So, 2021 is off to a humdinger of a start, isn’t it.
Still, the stay-at-home message at least means I’m not spending a great deal on fuel. Over the course of the past four months, I’ve done around 3000 miles, and have averaged 42.8mpg. That might not look earth-shattering, but consider that most of those miles have been covered during comparatively short trips on A- and B-roads and in town, when the car is getting up to temperature in winter, and it doesn’t seem quite so average.
Those twisty roads also take me to my favourite local walking spot, and the MegaBox storage area in the boot has proved superb for taking muddy boots at the end of a sodden trudge through the countryside. Even better, a quick hose out will have it looking good as new in seconds. Perfect.
However, all is not completely rosy in the Puma garden. That’s because it has developed a rattle. A loud one. The noise is emanating from the parcel shelf, with the two tailgate ‘hooks’ seeming like the most likely cause, because they move and make a noise while doing so. Still, once things open up a bit more and it’s safe to go outside, I’ll get a to Ford dealer to rectify the issue.
24 December 2020
This year can easily go down as a year in which I did fewer miles than in any other since I passed my test. However, 2020 still felt the need to give me a cheeky backheel in the proverbials on its way out the door, by placing a screw just where the Puma’s left-rear tyre would run over it. Ugh.
Could it be repaired? Of course it couldn’t – that would have been far too easy and inexpensive. Luckily, Newbury Tyre and Exhaust Centre (01635 40028) had the right size of tyre in stock and fitted it within the hour. They were cheaper than most other places, too. It’s good to shop local.
10 December 2020
This year has been a bit of a drag, no denying it. So, in a bid to lift the mood, my girlfriend and I decided a day out was in order, so off we trotted to one of my favourite places in the world, the Isle of Wight.
As ever, the Puma proved easily roomy enough for two adults and one 6ft 2in teenager, and after an early start I settled down to enjoy the twisty roads at the start of the journey.
There’s no doubt that the ride’s a little firm in the sporting ST-Line X trim, but I can easily live with it, and it certainly wasn’t jiggly enough to stop my two passengers falling asleep as soon as we got to the motorway towards Southampton.
The Puma was small enough not to feel clumsy on the island’s small roads, and was easy enough to park on the street before we walked along the cliffs in search of a crab pasty at Steephill Cove, one of the most beautiful and atmospheric places in the world. That really is the truth.
The trip back was uneventful and (unsurprisingly) I did it while my passengers slept. Top day.
12 November 2020
The Ford Puma is undoubtedly fitting into my life (such as it is at the moment!) rather well.
You see, I love getting outdoors at every opportunity, be it on two wheels or two legs. So, for the past few weekends the Puma has ferried myself and my girlfriend to the back end of nowhere for us to trudge through the wilderness. No need for social distancing when there’s no one around, is my way of thinking!
The boot lip has proved to be at an ideal height for me to sit on when donning warm, rugged footwear for such expeditions, and the MegaBox compartment in the boot is perfect for storing muddy boots at the end of a (usually rain-sodden) traipse.
However, sometimes life gets in the way of such outdoor pursuits, but still the Puma has shown its mettle. My cooker recently went to that great kitchen in the sky, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get it to the tip. I needn’t have worried, because my measuring tape showed the cooker would fit into the Puma, and so it proved. Easy peasy.
Now, where are my ordnance survey maps?
27 October 2020
I’ve already said (basically to anyone who’ll listen) just what a strong impression the Puma has made on me.
I find myself becoming ever-more enamoured with the package it offers, and this was perfectly demonstrated recently, when we had to transport my girlfriend’s son to his new student house in Nottingham.
The car’s load-carrying ability belies its modest exterior dimensions, to the extent that we got most of his stuff in the Puma, with only the odd item in Tracey’s Fabia.
Better still, the efficient powertrain meant we averaged 48mpg on the trip up and back, which was better than I ever managed in my previous Corsa test car.
12 October 2020
Finally got my hands on a test car that I’ve been eager to run ever since Mr ‘The Boss’ Barker said your next long-termer is a Ford Puma.
When I first saw pictures of the Puma, I was unconvinced by its looks, but I was wrong because it looks great in the metal, especially in the Grey Matter colour of our car.
And ST-Line X trim is really well kitted out. For a start, I’m sitting on part-leather seats and staring ahead at a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, and I control the car using a part-leather flat-bottomed steering wheel and alloy sports pedals.
The car also has cruise control, climate control and automatic wipers and headlights, with automatic full beam. In addition to all that, there’s the Ford Sunc3 infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay, and a superb-sounding Bang and Olufsen sound system. Not bad, eh?
Initial impressions are that the Puma is a brilliant car to drive, with really sharp steering and the sort of gearshift that most sports cars would kill for. The 1.0-litre engine is punchy enough, aided by the mild-hybrid system. And I’m currently averaging around 45mpg, which is reasonable.
Luggage space is pretty decent, and the MegaBox space beneath the boot floor is huge, and has already proved its worth when taking my girlfriend’s son to university.