Just bought my first puma at a steal! Need your input

[Minihen]

Hi,

Just bought my first puma, was meant to be a temporary car till i move office in a couple of months. Got it for £360, S-reg, has done 80105miles.
The service history is a bid pants but it does have a certificate which is a puma brake master cylinder safety recall. Anyone come across one of those?

The car drives fine, makes a squeeking noice when breaking but i'm guessing that means it needs new brakes.

Now looking through the service log book the last service stamp doesnt have a date or mileage but it has been ticked off as a major service and spark plugs.
The service stamp before that was dont by ford in cumbria at 35,050miles on the 12/7/05.

Thats all the service history i have, i've only had the car for 2 days, i've booked it in for a full service.

I was wondering if i should be worried since theres not much record of service history since 35k?

Also the bodywork has a bit of rust, i have no idea how to upload pictures on here, if anyone can help i can get pictures up and get some advice.

So basically i just want peoples opinions and suggestions, after all i did get it pretty cheap.

 

[Sparx]

Hi welcome to ProjP k:

The first thing to mention is find out if the cambelts been done.. if theres no way of finding out.. then get it done lol
The puma does have a few common problems which you may come across but most are a cheap and easy fix, any questions feel free to ask, theres a good flow of knowledge on here!

Good to hear you've already got it booked in for a service.

 

[Minihen]

Thanks mate, yep thats exactly what i thought, get the cambelt changed asap and i think the water tank as well.

Any idea what kind of costs i'm looking at? Or better still if anyone knows a puma specialist or mechanic? I live in Enfield north london.

 

[Sparx]

STEAVIE is near you, he does cambelt changes for £285 ... give him a PM or visit his website: http://www.performancepuma.com/

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Hi, Welcome along to ProjP.

As Sparx says, the cambelt is a good thing to get changed, if unsure, change it. Very good that you have got it in for a full service already. With service history and i know others will think differently, but for me, I took my Puma as it was and have done exactly what you did, got it serviced, changed the brakes pads, discs, cambelt, tyres etc and got it to a base level that I was happy with... from there on out i have done my own servicing so i have no written history, but i know my car has been well maintained and it's not like i'll ever sell mine.

If you need any help again, launch the questions our way. For parts... Fleabay is a great place and also we have members here who are traders in spare parts, would be an idea to drop them a question for parts.

And from me, Ive never heard of a recall. Anything in the history about a change? Im not sure if it would have made it to 80k on a broken component from factory.

Mac

 

[Minihen]

Thanks Sparx & Flying Scotsman.

Flying Scotsman: - The safety recall was apparently an issue that affected a small number of pumas fitted with ABS which may malfunction with the loss of braking efficiency in one circuit. It's a dealer recall with a certificate and stamp to say it's been checked/replaced. So i don't think theres any problem with that.

Pictures of rust on bodywork, should show up if i've done this right.

 

[PhilLew]

At £360 it depends how much MOT is left on it but what I'd do is.....

1. a quick check of the oil/water/brake fluid levels
2. drive it like you stole it until the mot runs out or it breaks! (you'll enjoy every minuet apart from the last one)
3. scrap it and get £200 back.
4. sit back and contemplate the best £160 you ever spent!!!
:grin: :grin: :grin:

...but that's just me :grin:

Enjoy

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Little bits here and there, the rear are the most costly, generally say about £200-250 per side. Really depends where you go. I'd think you could actually get all those rust spots sorted for about £600.

Another cheat for the front wings, get some good condition cheap ones off fleabay... Especially that NS wing.

And PhilLew.... that's just evil advice lol

 

[Minihen]

Hahahahah, thanks PhilLew but at just 80k it has plenty of life still left in it.

Flying Scotsman, thanks for the advice, i have seen a couple of wings going for cheap on fleabay, i might just bag them and just replace the ones on mine if the colours match. As for the rust job if i can get a good deal in my area i'll get it sorted.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Yeah, that's what i would do... Keep us all updated with the pictures and the progress.

 

[quest63]

Welcome aboard :thumbs: I think you'll find the water header tank is one of the things Ford sells at cheap prices iirc its about £20 or less new.

 

[Minihen]

Thanks Quest63, will look into that

 

[Pixie]

Welcome to the forum
And surprised nothing has been mentioned about your colour of car yet

 

[quest63]

We are all very mature here regarding colour,well we are this week, next week who knows :-D

 

[Minihen]

Hahahahaha, i wasn't fussed about the colour, saying that i've never owned a green car. There's a first time for everything

 

[lrrhood]

Hi and welcome, just a thought on the service history, my puma is the first car I have bought with a full service history and so far has given me more probs than ones with no history, there are still loads of people out there that do their own work and often a lot more thoroughly than the garages.
At £360 there is little point spending tons on a car that you only intend to keep a couple of months, do the essentials, give her a bath now and again, just enjoy driving her and close your eyes when you get out :-D

 

[Pixie]

We are all very mature here regarding colour,well we are this week, next week who knows :-D

Ha Ha yeah yeah !

Hahahahaha, i wasn't fussed about the colour, saying that i've never owned a green car. There's a first time for everything

First time on a green car for me too and I love mine! :thumbs: