For Sale Fiat Seicento needs good home

[ChinaTom]

As much as I will miss its cute little face greeting me when I pull up into the drive; and I will miss the fun of zipping around the lanes in it, this has to be moved on now.

 

I bought it for just over £1k in December 2014 as a practice car for Mrs CT as she attempts to learn to drive, and also for me to scratch an itch. It has provided these services loyally, and even got loaded up to the gills and helped us move house from Norfolk to Lanarkshire.

 

The reason it is for sale: it isn't being used - poor thing hasn't moved for over 4 months now. I know what happens to cars when you don't use them. Both Mrs CT and I currently have no life outside work. It's just sitting there and this is a waste.

 

Bad bits first:

 

Battery flat and my mate has borrowed my charger/booster and sold it by accident (left it in the boot of the car he borrowed it to charge up, then sold the car).

Windscreen washers have packed up

Lots of dings and a mega scratch on the pillar (not from rolling it, previous owner drove it into something apparently)

If you learn to drive in it and keep it idling for long periods while crying / explaining stuff; or practice reversing around corners / parallel parking, it will occasionally get very very hot. Never boiled over, and I had the fan looked at. It was fine apparently, but the connector was a little dodgy. Cleaned up and only did it once more after that in about 50 practice sessions. But be aware there may be something needing attention here.

Only one working key - the chip in the other is kippered

MOT expired.

 

OK bits:

 

55mpg, uses very little oil.

New tyres all round

New fuel tank, OSF spring, HB cable, brake pipes when I bought it (part of deal hence the £1k price)

Oil leak showing on the last MOT advisory was diagnosed as a rusty sump, so I put a new one on.

I replaced the battery just after I bought it.

Fully serviced about 3000 miles ago

Just over 40k miles on the clock - history file with the car confirms this as accurate

DAB radio (one speaker needs a thump or a right hand bend taken at high speed to get it working)

 

Pics then: The slightly dramatic looking lighting is entirely due to me not knowing much about how to work the camera, and catching 2 minutes between hail-storms. Call it Scottish Mood-lighting.

 

 

Location: Netherburn, near Larkhall. ML9 3GE

 

£250 and help pushing it / cups of coffee/tea.

 

There will be many amongst you who will be yelling at me to get off my arse, fix it myself, MOT it and bang it up on Gumtree for £600+, but I just do not have the time (or ability to fix stuff myself). I would be paying garage bills for the diagnoses, repairs, etc so I would not be seeing my money back. It isn't about the money, it's about letting the car live on with someone who will tend to it economically and either enjoy it, or move it on with a bit of beer money. It is not for sale on the usual channels - just advertised here.

 

Doubtlessly, the majority of you would be able to get it started and drive it to an MOT station, but I am advertising it here with the assumption that I help you push it onto a trailer, or you A-frame it away. It's an old yellow Fiat needing some attention at the end of the day.

 

Viewings welcome, but give me plenty of notice. so I can organise myself to be at home when you come.

 

 

 

[ChinaTom]

I should do a raffle really, but I don't have a Paypal account, and don't have any inclination to get one after the loss of £400 from the one I had before. If anyone has time and willingness to run one for me, anything over £175 made can be split between Autoshite Donate button and the auction host. Or bring £175 knowing that I would let it go for that.

[stripped fred]

That looks nice and is a proper bargain for someone.

[Aston Martin]

I love the later abarth bumpers on these.

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

Just going up to unlock the attic to speak to the wife, this could be just right for her.

[Ghosty]

Pfff, that's only worth £35.

[KruJoe]

555* Tom, the story of mine is similar, Mrs_KJ and I loved it (when it behaved), I just got rid this week, achieving £35 as hinted above! Full story:

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/21022-seicento-sporting-hoon-test-verdict/

 

* If you know your Thai numbers (and I think Tom does), you'll know the Thais use "555" for "LOL" because the five sounds like ha!

[ChinaTom]

Yes, the 555 thing means more than just a packet of fags. I think 3 little monkey icons in China works in that way too - Ho Ho Ho (with some lateral thining). I would bow to market forces on this one - if there is a Seicento-sized space on the drive as a result of such an offer, then so be it. We never had the starting issues and the reason it hasn't been used is nothing to do with it letting us down. I can't use it for my daily 250mile motorway commute - well I could, but my car is better suited.

 

I am aware that my location rather limits the appeal to most, but 80 minutes from Carlisle isn't exactly a Highland adventure.

[chancer]

This one really appeals for some bizarre reason. Id like to see you get a decent price, but if its going to go for much cheapness then I'm possibly in. Would need rid of a clio with burst water pump first! Any takers?? Any idea what its needing for MOT?

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

Mad Wife has returned to the attic saying No she doesn't want it, so we're out.

[ChinaTom]

Here is the last MOT sheet.

 

 

I replaced all the tyres, fixed the oil leak with a new sump, and replaced the belt. I doubt the discs have changed much - I'll check if I get home before dark.

 

The only fail I could absolutely state is the washers. I think the pump may have gone.

 

Chancer, what part of Glasgow are you? PM me if you are genuinely interested and want to come have a look.

[KruJoe]

If I still had our broken one, I think I'd be on my way up there with our good battery and a pair of number plates, but now we have the 106 TUD. (In Thai, "Tud" means "arse" or more specifically "arsehole" 555!)

[For Fiats Sake]

I was very fond of my Cinquecento and were I not in the middle of MOT season for the fleet I'd be chomping at the bit to get this.

 

Take off the drivers front wheel, wheel arch liner and you will find the washer bottle and two seized pumps, they live about 6 inches off the road so they are always wet and crud covered (well they were on the Cinq anyway).

 

I've also resolved to sell two cars this year and concentrate on a single(ish) model fleet, you are seriously testing my resolve.

 

I do hope my resolve doesn't dissolve and evolve into (that's enough already) 

 

EDIT: 5hours on the trains then a 4hour drive to an MOT station.  Just makes me feel tired thinking about it!

[HH-R]

I've always wanted one of these, thankfully you're miles away.