Hi All

Now that the good old Fiesta has come to an end I have been wondering what my next new Ford will be. Well not exactly wondering as the only one that will fit my garage is a Puma. I know there are other car manufacturers but I am a die hard Ford man. Back as far as my old mans Popular my Consul, Anglia, Orion and of course many Fiesta's.

Anyway getting back to subject. About this time next year I shall be looking to order a Puma all being well. Over the past few weeks I have been checking the Puma forum of this site. There appears to be very little comment on there about problems and niggles with the new Puma. Could this mean it is a well made car or as I suspect lack of owners compared to us Fiesta guys and less technically minded than us?

Anyone know of any real problems with this model?

It's basically just a Fiesta under the extra flab, so I would expect similar niggles to the Fiesta Mk8 as it's the same underyling architecture.

Well, there are a few threads on the Puma forum on quality/build issues, similarly on "other" Puma-specific forums on the web which I'm sure you can find with a quick search.

It's mostly, as you would expect, very similar stuff as found with the Mk 8 Fiesta and Mk 4 Focus, no particular pattern that I've seen. No wet belt engines on the Puma, though, of course.

I've had a couple of test drives (one 24 hour) and it all felt pretty familiar to a Fiesta owner tbh, just a bit bigger and a bit less sharp to drive.

I've got the impression from some reports that Puma build quality was a bit better, but that said the 24 hour demo (a 155 ST-L X) had a few rattles, the other (same model but a 125) was fine in that regard.

2 hours ago, jsk said:

Could this mean it is a well made car or as I suspect lack of owners compared to us Fiesta guys and less technically minded than us?

The Puma is quite a big seller new but I doubt it will ever catch up with the sheer number of Fiestas out there, also it could be buyers might be migrating from other brands of crossover rather than being ex-Fiesta owners? Certainly there are quite a number around where I live but being interested (or nosey!!😀) I tend to note what they had before and none have swapped from Fiestas. 

 

I’ve just jumped-ship from the Fiesta to Dacia Sandero Stepway. Needed a larger car for the family as a daily runner and an automatic for the Missus as she’s damaged her left arm.

It was with a relatively heavy heart (I still have my Smax after all 😉), but the Puma is just too much for similar spec (automatic etc), especially when financed on PCP and the balloon payment is unmanageably high.

There’s definitely a drivability and slight quality difference but it’s actually quite close and definitely not worth spending nearly £10k extra on.

26 minutes ago, Smartd00d said:

I’ve just jumped-ship from the Fiesta to Dacia Sandero Stepway.

New Duster looks pretty good value also:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/dacia/duster/361630/new-2024-dacia-duster-third-generation-europes-best-selling-suv-revealed

11 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

New Duster looks pretty good...

I skim read that and then looked at the pictures. 

Only makes sense when I re-read it as good value.  That is one ugly looking car.  Whatever happened to sweeping bodylines?  Poor Dacia designer must only have been able afford a ruler.  French curves can't cost that much surely.  

9 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Poor Dacia designer must only have been able afford a ruler. 

His brother works for Tesla....🤣

4 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

I skim read that and then looked at the pictures. 

Lol, I don't think I'd be buying a Puma (or most SUVs come to that) for looks either! But the sort of people I've seen buying the previous version (very popular with folks up the Dales, including doctors and vets) won't be that bothered, particularly at the price. The darker colour looks better, I thought, and once it's covered in mud (and worse)..............😀

 

Thanks for all the comments. As Alex said, basically a tarted up Fiesta. With plastic wheel arches (UGH) and all. At least the rubber floor mats from my Fiesta will fit.