A new guy started work here today and drives a Ford Racing Puma.

I quite like the way it looks and it seems to have decent Sparco seats - but has ayone ever experienced one of these?

Never driven the Racing Puma, but I've driven the 1.7, and the handling on that was amazing, the best FWD car I've ever driven for handling. I'd imagine that is even better. Not massively quick, but quick enough to worry a standard Octavia vRS on the straights at least until daft speeds, and on the corners, I dont even think modded ones would stand a chance.

IIRC, the Racing Puma was a stock Puma with a remap (something like 150bhp), bodykit and suspension upgrades. I'm sure it cost about 23k when they brought it out 5 or so years ago, and they only made 1000 or something. I think it was supposed to be a competitor for the RenaultSport Clio, but at twice the price, it was just as well it had the exclusivity otherwise it would have been a bit of a flop. Something of a rare toy for enthusiasts...???

was my target car (1.7 normal puma) when it came out but out of my price range for insurance! Very nice car to drive and as Paul said very good around the bends. The Racing puma has a harder set-up which can make it twitchy and only in one colour. Looks very mean and is not that many about (most of the ones that didn't sell when into rallying or so I was told)

It is a seriously rapid car, however the handling is where the beauty of this car lies. To coin a phrase 'it sticks to the road like a go-kart' springs to mind...

However totally overpriced...

Puma generally was meant to be v. good though I thought slightly girly (sorry!).The racing puma looked much better I thought but 23k!!! presume they can be had for very little now? never really see them advertised though

Saw about 15 of them all parked at the side of the Buxton to Macclesfield road a few weeks ago...obviously a fun owner club outing

Funny seeing 15 quite rare cars all at once, and all of them the ford racing blue. Ford focus RS with them too, really should keep a cheap camera in the car.

Quality car, not sure about the rear spoiler though

Apparently they crackle and pop nicely when you back off the throttle

I'd have one quite happily

Friend who owns a garage has one for sale if anybodys interested Link

Darren

BTW Goochie, i hope you are judging him by the car he drives

A Honda Integra Type R parks in the car park here everyday, i have only seen the fella who owns it a couple of times but he has all my respect and i bet hes a top bloke

I'd have one quite happily

ditto

There's a lady "cruizer" down my way who owns one, and it is sweeeet. I think its circa 170bhp, but I think its been tweaked further than normal. Its fairly limited in production too. I think only 500 were done in all. A nice car, and the FRP is a bit above. I wouldn't mind one either.

LOL! Of course I'm judging him by the car he drives.

It'll be interesting when he takes it onto the airfield later in the week...... lets see if it feels as good as my old Teggy Type R

Bloody good car... my mate has one and has let me loose in it before. It has 158bhp which means it's not super quick - just over 7 secs to 60, but hell it can corner better than anything I've ever been in. It's far from standard puma, hence the

Watch out for the bulkheads. According to a Ford Master tech mate of mine loads are brought back under warranty with cracks in the welds because of the stress put into the shell though its wider track.