Hello all,
Officially this is my first "owned" Puma, but back in 2000 I had a Puma Black for a month as a loan car whilst my ST24 company car was in the bodyshop. I loved that back then, remember it reminding me of an old Mk.2 escort with a quickshift. Took it from Yorkshire up to Glencoe for some snowboarding and had a ball chucking it over Rannoch Moor. :grin: Only thing I hated was constantly almost sparking myself out on the A pillar getting in and out of it.
So fast forward to now... I tend to get attached to cars. My current daily driver is an Alfa 156 2.5 V6 Veloce that I've had for 6 years. Love it to bits but I'm spending around £50 a week on fuel just going to and from work.
A chance conversation at work with one of my colleagues went along the lines of him being upset as he was scrapping his car at the weekend as he'd just bought a new one. I hate to see good cars go to the crusher so I asked if I could take a look before it goes.
It's a V plate 1.7 in Moondust. From a quick look at specs on here it's a series 2 with some 1.5 bits - cig lighter in ashtray, manual seat height, 3 button key. 111K on the clock and it runs and drives sweet. Slight bit of slop in the gear linkage (it's the white plastic knuckle) but changes nice. Usual few scabs on rear arches but rest of body is nice and under surprisingly rot free. When I picked it up it still had a few days T&T on it. I paid scrap money for it so it owes me absolutely nothing.
The traction/abs light was on so ordered a couple of sensors off ebay. Front brakes felt wooden so picked up a new set of discs, pads, 5W30 oil, oil, air and pollen filters for under £60.
It's got electric windows, mirrors ( also heated), AC, heated screen... and unbelievably everything works - the AC is icy cold!
So this weekend I was getting her ready for the MOT and giving her a good going over. ABS sensor bolt snapped so wasted a few hours getting it and the old sensor out. Did the brakes that side. When turning the car round to do the other side on my drive the ABS light went out. Result! When doing the NS brakes noticed everything was covered in grease. Bugger, the CV outer boot had gone. Quick trip to ECP later I got a new boot. Stripped, cleaned, re-packed and back on, boot on. Bottom balljoint back in hub, just nipping pinch bolt up and SNAP. Just glad it happened on the drive but man why does this happen when the dealer has just closed for the weekend?! Temp put a similar bolt in so I could move her but will replace on Monday when I get one. Brakes done this side.
Today's mission was to do the service. Oil, filters, fluids and a valet to get rid of the smell of wet dog from the interior. Service all done (who the feck designed that airbox lid?!) and I took the rear seats out to proper de-louse them. Luckily I have use of a Karcher Puzzi (ace bit of kit) and the seats and carpets have all come up like new. You would not believe the colour of the waste water - pure black. No more smell, no more dog hairs. :grin:
The only nagging things that are not MOT fails but will drive me potty ( perfectionist me) are usual door clips, slow last inch on drivers window, drivers door lock wobbly and courtesy light not working on doors. The door open warning seems to have a mind of it's own, I know the bonnet switch is knackered and guess both doors and boot one is knackered too as the boot light stays on... but does not light up open door warning. Oh and the OS headlight seems to be covered in some kind of clear lacquer that's yellowed. Will attack that with some G10.
Other than that she feels taught, handles just like I remember, revs free and I dunno what you lot are moaning about the headlights - all I can say is you have never drove an Alfa - I can see better using the force than I can with dipped beam in that! :lol: I actually think they're really good - especially on full beam on the dark country lanes.
Lastly - despite the username I'm a bloke. All my vehicles have girl's names. My new addition is Patsy.
Officially this is my first "owned" Puma, but back in 2000 I had a Puma Black for a month as a loan car whilst my ST24 company car was in the bodyshop. I loved that back then, remember it reminding me of an old Mk.2 escort with a quickshift. Took it from Yorkshire up to Glencoe for some snowboarding and had a ball chucking it over Rannoch Moor. :grin: Only thing I hated was constantly almost sparking myself out on the A pillar getting in and out of it.
So fast forward to now... I tend to get attached to cars. My current daily driver is an Alfa 156 2.5 V6 Veloce that I've had for 6 years. Love it to bits but I'm spending around £50 a week on fuel just going to and from work.
A chance conversation at work with one of my colleagues went along the lines of him being upset as he was scrapping his car at the weekend as he'd just bought a new one. I hate to see good cars go to the crusher so I asked if I could take a look before it goes.
It's a V plate 1.7 in Moondust. From a quick look at specs on here it's a series 2 with some 1.5 bits - cig lighter in ashtray, manual seat height, 3 button key. 111K on the clock and it runs and drives sweet. Slight bit of slop in the gear linkage (it's the white plastic knuckle) but changes nice. Usual few scabs on rear arches but rest of body is nice and under surprisingly rot free. When I picked it up it still had a few days T&T on it. I paid scrap money for it so it owes me absolutely nothing.
The traction/abs light was on so ordered a couple of sensors off ebay. Front brakes felt wooden so picked up a new set of discs, pads, 5W30 oil, oil, air and pollen filters for under £60.
It's got electric windows, mirrors ( also heated), AC, heated screen... and unbelievably everything works - the AC is icy cold!
So this weekend I was getting her ready for the MOT and giving her a good going over. ABS sensor bolt snapped so wasted a few hours getting it and the old sensor out. Did the brakes that side. When turning the car round to do the other side on my drive the ABS light went out. Result! When doing the NS brakes noticed everything was covered in grease. Bugger, the CV outer boot had gone. Quick trip to ECP later I got a new boot. Stripped, cleaned, re-packed and back on, boot on. Bottom balljoint back in hub, just nipping pinch bolt up and SNAP. Just glad it happened on the drive but man why does this happen when the dealer has just closed for the weekend?! Temp put a similar bolt in so I could move her but will replace on Monday when I get one. Brakes done this side.
Today's mission was to do the service. Oil, filters, fluids and a valet to get rid of the smell of wet dog from the interior. Service all done (who the feck designed that airbox lid?!) and I took the rear seats out to proper de-louse them. Luckily I have use of a Karcher Puzzi (ace bit of kit) and the seats and carpets have all come up like new. You would not believe the colour of the waste water - pure black. No more smell, no more dog hairs. :grin:
The only nagging things that are not MOT fails but will drive me potty ( perfectionist me) are usual door clips, slow last inch on drivers window, drivers door lock wobbly and courtesy light not working on doors. The door open warning seems to have a mind of it's own, I know the bonnet switch is knackered and guess both doors and boot one is knackered too as the boot light stays on... but does not light up open door warning. Oh and the OS headlight seems to be covered in some kind of clear lacquer that's yellowed. Will attack that with some G10.
Other than that she feels taught, handles just like I remember, revs free and I dunno what you lot are moaning about the headlights - all I can say is you have never drove an Alfa - I can see better using the force than I can with dipped beam in that! :lol: I actually think they're really good - especially on full beam on the dark country lanes.
Lastly - despite the username I'm a bloke. All my vehicles have girl's names. My new addition is Patsy.
