Help needed, I want to get a Puma I think?......

Help needed, I want to get a Puma I think?......

Author
Discussion

D4V KC

Original Poster:

644 posts

244 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
Hi PH Ford massive. I'm thinking about getting myself a Ford Puma 1.7 and I was wondering if anyone on here can give me some advice on what to look out for? Do they suffer from anything other than enthusiastic driving and tyre wear etc? It'll be kept on the drive and used as a daily commute of 10 miles and some weekend stuff.

When dose the cam belt need to be done etc?

Do they all come with Air Con?

Is Leather an option?

What's the 'lux pack' all about?

I've seen R & S plate cars for £2500-£3000 with 80K miles ish, is this realistic, fair, good? As this is the sort of figure I'm looking at.

I currently have an Elise S2 111S and want to have my pride and joy tucked up in the dry, warm garage for most of the winter, it'll come out on mild weekend days for a blat though.
So as you may have guessed I love a "drivers" car! And I've always remembered the Puma getting 'Car of the Year' from the 'Old' Top Gear program a few years ago. Needle throwing Clarkson around in it on a track. I guess I need to get myself a test drive.
:driving: D4V KC

fwdracer

3,564 posts

229 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
They are a brilliant driver's car - adjustable without the fear of throwing you backwards into a hedge/ditch...

Mine seems to have an appetite for front tyres... but at £45 a pop for Pirelli's it isn't bank breaking....

Cambelt is 100K. Aircon is an option as part of Lux pack, Lux pack has goodies such as heated front screen/mirrors... essential if you are using it as a winter runner.

Njoi.

D4V KC

Original Poster:

644 posts

244 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
Thanks for the feed back, much appreciated.

Is there anything in particular to look out for on them other than front tyres? For example, I seem to recall the steering column on the mid 90's fiesta's had a tendancy to corrode and make a grinding noise?

How about the gear box, syncro, clutch, brakes etc How do they hold up? I'd just like to address this now instead of going in blind and getting a lemon.

Also, what's the boot space like and can you actually get adults in the back of it?

Hope the PHer's can assit once more, D4V KC

fwdracer

3,564 posts

229 months

Monday 17th October 2005
quotequote all
Boot space is very good, much more practical than you'd ever credit. Wouldn't say the rear is a place for adults although short journeys will be fine, depends how tall you are and how far back the driver's seat is etc.

Most of the mechanicals are tried and tested (shares many components with Fiesta), the only thing to keep an eye out for is Discs and pads. No rear discs (except racing Puma) so they take quite a pounding. Set of Ford OE discs/pads every 25K.

D4V KC

Original Poster:

644 posts

244 months

Tuesday 18th October 2005
quotequote all
Thanks fwdracer, much appreciated for the advise. I'll be shopping for one soon!

havoc

30,624 posts

240 months

Tuesday 18th October 2005
quotequote all
If you're not fussed about looks and are prepared to spend less on the same thing without the curves, get a Fiesta Zetec-S.

Seriously:
- only the 1.6 not the 1.7, but not THAT much in it;
- same chassis, suspension, tyres, brakes...;
- much better all-round visibility (didn't like the rear or rear 3/4 vision when I test-drove one);
- good-looking bodykit;
- bigger boot.

And you'll pick a decent one up now for <£4k.

Just a thought - the Puma is a real hoot to drive, but the Zetec-S is virtually there...missus has owned one for 2 years now and I like it.

Edit: Oops, just read Podie's comments on the other thread!

>> Edited by havoc on Tuesday 18th October 19:22

atgsambo

362 posts

247 months

Wednesday 19th October 2005
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havoc said:
If you're not fussed about looks and are prepared to spend less on the same thing without the curves, get a Fiesta Zetec-S.




Imo the Zetec S looks better than the puma in standard form alltho the racing puma is pure sex





Sam

fwdracer

3,564 posts

229 months

Wednesday 19th October 2005
quotequote all

Just remember what will be worth more in 12-18 months......

huge

1,138 posts

289 months

Wednesday 19th October 2005
quotequote all
Puma 1.7 is a brilliant car...one of the best we've owned.I couldnt shake the wife on a twisty country road in my 4 litre Chimaera...(maybe Im a crap driver)?
Its got good boot space,although rear seats are v tight.Have to agree with the usual gripe that front seats are set too high,but other than that its pretty much smiles all the way
ps 5 years later and we still wish we hadnt sold it

Podie

46,642 posts

280 months

Wednesday 19th October 2005
quotequote all

havoc

30,624 posts

240 months

Wednesday 19th October 2005
quotequote all
fwdracer said:

Just remember what will be worth more in 12-18 months......

Erm...if you're referring to depreciation, at this point they'll be pretty similar...so why shell out the extra capital?!?


Oh...I agree with the comment on looks - the Puma (std version) looks a bit girly, the Zetec-S, esp. in blue, looks spot-on for a small-hatch. Great alloys, too, much better than the Puma ones. But get Eagle F1's or Toyo Proxes for it - the P6000's are OK but not that special.

The Racing Puma, though, looks great - it is, IMHO, Ford trying to do an Integra Type R...and to be fair they came pretty damn close - just needed a better powertrain.

atgsambo

362 posts

247 months

Thursday 20th October 2005
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Ive had the Zetec S since june and its such fantastic fun. Selling it in the next couple of weeks mind to make way for a Racing Puma , a dream of myn about to come true

And i agree with the tyre comment the P6000s that came with myn were removed within a few weeks and fitted with a full set of GDS 3 Eagle F1s which dont seem to ever lose grip

Sam