As it performs so well in the twisties, and pretty pokey for what I'll be able to insure, do you think they can look okay?
I'd probably look at a panther black one.

 

they look fine as they are. Perhaps lowered a bit.

 

Perfect car for the Mrs.......you can drive it and if anyone says its gay you just tell them its hers

Mega fun to drive, even as standard

 

I think they're pretty cool, especially in the imperial/performance/'escort-cossie' blue they came in. Everybody rates the way they handle, and zippy engines, so yeh whats to loose.
Hard to know how to style them in my opinion, i don't think bodykits and evo's spoilers do anything for them, just a hit with the lowering stick and some nice wheels would do for me. (I quite like standard 'fan' wheels even, but then again im a bit weird like that, i also like st24 4-spoke turbines on mk6 Escorts.) The only way to really improve them would be with racing puma arches but i bet that wouldn't be cheap to get done properly if indeed its possible on a standard shell.

 

If your tall stay away,i hate driving the misses car just seems to be poor visibility all round, in short a bleeding effort.....

 

/\ Im 6' 2" and 14 and a 1/2 stone and got in the back of one, only did it the once mind.....how, i've no idea at all, shoe horn and vaseline i think, and getting out at the other end was a drama

 

im 6'1" and 14.10 and its been a good little car in the two yrs we've owned it and its quite nippy in 1700 but it just winds me up,the rear view mirror seams to take up all the screen then add the pillers and the rear visibility and i find it an effort,pity really........

 

well on the other scale, im only 5`3" but 13 stone, i ALWAYS smash my head off the fucking A pillar!
Cunting cars hate me i think, every time i work on them they bite me, timing belts, PAS pumps, Emissions fails......... the fuckers hate me im sure!

i love pumas to bits and have all the time in the world for them, there massively, massively underated little hot hatch, very tight/taught chassis due to the small closure gaps arround the boot apature and enclosed drivers cabin.

Warrens car is best of both worlds, very wank worthy cars

 

im 6'8" and ive just bought one, its hardly roomy but i like small cars, its alright though. fucking great fun to drive, i love it, just needs more power. im torn between lowering it on the std later spec 9 spoke wheels with the spacer kit for the rear beam on the back, or to put banded steels on. i like the fact nobody looks twice at them as theyre viewed as girls cars though so might stay away from aftermarket wheels and shit.

for anyone thinking of getting one, id definatly recomend them, awesome alrounder i recon.

 

It is a shame they are so massively underated considering they outhandle most FWD cars out there.

Strange really when you consider it won top gear car of the year with tiff driving one like a fucking loon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCWGBYc8zlY

He also used the puma for a stunt driving video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTgXI1RlseE

 

As said above the rear view/parking can be a nightmare. As long as you're going forwards they're great. Nice driving position and good handling, really enjoy the wife's one.

 

this one looks pretty good and a bargain if you're prepared to do a bit of fixing up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180875225279

 

Be different and buy the red diesel one on the ebay,I think its got the old 1.8 non turbo in it.Shit slow but would be good on fuel.I personally like it

 

I like pumas, always have, cool cars.

 

Yes, they can be cool

 

Yeah cool little cars might get one next year or a Mondeo ST200 not sure yet

 

I did quite a bit of reading about these a while back when I was planning what to get as a 'fun' daily driver which was cheap to run while I was studying. A Puma was a great option; specially if it was lowered slightly, decent tyres, uprated bushes, bigger brakes and a couple of small bolt on engine upgrades.


Cheers,
Grant

 

I had a very well sorted silver 1.7, was a very, very nipply little thing, handled well. loads of fun, if you get called for it, take anyone out for a trip round the twisties and it soon shuts em up lol.

for the bloke there are only 2 varients to go for, either the standard 1.7 or the dogs danglies, rare FRP. FRP's are there for sale, just a case of the right example at the right price.

if you cant get hold of a decent FRP, go for a special edition either:

The Millenium special edition (200 reg) (yellow with gloss black wing mirrors etc) or a 'Thunder' special edition.

dont get a 1.4 or a 1.6

 

I think they are pretty cool, and the 1.7 suits it well, for a bit of cheep fun.


Tho like most fords they do like to rust,


will probably get one for the other half

 

Yeh there cool.A friend of mine had a 1.6 16v puma.It went well and handled great.

 

Im on my second one, had one for a few years a few years back and last feb bought another to use as a daily driver.

need to sell it soon tho as i pick the kids up now and its a pain in the ass getting them in the back so need a 4-door car lol

anyway, as std the brakes are shit, so bin them off and fit ST170 front discs and mk3 mondeo callipers. only mods to mine are the brakes and yoko prada spec 2 tyres.

goes well, handles well, and i average about 33mpg but only do short 10 mile journeys to work each way in it.

its currently on 59500 miles so low mileage for year, but as said the dreaded rust is beginning to show on the rear arches...

i like the colour of mine too, bit different.
some pics:

 

I love these little cars, bound to be a classic one day.

 

I love puma's underestimated car IMO.

 

The problem is theyve been so overlooked that theyve gone through thier entire lives with little recognition and are now being scrapped loads so by the time they are seen as worth while there wont be many left. should be good for values though.

 

always loved the puma's great drivers car and as said just needs a little more power to challenge the handling a bit more, will have one for sure at some point