Daughter's new car.

[Albert Ross]

I've been bombarded recently with all sorts of links to shit cars. Flaky Ford Kas, fucked Fiestas, knocking Nissans, terrible Toyotas, Shagged Suzukis, etc. The stipulation was that it was a cheap insurance group and low tax band. Anytihng considered up to 700 quid. Well after a morning shift at work, I was dragged round various bits of tat, sucking my teeth and generally annoying vendors. (Rattling cambelt on a 1.2 16V Brava, Rotten floors, sills, and A pillars on Ford Ka, Puntos smoking and juddering, Coolant free zones in Hyundais, Suzuki Alto with bent front panel and wonky headlamp......) We were on our way back from Sheffield via the back streets/tiny villages looking for bits of paper in windows. After endless Vectras and Kias we thought bollocks to it, and ended up going through Conisborough back to Doncaster. There was a Metallic Yellow Punto 55SX for sale in a pub car park (Oh dear, I hear you say). 1994 M, Bristol plates, (not the new style font ones) 5 door, £425 ONO. Grabbed it for £320.......! 6 months test, needs tax and a CD player. She's planning to keep it till just after Crimbo. The only downside is no PAS. Yeah right. I reckon 32 psi will sort it. It even has floors, a new exhaust, and brake pipes etc. Fucking bargain. I might even take some pics of it tomorrow.

[Station]

Did you drive round looking for cars for sale, or see them advertised beforehand.

 

Also, I've been putting 34PSI in my tyres for 10 years, is this normal? The ride is a little more 'bangy'.

[ProgRocker]

Floors in a Fiat - excellent.

 

Well bought. Quite like that shade of metallic yellow - suited the car well (I also liked that shade of metallic copper, too).

 

Looking forward to seeing some pics.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Old cars without post-2001 font ringer plates are definitely winners.

[dollywobbler]

I quite like the Puntos. The heater controls are like a children's toy but they are sprightly enough, and the lack of PAS isn't that much of an issue.

 

Station - psi does rather depend on car. Rear engined Renaults are terrifyingly low - something like 14psi at the front. 2CV runs 20-26psi. BX is meant to have 36 in the front but I stick to 33.

[Albert Ross]

We were going round using the Iphone and Autotrader, seeing what was closest to location for our price range, and after disappointment city, we just gave up looking! And there it was. Also had a 306 ragtop available for 600 quid or thereabouts..... Irish plates though.....

[Lord Sterling]

Great stuff, sounds like a goodun. Driven a few of these. One Punto I drove felt like it was going to tip over, probably due to the space-saver wheel fitted on the front.

 

I've always stuck around a few more PSI in my tyres than what it says in the handbook, mostly due to the thousands of fucking potholes the councils cant be arsed to fix knocking out a few PSI everytime you hit them.

[Guest]

They're a great drive those Puntos, the quick steering and revvy engines make you want to drive them Naples-style. What's she doing after Christmas, getting the bus?

[Albert Ross]

Nah. The Starlet got broken into, so she twiested the door back into shape, and flogged it for £700!!!!!! (We paid £300 for it 2 years ago) So she's after a newer Kryten shape Punto in solid yellow.... preferably a Sporting 16V 1.2 6 Speed.