Fiat Bravo - gone!

[SmokinWaffle]

Hi all!

So....I walked a friends dog and as you do - sort of bought a car. Well, got a price.

It's an R Reg Fiat Bravo, this shape - only ever been advised on MOT's on Number plate / occasional exhaust leak. Chap has owned it for 15 years and always serviced himself, his garage was impressive - he's an engineer - clearly knew what he was doing with cars. 1.4, I assume 12v, MPI.

Done less than 1,500 a year since 2018. On about 128k now.

Comes with a lot of paperwork but it's probably mostly MOT's from a brief glance. Old retired gent so not much to hide, seemed honest. Funny that I knocked as the MOT expired last week and they were thinking of getting rid.

Started it, it struggled to idle and this light was on:

Was idling around 500RPM, stable but sounded a bit rough. He said it's always like that when it's cold - from what I can research that's actually an engine management light but can also mean a faulty with the injector system. Seems he's just lived with it - he said he ignores it. Pretty clean inside and out, sunroof drains seem blocked as passenger seat was soaked and could see water igress above the passenger door on the roof - but nothing a bit of wire and taping up the roof won't solve.

I gave it a quick italian tune up test drive around the block and the light did go out, and it was idling about 8-900 when I got back so it seemed happier - but it did come back on. Probably a good service, some redex and a good rag would do it the world of good given the lack of use it has. Drove alright to be honest. Stopped well too.

Reg is one of the 3 digit ones so RXX XXX - which I believe can be transferred off if it's scrapped or whatever and used as personalised ones? Not too knowledgeable  there.

I figured to stop myself ruining the BX in terrible weather and having something a bit more reliable* as a WBOD that I don't have to care about.

He's happy to put an MOT on it and I can have it for £200. Am I crazy if I said no? I figure anything with a years ticket is worth £200 if it runs, goes and stops.

I'd have to get rid of the Panda in the garage as I limit myself for mental space - that's sub 35k miles but I need to pop some tyres on it, bleed the brakes and get an MOT to use it....it's nice but being modern it's a bit uninspiring and not exactly in the shite sprit. The fact I sigh when I look at it probably means a lot.

To be honest I dunno why I've made this thread as as I write it - I know it's a good idea. Comments welcome.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

I would at that price, here in italy loads still going strong with minimal maintenance. 

[High Jetter]

I'd say if you get it and hate it after a week or so you wouldn't lose money on it.

[SmokinWaffle]

12 minutes ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

I would at that price, here in italy loads still going strong with minimal maintenance. 

Good to know - cheers!

10 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I'd say if you get it and hate it after a week or so you wouldn't lose money on it.

Yep, scrap and cartakeback is around £180 so seems a stonker

[LeahStornes]

The poor bugger could lose money putting it through MOT and selling for £200...

[Wilko220]

You’re not really expecting anyone here to say no, are you...

I remember when these came out - didn’t they do some confusing naming thing where there was a Bravo and a Brava, which were the same but either three or five door with different rear lamps? Odd. At least they didn’t go and call the five door Panda a Pando, I suppose.

[High Jetter]

^^^ Yup

[Dan_ZTT]

Anything with a fresh MOT for £200 is an absolute bargain. If you were so inclined you could immediately stick it on gumtree at double that and it wouldn't hang around.

[loserone]

Brilliant.  These are much better cars than they have any right to be.

 

 

[Barry Cade]

Do the doorhandles look like a dogs chew toy?

[Tubbo]

The problem is if he puts it in for an mot and it needs £200+ worth of work.

[goosey]

Are these the ones with the CD player built into the top of the dashboard? 

[B4lljoints]

45 minutes ago, goosey said:

Are these the ones with the CD player built into the top of the dashboard? 

Yep, except it was usually a cassette player with the slot behind a funky lift up door thingy.

I had one from nearly new. A 1.6 and it was great. Solidly put together and good looking. 

The 1.4 isn't the best of the range but for 200 notes who cares? Leaks into the cabin can be from the seam where the roof panel meets the side panels under a little rubber strip. Removing said strip and adding a wob of tiger seal usually cures it.

[busmansholiday]

37 and 42 please (he says jokingly).

[SmokinWaffle]

15 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Do the doorhandles look like a dogs chew toy?

Nope. It's all pretty well presented! 

13 hours ago, Tubbo said:

The problem is if he puts it in for an mot and it needs £200+ worth of work.

Looking at the previous history and a glance over, I can't see that being the case. Hopefully not! 

12 hours ago, B4lljoints said:

Yep, except it was usually a cassette player with the slot behind a funky lift up door thingy.

I had one from nearly new. A 1.6 and it was great. Solidly put together and good looking. 

The 1.4 isn't the best of the range but for 200 notes who cares? Leaks into the cabin can be from the seam where the roof panel meets the side panels under a little rubber strip. Removing said strip and adding a wob of tiger seal usually cures it.

Cheers for the help. Looks like there will be a new addition soon. 

 

Panda is for sale - seemingly too cheap as the tickets sold like hot cakes 😂 

 

[wesacosa]

I had an Alfa 155 and that injector light used to come and go all the time , never bothered with it and nothing seemed to happen

oh, and yes just do it.....!!

[jaycey001]

I may be wrong, but im sure a friend had one of these and the cambelt was an engine out job... maybe worth checking.

[wesacosa]

30 minutes ago, jaycey001 said:

I may be wrong, but im sure a friend had one of these and the cambelt was an engine out job... maybe worth checking.

I wonder if that was the 5 cylinder version. Would be a dodgy bit of design having an engine out cambelt job on a 4cyl. But it's Fiat, so who knows!!

[Squarepegroundhole]

On these 90s Fiats, if the injector light comes on when started from cold and goes out once warmed up (and doesn’t return) then 9/10 it’s the Lambda sensor.

[Sham]

Yes, you should.

[B4lljoints]

47 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

I wonder if that was the 5 cylinder version. Would be a dodgy bit of design having an engine out cambelt job on a 4cyl. But it's Fiat, so who knows!!

Yeah, it's the 5cyl (HGT) that was allegedly an engine out job although some specialists used to just loosen the engine mounts and pry the engine over to one side while a small fingered lackey slipped the belt over the pulleys.

4 cylinders are a much more straightforward affair.

[stephen01]

If you don’t want it for £200 I do! Serious.

1.4 were notorious for the oil feed clogging and starving the camshaft of oil and them wearing out very quickly! But who care for £200! 

[High Jetter]

Yea. Buyit

[purplebargeken]

Have you bought this yet? 200 quid..... bargain.

[Cord Fourteener]

Get it bought.

Did you buy it? Where are the pictures?

[1duck]

1.4 was a dog, but at 200 quid with 12 months ticket...get it bought.

[stephen01]

The more i think about this the more i want it, and I've not seen it. 

[SmokinWaffle]

11 hours ago, stephen01 said:

If you don’t want it for £200 I do! Serious.

1.4 were notorious for the oil feed clogging and starving the camshaft of oil and them wearing out very quickly! But who care for £200! 

 

11 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Yea. Buyit

 

2 hours ago, purplebargeken said:

Have you bought this yet? 200 quid..... bargain.

 

2 hours ago, Tim_E said:

Get it bought.

Did you buy it? Where are the pictures?

 

12 minutes ago, 1duck said:

1.4 was a dog, but at 200 quid with 12 months ticket...get it bought.

Picking it up today, pictures to follow in a few hours hopefully. 12 months MOT on it with the only advisory for a deteriorated plate as has been on the last zillion. Exciting.

[stephen01]

2 minutes ago, SmokinWaffle said:

Picking it up today, pictures to follow in a few hours hopefully. 12 months MOT on it with the only advisory for a deteriorated plate as has been on the last zillion. Exciting.

Can't wait, 

 

[loserone]

One please