Grant_R
New member
Evening all, hope all is good.
So a brief intro on me; 31 year old male from sunny Slough - some of us have to be.
Been driving since I was 17, incident free for 14 years and counting, hope it continues!
Had a lot of motors over the years, everything from Nova's back in the day (yeah, was one of them!) borrowed E-classes, Transits, a Punto sport from brand new, you name it!
Am a windscreen / bodyglass fitter by trade, although I left the industry a couple of months back now (it's f*cked) and am currently just in a driver / re-stocker role.
Having sold the 03 Punto a while back now and having relied on a company van, which I had to give back obviously once I left the vehicle glazing world, going two months without a car was starting to get a bit of a strain.
So, with a mediocre budget of 500 quid, became the owner of a 1.7 99 (V) plate red Puma yesterday. Love it already, good solid little Ford and was (nicely) surprised at how quick it shifts to be honest. The girlfriend runs a 96 MGF 1.8 and having a quick lead-footed moment down the Windsor relief road yesterday, absolutely left it for dead. :grin:
I got the garage down to £460 and I'm pretty sure I've picked it up for a snip. 73,053k on the clock as from about an hour ago, MOT until October, £350 fully comp insurance (14 years NCB, but still not bad for living in an SL postcode either)
A few issues with it, which the sales bloke in fairness did mention -
- Key fob isn't functioning, IE, have to just use central locking via key-to-door the good old-fashioned way.
- Door open warning light constantly on, although there is nothing open, including tailgate etc
- Exhaust is a little corroded on the backbox (was an advisory on the last MOT)
- Brakes to me seem to not be as they ideally should be
- Slight knocking / thudding sound when going over certain bumps. Doesn't sound too clever, but I'm hoping shock absorbers... :?
Mechanically, engine-wise, seems to be running a dream. Idling fine as well. Air con works as well, was amazed, as do the electric mirrors. Haven't been able to test the heated screen yet.
Am more than happy over the next couple of months to spend a little bit more than what I paid for it yesterday to put the above right, given the bargain I THINK I've got and the definite low mileage on it, seems worth it. Plus the fact I'm loving it, newly-converted Ford head now I think. Far from over the whole 'hairdresser motor' worry as well. I really don't think it is. If it was a pink MX-5 or a Ka, then you'd get it.
Appreciate some of that rant is technical, just thought I'd drop a quick overview in and say how-do. Pictures to follow as well.
Look forward to chatting with you all. If I can answer any questions for you, be more than happy to do so.
Cheers,
Grant
So a brief intro on me; 31 year old male from sunny Slough - some of us have to be.
Been driving since I was 17, incident free for 14 years and counting, hope it continues!
Had a lot of motors over the years, everything from Nova's back in the day (yeah, was one of them!) borrowed E-classes, Transits, a Punto sport from brand new, you name it!
Am a windscreen / bodyglass fitter by trade, although I left the industry a couple of months back now (it's f*cked) and am currently just in a driver / re-stocker role.
Having sold the 03 Punto a while back now and having relied on a company van, which I had to give back obviously once I left the vehicle glazing world, going two months without a car was starting to get a bit of a strain.
So, with a mediocre budget of 500 quid, became the owner of a 1.7 99 (V) plate red Puma yesterday. Love it already, good solid little Ford and was (nicely) surprised at how quick it shifts to be honest. The girlfriend runs a 96 MGF 1.8 and having a quick lead-footed moment down the Windsor relief road yesterday, absolutely left it for dead. :grin:
I got the garage down to £460 and I'm pretty sure I've picked it up for a snip. 73,053k on the clock as from about an hour ago, MOT until October, £350 fully comp insurance (14 years NCB, but still not bad for living in an SL postcode either)
A few issues with it, which the sales bloke in fairness did mention -
- Key fob isn't functioning, IE, have to just use central locking via key-to-door the good old-fashioned way.
- Door open warning light constantly on, although there is nothing open, including tailgate etc
- Exhaust is a little corroded on the backbox (was an advisory on the last MOT)
- Brakes to me seem to not be as they ideally should be
- Slight knocking / thudding sound when going over certain bumps. Doesn't sound too clever, but I'm hoping shock absorbers... :?
Mechanically, engine-wise, seems to be running a dream. Idling fine as well. Air con works as well, was amazed, as do the electric mirrors. Haven't been able to test the heated screen yet.
Am more than happy over the next couple of months to spend a little bit more than what I paid for it yesterday to put the above right, given the bargain I THINK I've got and the definite low mileage on it, seems worth it. Plus the fact I'm loving it, newly-converted Ford head now I think. Far from over the whole 'hairdresser motor' worry as well. I really don't think it is. If it was a pink MX-5 or a Ka, then you'd get it.
Appreciate some of that rant is technical, just thought I'd drop a quick overview in and say how-do. Pictures to follow as well.
Look forward to chatting with you all. If I can answer any questions for you, be more than happy to do so.
Cheers,
Grant