New Scrapyard Save Bought.

[warren t claim]

Yesterday lunchtime I nipped out to one of the many scrapyards that litter the Bootle are of Liverpool for a mooch around and got talking to the owner about what sort of stuff gets weighed in these days and why. He showed me a Polo that he was disembowelling that looked totally straight and he even said it had nearly a full test! The only reason it was brought in was because it was part exed and on disabled tax and the dealer couldn't be arsed getting it changed over to PLG. He then showed me a 71,000 mile Punto that he was about to have a go at selling cos it still had a couple of weeks test and a months rent on the screen. An old lady had been told to give up driving and rather than sell it privately she weighed it in for £100. It looked really straight and tidy so I thought it might be worth a run around the block in to see what it drives like. Sadly it was blowing a fair bit of white smoke from the exhaust and the oil cap was full of mayonnaise indicating HGF, a common Punto problem. I reckoned it'd still be worth £200 if it wasn't borked even with the short ticket. I walked away and after a bit of pondering thought it might be worth going back and punting a low offer in and buying a bottle of K Seal to see if it lasts. I offered £160 and after a bit of friendly negotiating £180 changed hands and I was the proud owner of this...

 

The impending HGF seems to be nothing more than condensation caused by sitting around for 10 months without being started, it's only done a few hundred miles since its last MOT! I checked the dipstick and after initially panicking that it was totally dry of oil I noticed that the reason I couldn't see any oil on the stick was because it's so clean! Obviously the little old lady had it serviced at MOT time. The battery is borked due to being left standing for so long and although the clutch is probably about 75% worn it doesn't slip so I'll leave it be.

 

What's the worst that could happen, I run around in it for a couple of weeks before weighing it in an still getting £100 for it?

 

After driving it for 175 miles the little thing has grown on me so I think due to its condition and the fact that MUMSIE_CLAIM likes it means that I might gamble £35 on an MOT and see if it wants to live for another year.

[Negative Creep]

Good work, as you've said you've got nothing to really lose. The mk.1 Punto is becoming thin on the ground these days

[Mr Lobster]

That looks a pretty good buy tbh. Well worth MOTing and seeing what happens next I'd have thought.

[warren t claim]

It doesn't look a great deal different to this one for sale for £600

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... 1007983578

 

If it MOTs easily it'll do as a parental runaround for a few months and then I'll chance my arm on a Gumtree free ad at £450 and see if it sells. I'll have a decent poke around its undercarriage tomorrow and see if it needs a MIG bukkake session but I'm guessing things like the CV gaiters will be on their way out as is usual for a FWD car that's been left standing for 10 months. I might even pop the front passenger door card off to see why the electric window is making a noise but not moving the window. Various small scratches have been badly touched up but an hour with some cutting compound will reap dividends along with maybe an interior valet.

[Lord Sterling]

Looks like a great buy Warren. I reckon with a little fettling here and there you could certainly make few more hundred quid profit.

[Joseph]

Great buy - hope it does you well!

 

I just saw a great quote on another forum: "I love going to the scrappy, it's like going back in time".

 

Indeed, I must be getting old - I remember when these were new!

[ProgRocker]

That Punto looks as straight as a die.

[eddyramrod]

That's a nice tidy buy Warren! Well spotted! Doesn't it just pay to keep a couple of ton in your pocket "just in case"!

[andrew e]

Good stuff Warren! (Thread drift) Did any of - seemingly all piss yella - 6 speeds survive to 2013?

[willswitchengage]

I do find the utilitarian interior of those old Puntii surprisingly welcoming.

[warren t claim]

That's a nice tidy buy Warren! Well spotted! Doesn't it just pay to keep a couple of ton in your pocket "just in case"!

Absolutely! That and a traders policy.

[andrew e]

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/fi ... sx_6-speed

 

Back to my thread-nap, 10 6 speeders exist out of just 120! Originally an Italian legal fiddle do new drivers, the 6 ratios rung the neck of the 1.1 low BHP engine the law restricted new drivers too.

[warren t claim]

Just had a butchers at the on line MOT history.

 

2006, Advisory Notice issued

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

 

2007, No advisories issued.

 

2008, Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

No Advisory Notice issued

 

2009, Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

 

2010, Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1)

Advisory Notice issued

Offside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

 

2011, Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Advisory Notice issued

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

 

2012, Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

No Advisory Notice issued

 

All in all that's not too bad for a 15 year old Italian car, no welding or emission issues. I'm almost certainly going to chance it on another MOT test this week.

[warren t claim]

This is heading back my way this week. If anyone fancies it then give me a shout. It'll come with a fresh MOT.

[Barry Cade]

I approve. Anyone who is a Fiat friend, is a friend of mine. I got a black 55s from the sales many years ago, the only bidder at 50 quid. The water pump was howling. Got it home, did the belt and pump and Mrs Cade drove it for 2 years trouble free. wee minter it was too. Better built than the Mk2 and really roomy.

[Lankytim]

Hated these when new... Now oddly quite like them!

[purplebargeken]

Great save. Wish we had some decent scrappies locally. Used to love going round them when I was younger. 

[fordperv]

These have aged well looks wise, looks a nice motor

[omegod]

I've never found a friendly scrappy in Bootle so it must have shut down now, Nice wee fiat that

[rainagain]

Looks like you got yourself a nice bargain!  I bought one of these when the steel prices were crazy just before the Beijing Olympics, I remember I paid less than the scrap value as the clutch was knackered. I was working away a lot at the time so I paid the semi retired mechanic in the next village to change the clutch for me. I ran it couple of years, never had any problems with corrosion on it anywhere, engine was sweet and never used any oil. I only have to change one trailing arm and one front wishbone. When I came to sell it I stupidly advertised it for £275. I knew the price was far too low when my phone almost melted at 5pm which was the time I said in the ad to call after, first person who saw it bought it for full price. The only thing I didn't like about it was the stupidly low geared steering rack as it was non-power assisted, it took too many turns lock to lock. 

[Faker]

Actually looks pretty mint!