When is a Puma not a Puma?

ProjectPuma

Help Support ProjectPuma:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

PaddyPuma

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2024
Messages
9
Location
Staffordshire
As it looks like I have got to give up my much loved Puma, and get something else (I wish it could be another one, but can’t). 😩
Not got huge funds, but need something fairly reliable due to lots of miles here there and everywhere 🙄.

To me everything seems to all look the same boring shape - a ‘Vauxhall Dull’ or ‘Toyota Meh’ sooooo….

I wondered what anyone’s thoughts were on what could come even close to the fun, different look, feeling and love of driving a Puma?

Thanks
PP 🚗


 
As it looks like I have got to give up my much loved Puma, and get something else (I wish it could be another one, but can’t). 😩
Not got huge funds, but need something fairly reliable due to lots of miles here there and everywhere 🙄.

To me everything seems to all look the same boring shape - a ‘Vauxhall Dull’ or ‘Toyota Meh’ sooooo….

I wondered what anyone’s thoughts were on what could come even close to the fun, different look, feeling and love of driving a Puma?

Thanks
PP 🚗
Without spending a lot of money, I don't think much compares to a Puma.
 
As John says, if you are looking for something with a bit of practicality, four seats, reliability, different looks with a good driving experience then it's probably quite a short list.
 
Thanks for those.

I'm quite open to ideas really.

It doesn't have to be a similar size or have 4 seats, but low seats might be an issue from having a 'glass back'... 🤣


 
If you can find one, a Mini One. I have one for a daily driver. It corners on rails too.
The 1400 engine mine has is quite frugal but gutless when compared with the 1.7 when comparing acceleration and you do have to keep topping them up with oil. They run like that, something to do with them being French Peugeot rather than German BMW.
Mine is a 58 plater and has done over 100,000 miles now. For getting from A to B pretty reliably I have found mine is quite good fun. Might be a little low down for you.
I second the MK 1 Focus. The 1600 was best for power to weight if you can't lay your hands on an ST 170, though still not as fast off the mark as a Puma.
Handling was pretty good though, used to have one. The MK 1 would be higher off the ground too.
Otherwise, would the cost of a newer car instead cover the welding costs for your Puma at all? My Puma has done 134,000 miles now and is still going engine wise. I spent £1200 on welding 2 years ago so it would go through the MOT then and it still passes now.
I do need to give all my wheel arches love now though.
 
Last edited:
A Focus or even a Fiesta sounds a good choice if you want to keep it in the Ford family.

I bought a Skoda Octavia vRS to replace mine (needed space for the family), but my daughter got a KA and to be honest, it was 90% of the fun of the Puma.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Opening welding gambit is 1.5-2K with the possibility of more issues being found. I got one of the rear wheel arches done 2yrs back, so pretty sure the other one will need to be added. I feel really bad about it and been struggling to decide, he's done 125K and its 2K that could be put towards something else. If I had the money and room I would keep him as a fun run and have something normal for work and everyday, but those singing people in red jackets just wont walkdown my path and sing "Someone's knocking at my Door" (Postcode Lottery/Bonds/Lotto etc) 🤷‍♀️😩
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Opening welding gambit is 1.5-2K with the possibility of more issues being found. I got one of the rear wheel arches done 2yrs back, so pretty sure the other one will need to be added. I feel really bad about it and been struggling to decide, he's done 125K and its 2K that could be put towards something else. If I had the money and room I would keep him as a fun run and have something normal for work and everyday, but those singing people in red jackets just wont walkdown my path and sing "Someone's knocking at my Door" (Postcode Lottery/Bonds/Lotto etc) 🤷‍♀️😩
A Fiesta Mk 7 without the Ecoboost engine, should be under the £2k mark and they drive really well for a normal car, highly rated for their handling. The Ecoboost engine is not well thought of and a friend has been quoted over £2k to have the cambelt etc replaced. The 1.25, 1.4 Zetec SE engine is similar in design to the Puma engine and was used in Fiesta's for over 20 years and is relatively trouble free.
I have a Fiesta Mk 7.5 with the 1 25 engine, it drives really well, but obviously lacks the power off the Puma's 1.7 engine.
Obviously take care with any car that you purchase, there are some rough, abused ones around.
 
A Fiesta Mk 7 without the Ecoboost engine, should be under the £2k mark and they drive really well for a normal car, highly rated for their handling. The Ecoboost engine is not well thought of and a friend has been quoted over £2k to have the cambelt etc replaced. The 1.25, 1.4 Zetec SE engine is similar in design to the Puma engine and was used in Fiesta's for over 20 years and is relatively trouble free.
I have a Fiesta Mk 7.5 with the 1 25 engine, it drives really well, but obviously lacks the power off the Puma's 1.7 engine.
Obviously take care with any car that you purchase, there are some rough, abused ones around.
Which eco boost engines are you referring to? As there are many versions which are completely different.
 
The one fitted to most Mk 7.5 Fiesta's, 3 cylinder with the wet belt.
I have a mk7.5 Fiesta ST with a 1.6 ecoboost engine and it's absolutely brilliant. Certainly nothing like you've described.
Its a very well thought of car by any petrol head and costs circa £500 for a cambelt change.
I have friends running close to 400bhp reliably from theirs with just bolt on parts and standard engine internals.
 
I have a mk7.5 Fiesta ST with a 1.6 ecoboost engine and it's absolutely brilliant. Certainly nothing like you've described.
Its a very well thought of car by any petrol head and costs circa £500 for a cambelt change.
I have friends running close to 400bhp reliably from theirs with just bolt on parts and standard engine internals.
As explained to me previously that 1.6 ST engine is a different proposition. A friend on here purchased a 2016 Fiesta ST to replace his FRP, but is now going to sell the ST and keep the FRP.
 
Drive wise it seems the Fiesta is popular!

I think my ‘meh’ term relates to how everything looks the same. Same shape, can’t really tell one from another 😕

Puma shape is sooo different and this is a consideration too, any thoughts on something that looks a bit different too?
( but not like roller skate - fiat/Smart cars etc 😆)
 
Sorry, no your mk 1 Puma is getting on for unique as they don't make anything like them any more I don't think, unless you are talking Lotus Elise which are very low and nowhere near as reliable!
Many cars seem to go through the identikit aerodynamic test and end up looking similar. Only variations on the same shape get through because there is more pressure to have smaller cars be energy efficient.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top