Risolvere il problema ancora una volta Toni!

[warren t claim]

Sometimes you buy a car just because it's cheap and only seems to have a small problem, just like my third Punto in the last 12 months.

 

 

Sadly, the small problem was the thrust bearing making a bit of noise so I assumed that it'll happily groan along for maybe another 1000 miles, RONG! Not only did it shit itself in spectacular fashion outside Aintree racecourse requiring me to get it towed, it took with it the first motion shaft seal on the gearbox meaning that it needed a new box as well as a clutch. Bollocks! Being a 16v the clutch is a 190mm as oppsosed to a 180mm meaning that just the clutch cost nearly twice as much as an 8 valver one would cos. A previously cherished gearbox from the scrappy was bought for £80 and another £15 for fluids saw it back on the road just in time to need another six months tax lobbing on. I dread to think what this "bargain" has cost me but I suppose I should just chalk it down to experience.

 

Now the good news. It's actually a decent little thing to drive, being an ELX spec it has electric windows, central locking, electric tilt and slide sunroof, trip computer and the much admired* electric power steering complete with "girly button" which makes an already light setup pretty alarming, think somewhere between a Series 2 XJ6 and a Pole Position arcade machine and you'll be about right. Fuel economy is pretty spectacular if your drive it in a restrained fashion, 65-70 mpg is achievable on a slow cruise but 52 mpg is its more usual figure but that dip to 22 mpg on a flat out 10 mile run. The engine itself is very refined for what it is, barely audible on tickover and still sounding smooth up to 6K RPM. A steering wheel and drivers seat both being adjustable for height is a bonus making it a half decent supermini for covering distance in. Insurance is helped along with having a Thatcham Immobiliser which might make it easier to sell on. A nearly new set of Uniroyal rain tyres courtesy of Tyres on the Drive (£200) should make winter driving a bit more safe and secure too.

 

The sad thing it I don't know what I want to do with it. I don't actually need a car because 90% of my daily journies are better achieved on the Kawasaki but I can't imagine breaking even on it due to the clutch/gearbox expenditure. Top book would seem to be about £575 before negotiation so I suppose a Gumtree ad singing its praises and a £625 price tag seems the way to go.

[Faker]

Looks like a good wee motor. I have a soft spot for shite fiats. Particularly the sporting variety.

[Spiny Norman]

I had a boggo 8v Active model of that shape Punto and it was a great wee car to drive.

I thought it looked by far & away the best of all the superminis of that era, it had decent equipment too (super fast leccy windows, ABS, c/locking, decent stereo) and the same lurid blue interior.

Never got it below 40mpg from a tank, even in town running and it would frequently do over 60mpg on a gentle cruise, despite being quite happy to whizz along at 90 on a motorway.

 

Low points were a flat battery and failing an MOT due to a front indicator not being orange enough....

[Bobthebeard]

 

Low points were a flat battery and failing an MOT due to a front indicator not being orange enough....

Tut! Dreadful cars eh?

[Jim Bell]

The Fiat rule:

 

Cheap. Wait a week. Suddenly and unexpectedly very expensive.

 

 

Looks nice mind. Like the colour.

Which is horrible.

[rml2345]

I too like the horrible colour. These still look quite fresh despite being 10+ years old.

It would probably make an ideal first car...

[warren t claim]

Right, I've lobbed this on Scumtree for a somewhat pricy £795 for a couple of days to see what happens. The advert sings its many praises and maybe I'll be lucky. Not expecting too many bites but it only takes one punter holding the folding. WARCRAFT has a decent record for selling cars at the full asking price.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Gumtree ? This is prime Autotrader material, man ! GR8 4 UNI etc.