BexTait

I'm thinking of getting one of these, but i'm not sure about cost to buy (used obv. since they don't make then any more), run and insure (19 with full, clean license and no accidents/claims in parents cars, and am 5 months short of having had full license for 2 years). Can anybody give me any advice and what to look for in a used puma? Any help appreciated.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Hi

I drive a company one. Not much to look out for really, they are great cars but make sure you get one with aircon. The stereos can be total sh!te so I have changed mine.

They are cheap on petrol to run, lots of fun to drive & go fairly well. Test drive one and see

You can find information and a bbs here

Anything you want to know?

Paul

BexTait

Thanks for that link. Do you know what insurance group they're in, just so I can get an idea as to if I can get insured/how much.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Group 13/14 I think. Don't know for sure because it's a works car

Hanslow

Group 12 for the 1.7. My missus has my old one...still a hoot to drive

Dunno how much the missus pays on her insurance. Think it's less than 500 quid. I won't give her age, but she's older than you


[Edited by Hanslow - 12/8/2003 4:35:39 PM]

BexTait

Thanks, will it be the same for the 1.4 (smaller engine, so i'm hoping, if i can afford it, it'll be cheaper to insure)?

Hanslow

Think the 1.4 is 1 or 2 insurance groups less

Just checked it's group 9 so should be a smidge cheaper

The good thing is, you still get the good handling and chuckability

Simon S3

There`s a Puma buying guide in the Aug 2002 copy of EVO.

They don`t really have any known faults.

Both 1.4 and 1.6 engines are the basic Fiesta units, the 1.7 Yamaha- developed unit has a problem with the cylinder bore coating wearing out (it`s a nickle-silicon coating).

The gearboxes are pretty robust. The clutches will last around 40,000 miles.

Brakes were uprated from 240mm to 260mm on post 2000 year cars.

Apart from that they look pretty good value. I had a 1.7 Puma for a while and loved it.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I can contest that

what would scooby do

I looked at one earlier this year and the seams underneath car where rusting already - not sure this is normal or not

Also look at the top of the sills for damage caused by high heels etc

Simon S3

Paul,

I pulled that quote straight from the EVO buyers guide, if you know different then fair enough, mine was OK (ran it for 15,000 miles, it left with 35,000 on it).

All cars are different I guess!

Hanslow

Ours is at 47k on the original clutch

mynickers

Evo love this car, 1.4 is great car, true driver car front wheel drive chassis, and 1.4 defo the cheaper to run and insure, but if you can muster the resources, the 1.7 is suppose to kick ****.

I remember years ago it was top gears fav car of the year, and tiff clarkeson and wilson on track. Mad lift of over steer with 3 up, and making C&W cry like girls.

Not a bad little motor at all. Honda CRX Vtec similar ilk, bit uglier and only two seats but very realible little stomper..

philz

My girlfriend bought one a few months ago. I love it, despite not having the same power as my own car it really is fun to throw around, handles brilliantly for FWD.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Mines at 70,000 on it's 3rd gear box and clutch the garages I took mine too were total muppets though and fitted the wrong gear box to it after the first one failed That one couldn't handle the power so I had another fitted after it blew up Clutches seem very weak on them too and I have just had a new clutch but that's mostly because the last one wasn't fitted correctly IMHO. Great car though and the engine has been totally reliable.

Paul

Hanslow

Nightmare experience

To be fair, the cars are excellent, the after service is somewhat different

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Hanslow

I think you just summed it up there I love & mean really love driving my car, I just hate the garages

Paul

The Zohan

Get a 1.7, the other are pants
Stereos are ****e and troublesome.
FSH essential
aim for one with lux pack - aircon, heated screens, etc.

My other half put 60K on hers with no probs other than a brake fluid leak.

the 1.4 is slow, very slow and is a sheep inh wolf clothing, avoid, if the insurance is an issue then save up, a 1.4 will put you to sleep. Fuel econimy is the same for the 1.7 & 1.4.

Good cars and a lot of fun


[Edited by Paul Habgood - 12/9/2003 11:39:10 AM]

druddle

Paul - you sure you werent taking it to a Renault garage ?

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Dave

I have been watching your threads thinking the same We both have the same luck with cars

Paul

Funny you should mention the brake fluid leak, mine had that too

Make a note never to buy my puma when it goes back

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Corner

p.s Dave I think a Renault garage would have done a better job

The Zohan

Excuse the spolling in my first post.

I have to agree with what Paul said re dealers, they treat you like you are about 8 y/o if you offer advice or an opinion.

Trying to get a Ford dealer to sort something other than a routine service is more trouble that you can imagine. If you have a good tame garage then go there.

Paul, how odd, you had a Brake fluidleak as well, our's was from a brake pipe close to the bulkhead, required disconnecting, cleanig refitting and bleeding.

All in all i recon the 1.7 is a cracking car if you are not too tall and don't need to cart your mates around to often. Great handling and good performance, wil not set the world alit but in real world motoring a good car. We averaged around 35MPG which ain't bad!

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Paul

I think mine was the same problem but Ford had to have it back 3 yes 3 times to fix it They told me it needed a new pipe and needed ordering, then didn't fix it, then told me that it was just the joint leaking That was after it had been to another garage twice who said there was no leak Just don't get me into carrying on about the wiring [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Paul

Wuss

I got a brand new Jewel Green 1.7i Puma in December 1997 (when there was a 12 month waiting list). A guy had ordered it and his finance fell through, so I stepped in and bought it within half an hour. People used to come up to me in car parks and were absolutely astonished that such a car existed - Ford had not marketed the car that well in 1997 so nobody knew what it was until well into 1998 when they were more common...!

I loved it and never had a single problem with the car or the dealer. I sold it with 35K miles on the clock in May 2000 for £10,000!!!! I lost £4,500 (31%) in two and a half years/35,000 miles - I'd like to see any Subaru compete with that depreciation!!!

I sold it to buy my UK MY00.

I still maintain that the fun-factor is almost on a par with the Scooby. It may not have the Turbo grunt, but the 1.7i is an extremely versatile engine and in my opinion, it is better in certain driving conditions (Variable Cam Timing - the power / torque is distributed evenly across the entire rev range, meaning it picks up well even below 2,000 revs, unlike the Scooby!)

GET ONE! Make it a 1.7i with Air-con, electric windows and the most important thing in this country, a heated windscreen! GOD how I miss that heated windscreen in the winter...

You won't regret it.

Mark.


[Edited by Wuss - 12/10/2003 11:58:20 AM]

frisby

Agree with Wuss!!!

My girlfriend has a 1.7 Puma and we recently went up to Scotland for a weeks holiday in the Puma. Up till then, I'd never driven it, but I have to say I was very surprised, and it definatley had the grin factor)

It handled brilliantly on fast sweeping west coast Scottish roads and I had a right laugh chucking it around........in fact I think the car enjoyed it too, as my gf doesn't seem to go above 3000 rev's usually!!!

Economy seemed to be about 35mpg and I think its servicing is every 10k.

Just look out for the tracking as it seems sensitive - my gf wanted rid of it because on "funny handling" but a full geometry check-up and 4 new tyres had her smiling again.

Laters

Stu

magnet

Can someone tell me how many miles to a tank they get on their 1.7 puma?

cheers

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

typically round about 230 and it costs about £30 to fill from empty.

Paul

john banks

Got my wife a 2001 1.7 23000 miles with CD/AC/quickclear for £7600 in Jan 03. It has been faultless since. Handling is tremendous, acceleration is acceptable. Quite a good car to learn about handling in, not quick enough that it is too easy to go too fast and get lots of tickets.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

An £80 chip from pumaspeed can fix that I haven't done it yet though

magnet

*******Got my wife a 2001 1.7 23000 miles with CD/AC/quickclear for £7600 in Jan 03. It has been faultless since. ********8

Thats well cheap!

ours has a strange uprated 6 disk front loading Ford cd player, its quality.