[Closed] Ford Puma

A Puma?

A Fiesta that has been pimped for hair dressers.

Why not get a Tigra while you're at it.

A Tigra cannot be compared with a Puma....

We've just sold our 1.7 and I'm sad to see it go.
It is a crazy car car to drive. Not very economical or comfortable but quick, rev happy & turn-in like nothing else on the road. A real go kart.

I used to compete at rallying & one of my mates who I was doing a rally with (as navi) borrowed the Puma for the pace note recce. He drives an EVO8 but was still happy to admit that he found the Puma hilarious to drive.

We had it for 5 years and hd no problems with it during that time (and I certainly gave it some some abuse)

I don't know about tow-bar but I've got a roof rack sitting the garage for one...

You will get the hairdresser comments but don't listen to anyone, usually those who have never driven one.

I had a 1.7 Puma about 8 years ago and it is one of the best handling and most fun cars I have ever owned. Great little cars at bargain prices now.

You can't fit towbars to them from what i remember.

[url= http://www.nikea2000.nl/pumadrivers/evo/evo.html ]Puma[/url] not a hairdressers car at all, in fact the limited run Racing Puma was a cracking car to drive.

btw did some work on the 4wd Puma, really funny to see it go. Full hit WRC performance in a wide arch shell, a real head turner with the anti-lag on!

A Puma?

A Fiesta that has been pimped for hair dressers.

I remember renting a Fiesta on the Isle of Man to be used as the recce car for the Manx National. It was only 1.25 engine & got absolutely thrashed for the recce. Despite the weak as a kitten engine the chassis & gearbox was quite excellent. (brakes also gave up)

My Puma was great and I cursed the kids who torched it.

According to the Witter website the Puma is 'not homologated for towing' so probably 'no' to a tow-bar.

I repeat the statement I've made on numerous occasions Hora: You drive like my gran.

All this talk oof 'drivers cars' and other such twoddle just disguises the fact that the natural partner to your driving style is a Rover 25! With a trilby on the back shelf and a tartan blanket on the back seat 😛

If the bore lining did go - how much would you be looking at??

Looks like it'd have to be a roofrack!

binners....in speaking truth-shocker 🙂

Hora - if you'll be transporting a baby in a car you're looking to buy now you really ought to consider something a little larger.

You'l struggle to get a decent pushchair plus a changing bag in a puma let alone any shopping or a childseat in the back.

the 1.7 engine was developed with yamaha (hence why its quite so rev happy).

Fiesta's are looking like the new sierra for kit cars (with the whole engine etc mounted back to front) so a puma may well hold its value as IIRC the 1.7 wasnt available in normal fiestas (too see what I mean, look at 2.0 pinto sierra's compared to other 80's cars).

Hora, should you not be looking for something like, say, a Vauxhall Zafira 200 Turbo?
Satisfies the family car requirement, and the Connolly glove wearing side of yourself?

Baby Jogger 3 is a very small (and light) push chair (7kg in weight) and folds down very small.

Its rare that both bike and baby would be carried at the sametime.

I want fun, the kid wont begrudge me that 😉

Zafira? Steering/feel is key to me. I'd drive a 600cc car if it felt right but did 20sec's 0-60. Power means nothing. After all - I drive a tank at the moment with a slow engine!

What do you think? A tad overpriced but a good un:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201006352082550/sort/priceasc/usedcars/model/puma/make/ford/radius/30/keywords/cambelt/postcode/m154ld/page/1?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fused%2Fcars%2Fford%2Fpuma%2Fpostcode%2Fm154ld%2Fradius%2F30%2Fkeywords%2Fcambelt%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc%2Fpage%2F1&logcode=p

"I want fun, the kid wont begrudge me that"

you'll learn.

Babies are the most selfish people you'll ever deal with. You having fun won't even register until they're at least three.

I am rubbing my hands with glee at the propsect of Hora with a child. I'm sure social services would be too if they were reading his posts.

You really really haven't got a clue whats about to happen to your life. You numpty!!! 😀

They are a great car - you must get the 1.7 (Yamaha-designed) engine though. I had mine for 4 years without a fault.

Mr brother used to have a Puma 1.7, and at the same time I had a 1.4 Fiesta. You really couldn't tell much between them in how they drove. So I'd get a 1.4 Fiesta which is much more practical.

If you want a fun, good handling car get an MX5 instead.

Are you in complete denial?

I'm as keen on toys as the next man, but I suspect that you (& myself) may have less time to devote to them in the next couple of years...

A small coupé is not useful for carting things about, as you well know and an elderly hot hatch is for a keen spannerman.

I had a Puma you can get two bikes in the back with not too much trouble.

Absolutely hilarious car to drive with a great little engine. I reckon it will take a tow bar best ask a specialist.

Just read you're having a baby though. It's an estate car for you laddie.

You really couldn't tell much between them in how they drove.

We carried our kids ok in the Puma. The sculpted rear seats helps locate the baby seats better if anything.
The buggy also just squeezed in the boot too.

We swapped it for another 3 door coupe, so life can't be so hard carrying kids around in such a vehicle (or we just like trouble)...

Psssssst. Hora. This is what you'll be driving within 12 months. Why? Because she'll be telling you too. Just bite the bullet and go out and buy one now

[img] [/img]

"I reckon it will take a tow bar best ask a specialist"

it would be illegal to fit a tow bar to a car not homologated for it.

Get a honda Civic Type R loads of room, big boot and goes like stink.

I really really miss mine 😥

Wife said she wanted something practical -----

Get a honda Civic Type R loads of room, big boot and goes like stink.

At least with the Puma they took a normal boring car and put it in some nice clothes.

I had a lovely Triumph Herald soft-top when our little un came along. The phrase "well that's got to go" cropped up fairly shortly afterwards 🙁

me too binners 🙁

I was told to get a 4 door saloon. Fortunately, a 1961 Volvo Amazon came up for sale locally at about the same time 🙂

Great car - handling is fantastic - fold the seat down and you can get two bikes in the back of a Puma without too much bother... Bit of a tight squeeze though and the interior of mine is taking some punishment - it's currently sporting a healthy coat of the Peak District's finest filth after Saturday's pootle 😀

Reckon you would have to be double-jointed to get kids out of the back seat mind...

I got two bikes and all the kit for a weekend riding and camping at SSMM in mine as well as a passenger!

Owned a puma - agree great fun.
Had mine on a V reg. in Silver 1.7 engine.
Was lethal in the wet, real light back end that would give over steer if you came off the throttle to quick on the limit.
Tiff Needel rated it car of the year when it first came out.

That said, its not a "dad's" car and you'd be slightly mental to buy this when your expecting a child* (*congrats). I had a 3 door Golf GTI as my car when our first child came along, that wasn't bad sizewise but a Puma would have been sold instantly remembering how small that was.
The Focus 170ST (original Focus ST) would be a fun motor, if your after reasonable performance and some practical space for baby stuff.
My wife sister has a Puma - wife now says its mainly a girls car!!

I must confess to now driving a Vauxhall Vectra - so feel free to ignore all car related advice!
Am ex-1000cc motorbike track day addict, but long ago memories - pre-children.

Thanks Marge. I don't understand why people 'think' you need a big estate just because you have a child?

How often in an average week do you carry said-child, bike and lots of kit?

Ok, rewind. Mrshora sits in our car once a week normally. The rest of the time its just me, or just me and a bike. The bike can go on the outside. So I dont see the 'need' for a big estate. IF I had two children and a big dog then that I can understand.

We purposely bought the small pushchair as my girlfriend isnt Amazonian and the likes of iCandy and Quinny are just over-bulk IMO.

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

My parent never owned 'give-up/iron your underpant-cars' either.
Anyone, minor rantette over.

My wife HAS to have a four door car and it makes sense with kids. It's a faff putting a baby in the back of a three door. Also you need a suprisingly large boot for most buggies.

Hora. I love your philosophy on the upcoming arrival. Which seems to consist of you sticking your fingers in your ears and saying "LA-LA-LA-I'M-NOT-LISTENING" repeatedly

You really are a complete lemon!

You can get some quite nippy family cars - My first one was a Saab 9-5 Aero estate and it was OK.

However you best option is to ask the missus what she wants!!

my parents didnt get an estate untill I was in secondary school, I had a little brother, and a dog, and a boat, and a guitar, and we all had bikes.

You can take 2 kids, the wife and 4 bikes in a fiat tipo, not sure why you need an estate to carry a baby?

joolsburger, mrshora doesn't drive so the pushchair was chosen with that in mind as well.

I also don't want anything like a Subaru Impreza (they are nice) but we do live in central Manchester and I dont own any woolly hats to drive around in 🙄

I like small, yet fun cars.

I do like the look of this, although I 'doubt' its mileage:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201006352336422/sort/priceasc/usedcars/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/price-to/5000/quantity-of-doors/5/model/focus/make/ford/radius/40/page/2/postcode/m320dq?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fused%2Fcars%2Fford%2Ffocus%2Fpostcode%2Fm320dq%2Fradius%2F40%2Fengine-size-cars%2F2l_to_2-5l%2Fmaximum-mileage%2Fup_to_80000_miles%2Fprice-to%2F5000%2Fquantity-of-doors%2F5%2Fpage%2F2%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&logcode=p

join the forums on pumapeople. lots of helpfull advice and friendly banter.
The cars are great to drive a dodle to work on and parts are cheap with it sharing platform with the fiesta. 1.7 is the one to go for or if your feeling flush or can find one the racing puma.

Problem areas to check

Rear arches are prone to rust especialy on the earlier models.
Left front foot well likes to fill with water on some early cars due to a problem with sealant around the polen filter.
Rear suspension bushes wear car feels a bit way ward at the back end + clunks. pain to fix but not out of reach of a determind home spanner monkey.
Heater control valves were a comon problem most have been replaced now i should think.

Get a good one and youl love it.

Also check the air-con works!

St170 now thats a bit of a wolf in focus clothing.
Faster than the puma more practical parts are a bit more money as quite a few bits are specific to the 170. The huge front brakes for a start.
the milleage could be genuine as seen as a bit of a special like the rs and st and the bonkers fuel economy.

Left front foot well likes to fill with water on some early cars due to a problem with sealant around the polen filter.

We had an 03' Corolla hatch when our two came along (18 months apart), boring but fantastically well built, & a step above the Focus & Astra of the same year. Wasn't huge, but was big enough for the kit you need for babies. If your keen on a Puma, check whatever buggy you get will fit in the boot.

Buying something like an ST Focus would fill me with dread as to how its been treated. Cars like that aren't exactly bought for ferrying the granny round are they....

My brother bought his Mrs a Puma a few months ago. I remember thinking it was a bargain when he came round in it. Paid £1700 I think, with 65k on the clock. Thats a 1.7. Nice little car. We met them for a meal yesterday & they were in it, & thats with 2 kids aged 9 & 12 so still a useable rear seat. The inside is exactly like a Fiesta I had years ago.

I once travelled 30 miles in a GM Tigra. What an utter pile of shite.

Registered and posted the question. Thank you guys.

Ive always liked them and IF I can find one thats been maintained and serviced then the price would be a bargain. Such a stunning design IMO.

takisawa2- thats what I thought on the ST170. How many have been through hedges backwards, revved like crazy on old oil.. clipped kerbs, etc etc etc etc.....

I had a Puma 1.7 new on and S plate. The car I look back on with fondest memories. Not the fastest, but by far the most fun. Was always tempting to miss your exit at roundabouts. Sad thing is, I swapped it for a Saab a couple of weeks before my first daughter was born. Realised the error of my ways though and went back to a small sharper handling car as soon as I could.

The point is, a couple of months after you become a parent you realise that most of the crap you think you need to take with you you don't. Buy a Puma if you can find a good one, and a mclaren buggy as soon as the baby is three months, so that you can make a bit more space. I envy you.

bol- I drive round in a estate currently. Its like a single man driving round in a van most of the time. Only a handful of times have I had one rear seat popped up .

The best thing to do is get what you want and get the Mrs her own car. I have a TT and twins.

My wife has a sensible car 😆

If you are gonna look at things like the ST170, then you should defnitely look at the Corolla T-Sport. Mate of mine has one and it's a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Fairly standard looking Corolla exterior - Check.
Fairly non-standard (for Corolla) 198bhp rev-your-nuts-off engine - Check.

Not sure it handles like an ST170 though.

As for the Puma I test drove one and was sorely tempted to buy one, it was a great car to drive...in the end I did't get it.
Also looked at the Racing Puma but couldn't justify the fuel cost with 100 miles/day commute back then.....

Not sure I'd consider one with an up and coming family though.

I will really annoy some people now, I have sent three Pumas off to be crushed under the scrappage scheme!!!!

Pumas are a great little car but you won't much into one!

I would love a hot hatch again but now need an estate and can't afford a Suburua 4x4 instead a mondeo diesel estate... 😳

Enjoy the Puma if you get one Hora.

mastiles_fanylion the missus doesnt drive. So it negates the need for a car that will carry the baby around most of the time.

She has tried numerous times.

So- it would be for occassional baby transportation. We could always keep the Peugeot 306 thats sat on our drive for baby-transportation (the car we acquired for her driving lessons).

I adored my Puma. Sold it after being made redundant, and couldn't afford to run it any more. Absolutely loved it to bits, sounds fantastic when you rev the nuts off it, great handling on twisty A/B roads, and the looks haven't dated. Just look at the latest Fiesta Zetec, very similar shape. If I had the money available I'd buy another like a shot. EVO Magazine rated it as the best value fun car available, and I still remember Clarkson and co screaming in the back when Tiff took one opposite locking around their test circuit. There were 1.6 engined rally versions around with the FRP arches fitted.

I agree that parenthood doesn't have to mean a boring car, within 6 months of JonathanM Jr arriving I'd bought a 2001 Saxo VTS from new, and managed fine with that for 3 years. Cars have got bigger/more sensible as son has grown and needs more legroom.

CountZero oh yes! I remember their look of TERROR!!! 😆

Cracking little car, a real future classic.

"it would be illegal to fit a tow bar to a car not homologated for it"

No it wouldn't. It would be illegal to tow with it but if you had one fitted for a tow bar mounted bike rack there would not be any issues. I have a fabia vrs which was not homologated for towing like the normal fabia, there are plenty of them about with tow bars fitted for bike racks.

a real future classic.

Totally agree.

I've always said its uses its small dimensions really well

Go for a old shape Focus 170ST Estate. This will out handle and outgun most cars and still be practical and above all carry plenty of bikes on the roof! They are quite rare and a lot cheaper to run than say a scooby estate.

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.

I'd have another one if I could find a nice example for a good price.

[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-FORD-RACING-PUMA-1-7-16V-BLUE_W0QQitemZ250572103637QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item3a5742dfd5#ht_500wt_1182 ]Get the Racing one, any that are still going today should be good, maybe [/url] 😕

And don't bother with the focus ST, its a sheep in sheeps clothing. I mean a standard 2.0 diesel focus will have nearly the same power, more torque and double the mpg

Just to add - I've had my 1.7 puma since 2001 and got a baby coming in June.

I think it's such a great car that I want to keep it - also reckon it's value to others is far too low so not worth selling it - maybe the group 12 insurance doesn't help that? I used to drive it hard at times and found it handled OK if the back broke away but now I'm more sensible. Never had a problem with it though it's only done 67k.

I think we need two cars really so will keep mine and get something a bit more practical for the other car. Trouble is wife can't drive yet so would rather not have two cars until she can so have looked to see if the Puma would work and a few searches suggest possible options for car seats. Would have to get something for proper trips I'm sure.

Hora, out little lad is nearly 5 months old now and its definitely not a case of 'when will I be carrying the baby, the pushchair and bike at the same time', its a case of how much baby related junk you need to carry on a day out! We've got a mk5 Polo GTi for bimbling about in and the boot is just big enough for the buggy and a few shopping bags etc - perfect. But we've got a Mondeo ST TDCi for my commute and 'going places' etc and we regularly fill its cavernous boot with buggy, changing bag, covers for the buggy and if we've overnighting, travel cot etc.

Honestly, you need to be looking at stuff bigger than a Puma otherwise you'll regret it.

I mean a standard 2.0 diesel focus will have nearly the same power, more torque and double the mpg

Fair enough, an ST isn't rocket-like, but I don't believe that a standard Focus diesel is close to being comparable.

Pure conjecture M_F 😉

When checking the figures on the ST170 I did think 'its not really 'that' quick and I had a look at the TDCI engine.

TBH you could remap the TDCI engine up circa 40bhp etc but it doesnt have the same suspension, brakes etc etc.

Edit - wrong figures LOL (new ST is different...)

Thats not the ST170 figures there M_F as it has 170bhp not 222bhp. 😉

Yeah - which is why I edited. He might be right! I can't find other figures easily and have to get on 🙂

The ST170 specs are:
0-60 7.9s
BHP 170
Torque 196Nm
Max speed 134
MPG 31

They don't do a 2.0 diesel in that shape (at least according to parkers) and the 1.8 TDCi specs are:
0-60 10.3
BHP 115
Torque 250Nm
Max speed 122
MPG 49

They did an ST170-shape dizzle Sport. Meant to be an excellent car.

just be done with it and get one like this.....

[img] [/img]

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?!

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

You poor vain fool.. 🙂

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

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

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

That is a nice engine 🙂

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.

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

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

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