly happy salesman.... But the good news was that amazingly the parts had just arrived for our alarm. What a coincidence eh?
Post fitting I'd have the opportunity to fill in another survey which will set things straight for the salesman if they've done a good job. Which they did, so I did.
The service at Ford isn't the same as the 'premium' brands though. The car was not washed, it was parked 'somewhere' in their massive car park and I had to go searching for it and they left grubby finger marks all over the headlining where the grease man had been fitting the new parts. I had to spend half an hour sorting those with Autoglyms finest (one of the stains hasn't fully come off, still need to sort that).
But as for the car itself, all has been well and no issues to report. DAB radio sounds noticeabley better than FM. The Ford App on your phone records your journeys so you can track how 'green' your drive was, mpg etc. It doesn't pair to the car though I've noticed, the app is on both phones and sometimes it'll record our journeys in my car rather than the Puma.
We had a courtesy MHEV model whilst ours was having the alarm repaired and the Mrs commented that it definately feels more nippy off the line than our standard petrol engine. Ours isn't exactly slow, but I think the MHEV is highlighting improvements that this sort of tech is bringing.
All in all these are just niggles. The car itself so far has been fine and the Mrs really likes it.
Average mpg is showing as a smidge under 40, which I think is very good given it is mainly used on non-motorways.
Edited by Cloudy147 on Sunday 25th October 07:12
RC1807 said:
Seems you were extremely generous to have updated the survey, when the monkeys didn't wear gloves whilst fitting interior parts, and you're left to clean it.
Yes I probably was, but it wasn't really the salesmans fault and didn't want to peanilise him for it. However, I do have my doubts about that particular dealer now. It seems very 'in-and-out', and I'd have expected more from a main dealer. Perhaps I'm expecting too much and have been spoilt with other brands like Porsche who's service is pretty exceptional.Yaboo said:
Does that not need reporting on the survey?
How’s the rear legroom behind the driver? (Haven’t had chance to look inside one yet)
Yes, I did record it on the survey in the comments section. Rear legroom, well... it depends on how tall the driver is! How’s the rear legroom behind the driver? (Haven’t had chance to look inside one yet)
Think fiesta size though and you are in the right ballpark. If you are tall, its fine for kids.Steve421 said:
I like these! Enthusiasts rage at the use of the name but I think they look cracking, can't wait to test an ST.
Sorry to hear of the issues you've had, it's all too easy for things like this to take the shine and excitement off a new car, hope you get sorted.
Thanks Steve. I know these new Puma's are a departure from the old one, but I think they actually suit the intended audience in the same way the old one did. I remember the original being launched, it was a rival to the Vauxall Tigra. Both were strereotypical 'girls' cars. I know they have a following now, and I've always loved them personally - but no bloke really wanted a Puma back at launch, they were looking at Cosworths, GTis and the like. This was a hairdresser type car - and the target audience at the time wanted something small but sporty, so thats what they got, based on a Fiesta.Sorry to hear of the issues you've had, it's all too easy for things like this to take the shine and excitement off a new car, hope you get sorted.
The new model hits the same demographic, albeit that same audience now wants small SUV styling, rather than sporty coupe style. And thats what we've got, and with that similar 'face'.
I imagine the upcoming ST will hit the sweet spot for those who enjoyed the Racing Puma back in the day.Well, the ownership of this one was short and sweet, having decided to consolidate two of our cars into one, and so we've sold the Puma to make way for a Jaguar E-Pace as a bigger family car.
Nothing wrong with the Puma at all, it was a fun little car, but just not quite big enough for all of our stuff.
The Puma went to WeBuyAnyCar and I got what I considered a good price - such a nice and easy transaction with no fuss!
Nothing wrong with the Puma at all, it was a fun little car, but just not quite big enough for all of our stuff.
The Puma went to WeBuyAnyCar and I got what I considered a good price - such a nice and easy transaction with no fuss!
The Mad Monk said:
Quote
"Nothing wrong with the Puma at all"
Isn't strictly accurate, is it?
In fact it's not at all accurate.
If you wanted an SUV why didn't you buy a Toyota CHR?
There was nothing wrong with the Puma for what it is. Perhaps my wording was wrong there, in that I meant to say nothing went wrong with it - i.e. we didn't sell because it was crap and riddled with faults, we sold because it didn't fit our changed requirements..."Nothing wrong with the Puma at all"
Isn't strictly accurate, is it?
In fact it's not at all accurate.
If you wanted an SUV why didn't you buy a Toyota CHR?
At the time of Puma purchase, I had a Cayenne and we had (and still have) no need for two SUV cars. It fit our needs then. We did look at the Toyota CHR at the time of purchasing the Puma, but it felt more cramped and definately more gloomy inside the cabin. But as I've now sold the Cayenne, the Puma wasn't quite big enough as a consolidated two-into-one car, so we've purchased a Jaguar E Pace instead, which is somewhere in the middle size wise.
The Mad Monk said:
Earlier you said-
"When you buy a new car from Ford you are asked to fill in a survey and, as I was to discover, anything other than stellar marks has a direct affect on targets/bonus of your sales rep. I completed mine honestly and stated the rep was very good, but the car has problems which aren't yet fixed.
This apparently triggers a red flag against the dealer and that impacts the salesman directly. I got a call just a few days after submitting the survey to be told this by a not overly happy salesman.... But the good news was that amazingly the parts had just arrived for our alarm. What a coincidence eh?"
Well, whose fault is that? By putting moral pressure on you like this, Ford get a better rating on their products. Which is once again, not strictly accurate, is it?
I'm not sure what your point is here, but I believe the survey goes against the dealer (specifically the saleman I think, hence the calls I got afterwards), rather than about the car itself. We didn't have any issues beyond those first few teething problems."When you buy a new car from Ford you are asked to fill in a survey and, as I was to discover, anything other than stellar marks has a direct affect on targets/bonus of your sales rep. I completed mine honestly and stated the rep was very good, but the car has problems which aren't yet fixed.
This apparently triggers a red flag against the dealer and that impacts the salesman directly. I got a call just a few days after submitting the survey to be told this by a not overly happy salesman.... But the good news was that amazingly the parts had just arrived for our alarm. What a coincidence eh?"
Well, whose fault is that? By putting moral pressure on you like this, Ford get a better rating on their products. Which is once again, not strictly accurate, is it?
Edited by The Mad Monk on Saturday 22 May 10:55
Funnily enough Jaguar have contacted me as well to do a survey and I'm not doing one. I'm not going to lie and give an oustanding result, but I don't want the hassle from the dealership that anything less than a stellar survey would likely bring (based on my experience of the Ford purchase).
Edited by Cloudy147 on Saturday 22 May 11:31
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