Greetings Cinq and Seicento people
My daughter in law wants a small car, Cinq Seicento or Punto. Something VERY cheap to run. I am HOPELESS at buying used cars, I have a pile of repair bills for mine to prove it. SO, I am wondering if anyone has any tips. They are not looking to spend a lot maybe £500-£600. What do I need to look out for / avoid?

Thank you

https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecento-seicento-faqs/94829-buying-seicento.html

cinq is basically same car, but older clearly.

Hi,

Cinquecento is cheapest and simplest but might not appeal to everyone (my 21 year old daughter for example )

Seicento can have more 'mainstream' features (power steering etc)

General tips:

1) Use the Government site -

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_10020539
To check the MOT history of any car you are interested in by getting the current MOT details from the seller. You can see what the MOT tester has advised will need doing in future but would not fail the MOT........

2) Get an HPI check -

I use the ones that are via text message as they balance cost/service for a cheap car.


The fiat forum buyers guide mentioned before is spot on. Even if you buy a car that's not perfect then forums like this are full of good advice and a good/cheap mechanic/workshop can look after the cars.

the AA vehicle inspections are pretty comprehensive if you aren't mechanically minded.

http://www.theaa.com/vehicle-inspections/index.html

i wud say a sei as they look more like a girly car

It depends on the girl I used to love my 899 cinq but when I bought my sei I loved the curves more but then again I'm starting to like the cinq more now

But hey I'm not a girl best to ask her which one she likes better

As far as the mainstream features go the power steering system in the sei is useless, no its worse than useless, and after a few hundred miles without it, it just feels normal the others I.e e/w c/l are available on both

The way I see it is the less bells and whistles the less there is to go wrong

Lee

Beware of rust. Both cars go in the same area -- the rear of the rear wheelarches (inside and out).

Thanks everyone. I had an AA inspection on a car I bought years ago and I remember it being somewhere in the region of £150, so not worth it for a cheap car.

I think she would prefer the Seicento but am I right in thinking that the Cinq has slightly more space / legroom inside?

Also with regard to insurance, should I avoid the 'sporting' version? Money is limited so I am really looking for the absolute rock bottom running costs. I have also seen a numbered limited edition one so same question, would that be more to insure?

I think if I can find a clean well looked after car with reasonably low mileage she will be happy no matter what it is

Thanks again for the advice.

In terms of running cost and insurance there's very little in it between the Sportings and the lower models, and no difference at all between the Sportings, Abarth, Schumachers and other ltd editions. In terms of maintenance, they're all equally simple.

FionaB said:

Thanks everyone. I had an AA inspection on a car I bought years ago and I remember it being somewhere in the region of £150, so not worth it for a cheap car.

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Agreed, but....

FionaB said:

I have a pile of repair bills for mine to prove it.

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How much do they add upto?

In general though what your looking for is a car that appears to have been well maintained and cared for, alot of these small older cheap cars (not just fiats) have been bought as cheap runabouts and not looked after and just sold on when not needed anymore. So as few owners as possible with as much history as possible.

If you find one and have any questions post up here and someone will try and advise.

London is a pretty big place but there a quite a few friendly members down that way which may go checkout a car for you - i'm far to far away to help on that front though.

There's a pretty decent looking Sei in the Classifieds in Surrey for £400, could be a bargain if it's as good as it looks.

FionaB said:

I think she would prefer the Seicento but am I right in thinking that the Cinq has slightly more space / legroom.

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They are built on the same chassis so there will be no difference in legroom etc

blu73 said:

Agreed, but....


How much do they add upto?

In general though what your looking for is a car that appears to have been well maintained and cared for, alot of these small older cheap cars (not just fiats) have been bought as cheap runabouts and not looked after and just sold on when not needed anymore. So as few owners as possible with as much history as possible.

If you find one and have any questions post up here and someone will try and advise.

London is a pretty big place but there a quite a few friendly members down that way which may go checkout a car for you - i'm far to far away to help on that front though.

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HAHA Lets start with £895 for a new clutch and recon gearbox and work down from there, brake pads and discs, complete exhaust system, new steering rack, rod arms and coils....Im sure there is more but I would rather just not think about it She, (her name is Petunia) is behaving at the moment and I do love her So yes in that case you have a point, but I paid £1895 so different price range.

What would be ideal is a car that was owned by a pensioner, kept in a garage and only drive once a week on pension day. It would be great is someone could come with me to look

Eklipze3k said:

There's a pretty decent looking Sei in the Classifieds in Surrey for £400, could be a bargain if it's as good as it looks.

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I dont think she would like yellow (but I will ask) and I have read up in a few places and faded paintwork seems to be an issue with some colours, apparently the red is the worst culprit but this one seems to have it too.

Just needs a good polish, mine fades occasionally - Autoglym Paint Renovator works a treat

well you haven't though have you, you have paid significantly more with all the repairs.. I understand where your coming from though.

Also a low miler is not always the best option. A regularly used but well maintained car will be more likely to not go wrong than one that has spent alot of time parked up and then not driven far when it is.

Just take your time when looking at cars - if the seller seems to be hurrying you just walk away.

FionaB said:

...I have read up in a few places and faded paintwork seems to be an issue with some colours, apparently the red is the worst culprit but this one seems to have it too.

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Alfa & Fiat red paint has had appalling fading, not looked at yellow, but I think most of the others are ok.

My Silver Alfa 156 paintwork looks the same as when I collected it in 1999 and my Blue 1994 Fiat Cinq still looks fine too (a few dents, but no fading!).

the yellow does fade as well, but it doesn't look as bad as the red does.. As said though they do polish up nice. I have a red seicento (12 years old now) - only really have to polish it once or twice a year to keep it looking red and shiny.

blu73 said:

...only really have to polish it once or twice a year to keep it looking red and shiny.

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Sig worthy