Has anyone noticed how cheap Ford Pumas have got now?

[Chris71]

Just had a browse in the classifieds (actually lookling for Racing Pumas) and noticed it's hard to find an example of the basic Puma for more than about £1,500 these days. I know they're a favoured delicacy for tin worm and they're just a Fiesta in drag, but that's quite a lot of lift off oversteer for the price of a holiday...

[jonnydm]

I'm looking at Pumas at the moment - as I have been when buying my previous 3 cars too. Seems £700 can buy something reasonably roadworthy yet slightly sheddy. At the top of the price range - around £1.5k - I'm much more drawn to an RS Clio though.

[Jw Vw]

Cracking value at £1.5k - even the basic model is pretty fun. How much are Racing Puma's going for?

Edited by Jw Vw on Tuesday 18th January 18:27

[kambites]

Do they not rust horribly? I wonder if it's difficult to find one without holes in it.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 18th January 18:27

[anonymous-user]

The girlfriend had a 2 year old one in 2000 and had it for nearly 3 years, it had over 70000 miles on it when it went, one of the most fun cars I have ever driven.
Agree about the rust, ours began to bubble when it went, I think I might be right in saying the engines can be a problem too, might be cheap but I would look for history and pay a few hundred more, still think 1500 is great value!

[williamp]

was a SOTW a while back and surprised a lot of people- me included how cheap they were

[anonymous-user]

I like the cars, but I seem to see loads on the road. I think they are the new nova, which isn't a bad thing, but once they start being tarted up they lose the appeal..

[mrtwisty]

It may be a 'fiesta in drag' but when TWR are involved in setting up a car it shows. One of the best handling fwd cars around, especially for a bag of sand!
You'd be very unlucky to find one with a bad engine these days (galactic milleage and poor servicing excepted obviously). High sulpher petrol in the mid/late nineties caused some of them to go pop due to the nikasil cylinder liners getting eaten away, but shouldn't be a problem by now.
The vct system is sensitive to very low oil levels however, as it's oil pressure actuated I believe. That aside its reliable.
Oh and yes, the iron oxide worms do find the arches particularly delicious...

[2L8]

I've just paid £600 for my tax and tested 59000 mile 1.7 example. Not a massive fan to be honest, too basic for my liking, good little handler though. Can't imagine I'll be keeping it for long, I know I shouldn't care what other people think but I can't help feeling a tad feminie when driving it!

[Splats]

If you want l/o oversteer go elsewhere IMHO. My VTS was far more tail happy (and fun in general) than my 1.7 Puma. The Puma was a cracking little car (tin worm aside)....but it wasn't a hot hatch like the VTS and wasn't as much fun to chuck around.

[Chris71]

2L8 said:

Too basic for my liking

Aren't they relatively well specced for a small, cheap car though? Heated seats, leather, air con, heated front screen etc... I know in the grand scheme that's still pretty no-frills, but compared to a 106, say, it's luxurious.

[Somnophore]

You're talking 2.5k for a low milage puma thunder, which is the special edition that has heated leather. Etc. You can get the heated screens on the standard one though which my gfs has and it's very useful

[2L8]

Chris71 said:

2L8 said:

Too basic for my liking

Aren't they relatively well specced for a small, cheap car though? Heated seats, leather, air con, heated front screen etc... I know in the grand scheme that's still pretty no-frills, but compared to a 106, say, it's luxurious.

Yes maybe, I did come from a st220 though so it may just be I have had it too easy in my previous car!

[marcosgt]

Splats said:

If you want l/o oversteer go elsewhere IMHO. My VTS was far more tail happy (and fun in general) than my 1.7 Puma. The Puma was a cracking little car (tin worm aside)....but it wasn't a hot hatch like the VTS and wasn't as much fun to chuck around.

I'm amazed you found that - The Puma sticks in my mind as outstandingly good, but mine was new, maybe they get tired?

M.

[chevronb37]

Just had to sell one on behalf of my missus and didn't get what she really wanted for it. Must say it was a good, fun car but starting to feel its age. I never hesitated to take it somewhere given the opportunity, always a blast and that engine is fantastic.

[damci]

I just noticed how cheap they are too as I'm thinking of selling mine in the spring to fund a family car

They are a cracking little car but I think the better examples without rust/cambelt changed/suspension bushes refreshed etc are still fetching a littly more money than that. There’s honestly not another small cheap to run FWD car I would have for the money, superb cars.

[rog007]

I guess you've all spotted this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2409210.htm

Only one of the best FRPs left out there; a future classic and investment? I think so. Worth buying and locking up...or then again buying and thrashing it to within an inch of it's life! Best brakes on any car I have ever owned

[AB]

We've just got one for the OH. I made a thread on here somewhere. Absolute bargain and well spec'd for a car of it's age/price.

Drives well and handles pretty well too.

Am I right in thinking it's just a Focus with a sleeker shell?

[CampDavid]

marcosgt said:

Splats said:

If you want l/o oversteer go elsewhere IMHO. My VTS was far more tail happy (and fun in general) than my 1.7 Puma. The Puma was a cracking little car (tin worm aside)....but it wasn't a hot hatch like the VTS and wasn't as much fun to chuck around.

I'm amazed you found that - The Puma sticks in my mind as outstandingly good, but mine was new, maybe they get tired?

M.

The Saxo VTS/106 GTI are light, quicker, sharper and more oversteery. If you want to drive at about 9/10ths then they're fairly unbeatable. The Puma manages to do most of what these two do though with some refinement, a bit of style and no "chav" image. It'll also only oversteer if you provoke it well, a VTS will be keen to get it's back out at any sign of a lift.

Lovely car the Puma and always really tempting at auction, though many seem to be getting rough now

[Hitch78]

rog007 said:

I guess you've all spotted this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2409210.htm

Only one of the best FRPs left out there; a future classic and investment? I think so. Worth buying and locking up...or then again buying and thrashing it to within an inch of it's life! Best brakes on any car I have ever owned

That's nice, but a budget of nearly 10k gives you a lot of choice. A Ford fanboy price perhaps?