22nd Jan 2011, 02:19
The review made me smile in an affectionate way about some of those quirky things you get with a Puma. Minor irritations at most at the time.
I bought a 1.7 Moondust Silver model from new in 1998, so it's now about 12.5 years old and just crossed 100k miles.
Why did I buy one... it was a design and shape that you didn't really see on UK roads back then that appealed to both sexes... in my case, that meant it was wife friendly.
There was also the influence of a very cool advertising campaign that placed a Puma in the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt... probably one of the very few times in my life I'd have to hold my hands up and say I was influenced by advertising.
Also at 6'2", it was one of the only coupes I could drive comfortable without practising body origami.
It is such a fun car to drive, and I can't think there are many at that price point that can have the same impact. The only other car I ever drove that evoked the same emotion was a TVR.
I haven't had some of the problems mentioned here, maybe keeping it service maintained is part of that. Also, maybe I just got lucky off the production line.
Age is starting to show with replacement bushes, radiator, HCV all done recently. Air con has finally given up and I get some intermittent minor electrical problems.
I am starting to get clutch slip now, so debating whether or not it's time to let someone else have my Puma, and see if they can get the next 100k on the clock.
To be honest, the only reason I am thinking of letting her go is the impracticality and cost of keeping 2 cars.
Tough call, as I don't think there is a car better in its class, and I think Ford could have a hit if they tried this formula again.
31st Mar 2012, 17:30
I'm a happy chappy who owns a Puma. I agree the lights are a bit ****; I spent 30 quid on a set of "Hawk HID 6000K"lights. They are plug and play, fitted in ten minutes, and give a great white light. I suggest you do the same.
Jeff Woodward.
31st Mar 2012, 18:09
Try replacing the heater valve, it should sort out the problem of heating the interior in the winter. You can get one from eBay about £5/-, and you can do the job yourself if motivated enough. Needless to say, you will have to check the coolant.
14th Jan 2013, 07:12
Can any Puma owner driver match this? I say match because it's impossible to beat. I have a 1.7 Puma bought new in 2001, and have had no trouble with it whatsoever. It has done 97000 miles now, and still starts first time on the original battery! I've never known a car like it for reliability and good driving experience combined. It gets serviced once a year, and that's the only time I see my mechanic. Even he's amazed by it, and has only had to replace wear and tear parts. The exhaust lasted ten years too.
I don't think I will ever have a car like this again, at such a modest price for what it is, and so cheap to run. I hope I'm not tempting fate by writing this.
13th Jan 2011, 12:50
I've got a Puma, bought May 2009, 1.4 1998.
I'm not saying I wish I'd never bought it, I think it handles very well and I like driving it a lot of the time.
Unfortunately, however, I think I am one of the dummies who bought one that had been thrashed and not looked after.
Since I bought it so much has gone wrong on it: (It's cost me masses). I won't even go into it all, but for starters it has a terrible oil problem, it eats oil and needs re-filling like every month! And now the drivers side footwell has started to fill with water. I kid you not, the Ford garage near where I live quoted me 1200 pounds to fix it... Said the main bulkhead is leaking. Not surprisingly I told them no thanks and am now just having to put up with the problem. Not really great.
I'm not sure yet but I think to be honest as soon as I've saved a little money, I'm getting rid of it and getting something else.