Ford Puma

Anyone ever driven one? They have a reputation for good handling, if somewhat underpowered. Apparently they're only available in Europe. I snapped this last week in Mallorca, it reminded me of my MX 3. Cute wee bugger.

When I started asking whats a more moder analog to the VW Scirocco I got this as one answer from one English gent:

"Based on the fiesta floorpan, it's small, has crap rear legroom, rusts nicely, is a bit flakey inside, but also, it never had an engine bigger than 1.7, is an absolute hoot to drive thanks to superb handling/steering, and it's a coupe. Shame you never got them in the US"

I have a soft spot for goofy underdogs that handle well. It looked like my kind of car.
Funny looking bum though.

I haven't driven one but my neighbour has one as a weekend car which he's had from new. He really rates it as a road car - quick enough and he hasn't found anything that'll improve on the fun factor enough to replace it with something else.

Over here in the UK you tend to see them either somewhat negelected, slightly rusty and with ricer fartcans underneath or (like my neighbours) very standard and almost pristine. They also did a "Rallye Puma", which has bigger flared arches and a couple of motorsport-derived goodies but no more power than the regular 1.7. That one didn't sell very well but it supposedly is a very good basis for a grassroots rallye vehicle and not a bad road car either.

Son of Aspire.

That thing needs its front wheels cleaned. That is some bad brake dust.

Isn't that built on a similar platform to the Ka?

What were you doing in Mallorca? I met my family there over Christmas. Beautiful island.

Small, slightly underpowered, and hella fun to drive?

Sounds like what they said about the Neon in 1995.

I have- quite a while ago. Really sweet car- it was more based off of a Fiesta than anything else. 1.6 Sigma motor- reved nice, really, all I can say is that is was typical of a Euro Ford car of the time- good handling, good feel, etc. A lot of us wanted to have them here...

(and I love Mallorca, too- my wife can trace part of her family roots to the island, so we spent a very cool vacation there trying to find info, and just looking around. Great place to drive, outside of the main areas).

Eric

Jay - I was there for the Mercedes E-Cabriolet launch. It's got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Some of the village roads are so narrow, we could reach out and touch the walls on either side of us. Made for interesting driving.

NYG95GA wrote: Small, slightly underpowered, and hella fun to drive? Sounds like what they said about the Neon in 1995.

Sounds like what they said about the Mini in 1959.