20th Apr 2006, 06:58
My Puma has beaten an M3!
An E36 EVO M3 tried to keep up with me and my Cousin Kaleb on a track day at Knockhill. Cousin Kaleb was taunting him out the back window every time he closed up on the straights, but as soon as we came to a corner we were back away again.
Mind you, my Puma has been superchipped to over 300 BHP, and has 16 inch Fox Racing alloys and 225/50/16 Firestone Firehawk tyres on. These rims really fill the arches, but I fitted a set of spring clamps too for that low rider look. Cousin Kaleb painted the writing on the wheels General Lee style and the car really looks the business and goes it too, just ask that M3 driver!
27th Apr 2006, 11:58
I have kept up with an M3. There you go I said it. Its not true, but I said it.
I just get a buzz out of coming back and seeing 80+ comments on a review I wrote about 3 years ago! Seriously, of course my car review 3 years ago is out of date and thus new cars are going to, on average, be more "competent". I was just making the same argument that I made back then: in theory, if you are after enjoyment then it is up there with the best of them.
I think your comments are mostly hit-and-miss. They hit in the fact that the Puma is out-performed in many leagues, but they miss in that the fact still remains that FOR ME it is more fun that SOME of the cars you have mentioned in these comments (namely the CTR). For the same reason that people still mentioned old GTIs etc, even though some of those cannot keep up in pace and some cannot keep up in handling; they have a certain laid-back and easy and fun spirit to them. That is all I was trying to get through in the original review and subsequent comments.
Now, I will try to keep away because the last 15 comments have been comparing cars I couldn't car less about. I am sure, however, that I will get that niggling little urge to see the comments jump to over 100 so I will check back in another few years! A suggestion though: if you want to talk about hot hatches in general just get a forum somewhere. Its easy enough to do.
25th May 2006, 07:40
As this seems to have turned into a 'my car's faster than yours' debate, I just thought I'd comment on my experience of a Puma 1.7. I've owned one for almost 2 years now and no, its not hugely quick, but it is a good laugh, and the handling is fantastic. Save the racing for the track though guys.
4th Aug 2006, 22:55
Hi guys... just want to add my views.
I'm 36 years old, and have owned and driven a few cars.
First hot hatch was a Metro GTi 16v, group 13 insurance when I was 23, arghhhhhh. 1992-1993.
Then went on to Golf Gti 16v 1994.
Then went onto more sensible cars; Rover 827 SLi 24v quad cam 1996.
Then onto Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1997.
Then onto Subaru Impreza WRX 2000.
Then last year a Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2004.
The fondest memories I had of the Puma was when I was entering the M5 motorway in Belfast in my Rover, and the Puma was right up my ass... stayed that way...
Just bought my wife a 2002 Puma silver 1.7 something, can't remember the name, and only 32000 miles... Turns more heads than any car I have ever driven... Also, in all honesty, the most exciting and fun car I have ever driven (albeit a bit of a hairdresser's car)...
Seems as though the Puma might some day be as iconic as the Capri or the Delorean... maybe some day with the right flux capacitor, time travel will be possible.
19th Dec 2006, 10:43
The M3 costs more than twice as much as most hot hatches, so it does not suprise me that it is substantially faster and more luxurious.
330Ci is a good choice, sweet motor, decent build and handle alright too. No faster than most good hot hatches, but a good choice of motor all the same!
Watch out for those superchipped Pumas though!
3rd Jan 2007, 05:01
Interesting Read.
Puma is a fantastic car and some of these claims probably are true, some are definatly not.
In my experience with my Puma it can easily beat certain cars in certain conditions.
4x4's it usually leaves standing expect going over speed bumps!
It beat my mates Skyline around town with loads of roundabouts (possibly his driving skills??) but lost easily on the straights.
It pretty much matched and beat my other mates Mondeo 2.5 v6 in almost every criteria.
In general what I love about the Puma is its different. Okay a GT version of a standard car is nice, but the looks are still very similar (just chaved up a bit).
7th Feb 2007, 11:24
Ye puma is a warm hatch it looks OK, but doesn't have any serious grunt to it, even the racing model with 150bhp is quite slow. read some of the reviews on here even the owners are saying so.
19th Feb 2007, 08:47
I don't know what to say anymore, I think most of the claims to the Ford Puma are untrue. E. G The one were the M3 could not keep up with the Puma round the track! And the one were the skyline could not keep up round the bends. The most funny one is the above comment, the dude that says his 2.2 sri with super chip and handling extras can keep up in most situations with a Ford Puma! Course it can! If he could not than he (1) can't drive (2) has a problem with his car!. I had a Ford KA with a turbo conversion with 120bhp now that could go round corners fast once did a round about @ 40mph. But no way in the world would it have beaten an M3 or a Skyline or even an astra 2.2 sri with super chip. Has any one got anything to say to this e-mail? Like I said in my other comments the Puma is an OK car handles good looks nice. I drive the Astra Turbo Convertible 266 bhp. This is going back to standard next week for insurance reasons, does anyone want to challenge me to a race round a track in the summer. And we could put all this crap to bed once and for all!
Aaron Parsons (A.D.P)
21st Feb 2007, 16:35
Lol lets think about this, I got a super charger + a ford puma, can I play... just puching 300bhp, but she keeps over heating.
23rd Feb 2007, 01:48
Yes Mr 300 BHP Puma man of corse you can play. With that sort of power you can play with the new EVO X and most WRX STI'S.
Not for one minute do I think otherwise, sounds fast.
The point is to read what I have typed, and respond to it. not just wright 2 lines about a 300 bhp puma. Please can someone just read what I have typed and comment, Mr 300 bhp Puma man, I want to talk about your Puma, but please just read what I have typed and tell me what you think? remember 99.9% of pumas are not 300 bhp.
Aaron Parsons (A D P)
18th Apr 2006, 15:55
I nearly bought an Integra R instead of the Clio 182, but the Clio is just as fast, has many more goodies and 2 and a half years warranty for a similar price.
Integra is a future classic and will hold its price better, but didn't fancy a 5 year old car with the mileage I do.