Buying the girl friend a puma for her bday... What do i look for?
 

Hi there guys,

im looking for a puma for my girl friends birthday, budget is around 2k...

I haven't ever seen a rusty one but i guess that doesn't mean they don't! so any specific places to look at when i view?

Any common mechanical/electrical problems?

What engine would you go for? and did they ever do one with ESP.....

Think i am after a black one with leather.

Cheers all

Rob,

They go on the back arches, as my brothers has. His has been reliable, other than a heater matrix

check for sharp claws and teeth and make sure it's in a cage at all times!!

steve

:cry: Was just going to post something similar!

as said, i've seen a few with rear arches hanging out, i like them though, there normally 1.4, 1.6 or 1.7, i was thinking of getting a 1.4 as a runabout, cheap tax, insurance & good on fuel.

very funny :bat:lol

She will be 22, so any other suggestions of similar type cars??

Only thing is i have to fix it (and that means not fixing my cars!) and i can't think of any thing more reliable than this or a zetec-s...

Cheers

Rob,

Cheers Guzzler & maxest, Yea she's on the motorway every day and her current car is an MGF and thats been properly mullered, and it doesn't have ABS etc, and she can be a sketchy driver in the wet! I'll keep an eye out for the rear arches.

Rob,

:top:

For motorway driving and after a MGF, deffo a 1.7 IMO.

Have you considered Tigras too?

https://passionford.com/forum/cars-f...ache-gold.html

If she likes quick cars then thats better than any normal puma and isnt expensive :D

Cool, thanks for the reply! HCV? Sorry buddy all my fords have been 20 years old lol not sure what this abbreviation stands for... something valve??? Hydro carbons???

Sorry if that questions is a bellend one!

And thank you for the spot on reply :top:

Rob,

Hiya Chip,

I tried suggesting a tigra a while ago but she 'apparently' doesn't like them??? But bare in mind like most girls the final choice is usually made by colour and shape... and once she has said she doesn't like something her 'not going back on what i said' circuit will kick in.

Im just going to buy her a car with out her knowing to avoind all the "I dunno if i like this one" bullshite i know i will get if i don't!

She quite likes the new(ish) clios as well but i really can't be doing with fixing crap i know will go wrong with one!

Rob,

Fair enough mate!

Good luck, sounds like you need it :cry:

Heater Control Valve. basically a little valve that diverts engine coolant into the car to heat the car interior up etc. It's a 5 minute swap and not the end of the world for £35ish. (get a Ford one, not a crappy ebay copy) If you test drive one and the heater doesn't change from hot or cold into the cars interior, the HCV has gone.

lol, naa she's alright really just a pain in the arse trying to get her to make her mind up!

Took her to look at a puma last year, it needed the rear bumper replacing and spraying, was a 2001 car with full leather (1.7) and only had 19,000 miles!!!!! think he wanted £1800 for it!

But it was silver......and she didn't want a silver puma!?!?! WTF

Think any normal bloke would live with a colour he wasn't 100% happy with if the car was practically new and CHEAP!

Oh well lol,

Make sure it has a cambelt changed mate as heard (heard)it can be costly to do :D

Everything else is just the normal stuff to look for TBH :)

Good luck :D

Heater Control Valve :wall: lol,

Sorry mate was a stupid question, i thought it was something to do with recirculating exhaust gasses lol

Rob,

Not a stupid question if you don't know. ;)

Any more questions on a specific car or anything at all then PM me if you like.

Thanks mate thats kind of you, was a bit stupid as i have replaced a few! not to great with the many abbreviations there are.

Rob,

I'd avoid powerflex bushes if she likes any kind of ride quality on her commute.

I'd do the lower arm rear bushes with powerflex poly ones, but all the others replace with new ford items, especially the rear beam ones. Will make it feel like a new car

I would consider a car with a big boot.. because as a woman, she can put a broom in there to sweep up the glass after her inevitable little parking accidents in supermarket car parks . lol

On a serious note, Puma sounds ideal

haha, i agree, what ever car she gets is getting parking sensors fitted before she drives it! i had to fit some to her MG but to be fair you can't see a thing out the back, shes not a bad driver, just scary as hell in the rain.... she just doesn't comprehend that water/ice etc could effect the car in any way... Hence the car needing ABS :)

Rob,