I Gone and Dunnit Now !

New to the Ford Puma Forums? Introduce yourself here
Mr Probe
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:36 am

Post by Mr Probe »

Yes despite months of research including reading all the bad things on here I went and bought one. 434 miles round trip (I live on the South Coast -and don't like others watching my pennies !) going up with my old faithful B4 Passat TDI and returning with my 2021 1.5, 6 speed manual, Puma ST. So you have built a few new roads since my 20 year old TomTom was updated - Interesting ! Anyway after a bladder/coffee stop at Peterborough services at 6am I arrived at the 3rd best (rated) Ford Dealership in Lincolnshire. A small no frills/shag pile carpet outfit. Did the business (Ouch the price of things these days), went through the controls, turning off the steering wheel grabbing , auto breaking and stop/start, said goodbye with a tear in my eye to my Passat and set off in Normal Mode careful not to do the classic wheel spin off the forecourt. Initial reactions - very pleasant and easy to drive . Brakes , steering and suspension all very polite (after watching all the reviews on YT). After a bladder/fuel stop back at Peterborough (where I found the filler cap to be on the wrong side - Its not electric ! and having no lock) a very uneventful trip home with only one slip up from the Sat Nav (or was it me !) Found myself liking the blind spot warning in the mirror, would never trust it fully but when ready you only have to look round once. Found the gearbox slots very close together and fudged a few shifts never having owned a Fiesta ST I am sure I will get used to it ! What I did like though is the way the car didn't just splutter and stall but did a good job of trying to pull despite the low speed. The gear changing wasn't helped by the fact you can hardly hear the engine and the odd petrol gauge rev counter (maybe you can change that in settings !) Anyway arrived home feeling not really too tired (11 hrs) and with no backache ! Couldn't find anything wrong on way home so honeymoon period has started ! Ok my rational for buying the Puma, firstly hate everyone who drives a big SUV around town , there never seems to be enough driver/parking aids for them to do it without me having to swerve out of the way for them ! So I needed something with somewhere near the cabin and boot space of the Passat and with at least or more ooomph as I still like to drive as God intended. Love compact/sports cars and being old manual gearboxes. So eventually my choices came down to an older MK 1 Nismo RS Juke or the Puma 1.5 I wanted to like the Juke so much , think of the money saved, but in the end realised that even though it was fun , I am now too old for that kind of 80s style revving to 3k to bring in the turbo and then handling the tramping all over the road as the wheels tried to grip , so screw it spend the money ! I think my Puma is the full fat one can't see anything it hasn't been loaded with but I have yet to explore it properly, anyway here is a pic

Mr Probe
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:36 am

Post by Mr Probe »

Puma ST.jpg

Mlp31
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri May 13, 2022 12:47 pm
Location: Durham

Post by Mlp31 »

Welcome to the forum. Great looking car. I’m sure you’ll have many miles of trouble-free motoring. Enjoy
2024 ST-Line X 125 with Winter Pack, DAP, pan roof in fantastic red
2022 ST-Line Vignale 125 with DAP and pan roof in grey matter (sold)
4251
Posts: 522
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2023 9:07 am

Post by 4251 »

I think or at least always assumed the fuel cover does lock, with the door locking the same as all other ford’s have been for 20 odd years, or is that something else they have nicked off us, will have to check later.

It’s about the same age as ours which is June on a 21. We have everything but the glass roof, including parking pack that has never been used apart from when tried it out. Yes the ride is ok at speed and fantastic handling on back roads, just unsettled on poor surfaces at low speeds. Check your rear disks for corrosion and the rubber door and wheel arch trims which will likely be falling off if someone hasn’t nailed them back on
User avatar
Ron240
Posts: 1195
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:01 pm
Location: Fife

Post by Ron240 »

4251 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:20 pm I think or at least always assumed the fuel cover does lock, with the door locking the same as all other ford’s have been for 20 odd years, or is that something else they have nicked off us, will have to check later.
The fuel flap does not lock on the Puma, and it didnt lock on my 2015 Focus either.
I would assume that no Ford flaps lock because of the 'Easy Fuel' system that Ford have been using for years that makes theft much more difficult.
In any case these flaps are made of plastic and if locked could very easily be broken into with a screwdriver.
2023 Puma ST (1.5 200PS), Desert Island Blue with Driver Assistance Pack.
Mr Probe
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:36 am

Post by Mr Probe »

4251 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:20 pm I think or at least always assumed the fuel cover does lock, with the door locking the same as all other ford’s have been for 20 odd years, or is that something else they have nicked off us, will have to check later.

It’s about the same age as ours which is June on a 21. We have everything but the glass roof, including parking pack that has never been used apart from when tried it out. Yes the ride is ok at speed and fantastic handling on back roads, just unsettled on poor surfaces at low speeds. Check your rear disks for corrosion and the rubber door and wheel arch trims which will likely be falling off if someone hasn’t nailed them back on
Ha no all good first thing I did was drop to the showroom floor and go over it with a torch and mirror to see how much I could knock off . Maybe the suspension is fine for me as I still have my RX7 and that only settles at 115 mph on the Track of course.
Mr Probe
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:36 am

Post by Mr Probe »

Mlp31 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:09 am Welcome to the forum. Great looking car. I’m sure you’ll have many miles of trouble-free motoring. Enjoy
Cheers Matey I am sure I will, positive thinking.
Mr Probe
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:36 am

Post by Mr Probe »

Ron240 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:57 pm
4251 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:20 pm I think or at least always assumed the fuel cover does lock, with the door locking the same as all other ford’s have been for 20 odd years, or is that something else they have nicked off us, will have to check later.
The fuel flap does not lock on the Puma, and it didnt lock on my 2015 Focus either.
I would assume that no Ford flaps lock because of the 'Easy Fuel' system that Ford have been using for years that makes theft much more difficult.
In any case these flaps are made of plastic and if locked could very easily be broken into with a screwdriver.
I remember the bad days of sugar from vindictive people. Even my wife's KA locks
User avatar
Ron240
Posts: 1195
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:01 pm
Location: Fife

Post by Ron240 »

Mr Probe wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:30 pm I remember the bad days of sugar from vindictive people. Even my wife's KA locks
No need to be concerned because that can't happen with any Ford equipped with the 'easy fuel' system....which should pretty much all of them nowadays.
Remember though...anybody that is that way inclined and determined enough is not going to be put off by simple locks that are easy to break.
2023 Puma ST (1.5 200PS), Desert Island Blue with Driver Assistance Pack.
User avatar
Vantage
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:31 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Post by Vantage »

Ron240 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:48 pm
Mr Probe wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:30 pm I remember the bad days of sugar from vindictive people. Even my wife's KA locks
No need to be concerned because that can't happen with any Ford equipped with the 'easy fuel' system....which should pretty much all of them nowadays.
Remember though...anybody that is that way inclined and determined enough is not going to be put off by simple locks that are easy to break.
Not unless they use the supplied fuel filler funnel that’s freely available to buy.
Puma ST-Line X 155 | Manual | Grey Matter | Driver Assistance Pack | Winter Pack | Power Tailgate | Spare Wheel
Post Reply