Puma replacement..harder than you think.

[andrewjeffs]

Ep3`s steering is light and dead,expensive to tax,and will drink fuel in the vtec zone(where you have to be to get it to perform).They don't handle to well out the box as well.
After owning the pumas more expensive cousin..the Integra DC2 type R,you will tire of bouncing a Vtec lump of the limiter all the time to stay in the power zone..
I used to get people flashing lights etc when I overtook them,as it always sounded like you are thrashing it.

Phase 2 mini cooper S is a car I have fancied..obviously far more expensive..But it does tick the boxes of lightweight,good handling and half decent economy.

Phase 1 cooper S is getting there money wise,but most are very tired with knackered super chargers.

Other serious option other than the swift is the fine handling Renaultsport Twingo..not to be sniffed at on the open road,offering a very similar package to the puma.

 

[Dal]

When I sold my first Puma, I couldn't think of anything that'd be a newer replacement. That's why I went away from the small nimble coupe and went to the Mk3 Mondeo ST Tdci.

And when I got fed up with the comfort and frugal nature of it, I went to the ubiquitous Orange Mk2 Focus ST. That was so much more fun and still a car I wish I hadn't sold. Fun but in a slightly different way.

 

[stuvy]

Joshua you need to drive an mgf as they don't handle well at all

The twingo's drink fuel to propel them up the road too and the hondas don't handle well as mentioned above

 

[joshua551]

[post]359325[/post] Joshua you need to drive an mgf as they don't handle well at all

Okey, well a friend of mine has got one and he really seems to like it. Altough it wouldn't be hard to satisfy him as the car he had before the mg was a opel corsa b 1.4 8v with a bad oil leak

 

[gingerdave]

[post]359325[/post] Joshua you need to drive an mgf as they don't handle well at all

The twingo's drink fuel to propel them up the road too and the hondas don't handle well as mentioned above

How right you are.Couple of years ago my son thought he would fancy a 2 seater.Narrowed it down to an MgTF an MX5 or a MR2 mk3..First off a local early TF with hyraulastic? front end.Said it drove like suspension was disconnected from car.Well maybe it's just a duffer he thought.Next up a late TF 160 maybe it may feel a bit like an Exige?No way ,drove like a piece of shite only thing remotely similar was the engine behind the driver.Next up an MR2.Yep drove nice ,nice steering compliant chassis/suspension but zero storage.2 down one to go.Mx5 drove like a refined Escort mk1/mk2 but at the price he wanted to pay bad corrosion.So 2 1/2 years later he still drives his Puma and after spending £2k on body repairs and paint it looks good ,reasonable all round handling excellent gearbox and steering and hopefully with everything treated with Dinitrol and acf50 should last a few years yet.

 

[TGPlayer1]

MG ZS 180

Cheap to buy, V6 soundtrack and power, not as bad as you think build and the facelift ones have that fantastic X-power body kit.

Plus they are reasonably large so still practical, and will make 25mpg any day of the week.

 

[red]

Still not much more modern though, you're still looking 12 years old at best.

 

[joshua551]

[post]359332[/post] Still not much more modern though, you're still looking 12 years old at best.

See, that is what i was trying to say. Almost every reasonably priced fun car is build around the same time as the puma. Modern cheap cars just don't seem to cut it. imho the best cheap cars are buil around the same time the puma was build, and maybe even a bit older.

 

[red]

Or maybe we're just all getting old

 

[Frank]

[post]359310[/post] Only things i can think of are build about the same time the puma was build. Things like an MX-5 1.8, MX-3 1.8 v6, mr2, mg-f, etc.

I laughed when I read this, as these were the exact same motors that I thought of. In fact, if you screw your eyes up a bit the MX-3 could very nearly be a Puma!

[post]359343[/post] Or maybe we're just all getting old

Very likely and in fairness, as Dal said, the Focus doesn't look too bad.

But, it does get a strain at times. A few times in the last couple of years, mates or the kids of mates have bought their new 'dream car'. Luckily, I have total control of my voice and face and can make the appropriate replies when I see said car. But, in reality, what they see as their dream car looks like this to me - https://s23.postimg.org/dso6tcknf/auto_rickshaw_drivers_take_a_break_with_a_cup_of.jpg

I don't think a bit of bonnet is too much to ask for.

 

[red]

I have a Focus.. albeit a MK2.5 Diesel and I don't mind the styling, my brother had Dals old MK2 ST and that was a hoot to drive and sounded great with the 5 cylinders. He now has the MK3 ST which again is pretty nice, bit less character with the new engine but still good handling/performance. Before both of those (after his FRP) he had a VX220 Turbo which was very fast and handled like a go kart but very cold in the winter even with it's mens room 1930's heater in play.

 

[zinc2000]

If you could track one down that has not rotted away the Alfasud ti was a cracking wee car, room for four and with handling that would shame a lot of more modern and expensive machines, my brother had one and you could take roundabout without lifting off which meant although my Hunter GLS was much much faster he always got me on the roundabouts....not that we were ever racing of course officer!!

 

[gingerdave]

Plenty of alfasuds around . Unfortunately they sell for £6k to £15k.Cheaper to buy an S1 Elise!

 

[stuvy]

[post]359330[/post]

[post]359325[/post] Joshua you need to drive an mgf as they don't handle well at all

The twingo's drink fuel to propel them up the road too and the hondas don't handle well as mentioned above

How right you are.Couple of years ago my son thought he would fancy a 2 seater.Narrowed it down to an MgTF an MX5 or a MR2 mk3..First off a local early TF with hyraulastic? front end.Said it drove like suspension was disconnected from car.Well maybe it's just a duffer he thought.Next up a late TF 160 maybe it may feel a bit like an Exige?No way ,drove like a piece of shite only thing remotely similar was the engine behind the driver.Next up an MR2.Yep drove nice ,nice steering compliant chassis/suspension but zero storage.2 down one to go.Mx5 drove like a refined Escort mk1/mk2 but at the price he wanted to pay bad corrosion.So 2 1/2 years later he still drives his Puma and after spending £2k on body repairs and paint it looks good ,reasonable all round handling excellent gearbox and steering and hopefully with everything treated with Dinitrol and acf50 should last a few years yet.

I'm looking at building my future proof puma at the moment will be a fast road and track day car as I have a few too many cars already and need to get a few other bikes built too!

 

[joshua551]

[post]359349[/post]

But, it does get a strain at times. A few times in the last couple of years, mates or the kids of mates have bought their new 'dream car'. Luckily, I have total control of my voice and face and can make the appropriate replies when I see said car. But, in reality, what they see as their dream car looks like this to me - https://s23.postimg.org/dso6tcknf/auto_rickshaw_drivers_take_a_break_with_a_cup_of.jpg

Now you got me thinking what their ''dream car'' actually is :roll:

 

[RICHARD MANSFIELD2]

Hi,

I have been following this thread, it has given me much to think about. I can not think of any other car I would wish to replace my Puma with at this time. Who knows a worthy car may emerge in the future. The Puma still stands out as a classic design and the way modern designs are going it still looks up to the minuet, in fact modern designs I think make the Puma look even more modern.

Regards,
Richard.

 

[TGPlayer1]

I just realised something (ok well Richard basically said it already but never mind that :roll: ), the problem is "replacing" the Puma. It can't be done, nothing will ever be as good. You can have a second car which is fantastic (I love my Civic) but I still itch every time I open the garage door and see the little beast sat under the cover looking all sorry for itself.

Instead of 'replace', try 'supplement'.

 

[gingerdave]

Was thinking.I know they're not cheap but did a trackday at Folombrey (France) couple of years ago was a local track driving instructor there and he took me out for a few laps in a Fiat 500 Abarth.It was wet and icy and the way he could carry speed into bends was amazing.In the afternoon it started snowing and he was pissing rings round every car out there including Turbo Porsches and some very quick Lotus /hondas

 

[stuvy]

[post]359387[/post] Was thinking.I know they're not cheap but did a trackday at Folombrey (France) couple of years ago was a local track driving instructor there and he took me out for a few laps in a Fiat 500 Abarth.It was wet and icy and the way he could carry speed into bends was amazing.In the afternoon it started snowing and he was pissing rings round every car out there including Turbo Porsches and some very quick Lotus /hondas

Youl find a lot of that it track knowledge and experience

Seeing as the 500 is a ka do they do a fast one of those?

 

[gingerdave]

Unfortunately ford never offered a performance version of the 2nd generation ka and would you want one? Fkin ugly beast.