If I buy it it'll be my third Fiat in a row!

I managed to crash my 500cc scooter last Monday and it's a write off so I'm going to buy a cheap runabout. The missus will have the Panda and I'll have the Cinq.

The one I'll be looking at tomorrow is a 1993 L reg 899cc SX with 64,000 miles on the clock. He says there's a slight rattle on start up but he's owned one before and it never turned out to be problematic - should I be worried?

Can these little 899cc engines handle 64,000 miles with ease? It'll only be used to get me to work four miles down the road.

So, any common problems to look out for tomorrow? It's only costing me £400 and it's got 5 months tax and 4 months MOT.

Sounds ok but £400 seems a little on the dear side for a car that old, despite it's low mileage:

See if they have the original red key and/or the 4 digit start CODE - You'll need one of these to start the car in an emergency. You can definitely get the price down without one or both of these items.

Check for rust. If there's anything above a 'reasonable' level of rust then say no.

Check the tyres. You can get the price down if they're looking worn or tatty.

Find out if the things that should have been done at 60,000 miles were done - oil and filter, spark plugs, air filter, brake pads, clutch/handbrake cables, fuel filter, transmission oil, brake fluid, timing belt, cam belt, etc. (check a Haynes for a full list).

Ask to see a service history and barter if there isn't one.

Sense and sensibility is the best way forward. If it's a good 'un then hope you enjoy!

The rattle is probably the tappets (which are hydraulic) an oil change or rallycinq's more radical suggestions should sort it. Or you can live with it.

Apart from the usual, check the top passenger seat belt mounts, the inside of the boot and the rear wheelarches for corrosion: most are fine, but a few really rot badly and due to the complexity of the shell here, repairs are difficult.

64,000 miles is no real problem, but make sure you give it a propper run every week or so.

So is £400 steep as I've yet to find any Cinqs as cheap as £400?

Here's what the eBay ad says so you can decide on a good price:

4 EXCELLENT TYRES AS SHOWN.

SUPERB INTERIOR CONDITION.

NEW CLUTCH AT 62K.

LOTS OF HISTORY.

2 SMALL DENTS AS SHOWN IN PICS

SLIGHT RATTLE AT START BUT HAVE HAD ONE OF THESE BEFORE AND DID THE SAME THING WHICH I SOLD ON EBAY(CHECK FEEDBACK)

Taxed until May 2008

MOT until April 2008.

I bought a cinq sporting for £350, and im getting a 899 cinq soon for £100-£150

Well the one I'm looking at has had 10 bids, has 3 days left and is at £102. I imagine there'll be a little bidding war within the last few minutes pushing it up to at least £300.

I'd love to know where all these bargain cars are as I'll be damned if I can find any.

I bought a Cinq sporting a year or so ago for £350, you just need to obsesively look at Ebay, Autotrader, Adtrader,local papers etc and work fast when you see one that interests you.

Tbh i think £400 is ok for that Cinq, looks in decent condition

You could try and get one for £300-350 but whats the point if this one is ok and is only £50 more

Used the advise above re the keys and history etc and go for it :yum:

Aliweasel said:

See if they have the original red key and/or the 4 digit start CODE - You'll need one of these to start the car in an emergency. You can definitely get the price down without one or both of these items.

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I think this cinq is one of the earlier ones that doesnt need a red key. Perhaps email seller to confirm?

I've been scouring eBay and Auto Trader for a good few weeks now but I was looking for anything, it was only really today that the Cinqs caught my eye as they're fairly cheap.

As an example the closest in age/model/condition terms I can find to the one I'm going to see tomorrow is this one on eBay with a Buy It Now price of £450 but it's got over 100,000 miles on the clock! It makes the one I'm going to view look almost new.

When I go there tomorrow I'll try my luck at knocking an extra fifty quid off especially if there's only one key but to be honest I don't think £400 is too bad especially as the interior is meant to be "superb" plus there's 4 very good tyres and loads of tax & MOT.

Phil_ said:

I'd love to know where all these bargain cars are as I'll be damned if I can find any.

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sorry to rub it in but ive had 2sportings free admitedly one was a pile and i also had a 899 for free

Damn you!

Phil_ said:

Damn you!

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all it is, is you need to know the right people or even have mates down your road that have fiats and put a good word in

It won't have a red key, only black ones. This car does not have a factory immobilser.

£400 is not that bad for a good car. As mentioned, check for rust around the rear, but generally they are pretty bulletproof. 64K is nothing to one of these engines, its a fairly basic engine made out of cast iron, none of your fancy aloominum stuff.

Slight rattle on start will be the hydraulic tappets losing their presure overnight. Nothing to panic about, as long as the noise goes away after a couple of seconds of running.

Run the car up till the fan kicks in and make sure the temperature goes down with the fan running.

Cheers

D

All sound advice, cheers lads.

I take it these things are fairly economical but what about acceleration and top speeds? I won't expect much from an 899cc engine but is 50mpg achievable?

Phil_ said:

All sound advice, cheers lads.

I take it these things are fairly economical but what about acceleration and top speeds? I won't expect much from an 899cc engine but is 50mpg achievable?

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It may be possible if you drive like a nun, however it is a 13/14 yr old car with not the most moderen engine by todays standards.

45mpg would be more realistic, providing its been looked after

yeh i'd say that 50mpg is reasonable, my 899 sx is 0-60 in bout 18 seconds so not really fast accelaration, but does the job. Paintjob looks decent on that car, alloys look good on it to!

gd luck with it

So what are they like to drive, do they handle well considering their age? I must admit that I'm used to driving newer cars with power steering.

They do not need power steering, it saves on weight and complication too.

If the tyres are as good as they say, they handle brilliantly. Its the sort of car that you can practice your driving skills and never exceed the speed limit.

You will learn all about the conservation of momentum, but they are not so pointy that they will bite you if you back off in a hurry.

Cheers

D

Well they sound good so far, hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll have bought it.