[NeiltheNewbie]

Hi all,

After wanting a Puma for years and years I finally managed to get myself into a situation where I could afford to buy one and get the insurance, so after looking aroumd I decided to take the plunge and picked it up this evening! I got it from what I thought was a reputable dealer, its an 02 plate with 77k on the clock, full service history at main ford dealership until 2006, with every single receipt, then the 2nd owner of the car had the service book stamped by a Volvo dealership for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The mileage I have checked on the VOSA website appears to be genuine and driving it home tonight the engine is a dream, pulls like a train in every gear and the handling is great, I love it instantly!!

however

there are a few worrying things. Because I finished work late I had to pick the car up at 6.30pm and the dealership was closing, so I didnt get to check the car over properly, it was MO't today and passed. Driving it home though some problems became immediately apparent:

the ABS light is on

the traction control light is on

the 'door open' light is on even though door, boot and bonnet are all closed properly.

the heater blows hot air and I can't get cold air (have seen this mentioned on forum though so think it is a common fault hopefully easily fixed)

the brakes are rubbish!

the code on the stereo won't input, I get the first numbe rin then it switches off when i press the second button on the stereo to input second number of code.

and when i checked advisory's on the vosa website (the dealer didnt supply the breakdown, just the mot certificate with a note saying advisory yes) this is what it came up with:

Advisory Notice issued

Going to Nearside rear brake flexi hose Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Going to Offside front brake flexi hose Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Offside outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Both rear inner sills Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.2)

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Both front brake discs slightly worn

I love this car, and am praying I havent just spent all my savings on possibly the only bad Puma in existence....even though I am worried to death I still smile looking out the window onto the drive at it.

ps the car came with a 'Customer Protect' silver level 6 month warranty

sorry for my waffle, hi to all and am hoping to get to know everyone here

[pumadaz01]

mate i wld get the dealership to undergo all the waork needed and give you a replacement car whilst this is being done.also take the advisories in and get all this work done asap.

[mlcuk]

Hey Neil,
Like you, I'm a Puma newbie by buying a few days ago. It is a scary thing when you commit some hard-earnt money into a car and not knowing whether its solid. Before my purchase I drove 100miles to view one at night going cheap due to a Cat C. I was minutes away from parting with cash but then noticed the extent of the repair - the rear bumper didn't quite sit right, the boot lid didn't line up with the bumper and was starting to flake showing the original red paint underneith. I'm so glad I walked away, but its so easy to let head rule heart when you really want something!
I know nothing about cars but all those references to corrosion and deterioration sounds weird - like its been left neglected somewhere. A lot of it also sounds brake related. I sure hope you get it sorted OK. Hopefully with those regular services its sound in other places. Update us with what happens!
Mark

[PG12]

personally get an independent pre-assessment done on a car that didn't have extensive paperwork - esp pumas given their age

btw - rear brake pipes, gaitors, suspension replacement will cost £200+ each due labour involved ie potentially £600+ to get through the next mot

This post has been edited by PG12: 24 February 2011 - 12:27 PM

[grandad chris]

I agree with everything that has been said .. Did you take it for a test drive?? Maybe you should have !!!!!

This post has been edited by grandad chris: 24 February 2011 - 07:15 PM

[myweepuma]

hmmm well for a start shouldn't have passed an MOT with the ABS and traction control lights on so why did they say it was ok?? hmmm take it back!

[eldoodarino]

all sounds like very standard service items for a 9 year old car....

an advisory is a good thing...means the tester is doing his job...

it's all curable stuff...

Rgds

[madhillbilly17]

i agree ^^^^ these are all normal wear and tear things for a car of this age, as for the brakes there not much good even when there new

[NeiltheNewbie]

hiya guys, sorry for my delay replying had problems getting online!

thanks for all the replies, especially the last two, cheers that really boosted my confidence that everything will be ok. I have decided to just whizz it down to main dealer (as I can't seem to find any good indie's in the fylde coast area) as I am sure they are just minor things, the car starts and drives like an absolute dream and I think its a good sign that even though the car isnt perfect I still get a massive smile on my face when I see it.....the brakes are shocking though lol. I have decided no matter what needs fixing I love it and am determined to bring it to showroom standards no matter cost/time.

I think i am a definite convert!!

i shall keep you all updated as i make progress

[madhillbilly17]

yeah first time i drove my puma home from buying it, i pressed the brakes and thought oh dear am i going to stop, i thought the brakes were shot, so i changed the discs and pads and cleaned up the calipers and they were still rubbish, so i brought some drilled and grooved discs and some EBC ultra max pads, there is a improvment but not huge, think ive got use to it now,just have to start brake earier than i use to with other cars ive had

[happy-kat]

Welcome
Just in case it has escaped, it should have had the cam belt changed using the full kit by now.
It is not 100k miles or 10 years, for the 1.7 it is 80k miles or 5 years which ever occurs first.
Be worth checking for this in your paper work

[NeiltheNewbie]

Hi again all!

thanks for that Kat, I have had a quick look through all the paperwork and can't see a cambelt change so will have a more indepth look later, I was thinknig of putting it into the main dealer to have everything sorted in one fell swoop anyway, so if it hasn't had it done will get it done as soon as I can!

Had a great weekend, done 250 miles of driving and it hasn't missed a beat, I have absolutely no idea how anyone keeps hold of their licence driving a Puma, it just seems to want to tempt me into giving the pedal a little bit more of a press all the time and at 30mph I can almost hear the car yawning! i have had the biggest smile on my face and am now completely convinced this has been the best buy of my driving career to date!

one more problem is one my brother pointed out to me.....the car has locking wheel nuts, and there is no lock anywhere to be found!! i think a call to the dealer is called for but i am betting as I seem to have bought from john wayne, that he will be no help at all. no idea what to do about that to be honest....

[NeiltheNewbie]

forgot to ask.....do you all recommend using main Ford dealers or do you just use reputable independent garages? I usually go for independent specialist gargaes for my cars but can't seem to find one for Fords around the Blackpool/NorthWest area. I want to get the cambelt changed and the brakes replaced first, along with the heater valve control as it is currently stuck on hot all the time!