CherryVimto
Well-known member
My original purchase unfortunately had to be cancelled which meant I was on the lookout for something cheap.
I stumbled upon a Puma advertised as:
138,000 miles
2 previous owners
All keys (remote, non-remote & 'T' key)
Full service history
Broken front spring
4x nearly new tyres
Mileage was a lot higher than I'd have liked, but I couldn’t be too fussy so I decided it was worth a look as it had full service history.
The paintwork wasn't quite as good as the seller thought, or as good as it looked in the photos. I've viewed cars before and have learnt that photos always make things look better than they really are!
Firstly, I checked all under bonnet fluids. Coolant was a little low, but probably because the current owner had tried to stick the broken HCV together with mastic, but not enough to stop it leaking. Oil was reasonably clean and the right level.
Started the car up, checking the function of the dash warning lights, paying particular attention to the airbag & ABS/TCS lights! All working as they should!
While letting the engine warm up, I checked the service book, checked vehicle VIN against the Etis information and MOT/V5 certificates, then went round and checking all the electrical goodies to make sure they worked. Temperature gauge sat in the middle nicely and the heater switched between hot & cold.
There was a weird sound from one of the belts. The owner said it was the cambelt although it sounded like the accessory drive belt. The noise was like a sticky/squeaky noise.
Checked condition of bodywork and had a nosey underneath. Bonnet had loads of stone chips which someone had ‘tried’ to cover up with paint and windscreen (heated) had a few major chips in it. All consistent, I think, with a motorway driven car.
Next was the test drive. Engine was nice and had loads of pull. Gearbox was tight and gear change was good. Clutch biting point was at a good position with no slipping.
The ride was a bit 'lollopy' with the broken spring and clunked a lot when turning. Otherwise, no bangs or knocks from the suspension. As a whole, everything seemed good (other than the spring).
While test driving, I chatted to the owner and got a feel for what sort of price he was looking for and decided to make him an offer.
After quite a lot of thought, the owner accepted my offer of £500 cash. For some reason, he was surprised when I told him I wanted to drive it away there and then!
The interior was quite messy. Well, actually it looked like it had never seen a vacuum cleaner. So the first thing I did when I got it home was clean it out and give it a wash.
The windscreen looked rather tatty with all the chips. Luckily, the company I work for has someone come round to do repairs on the windscreens on the fleet of vans. So, after a quiet word, I got six chips repaired for £20. Bargain!
I swapped the accessory drive belt for the nearly new one from my old Puma. The old belt I took off was sticky/tacky to the touch. After the belt change, the sticky/squeaky sound had gone.
The Puma is standard externally (what is visible), except for a few small vinyl stickers and a set of 40mm lowering springs. I got the springs because as I was going to replace the broken spring, I may as well replace them all. And at the same time, I Poly bushed the underneath to give the suspension a bit of a ‘refresh’.
I've been working like hell doing this lot:
(a lot of parts I had already bought or refurbed from my old Puma, so I could just fit/swap them over)
Electrical modifications:
• Full white LED interior - switches, heater panel, dash, digi dash LCD display, clock, footwells, interior light, rear interior light – most taken from old my Puma
• Time clock with external temp sensor
• Automatic headlights with 'leaving/coming home'
• HIDs - from old Puma
• DRLs
• Double lock/deadlock beeper
• Internal boot release
Other/mechanical modifications done:
• Wishbones fully fitted with FloFlex bushes and new ball joints
• FloFlex rear beam bushes
• FloFlex ARB bushes
• Alloy drop links
• Upper front strut brace
• Lower front strut brace
• White engine cover – painted original
• Performance/cone air filter – free from a friend
• Ashley rear silencer with race tube centre section
Next on the list:
• Engine start button (fitted, needs wiring in)
Some pictures:
Wishbones from my old car, refurbed ready...
Fitted wishbones and Alloy droplinks...
DRLs...
Wiring in the automatic headlight controller....
...and connecting it to the central locking
I stumbled upon a Puma advertised as:
138,000 miles
2 previous owners
All keys (remote, non-remote & 'T' key)
Full service history
Broken front spring
4x nearly new tyres
Mileage was a lot higher than I'd have liked, but I couldn’t be too fussy so I decided it was worth a look as it had full service history.
The paintwork wasn't quite as good as the seller thought, or as good as it looked in the photos. I've viewed cars before and have learnt that photos always make things look better than they really are!
Firstly, I checked all under bonnet fluids. Coolant was a little low, but probably because the current owner had tried to stick the broken HCV together with mastic, but not enough to stop it leaking. Oil was reasonably clean and the right level.
Started the car up, checking the function of the dash warning lights, paying particular attention to the airbag & ABS/TCS lights! All working as they should!
While letting the engine warm up, I checked the service book, checked vehicle VIN against the Etis information and MOT/V5 certificates, then went round and checking all the electrical goodies to make sure they worked. Temperature gauge sat in the middle nicely and the heater switched between hot & cold.
There was a weird sound from one of the belts. The owner said it was the cambelt although it sounded like the accessory drive belt. The noise was like a sticky/squeaky noise.
Checked condition of bodywork and had a nosey underneath. Bonnet had loads of stone chips which someone had ‘tried’ to cover up with paint and windscreen (heated) had a few major chips in it. All consistent, I think, with a motorway driven car.
Next was the test drive. Engine was nice and had loads of pull. Gearbox was tight and gear change was good. Clutch biting point was at a good position with no slipping.
The ride was a bit 'lollopy' with the broken spring and clunked a lot when turning. Otherwise, no bangs or knocks from the suspension. As a whole, everything seemed good (other than the spring).
While test driving, I chatted to the owner and got a feel for what sort of price he was looking for and decided to make him an offer.
After quite a lot of thought, the owner accepted my offer of £500 cash. For some reason, he was surprised when I told him I wanted to drive it away there and then!
The interior was quite messy. Well, actually it looked like it had never seen a vacuum cleaner. So the first thing I did when I got it home was clean it out and give it a wash.
The windscreen looked rather tatty with all the chips. Luckily, the company I work for has someone come round to do repairs on the windscreens on the fleet of vans. So, after a quiet word, I got six chips repaired for £20. Bargain!
I swapped the accessory drive belt for the nearly new one from my old Puma. The old belt I took off was sticky/tacky to the touch. After the belt change, the sticky/squeaky sound had gone.
The Puma is standard externally (what is visible), except for a few small vinyl stickers and a set of 40mm lowering springs. I got the springs because as I was going to replace the broken spring, I may as well replace them all. And at the same time, I Poly bushed the underneath to give the suspension a bit of a ‘refresh’.
I've been working like hell doing this lot:
(a lot of parts I had already bought or refurbed from my old Puma, so I could just fit/swap them over)
Electrical modifications:
• Full white LED interior - switches, heater panel, dash, digi dash LCD display, clock, footwells, interior light, rear interior light – most taken from old my Puma
• Time clock with external temp sensor
• Automatic headlights with 'leaving/coming home'
• HIDs - from old Puma
• DRLs
• Double lock/deadlock beeper
• Internal boot release
Other/mechanical modifications done:
• Wishbones fully fitted with FloFlex bushes and new ball joints
• FloFlex rear beam bushes
• FloFlex ARB bushes
• Alloy drop links
• Upper front strut brace
• Lower front strut brace
• White engine cover – painted original
• Performance/cone air filter – free from a friend
• Ashley rear silencer with race tube centre section
Next on the list:
• Engine start button (fitted, needs wiring in)
Some pictures:
Wishbones from my old car, refurbed ready...
Fitted wishbones and Alloy droplinks...
DRLs...
Wiring in the automatic headlight controller....
...and connecting it to the central locking
