USED Ford Puma Coupe (97 - 02)

My car

I've had this car for over 2 years now and I still love it! I've the thunder model so it's got leather seats, A/C, CD multi changer and some other nice little touches. The only bad thing is that my mileage is nearly 100k so it's value is going down, but it's still driving so well that I'm not getting rid of it for a while yet!

My car

Just bought my Puma and was surprised on how well it had been kept. Anyone wishing to buy a Puma should go for general condition before anything else because this car will still turn heads, as its body shape is still very modern.

The thing i like the most is the acceleration and response shifting between gears. I quite simply overtook an Audi A3 yesterday and had him seeing Red Mist without really putting much effort in at all..

The pumas all come with air conditioning and electric windows, central locking and traction control. However the traction control is not for bends, its for slowing down on the braking system.

The car itself has a very nice noise to it when driving- something between a growl and a purr, which is great to hear whilst the radio is off. If anyone really wants to make the most out of a Puma, my advice is to invest in a decent set of 18" alloys, which will fill the arches over the wheels nicely. This is the only problem i can spot with the puma as there is far too much room between the wheel arch and the tyre.

As a price guide i just bought my 1.7i puma year 00 model for £4,450, which had done 30,000 miles and had fsh and was spottless. Not even any loose oil on the engine or even a finger print.

Best thing is that i traded in an old golf which held its value so i didnt hardly pay anything... HAPPY DAYS!!

My car

We bought it new from Ford for £15k, always had it serviced by the same dealer, then after seven years and 80,000 miles the engine exploded. A piston siezed, and a conrod burst though the crankcase walls, two weeks after the dealer fitted a new timing belt.

Ford quoted £2.6k to fit a factory reconditioned engine; the Ford Customer Relationship Centre told me Ford only help out on cars less than five years old, regardless of history, so no help there.

Two Puma specialist garages quoted £1.5k to fit a used engine, but the replacement engine might explode again, so I sold it for £500, scrap.

The 1.7 engines (built by Yamaha) are prone to this, as the cylinder linings wear out, but they aren't manufactured any more, and are difficult to find used.

Other common faults are failed heater valves (a cheap Fiesta part), and ABS sensors which corrode in the front wheels.

A shame, as the car was great fun to drive, with wonderful handling and acceleration. We still miss it.

My car

bought my puma last month, everything was going fine till the ABS and brake traction light came on! terrible noise came from front left, like an electrical grinding sound, been told will cost around 100quid for the new part. other than that its cool. oh and its annoying when you squirt your wipers if your window open, all drips in drivers side! brill to drive though an great on petrol