|
my other half has seen a puma she likes but as we are thinking of starting a family i dont think we could fit a push chair/buggy in the boot. also what are your views on the puma ? one we looked at was on a X plate with 80k selling at 2k.
Edited by Pugugly on 07/03/2009 at 16:34
|
They're good cars but you'll do well to find one that isn't rusty - check the rear arches. Also check that the cambelt has been done recently.
Loads of cheap ones about these days.
|
I used to service and MOT a 1.4 Puma for a neighbour. Nothing too complex but a very painful car for me. I used to run her to work and bring the car back. One morning when she had got out and I was getting in the drivers seat I gave the side of my head a most almighty wallop on the top of the door frame. When she collected the car at teatime she told me she had heard the smack as she was entering the office. Been used to much taller cars for years...Ouch!
Ted
|
A relative had an x plate 1.7. Basically they're Fiesta based and consequently bits and pieces that you may need are easily available. The 1.7 is a Yamaha built unit and is a cracker. Excellent gear change, superb levels of grip and good handling and ride quality. You should be able to get a push chair in the boot (entry is small though) getting a baby in the back will be a problem.
Pumepeople is a very good website.
When I drive it I likened it to a four wheel motorcycle - until I drove a Golf GTi MK5 though !
Get a decent MK4 Golf - hatchback adaptability with a decent turn of speed.
|
Neighbour of mine has one and simply loves it. He says he couldn't bear to part with it. It does look pampered I have to say, although it is his daily driver. His wife has a Passat for which she looks far too small. It seems to propel itself around these parts until you see the two hands atop the wheel. I sometimes wonder if she has a forward facing camera fitted.....He, on the other hand is as tall as she is short and seems to limbo himself into the Puma.
One hesitates to suggest the obvious solution......
|
Also have a good look at the sills on the earlist examples these may have started to rot, in my experience of Ford real arch rot it tends to take a few years from the first bubbles until complete rotteness.
Try to get one with service history and make sure 5/30 oil has been used.
My mates been wanting one of these and it has been very hard to find an original example in very good condition too many have been ruined by the boy racers.
|
|
|
|
I love the mental image of that, Humph. When I was a boy in the 50s I remember this stately Daimler being driven around Farnham either decisively by a large retired colonel with a face like a pig's bladder, or rather less decisively - by nobody (in fact his sub-5ft wife peering through the steering wheel).
|
|
|
|
|
I think that the Puma you've looked at is over-priced and will start to rot fairly soon.
If the pair of you are thinking of starting a family then the Puma is not at all practical.
If you like Fords, go for a Fiesta and you will get similar handling but better practicality.
|
My friend is currently selling her W-plate 1.7 example. It's been a really good, reliable car, and is one of the best front wheel drive chassis anywhere in my opinion. Unfortunately, hers is now succumbing to the tin worm, with bubbles coming through on the rear arches, and sills.
I reckon without bodywork repairs, it's probably only got another few years before it's fit for the scrapper.
You will not want to hoist a baby in and out of the back of a low slung, tiny coupe, believe me. There is a reason so many people trundle around in MPVs (or 4x4s), and it's often nothing to do with the number of seats or legroom, but the height for hoisting kids in and out. Given the size of modern child seats, you end up delivering your baby through a letterbox sized gap between the seat and the top of the door aperture in most mid sized hatchbacks, never mind small coupes.
I fully sympathise with your desire to have something fun to drive, but keep it sensible-ish for now, and negotiate a fun machine with the other half in a few years when the kids are a bit older. That's what I've done! :-) You could always go for something like a Focus which will give you a bit of entertainment and still do the practical stuff well.
Cheers
DP
|
We spent a few months looking for a good one and gave up! I am not exagerating when I say that out of 30 or so cars we looked at they all had rust either on the rear arches, sills and particularly the front wheel arch/sill join at the bottom.
They are a lovely looking car and the 1.7 engine is amazing and seem very capable of high miles. Some I looked at were very low on oil and high oil consumption can be a problem on some of the earlier 1.7's so that is worth checking for as well. Pumapeople website is a useful reference tool as well - lots of knowledgable people on there.
|
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAlklV5TZrE
...and then tell me you wouldn't want one.
|
That advert was a work of genius.
You can also see Tiff Needell making one dance round a wet track with Clarkson and Quentin willson on board. Impressive driving, but what a chassis!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o&feature=related
I love that beautiful, balanced four wheel drift at 1:24-1:30. To think this got lumped in with the Vauxhall Tigra of the time as a hairdressers car. So unfair!
What I love most about cars like this is that they don't handle like this by accident. Someone who really cared about handling had as big a hand in it as the accountants!
Cheers
DP
|
I had a 1.7 a few years back and was a little disappointed to be honest.
Could have done with a LOT more power, cramped inside and for me at least the driving position was way too high for a sporty car.
I used to love the look of them but think the image is suffering now the have fallen into the hands of the chav hoards.
It remains around 10 times more interesting than anything in Fords current line up.
|
|
The 1.4 and 1.6 are alright but the 1.7 is marvellous.
|
Tried one. Banged my head on door getting out. It was raining: and water from the boot lid fell into the boot when I opened it.
Great to drive...
|
|
thanks for all the advice peeps but i think i may start looking for a vw golf or a honda civic... defo need a car with 4 doors.
|
"When she collected the car at teatime she told me she had heard the smack as she was entering the office. Been used to much taller cars for years...Ouch!"
Obviously worried enough to come back and see if you were ok ;-)
The implementation of body armour also has the effect of keeping your head high enough to crack it on the door frame. But you only do it once! Or twice or ...........
Edited by Fullchat on 08/03/2009 at 12:01
|
The implementation of body armour also has the effect of keeping your head high
Never thought of that Fullchat.
Suggests a charming picture of the newly arrested miscreant reaching out with both cuffed hands to press your head down as you get into the driving seat, after you have done the same for them while stuffing them into the back seat....
|
|
