[b4rks]

Morning everyone, been a member since yesterday and have so far trawled through a monsterous number of posts to get a feel for the people here, and you all seem spot on, so uh - in as little a patronising way as possible; well done

Anyway, more importantly (to me) I have a couple of puma type questions with which I think you are the peeps to help:

I'm inheriting a bit of cash in October and decided a good way to spend it would be on a car. My total budget is somewhere close to the Å“5k mark (with a bit of give and take).

Now I didn't realise cars were getting so cheap! Within that budget I've considered all the usual (focus zetec, audi coupe, a4 tdi, 3 series beemer, honda prelude, mitsubishi galant, jeep cherokee... seriously EVERYTHING!) was pulling my hair out trying to find something that balanced economy, performance, reliability and comfort/appeal.
The Mrs drives a fiesta (eurobox style), and various mates have had sierra cosworths, rs1600i, xr2s, escort gti and although at first look you think "come on son, a ford..... common as sin and as reliable as projected road work completion dates" once you're in it and moving you remember what a reassuring place they are to be. There are so many about every mechanic worth his tea knows how to fix em, so I thought, lets not try to be flash, lets have a serious browse round the ford section of autotrader.
At this point I realised three things:
1. The focus ST170 is too expensive
2. The cougar looks quite nice although a very weird combination of American and bubbly.
3. Although I've only ever fancied girls (apart from the Hoff - but who doesn't) my gay side might be bubbling to the surface as I really like the appeal of the ford puma!! (in black or blue ith post 2000 wheels - sorry but those fan looking things are awful!!)

So long story carrying on in length........ Here I am after spending a day reading around your forum with a couple of final questions:

1. I'm 6'1 and a good 14/15 stone - will I fit? Old clarkson looked very squished in the top gear video!
2. If the answer to the above question is yes, I'd be looking to get a 00 plate puma hopefuly with lux pack and 55-70k miles (with the stipulation that the cambelt/tensioner had been replaced) I've seen these going for 3.5 - 4k which would leave me with around a grand to play with. I live about an hour away from Pumabuild in BHam and have had a look round their website, but what would anyone recommend I spend it on given the age of the car I'd be getting? Was thinking upgrading the clutch and maybe just getting the gaffa there to look over it and do everything he sees fit with the cash?
3. With standard speakers, and upgraded HU and just a moderate sub/amp in the boot, would this produce good enough sound for most, or are the speakers really dire?
4. I've owned 205gtis golf gtis a focus zetec, escort xr3i (newer shape) am I really going to be happy with the performance / handling of the puma?

Thanks for reading, any input at all will be gratefully received, and of course, HI to everyone on here I think I'll be around for a bit.

[JopieBK]

On reading this, one thing struck me - I don't think I've ever seen a blue Puma on 9-spoke wheels. Has anyone else? Or is there some reason why there are so few?

3. With standard speakers, and upgraded HU and just a moderate sub/amp in the boot, would this produce good enough sound for most, or are the speakers really dire?

I woudn't call the speakers dire, in fact I think they're pretty good for factory-fits. Most people here seem to change head units before the speakers (and the speakers appear to be quite fiddily to replace). Of course it'll come down to what you're used to.

4. I've owned 205gtis golf gtis a focus zetec, escort xr3i (newer shape) am I really going to be happy with the performance / handling of the puma?

Only driven the zetec out of those (which is okay but not outstanding if you ask me), but I've never heard anyone complain about the Puma's handling as long as the car's suspension and tyres are sound. istvan24 had a Pug GTi I think, and I'm sure he's only had good things to say about the Puma. You might find yourself wishing for more power sometimes, but that's about it.

I briefly lived in Stroud - do they all still try and give way to the left on the mini roundabouts?

[Midnight Blue]

I'm 6'1 and a good 14/15 stone - will I fit? Old clarkson looked very squished in the top gear video!

am I really going to be happy with the performance / handling of the puma?

Have a test drive

Can't say whether you will fit comfortably as I'm 5'5" and under 9 stone - but you'll be happy with the handling

On reading this, one thing struck me - I don't think I've ever seen a blue Puma on 9-spoke wheels. Has anyone else? Or is there some reason why there are so few?

Perhaps we are all happy with the propellers

[Mountain Lion]

Six footer over here. No problems fitting in a Puma (well the front anyway), although I'm a bit long in the body, so I have the seat reclined more than most so I can see more clearly out of the the Puma's spacious windows.

Make sure you lower the drivers seat when you test drive.

I've got a mini base canon sub in the boot of a standard Puma and it sounds fine (with a Ford 7000 head unit). The sub is one of the cylinder type that connects straight to the rear speakers. It just gives that extra bit of punch - nothing to blow your windows out. The only down side is that it eats up some of your boot space.

[b4rks]

I briefly lived in Stroud - do they all still try and give way to the left on the mini roundabouts?

Weird you should mention that!! Yesterday I drove through town and stopped at a roundabout becasue there was somebody waiting to my right. Brilliant you may think this chap knows his highway code.... hmn..... I actually did it through courtesy as I was of the temporary belief that it was my right of way, I wavewd him accross and got a very strange look. - - - - It must be contageous!!!!


Thanks to the other lanky fellas in here, and I obviously will be taking one for a test drive but I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be a wasted effort.

With regards to the rest of my post - (bumabuild in bham) - a grands worth of their love on a 70k ish miler - what would you recommend as a priority?

Thanks again.

[lisafrp]

Whereabouts in Stroud are you, we're in Stonehouse, so could possible meet up one evening next week and show you around the puma.

Turby is 6ft1ish and manages to fit in our puma/s fine.

Drop me a pm (although I need to empty my in box) and we'll sort something out.

cheers

[pumarv6]

With regards to the rest of my post - (bumabuild in bham) - a grands worth of their love on a 70k ish miler - what would you recommend as a priority?

There is an excellent engineer in Stroud that works on Pumas that Lisa and Toby know (see post above), so you don't necessarily have to make the trip north.

[lisafrp]

There is an excellent engineer in Stroud that works on Pumas that Lisa and Toby know (see post above), so you don't necessarily have to make the trip north.

Dave is a top bloke, he works on all our pumas, plus loads more from around the country

[b4rks]

Dave is a top bloke, he works on all our pumas, plus loads more from around the country

A top bloke with a top name!

How many pumas have you got then lisa? If you're some kind of dealer October 23rd is my projected purchase date (and my birthday )

I'd like to have a look round yours although I'll probably leave it till a bit closer to the time then i'll have a better memory of what it should feel like when i'm test driving mine...but thanks for the offer.

What a top forum, a couple of days on here I've got an invite to have a look at one locally and the name of a good mechanic nearby - what else could you ask for!!

[lisafrp]

A top bloke with a top name!

How many pumas have you got then lisa? If you're some kind of dealer October 23rd is my projected purchase date (and my birthday )

I'd like to have a look round yours although I'll probably leave it till a bit closer to the time then i'll have a better memory of what it should feel like when i'm test driving mine...but thanks for the offer.

What a top forum, a couple of days on here I've got an invite to have a look at one locally and the name of a good mechanic nearby - what else could you ask for!!

Erm....3 - and no I'm not a dealer although the drive looks like a ford dealership at times!!! (The FRP is mine, the two turbos are Turbys, but you might as well say they are mine as I clean them more than him )

No worries about waiting, I wouldn't use ours as a test for what it should feel like as they aren't at all standard! But is a good indication of if you can fit in or not!

Come back to us nearer the time if you need any help or advice.....