Our Classics Special
We look back at 2019 from the drivers’ seat
I had so much fun with the Puma in 2019 – it’s a real driver’s car and loves to be thrown around a few corners. But behind the scenes the Puma was costing me a fair amount of time and money by demanding new brakes, an air conditioning recharge and a full service. I’ve also had to replace the side mirrors that someone knocked off with fully electric ones.
Mechanical repairs have been constant throughout 2019, however. A strange noise from the steering column turned out to be a faulty track rod end that needed to be replaced. Thankfully that only cost £95. Then I noticed that the boot got wet whenever it rained, something I’ve struggled to fix.
Over the summer I noticed that the cabin heater only released hot air, and no amount of air conditioning would balance out the temperature. After some research I discovered it could be the heater control valve, a component that my dad helped me to replace. When this didn’t solve the issue, I figured that the problem could be within the interior panel itself. I found a replacement and once installed had lovely cool air throughout the summer months.
Sadly, the Puma didn’t make it through its most recent MoT. The rust on the underside was so bad that the mechanics told me that fitting a whole new shell would be easier than trying to weld the vast amounts of rotten metal. A whole new shell would mean buying a whole new Puma, which is something I’m now looking into. I’m also considering a new marque altogether, having looked at various R50 BMW Minis and Ford Cougars. I do love a modern classic and I’m really going to miss the Puma…