Puma or Panda or Japanese?

af_thefragile

After a lot of looking around and stretching my budget I have narrowed my options to these few here.

The Pumas look perfect for me. I like the style and as I don't need much space (neither am I very tall) they are very tempting. I'm looking at the 1.4 ones and the insurance on them is very reasonable too. But they all have fairly high mileage and I herd Pumas rot very soon...
Here are a few I've picked out:
This one says its got full service history: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201002196578132
This one's got fairly low mileage:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Puma/.1.4--CO/201004196731154/advert?channel=CARS
And this one is fairly pricey:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201001196459629

I like the Panda's simplicity. They're the newest of all the cars I've seen and very low mileage too. Here are the few I picked out:
Fairly inexpensive:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201007196916759
Low mileage:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201006196902461
Looks fine:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201007196946162


So finally I need your help and advice as to should I go for these cars or should I just get a reliable Japanese car like a Yaris or Micra instead?

Any help/advice will be much appreciated!!

Thanks a lot for your time!!

Henry Ford III

Pumas don't rot! Where did you read that?

Alanstrainor

I wouldnt really consider japenese cars more reliable than the above. The panda looks like a good buy, although i believe the 1.2 version above is the 8v engine found in the old punto that was prone to head gasket failure. So i'd go with the 1.1 over that. The puma is a nice car too, it'd be the better handling car, but it's the oldest choice, so if handling isn't a priority i'd consider the panda a better option.

af_thefragile

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Pumas don't rot! Where did you read that?

Well, I herd they've got rust issues and the engines don't last very long (compared to the japanese counterparts)...

Puma is my favorite choice cuz its within my budget and its probably the only sporty car thats not gonna rip me off insurance wise. My heart wants me to go for the Puma but my brain is worried about ending up with a lemon.

My brain tells me go for the newer and much lower mileage Panda or something like a Yaris or a Micra...

cnocbui

I would go for the Panda. There is an article in todays Sunday Times about Fiat Bravas being a good buy SH because Fiats tend to depreciate rather rapidly.

I was going to suggest a Honda Jazz until I saw how well they hold their value :eek:

The Panda is a bargain.

af_thefragile

Lately seeing all the resources there are for Pumas on the internet, my heart has really gotten set on one of these...

Now I guess its either gonna be the sporty Puma or the sensible Panda...

My heart tells me to get the Puma and I'm gonna love driving it. Its a car I can look after and keep for a long time.
My brain tells me to get the Panda and relax in the comfort of its reliability and running costs before upgrading to something nice sometime later.

I really can't decide this!

Henry Ford III

af_thefragile wrote: »

Well, I herd they've got rust issues and the engines don't last very long (compared to the japanese counterparts)...

Puma is my favorite choice cuz its within my budget and its probably the only sporty car thats not gonna rip me off insurance wise. My heart wants me to go for the Puma but my brain is worried about ending up with a lemon.

My brain tells me go for the newer and much lower mileage Panda or something like a Yaris or a Micra...

Get a good clean Puma with a full service history. Much better fun to drive than the others you've mentioned.

zilog_jones

af_thefragile wrote: »

Well, I herd they've got rust issues and the engines don't last very long (compared to the japanese counterparts)...

My friend has a '05 Fiesta with the 1.25 version of the same engine and has done over 200,000km on it. If they are serviced properly they generally don't cause trouble. Timing belt is due at 100k miles or 10 years so make sure it's been done on any Pumas you look at, or take into account the cost.

Japanese cars rust too

ytareh

Pandas are amazingly reliable ,no seriously !A serious Micra/Yaris rival for a lot less.They are waaaay better than all bar the very latest Puntos but thats not saying much.

jaffa20

af_thefragile wrote: »

Well, I herd they've got rust issues and the engines don't last very long (compared to the japanese counterparts)...

Puma is my favorite choice cuz its within my budget and its probably the only sporty car thats not gonna rip me off insurance wise. My heart wants me to go for the Puma but my brain is worried about ending up with a lemon.

My brain tells me go for the newer and much lower mileage Panda or something like a Yaris or a Micra...

You've answered your own question really. If your heart is set on a Puma then go for it. No point considering other options if you'll be stuck with it everyday and regret it. The ones in the op all seem very expensive though. I'm sure you could get better prices than that.

Atomic Pineapple

Have you checked insurance on the 1.7 Puma? I doubt it's much more than the 1.4 but its a far superior drive

Anan1

draffodx wrote: »

Have you checked insurance on the 1.7 Puma? I doubt it's much more than the 1.4 but its a far superior drive

+1. On which subject, I know this is probably well over budget but it should hold its value and could therefore potentially be justified to both head & heart:http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201008197035016

Henry Ford III

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Pumas don't rot! Where did you read that?

Probably stemmed from HonestJohn :cool:
I reckon the Puma is the better option, looks the job, reliable and easy to flick on whenever you want.

af_thefragile

draffodx wrote: »

Have you checked insurance on the 1.7 Puma? I doubt it's much more than the 1.4 but its a far superior drive

Yeah, but the roadtax would be more... And so would the running costs...
Its gonna be my first car so I wouldn't wanna get too far ahead of myself either...

But I'll consider the 1.7 if the insurance guys don't quote me too high on it.

I've decided that I'm gonna go and check out all the decent looking Pumas around. If I don't find a good one and they all look trashed, then I'll get the Panda.

I wouldn't mind the car developing a few faults if it can put a big smile on my face everytime I drive it and doesn't make me feel like my daily commute to and from college is some chore (reason why I so desperately want a car cuz I'm sick of sitting in the bus for hours everyday!!)...

And as I see there are loads of internet resources and garages selling parts for the puma around, I could "treat" the car once in a while too I guess!...

Anan1 wrote: »

+1. On which subject, I know this is probably well over budget but it should hold its value and could therefore potentially be justified to both head & heart:http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201008197035016

Love to have one of those but budget is seriously limited to 5k eur for the car + insurance and the lot.
It'ld be nicer to have some spare cash left that I could spend on treating any faults or anything that could develop too...

Henry Ford III

Normal 1.7 is lovely, but the more expensive Racing is too harsh suspension wise. Great on a track.

af_thefragile

Right, I got quoted 1600eur on the 1.7 Puma.
Which is 300eur more than the 1.4 Puma and 400eur more than a Micra.

But then the 1.7 also has 100eur more tax and is gonna use more fuel...
Though there is a very clean 1.7 for sale and I'm gonna have a look at it tomorrow.
If I don't find a good 1.4, I might get the 1.7...

And I'll keep the Panda as the final sensible resort!!

Anan1

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Normal 1.7 is lovely, but the more expensive Racing is too harsh suspension wise. Great on a track.

Sure, but it'll hold its value a lot better than a normal 1.7, and it'll be a car you'll always remember having owned.

Henry Ford III

Anan1 wrote: »

Sure, but it'll hold its value a lot better than a normal 1.7, and it'll be a car you'll always remember having owned.

Yes but that works both ways. The "cooking" 1.7 will be a lot cheaper to buy.

The Racing version is just too harsh for our poorly surfaced roads I think.

bazz26

The Racing Puma is bit of a collector's car these days. They are also thin on the ground, at least here in Ireland.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

The Racing Puma is bit of a collector's car these days. They are also thin on the ground, at least here in Ireland.

It was a limited edition.