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Ford Puma

107 posts & 44 voices | Started 2 years ago by hora | Latest reply from 1 shed

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hora - Member

dave_rudabar - Member

We've had a couple. I enjoyed driving them, but at the age they're at now they are starting to suffer from the usual crud Ford build quality & reliability issues (rust & suspension bushes being the main ones for MOTs, IME).
They can start burning oil due to the fancy cylinder lining/coating which if the engines aren't looked after can wear away & there's no coming back from that.

You are stirring the cynic within. Thats my fear (on the cylinder lining). I've read in a few places about the need for 5k oil changes with specific oil- however when a car gets to sub-2k who is going to service their car THAT often?!

Posted 2 years ago #
molgrips - Member

I look at the likes of most secondhand Estates, 'that' Citreon above and TBH ..I'd rather catch a bus.

You poor vain fool..

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

molgrips. Ive owned some questionable motors in my time. With hindsight I would rather have caught a bus than own or drive anything like them again.

If its going to be a Passat -it will have to be remapped and be a special edition (Highline etc).

An 'Estate' with a twist.

I do see where you are coming from though

Posted 2 years ago #
molgrips - Member

It's only a car, mate. Seriously. Life is better when you don't care

Posted 2 years ago #
hainey - Member

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1504064.htm

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

That is a nice engine

Posted 2 years ago #
tron - Member

All the Fiestas, Kas and Pumas have great handling. They will oversteer if the back tyres are mismatched or you are really stupid (top tip - left foot braking and saying "watch this" at 60mph is not recommended). They are stupidly neutral handling most of the time, and the steering feel is immense.

Big issues I would watch for are rust & interior wear and tear on any Ford of that age. They get very tired very quickly.

That said, I'd be inclined to go look at the Honda CTR or VTI, or a 3 series.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Disagree! Our Office Managers Ka wheelspins anywhere near damp tarmac and it does try to swap ends to readily (apparently).

Posted 2 years ago #
withersea - Member

ALso had one loved it - if you buy one take it down/up to Puma Speed in Wakefield and get a miltek exhaust fitted....fantastic....they provide loads of options to tweak the standard car to what you'd like/afford...have seen a few pumas with bike racks on the top. By folding the rear seat you can get one in the back.

If you can find one by a Racing Puma...Puma Speed occasionally sold cars as well

Posted 2 years ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

Disagree! Our Office Managers Ka wheelspins anywhere near damp tarmac and it does try to swap ends to readily (apparently).

Original or StreetKa/HairdresserKa?

Posted 2 years ago #
tron - Member

Disagree! Our Office Managers Ka wheelspins anywhere near damp tarmac and it does try to swap ends to readily (apparently).

There's something wrong with it then. They can munch TCA bushes in 10k, the tracking needs to be right and the tyres need to match on the axles. If it's still driving oddly then something's bent or the dampers need swapping. All 3 cars (Fiesta, Puma & Ka) are based on the same chassis, and have similar foibles.

Posted 2 years ago #
DezB - Member

You do realise that once you have the baby, your wife(?) and the baby will need to be driven lots of places? It'll be er, different to what it is now?
I had to change my (old style) Audi Coupe, for a Ford Focus cos 2 doors are a pain in the arse when putting a child seat in the back.

Good luck anyway!

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

tron, its a 2001-plate. That possibly explains it. She doesnt let me borrow it anymore

Posted 2 years ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

My wife had a Ka for several years and it was a lark to drive so as has been said above, there must be something wrong with it.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

mastiles_fanylion stop trying to tempt me... I love small cars!

Posted 2 years ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

Me too - have always had little 'uns from Mini 1275GTs to Fiesta XR2s to Nova SRs to Clio RSis to Pumas. The biggest cars I have owned are Escorts and (dis)Astras. Current one (TT) is still very small but perhaps a tad bigger than a Puma.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Aye. I have a track record of small car ownership.. I even took an Aygo down through Belguim to South Germany one winter

Posted 2 years ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

When the TT (on a lease) goes back we will be getting a family bus and I will eye up a weekend toy like an Elise or maybe a Westfield as my father-in-law races them and will be able to point me at a very good one

Posted 2 years ago #
khewett - Member

1.7 puma is great had one a while back a alot of fun like a go-kart.

better than the 225 TT, MGTF, Porsche 944 Ive had since.

Current Boxster S however trumps it! Although now we need the diesel for day to day dutys and carting bikes.

You wont go wrong with a Puma will have a grin every time you drive it, just ignore 'hairdresser comments', and it almost seats 4 adults (ish)

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Hairdresser car?

Dear Sir! Things have moved on since the days small and cheeky cars were the preserve of the Hairdresser gag. Remember the mk1 MR2? That didnt deserve being called a hairdressers car...

Moving onto the noughties...you want gay? I sat inside a Fiat500 and I found my lips pursing, the thought of soft furnishings in mauve passed my mind and I also checked my eyebrows in the mirror.

The Fiat500 redfines gay and snippery...

Posted 2 years ago #
muddyfox courier - Member

My brother has one . A 1.7 . he loves it .
Gareth my buddy on here had one . he loved it .
I've never had one . but would .
Hairdresser comments ?

I thought they all drove TTs these days .

Evo magazine have a rating system for cars .For /against. It goes like this :Lambo, Right ( example )Italian thoroghbred . Wrong ( example)Everyone will assume youre mad.

I'm making this up , I cant remember all the list , can I ?
But the one I can remember says this .
Ford Puma 1.7 . Right : everything . Wrong : Nothing .
1.4 worth a look too.

I've just looked it up , here .
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cardata/?cat=hot_hatches

What do I know , anyway ?

Posted 2 years ago #
Young Dave riley - Member

Hora,if you can find a Puma that you like,buy it. Some folk go overboard when baby number one arrives. We had a 2 door Metro when our eldest was born.That was wrecked by a Frontera(when my wife and son were onboard).We then had a Fiat Cinquecento,which served us well. Even went on holiday in it.
My own search for a car isn't going well. Planned on visiting the local VW,Toyota and Ford emporiums on Sunday. Started looking at rows and rows of VWs,lost interest and went home.
Not vain,as the above proves,just want something half-decent before I'm too old to appreciate it.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

1.4 worth a look too.

Hens teeth!

Started looking at rows and rows of VWs,lost interest and went home.

That was me two weekends ago. I actually came away thinking I'd wasted a decent weather weekend as well.

Posted 2 years ago #
Inbred456 - Member

What about a Honda civic 2.0 Type R the early version. Small hatch, handles well 198BHP. Bullet proof Honda reliability. Engine's only really run in at 80,000miles. Take the badges off and get 1.6 sport stickers and away you go off to do some corsa chav baiting!

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Or a Accord Type R...

Posted 2 years ago #
Inbred456 - Member

Accord type R only available as a saloon but still a great car. Apparently according to Honest John they have never had an engine failure on a VTEC engine on any model.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Hmmmm I'm sure there are instances of VTEC's hydro-locking but that could be lack of oil/maintainance.

Posted 2 years ago #
pop larkin - Member

I had a puma and it put a real smile on your face just going around roundabouts- proper go kart handling. Sold it after about 6 months as I found i was driving like a bit of a loon to 'compensate' for the hairdresser jibes and bought a VR6 Golf instead- what a great noise that made!! but my wife always says I shouldnt have sold the puma as as she liked it.
Dont agree with the dissing of the fiat 500- the wife has had one for a year now and it's good fun to drive- only a 1.2 so like a slug but again handles well and is (was) a bit different- and I still dont like mauve and my lips are still firmly set a slighty miserable northern way!
If kids are on the agenda get a volvo v70 t5 estate-obscenely fast, cheap as chips , bullet proof and fits the world in the boot

Posted 2 years ago #
Inbred456 - Member

The Police only got the Auto V70 T5's because the manuals ate front tyres and it was costing each force a fortune in replacements. What you lost in economy you more than made up for in servicing costs. I always liked the 850 T5R rare as hell with 250bhp in the yellow creamy colour with the mat black alloys. Hhhhhhmmmmmmm!

Posted 2 years ago #
CountZero - Member

Just as an aside, I was reading a review of the current Fiesta 1.25, and it seems that the engine was also designed by Yamaha, who designed the 1.7 Zetec in the Puma and Fiesta Zetec S. Good engines provided you use the correct oil and keep to the change intervals. Nikasil coatings are not forgiving of lax servicing.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

yellow creamy colour with the mat black alloys.

+1 I remember them when I was younger. The first time an estate just looked...

Right.

Posted 2 years ago #
mieszko - Member

My mates dad has this (but in red), Honda Integra Type R, this car is bonkers, he even revved it up to 9k rpm, what a noise the engine makes. Big doors and reasonable space in the back. Very nice bucket seats, my mate was constantly stealing keys from his dad to have a spin, this car is really quick. 1.8 but 190bhp and around 6.5s 0-60. Probably a bit more expensive than a Puma but very reliable, don't remember him having any mechanical problems with the car.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

Isn't it great. Having 5yrs+ NCB. The world is your oyster with these cut-price reliable legends

Posted 2 years ago #
xcstu - Member

Had a puma 1.7 for several year almost from new and was a very fun car to drive big wheels to fill the arches makes it look lots better too...

Drove it an itch of its life before someone hit me on the motorway and wrote it off ;-( used for many bike trips and races with a rack on the back...

If your looking for secondhand the rear arches are first place to look for rust! (not that mine did)

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

xcstu what edition was yours? Some alloy/wheels do look small in Puma's arches. Almost as though the suspension is 'oversprung'

Posted 2 years ago #