OV9

I’ve not posted one - I did intend to so will get on and do that. Been busy!

It’s nice to want to get up early and go for a drive. Taking the M5 into Wales and back home for breakfast was a good bonding experience. And put some miles on - I really need to book the 1200 mile running in oil change before we go to Scotland in early May.

Any further thoughts on it, Jobbo?

Yes, I love it and it’s quick. Not sure when I’ll ever have the opportunity to use full throttle.

Also did 25.0mpg on my enthusiastic drive this morning so the hybrid gubbins makes it efficient.

Jobbo wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 12:05 pm Yes, I love it and it’s quick. Not sure when I’ll ever have the opportunity to use full throttle.

You will do. For about 4 seconds or so.

Brake hoses for the 6 series arrived so fitted those and bled it and took it for a drive and it’s all good

There is one shiny thing in my car now

The Tesla hit its rear brake pad squealer thing, there seems to be a billion different pad sizes so I quickly went to take off the wheel to check. Noticed it had some side to side play then noticed this bush was falling halfway out

I think it must have been from when I hit the manhole cover and buckled the wheel. Fortunately the whole arm with bush is £36 from Tesla.

Can shit just stop breaking now please

Took my wife out for a slap up meal once I was home.



Had to eat in the car because the benches were damp. I’ve christened it now by dropping a piece of bender in special sauce on the seat

I love the idea of a early morning blast out for breakfast. More of this!

Jobbo wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 11:27 am

Haven't we seen this hedge before? Or is it just similar to one that Mik customarily parks in front of? I guess hedges look kinda similar...

Explosive Newt wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 6:08 pm I love the idea of a early morning blast out for breakfast.

A slap meal sounds horrible though

speedingfine wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 6:36 pm

Explosive Newt wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 6:08 pm I love the idea of a early morning blast out for breakfast.

A slap meal sounds horrible though

Oops, corrected
The hedge is in Wales so I suspect Mik has never been there. It’s in a lay-by off the A44 near Pen-y-Bont.

In fact, exactly here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4T1r9xm4Zsfp2CYU8?g_st=ic

Come over the Pennines into the Lake District for the weekend, wasn’t sure what to expect with all the ups and downs but Puma still returned an average of 40mpg, really pleased with that. It’s proving to be the perfect everyday vehicle for me, big enough boot to throw a load of tools in when needed, decently economical, and while it’s not the fastest thing in the world, with 200hp it’s quick enough to have fun when the moment presents itself

jamcg wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 7:37 pm Come over the Pennines into the Lake District for the weekend, wasn’t sure what to expect with all the ups and downs but Puma still returned an average of 40mpg, really pleased with that. It’s proving to be the perfect everyday vehicle for me, big enough boot to throw a load of tools in when needed, decently economical, and while it’s not the fastest thing in the world, with 200hp it’s quick enough to have fun when the moment presents itself

Sounds like a great do-everything type car. Not a surprise Ford sold so many Puma's!

Alex88 wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 10:45 pm That's right - I've basically just replaced the standard cats with custom made sports ones. But coupled with the existing loud system, it's now outrageous. I didn't anticipate it would sound much different, but it really does, and in a bad way.

Hopefully some large resonators will make it acceptable again, as its all rasp and bark, but we'll see. Massive PITA!

The car is back from having two large resonators fitted. Sounds MUCH better. Very loud, but smoother and deeper. The car also feels more alive; I'm sure the damaged cats were prohibiting performance a bit.

I managed to get the original Cats back, too. The damaged one had lost a load of honeycomb, so much that it was significantly lighter than the undamaged one!

Rich's Custom Fabrications in Bedford. Would definitely recommend.

Alex88 wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:10 pm
The car is back from having two large resonators fitted. Sounds MUCH better. Very loud, but smoother and deeper.

While it was on the ramps, it was good to see there was no rust at all. It isn't even undersealed, but I'll do that next year.

Only a few things left to do for now:

Fit new upper diff mount bushing
LSD refresh + 3.73 gears for better acceleration
Tune

Then I'll be happy for a bit

Alex88 wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:05 pm

jamcg wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 7:37 pm Come over the Pennines into the Lake District for the weekend, wasn’t sure what to expect with all the ups and downs but Puma still returned an average of 40mpg, really pleased with that. It’s proving to be the perfect everyday vehicle for me, big enough boot to throw a load of tools in when needed, decently economical, and while it’s not the fastest thing in the world, with 200hp it’s quick enough to have fun when the moment presents itself

Sounds like a great do-everything type car. Not a surprise Ford sold so many Puma's!

The facelift ones are an avoid for me though, glad I gave this one a go as the courtesy car I drove almost put me off them completely. Genuinely disliked that car

Alex88 wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 4:16 pm



While it was on the ramps, it was good to see there was no rust at all. It isn't even undersealed, but I'll do that next year.

Only a few things left to do for now:

Fit new upper diff mount bushing
LSD refresh + 3.73 gears for better acceleration
Tune

Then I'll be happy for a bit

Mustangs always will be cool cars. How do you find living with a left hand drive car?

It's great. It adds to the novelty and is surprisingly easy to get use to. First few outings were admittedly quite tricky (plus it's a manual) but after that it was plain sailing.

They are cool and I think the S197 version is probably the last muscle-car type Mustang before they evolved into a European influenced, refined sports car.

They're basic but such great fun!

Alex88 wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 4:39 pm It's great. It adds to the novelty and is surprisingly easy to get use to. First few outings were admittedly quite tricky (plus it's a manual) but after that it was plain sailing.

They are cool and I think the S197 version is probably the last muscle-car type Mustang before they evolved into a European influenced, refined sports car.

They're basic but such great fun!

Not long after the sixth generation came out I rented one in Washington, which was brand new developed a serious oil leak after 200 miles, so I took it back and they swapped it for a 5th gen like yours, which I then did about 600 miles in. The 5th gen had so much more character, and aside from the average brakes was definitely a more enjoyable car to drive.

Yep, i hired a GT-H version back in 2007 - then drove out to the desert to do donuts in it. Lots of fun!

Alex88 wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 3:10 pm

Alex88 wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 10:45 pm That's right - I've basically just replaced the standard cats with custom made sports ones. But coupled with the existing loud system, it's now outrageous. I didn't anticipate it would sound much different, but it really does, and in a bad way.

Hopefully some large resonators will make it acceptable again, as its all rasp and bark, but we'll see. Massive PITA!

The car is back from having two large resonators fitted. Sounds MUCH better. Very loud, but smoother and deeper. The car also feels more alive; I'm sure the damaged cats were prohibiting performance a bit.

I managed to get the original Cats back, too. The damaged one had lost a load of honeycomb, so much that it was significantly lighter than the undamaged one!

Rich's Custom Fabrications in Bedford. Would definitely recommend.

I’ve seen their work online, looks like a good quality no nonsense place, so good to hear from an actual person who’s happy with their work.

They’re someone I’d probably use if I wasn’t so fond of bodging up my own scrap