[Flasher T]

Worth a thread, maybe.



'98 Puma 1.7. Red, with white stripes and white rally lights. Was that way when I bought it.

Visual mods so far include Puma badge stickers front and rear, over the Ford badges. Got a set of decals that will go on the doors soon.

Factory CD6000 stereo replaced by a 1DIN adapter with storage space, and a Kenwood head unit with USB and AUX inputs.

Comfort mods include automatic headlights (turn on when I start the engine - ridiculously convenient since we drive with our lowbeams on around the clock here). Cruise control kit on the way, hopefully. Bootlid struts replaced.

Got it with ~12k kilometers on the clock, presumed 112k total. Had a cambelt/v-belt/water pump change and full dealer service just after getting it, some suspension bits sorted as well. Currently running Dayton D320 tyres on the stock propeller wheels, plans for next summer include white Motec rally rims.

Rear window replaced. Random vandalism. Headlights polished as well. Planning to put superbulbs in before the winter.

The steering wheel's melted, so will probably get that recovered in real leather soonish.

You can see the Estonian number plate pattern in the pic; question is, how much of a twit would I be if I got a custom 707 CAT set?

This post has been edited by Flasher T: 17 September 2009 - 08:50 AM

[FlashBastd]

I like you spot lamps, how are they mounted?

[Flasher T]

Bolted to the rubber strip, with an adjusting nut for height. The driver's side is pointing lower than the passenger side one, I suspect it's intentional, so as not to blind oncoming drivers. The lights on there now have a pretty narrow light pattern though, I'll see how they perform in our near-Arctic winters, maybe change them out for flood lights.

These are the summer rims I'm planning to put on it (leave the propellers with studded rubber after the winter):

[Rich_ST]

How did you make your sidelights come on with the ignition? Was it easy to do?

[Flasher T]

Cost me about 30 quid at the local shop Any car electrician should be able to do it, it's not a special kit or anything. A relay is inserted into the wiring going from the headlight switch. There's an extra switch under the dash that disables the extra wiring (need that to pass the MoT), but otherwise the stalk on the column is in the "off" position, but the little 5W lights and lowbeams come on when I turn on the ignition and go out when I turn off the engine.

[Midnight Blue]

I like it

[Flasher T]

Thanks.

Headlight after a polish:

 headlight.JPG (28.19K)
Number of downloads: 36

[Crystalpuma]

Looks great

[Flasher T]

Finally got around to installing the cruise control (got it off StuartHF here on the forums - cheers!). Haven't tested in on the freeway very thoroughly yet, but seems to be working quite well.

The kit was 135 GBP including shipping, installation was about a hundred Euro at a garage. Compare that to the company that sells these things around here - 520 Euro with install for an older model!

Seeing as I now have cruise control, automatic headlights, rally lights, plus the whole Lux package with air conditioner and heated windscreen, do you think there's a Puma out there with more mod cons than mine?



Next steps: get the melted steering wheel recovered in real leather, and put on the decals.

[FlashBastd]

Flasher T, on 02 November 2009 - 03:03 PM, said:

Seeing as I now have cruise control, automatic headlights, rally lights, plus the whole Lux package with air conditioner and heated windscreen, do you think there's a Puma out there with more mod cons than mine?

Well done with the cruise control, mine was US$99 and I fitted it myself.

Regarding a Puma with more mod cons than yours, mine has bluetooth, ipod interface, cruise control, leather, heated screen, vanity mirror courtesy lamp, autodim mirror... no auto lights or driving lamps though.

[Flasher T]

Well, my stereo has AUX and USB inputs, but I didn't count those.

I wouldn't want leather seats in this climate, but that gives me an idea - maybe I should get a butt warmer... hmm.



Oh yeah, the lolcar's also got itself some claws - a set of brand new studded Nokian HKPL4 tyres, in the standard 195/55R15 size no less! (Actually I got them for cheap from a clearing house because there was no demand for such an odd size.)

[FlashBastd]

Hi, isn't standard size 195/50R15?

Recommended size for winter tyres was 165/70R14 or something like that.

[Flasher T]

Oh. Well, the summer ones were 55, and they work, so whatever. The plan is to keep the propeller rims for the winter rubber and get those Motecs up in this thread for my summer Daytons.

[ssulti]

FlashBastd, on 02 November 2009 - 03:56 PM, said:

Recommended size for winter tyres was 165/70R14 or something like that.

Zedder had about that size (165/70...) winter tyres last winter and he was very disappointed how his Puma handled with those. I have 185/55R15 winter set, which is good to drive, and have quite same diameter than summer ones (195/50R15). 185/55R15 were standard winter tyres in Finland.

(which reminds me to go soon to garage and bolt those winter tyres under... no snow YET... but...)

[Flasher T]

Didn't you guys have a pretty big snowstorm last week?

There's ice on the roads here already, I'm happy I have studs.

[ssulti]

Flasher T, on 02 November 2009 - 06:10 PM, said:

Didn't you guys have a pretty big snowstorm last week?

If you count 0.25cm worth of snow as a snowstorm...

First snow has fallen and melted. Still waiting first real snowstorm. Roads aren't icy yet, just a bit wet. I have also studs on winter tyres, even some green-hippies try to get us to drop them and take friction-based winter tyres.

This post has been edited by ssulti: 02 November 2009 - 06:41 PM

[Flasher T]

Back to report that the Lolcar is doing fine, a few niggles, needed a new battery and a coolant flush (replaced with high-concentration antifreeze), but otherwise it's been serving me very well in -25C weather!

The electric windshield heating is absolutely awesome.

[Flasher T]

Broken window AGAIN. Side window this time, stereo pulled out.

[Steev]

Thats just plain horrible, sorry to hear that. Something tells me your next step should be an alarm with a proximity sensor!

loving the car so far, stripes are different! Me like!

[Flasher T]

There's no point in having a fancy alarm - it won't actually stop stereo thieves. Even if someone does pay attention to an alarm going off at night, by the time the owner and/or cops get there, the thief will be long gone and the damage will be done.

I got comprehensive insurance now, with zero liability for the glasshouse, so if it happens again I won't have to pay for that at least.