Howdy Folks
I have already made a few posts but have yet to introduce my self formally, so.....My name is Joe and I have been a Pumaholic for almost a year now!!
I first encountered the charms of the Puma when my Brother bought and drove one. It was an old tatty bird with the usual rusty arches, but despite her appearance I was still managed to be seduced by her voluptuous curves! Sadly though he eventually sold it and bought a 'YAWN' VW Golf!
However it was time for me to buy my first car (late bloomer) and I just couldn't get the thought of possibly owning a Puma out of my head, so when I finally had the pennies ready to go I had basically narrowed my choices down to 3 cars = Puma 1.7, silver or a Puma 1.7, black and finally, any Ford Puma I could get my hands on!!
It didn't take me long to find a tidy looking. low mileage one on the old internet and I immediately went about obtaining the beauty! Cut a long story short the owner led me down the garden path and pulled out of the sale due to a better offer = my heart was broken as it was in great nick plus, minus the infamous rusty arches! I spent a good week with no success trying to find a Puma of similar mileage + condition but to no avail! Just when I thought all was lost and my dream of owning a Puma was gone, I got the magic phone call from the owner of the beauty informing me that this better offer he had turned out to be made with out any readies ready to purchase MY puma! So I unmercifully exploited the situation as the owner was now desperate to sell and got a few quid knocked of it, leaving me one very happy new owner of a 1.7 2001 silver, puma in prime condition with only 68k on the clock for just £1200!!!
And we have been in love ever since - The end!
Well I wish it was the end, for the holiday period is well and truly over = leaking fuel tank (I had to change my self as described in another thread) and just recently the Heater control valve decided to take a dump = smoke bellowing out of the hood and me panicking thinking the car was on fire and even worse was going to blow up! You will be happy to know that she never blew up, however something worse happened = The AA could only tow me to the nearest garage which was an Arnold clark F(rua)ord dealer!!!!!!! Again cut a long story short, I informed the receptionist that he could ram his extortionate £100 investigation charge up his Jacksie as I already knew what was wrong with it and what part needed changing! And also supplied them with a £6 heater control valve I had obtained myself from the dismantlers, rather than have them fit their own and shaft me further! I managed to get away with only being charged £89 for an hours work!
Besides the above falling outs we have been getting swimmingly, she past her first MOT without any major issues (ABS sensor replaced) but she did come away with a few advisories = 12!
So what the future holds? I am basically going to work on small doing small maintenance Jobs I know I can accomplish myself with the help of the very informative how to guides, you Puma Guru's post on here, starting with a full service. I will eventually, money permitting be doing a full mod on her and get her HP right up there with the big boys and also maybe tart her up a bit cosmetically!
Up and coming Jobs for next time I am home are =
1) full service, with a upgrade to one of those sexy sounding KN filters
2)new tyres, plus 16' rims
3) 300mm brake upgrade, hence the 16' rims
4) new exhaust, either whole new system or just box, money permitting
and that should keep me going for 3 weeks at least!
It's a great Forum, which I am honoured to be a member off for some of the postings on here are invaluable to money strapped greenhand like me!
P.s. How the hell do I attach pictures my hardrive onto here?
Chow for now
I have already made a few posts but have yet to introduce my self formally, so.....My name is Joe and I have been a Pumaholic for almost a year now!!
I first encountered the charms of the Puma when my Brother bought and drove one. It was an old tatty bird with the usual rusty arches, but despite her appearance I was still managed to be seduced by her voluptuous curves! Sadly though he eventually sold it and bought a 'YAWN' VW Golf!
However it was time for me to buy my first car (late bloomer) and I just couldn't get the thought of possibly owning a Puma out of my head, so when I finally had the pennies ready to go I had basically narrowed my choices down to 3 cars = Puma 1.7, silver or a Puma 1.7, black and finally, any Ford Puma I could get my hands on!!
It didn't take me long to find a tidy looking. low mileage one on the old internet and I immediately went about obtaining the beauty! Cut a long story short the owner led me down the garden path and pulled out of the sale due to a better offer = my heart was broken as it was in great nick plus, minus the infamous rusty arches! I spent a good week with no success trying to find a Puma of similar mileage + condition but to no avail! Just when I thought all was lost and my dream of owning a Puma was gone, I got the magic phone call from the owner of the beauty informing me that this better offer he had turned out to be made with out any readies ready to purchase MY puma! So I unmercifully exploited the situation as the owner was now desperate to sell and got a few quid knocked of it, leaving me one very happy new owner of a 1.7 2001 silver, puma in prime condition with only 68k on the clock for just £1200!!!
And we have been in love ever since - The end!
Well I wish it was the end, for the holiday period is well and truly over = leaking fuel tank (I had to change my self as described in another thread) and just recently the Heater control valve decided to take a dump = smoke bellowing out of the hood and me panicking thinking the car was on fire and even worse was going to blow up! You will be happy to know that she never blew up, however something worse happened = The AA could only tow me to the nearest garage which was an Arnold clark F(rua)ord dealer!!!!!!! Again cut a long story short, I informed the receptionist that he could ram his extortionate £100 investigation charge up his Jacksie as I already knew what was wrong with it and what part needed changing! And also supplied them with a £6 heater control valve I had obtained myself from the dismantlers, rather than have them fit their own and shaft me further! I managed to get away with only being charged £89 for an hours work!
Besides the above falling outs we have been getting swimmingly, she past her first MOT without any major issues (ABS sensor replaced) but she did come away with a few advisories = 12!
So what the future holds? I am basically going to work on small doing small maintenance Jobs I know I can accomplish myself with the help of the very informative how to guides, you Puma Guru's post on here, starting with a full service. I will eventually, money permitting be doing a full mod on her and get her HP right up there with the big boys and also maybe tart her up a bit cosmetically!
Up and coming Jobs for next time I am home are =
1) full service, with a upgrade to one of those sexy sounding KN filters
2)new tyres, plus 16' rims
3) 300mm brake upgrade, hence the 16' rims
4) new exhaust, either whole new system or just box, money permitting
and that should keep me going for 3 weeks at least!
It's a great Forum, which I am honoured to be a member off for some of the postings on here are invaluable to money strapped greenhand like me!
P.s. How the hell do I attach pictures my hardrive onto here?
Chow for now