fiat seicento sporting, Worst collection thread ever. now home

[Tickman]

I am looking at a fiat seicento sporting tomorrow and was wondering if you could give me any pointers on where to give special attention?

 

I was trying to buy one a couple of years ago and the one I tried would rev upto about 3000/3500 rpm and then felt like it was 'pushing back' and you needed to change up. I looked up online and found it was a common ish fault but cannot remember what it was now.

 

It looks very clean in the pictures and is MOTed until late April. 58,000 miles and the MOT history nothing surprising in it.

 

 

Looking for a car that my eldest will learn in when she turns 17 in May, might as well 'get something early so I can make sure it is safe for her' at least that is what I am going to say.

 

Also less than £300 so all good there.

 

John

[Parky]

Tyres are an odd size and decent ones are hard to find. Other than that I know nothing!

 

Good luck, great little cars!

[burraston2006]

I thought the insurance on the sporting is a killer for a 17 year old. My daughter is 17 in july so I was considering one of these. IIRC they were group 11 when I last looked but the 1.1sx was group 3. I could be talking bxllocks, so I'm happy to be corrected! If they are good to go I wouldn't mind getting one for my daughter aswell!

[D Spares & Tyres]

Head gaskets pissing oil out, it can end up all over o/s suspension and inner wheel arch!

 

Rot in corners of boot

[Parky]

Aren't they identical mechanically? surely some yellow paint, an airdam and some unfathomably odd sized alloy wheels can't add eight insurance groups can they?

 

Apparently any Fiat/Alfa/Lancia 13 or 14 inch alloys fit. Often wondered what a nice set of UNO Turbo wheels with higher profile tyres would look on one of these? The UNO Turbo apparently used 155 section tyres on 13 inch alloys which will have the benefit on a Seicento of making wet weather grip better, steering lighter, and make the tyre choice wider and a shitload cheaper too.

[Cavcraft]

Have a really good look around the back seats/arches (inside) as they don't half rot. Can have h/g issues and I've found the steering/suspension can get really clonky and wander a bit.

Fab cars though.

[burraston2006]

I looked on the honest john website. It was a couple of months back though.

[Christine]

Sporting has close ratio box , gooder seats , gooder steering wheel, etc.So it will always whip an ordinary 1100. Get a pre 2000 one ,and  tax is  cheaper for some reason ! I had a cinq and a sei sporting , and they're brilliant ! Unless you crash..

[For Fiats Sake]

Yep, rot, look the boot carpet as mentioned and underneath. Tyres are available but limited choice, check out Fiat Forum sei/cinq sections, someone will have asked the question before, a google search often takes you there. Great little engine and go cart handling.

[Tickman]

Thanks for the pointers everyone.

Will have a good mooch tomorrow.

 

Regards the insurance, I did a quote and with chuck on it comes in at just over £500 compared to the Rover JohnK was selling which came in at £700+

 

Makes not a lot of sense really?

[320touring]

Another thing to check is the clutch cable- they like to seize/get stiff, and are bloody badly routed

[Christine]

And the handbrake never works..

[MarvinsMom]

that sounds right, but all insurance brokers, apart from been the spawn of satan, and all use a scramble-weeney* random number generator when working out insurance premiums 

 

plus do these little fiats all come with odd coloured doors?

[SiC]

When you mention Seicento I can't help but get this image stuck in my mind...

 

Not helpful I know, bur you said first car for daughter. Just sayin' 

[HH-R]

As said, clutch and handbrake cables.

 

Check for signs of head gasket failure, the 1242cc 8 valve was always the worst for it but it's the same family of engines.

 

Should be sprightly and be happy to rev, I'll not cover old ground here but I have extensive experience of the FIAT FIRE running like a bag of shit and wasting money chasing a solution fruitlessly. Honestly, if you have any doubt at all it's not running right then sack it off and look elsewhere, they're not rare. The basic engine is hardy, the sensors and ECUs attached to it are not.

 

Still would, always wanted one in broom yellow. The Cinq looks better IMO but not many left now, Seicento is a bit "granny in trainers" (See also: MG ZT).

[Christine]

Dont worry about dents in the sills .. I have some Abarth skirts !

[sloth]

always wanted one with a 1242 16v swap

[Bear]

Fuel tank recall.

[Tickman]

All points taken on board, should be looking at it in an hour or so.

 

That crash test looks grim, will have to teach her to drive properly and get her some of these to carry around.

 

[320touring]

Better of with A pack of hamlet tbh

[Bear]

Sporting gearbox is MUCH preferable to the original one. Diff seals and stuff all different, IIRC.

Frankly they're horrible cars, outside of being a bit of fun once in a blue moon, and a Mk 2 Clio or something should be equally cheap, insurable and so forth.

[320touring]

Sporting gearbox is MUCH preferable to the original one. Diff seals and stuff all different, IIRC.

 

Frankly they're horrible cars, outside of being a bit of fun once in a blue moon, and a Mk 2 Clio or something should be equally cheap, insurable and so forth.

Fair point. 4* ncap rating and ability to get one with 182bhp..

 

whats not to like re a clio:)

[SiC]

Given the amount of Peugeot 206s I still see on the roads, they must be pretty strong reliable things?

 

Also Clio II is in your price range. Pick of the bunch is the 1.4. Stronger than the 1.2, similar block to the 1.6 but no VVTi dephasher to break.

 

Also come in pretty decent specs and modern crash safety.

[Tickman]

Well that was easy.

 

Knock on the door and get handed the keys so I have a look.

 

Not too bad at all, clean and quite straight. Looks like some one has sat on the bonnet though.

Small dent on the drivers side wing after the wheel and the door not sitting 100% straight.

Took it for a quick run and it goes ok, stops ok and all the important things.

Knocking on bumps at the front left so that needs a look, coolant resembles pond water and a good service needed.

 

Went back and asked what he would take....£250

 

I only took £230 as that was my limit,  car now home.

 

Worst collection thread ever!

 

 

Now I will walk back and get my car!

 

Pictures straight from the ad:

 

Now the cars second owner.

[320touring]

Huzzah. needs MOAR FERRIES N VOLVOZ

 

you seem to be getting the hang of this.

 

on plus side, the minors will feel tank like after driving that..

[oldcars]

Nice, like these. 

[burraston2006]

Bonus points for the Arnold Clarke sticker!!

You'll have to let me know about the insurance side of things!

[Cavcraft]

That looks ace for the money.

[Tickman]

Bonus points for the Arnold Clarke sticker!!

You'll have to let me know about the insurance side of things!

Will do, it will be insured for just the two of us until May 31st. If it has lasted that long with me I will unleash my eldest onto the roads.

 

That looks ace for the money.

That is what I thought, I spent more on a set of tires for the Volvo last year than the whole car.

 

I am under no illusions that it has faults but I now have £270 out of my imaginary pot of cash to 'get it right' and trust worthy before it gets adorned with the plate of L.

 

Will have a look at the fiat forum and look out for a cheap HBOL.

[Christine]

Pond water is k seal ... quite ok..  Y reg cheaper tax !