[spacedmonkeys]

I think I need to rant, and here is a good place to do it.
Last month I ended up having to fork out a fortune on my FRP. It needed front and rear pads, front and rear discs, plus rear suspension bushes and 4 new tyres. I scrimped a bit on the discs as Pumabuild had got some second hand ones, and I also went for cheaper tyres as the pirellis were over 100 a pop. So all in over 1200 quids worth of damage to my credit card. Apparrently my "pistons" also could do with replacing and there is corrosion on the middle section of my exhaust, which Ford Racing will not replace on its own without a full cat. I had to pass on this until it goes completely. There are other niggles with the car as well, the wheels must be impossible to balance properly since I always get a wobble at 60-75 no matter who tries (even Pumabuild!) tracking is out, the belt at the side of the engine is whistling and it sounds awful, one of the headlights keeps ticking and does not adjust in height, numerous clicks and rattles from the windows when driving. Last week the petrol guage suddenly dropped to zero and the warning light came on, and only reset itself with an ignition off and back on. Yesterday the aircon decided to not work, the switch worked, but no aircon. Again this reset itself after ignition off. The bumper that was resprayed in March is already showing many white stonechips despite me making a point of keeping back from vehicles in front. All this and I've only had the car just over 2 years. Comments from people at work like "new discs and suspension bushes its only 4 years old my god!".
Tomorrow is due its MOT and I am dreading. :cry2: :cry2:
As much as I love the car, it's starting to give me as much grief as an old banger - the dreaded Ford quality starting to show itself?

[deluded]

But you must have expected all this when you bought it??

I've yet to hit any big problems on mine, but I fully expect the car to cost me too much money in the long run..

£1200 sounds quite expensive for that work.. How did it break down?

[muppet]

But you must have expected all this when you bought it??

Certinaly not. When I bought the Puma 18 months ago I believed the (old) hype about reliability and performance from Fords (a reputation they used to have).

Had I known the truth I would've bought something else.

[deluded]

I was refering to FRPs, which are known for thier expensive habbit of needing new bits on a regular basis.

Had very few problems with my 1.7 puma that I had about 6 years - sounds like you got unlucky..

[thelongads]

I'm rapidly approaching a similar situation where I need front and rear discs and pads, probably need new bushes and tyres, a service and a caliper service - £££££££££££££££££ (+ I had a new milltek mainifold in august)

I have considered selling up but you are in a catch 22 situation as you are unlikely to sell the car needing all that work doing to it and if you do you will probably have to sell it for a lot less than you want.

in response to Madric, I was fully aware how much all these items cost when I bought my car but the reality is (unless you are minted) there are many other things such as unexpected house bills and girlfriends who have a tendancy to eat away at your FRP maintenance nestegg! :-(

thank god for credit cards!

Ads

[deluded]

I just took out a mortgage on my house to cover it all!

[thelongads]

I just took out a mortgage on my house to cover it all!

Sounds like an increasingly attractive option!

[miketheman2k]

I feel your pain! Since having my FRP for only 5 months I've spent ££££ on it just (in my opinion) keeping it in good nick.

e.g.

Full service
Caliper Service
Re-con Front Discs + new rear discs + pads all round
New set of tyres
New set of wheels (old one had buckle, and although I didnt need 3 more wheels I p/x'd for Speedlines, cheers Al :wink: )
Strut Brace
Polybushes
Lightweight car cover
New Mudflaps (lost one of the old ones)
TPS Sensor + Loom
Another oil change
1,000,000 goes at Balancing @ over £10 a pop

It's not worth it for a car, but I can't think of a cheaper car initially that would have been so much fun.

Just remember, if you own a Porsche with ceramic brakes, you could be paying out £14k for a brake service

[deluded]

Yeah - but did you really need the strutbrace and polybushes??

[Turby]

Tracking - have you tried the old and simple method of using a fixed bar between the front tyres ?

This has solved several tracking problems so say fixed using computer / laser equipement.. Either that or the turret suspension bushes have started to collapse which causes similar symptoms.

Apart from that all other items seem to be general wear and tear to be expected on a 4 year old car., with added foibles such as ticking headlights, common to Puma / Fiesta.

I'm suprised your clutch hasn't started to go yet

[muppet]

I was refering to FRPs

then this should be in the FRP section ... and am moving it.

[David]

What a shame, hope you stick with it. I can understand it if you don't though.

[miketheman2k]

Yeah - but did you really need the strutbrace and polybushes??

Was trying various things to fix my never-ending wheel wobble, so yes and no.

[spacedmonkeys]

Ahh yes at the end of all this i dont think i could have got a better looking better handling more fun car for my 14k.

Just didnt expect to keep shelling out on it at top whack prices!

Anyone ever experienced the petrol indicator and aircon faliure???

[happy-kat]

I have heard of the petrol indicator failture before, and it reset with a switch off from memory.

David did you tell your father about the running cocts

mine had also cost me but I don't begrudge a penny as overall it has given me more pleasure than it is costing and many items are general wear and tear/maintenance anyway

[David]

David did you tell your father about the running costs

:rotflmao: No.
He don't mind though, I will pay for servicing and stuff, and the LSD. :shock:

[steverush]

I guess one shouldn't expect an FRP to cost the same to run as a standard puma for various reasons.
- The brakes are more complex/powerful
- The overall performance is much higher (no, not top speed, I mean mid-range acceleration, cornering forces etc
- The cars are modified by skilled people - but down to a price that Ford buyers more or less accepted.

On top of that, imho they need to be fettled by people who know the cars ie your Rich Davies's, Pumabuild/speed type people), otherise they get serviced the 'same as' standard pumas.

Grin per pound, I still think they are great :-)

[Billy The FRP]

I'm rapidly approaching a similar situation where I need front and rear discs and pads

Well fear not, a pair or skimmed discs (done by our friends at Pumabuild) will be going on the for sale section sometime this week...

And then later on, there will be an FRP :cry:

[eldoodarino]

I think I need to rant, and here is a good place to do it.
Last month I ended up having to fork out a fortune on my FRP. It needed front and rear pads, front and rear discs, plus rear suspension bushes and 4 new tyres. I scrimped a bit on the discs as Pumabuild had got some second hand ones, and I also went for cheaper tyres as the pirellis were over 100 a pop. So all in over 1200 quids worth of damage to my credit card. Apparrently my "pistons" also could do with replacing and there is corrosion on the middle section of my exhaust, which Ford Racing will not replace on its own without a full cat. I had to pass on this until it goes completely. There are other niggles with the car as well, the wheels must be impossible to balance properly since I always get a wobble at 60-75 no matter who tries (even Pumabuild!) tracking is out, the belt at the side of the engine is whistling and it sounds awful, one of the headlights keeps ticking and does not adjust in height, numerous clicks and rattles from the windows when driving. Last week the petrol guage suddenly dropped to zero and the warning light came on, and only reset itself with an ignition off and back on. Yesterday the aircon decided to not work, the switch worked, but no aircon. Again this reset itself after ignition off. The bumper that was resprayed in March is already showing many white stonechips despite me making a point of keeping back from vehicles in front. All this and I've only had the car just over 2 years. Comments from people at work like "new discs and suspension bushes its only 4 years old my god!".
Tomorrow is due its MOT and I am dreading. :cry2: :cry2:
As much as I love the car, it's starting to give me as much grief as an old banger - the dreaded Ford quality starting to show itself?

:? Sounds like you have almost every known little niggle at once..

Expect a bit of steering wheel wobble after a pad change...normal will go when pad beds in... probably just catching the lip on the disc....mine did this for around a couple of weeks... now fine...

well worth getting the powerfex bushes.... last a lot longer...

piston change.. :cry2: yeah big bummer, but defo worth it....

rusty exhaust.... thats life... :? ....

sounds like the parts you need doing will make the car good for another 2-4 years.... just a shame it's all at once.....iv'e just done pads and pistons and will replace the discs after the winter now...infact... just gonna garage the car and get a fiesta for the winter... :cry:

:mrgreen:
Chris
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