I am thinking of buying a small, nippy car just to get me and my lunchbox to
and from work each day.

I don't do French, so that narrows the field.

Recently I've been looking at a 2002 Puma with the 1.7 engine. How
good/reliable are they? I know it's basically a Fiesta in a different
dress - but most reports I've read have been positive, citing good
performance and excellent handling. Anyone know the 0-60 time?

I think the engine is a Yamaha unit (with variable valve timing). I've also
read of engine problems where the Nikasil cylinder linings have failed.

What is a Nikasil lining? Is it a metal liner (sleeve) pressed into the
aluminium block, or is it some fancy hi-tech plating process that has
failed.

IIRC, a few years ago BMW tried some hi-tech cylinder plating process that
failed because in the UK we have 'too much sulphur' in our petrol.

Any info/comments appreciated.

TIA
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Mike
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The message <dhgmij$jm6$1 (AT) box-public-8 (DOT) jet.uk>
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Google too clever for you, is it? (insert smiley of choice here).

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On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:50:44 +0100, Guy King wrote:



It should be a very hard wearing liner and has been used in two stroke
engines to good effect. IIRC it does mean that it can't be rebored though.

"gazzafield" <rufty_tufty_hoolythug (AT) nospam (DOT) thankyou.says_I> wrote


In theory yes, but in practice, all the Yamaha designed 1.25 / 1.4 / 1.6 /
1.7 Zetec S / SE engines have non dismantle-able bottom ends, so if you have
a bottom end problem (i.e. need to remove the crank) you can't.

Tim..

Capering Whittret wrote:
I have been known to master it - on a good day. ;-)

Never gave Google a thought, to be honest.

I really wanted owner's feedback on Pumas and added the Nikasil question
while I was at it.

However, Nikasil does seem a good reason not to buy a 1.7 Puma (or several
models of BMW, for that matter).
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Mike
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On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:55:02 +0000, Tim.. wrote:




I wasn't aware anyone had built an engine like that. It's a bit shit,
innit?

It's handy (google groups in particular) as a resource, not only for
reference, but to prevent some people from saying "look it up yourself you
lazy cunt" :-)

I wouldn't view it as a reason not to buy a Puma - the problem was with BMW
V8s ages back, and the issue was high sulphur fuel, mainly just from Shell,
and mainly just from one refinery somewhere up North (I think), and since
then sulphur levels in fuel have got much lower (particularly from the
refinery or refineries that were causing the 'problem' fuel), plus people
have modified Nikasil liners to cope a bit better. BMW V8s all got their
engines replaced under warranty, if the owners could be bothered to get it
done (free of charge), but I wouldn't worry a tiny little bit about the Puma
in that respect.

Peter

Not if they never go wrong :-)

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:
Should the design be exclusive to Honda then?
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Mike
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gazzafield <rufty_tufty_hoolythug (AT) nospam (DOT) thankyou.says_I> wrote:

That's very shit for anyone who prefers to run older cars rather than
pay the depreciation on newer ones..... I've never had a crank problem
on a car, but I'd hate to scrap a perfectly good car because some idiot
decided that you never needed to replace crank bearings.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark
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BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #