(G) Buying a Cinq

Hi people

I am looking for a bit of advice from people, I am really thinking about buying a cinq in the next couple of weeks (i hope) depending on if i can get the £ together. I was wondering if anyone can give me some pointers on what to look out for, common problems, things that might cost a bomb to put right a few months down the line. It will be a cinq sporting that i am buying(only way to go[8D]). I have found a few on autotrader near me, like the grey one :D

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_ full&make=FIAT&model=CINQUECENTO&variant=&keywords =sporting&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&pos tcode=ne37+1ra&miles=40&max_records=50&source=0&ph oto=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH


I know that i should not buy it without the red key as this is not good. Also i know there is a 54,000 mile service that has to be done (as DJ_bucho has told me), is there anymore in the life of a cinq that must be done, etc. As the one I’m looking at has 28,000 miles on the clock (for N reg I think that’s canny good).

I am a 21 year old student in my last year at Uni as this will be my first car and I know insurance will to be VERY expensive [V]. Even though I have had my license for 3 years nearly, as it will be my first policy has anyone got any recommendations about good CHEAP companies to go with. As does anyone know any good garages around the North East that could possibly fix any problems that might happen. Just thinking ahead, as knowing my luck something will u tits up.

Cheers


David Pearson

wh ycant u buy without the red key?

"Yellow is Mellow"
96P Cinq Broom Yellow Full Abarth Kit K&N 57i Clifford Alarm Lowered Tinted and a Recent badger shape dent in the front :(

if you dont have the red key then you cant get any more keys cut This is because the Red key stores a special code that deactivates the imobiliser. this is copied onto the blue keys but cannot be copied onto another key using just the blue key (or atleast thats what ive been led to believe). if you loose your red key and then your blue keys then your buggered and will have to buy a whole new locking system which can be very expencive!

Cinq Sporting
1.1L engine
K&N 57i kit
Sparkrite alarm system
Meshed front bumper
Ripspeed pedals

because without the red key you cannot reset the ECU if it looses power

insurance, give HIC a ring on 08451-290-290

check the stickys in technical for problems

if you wait till everyone is back from the meet, someone should be able to give you a better idea of what to look out for :)




Cinq Sporting - and yes, its broom yellow!

I got a key cut from my blue key and that worked? Deactivated my immobiliser?

"Yellow is Mellow"
96P Cinq Broom Yellow Full Abarth Kit K&N 57i Clifford Alarm Lowered Tinted and a Recent badger shape dent in the front :(

m,ust be wrong then.. thats how it is with my sisters KA.. would assume it was a similar system

Cinq Sporting
1.1L engine
K&N 57i kit
Sparkrite alarm system
Meshed front bumper
Ripspeed pedals

Yeah thats what the red key is for. Never the less if the car did not have one then i would wonder why it has not got it in the first place. As something could have gone wrong with the car before hand.

Had you changed the battery or something, or did you just get anohter key cut and try that?

David Pearson

the red key is used for technical diagnostics and to reset your ecu in case of a breakdown etc...

You can get more keys cut without the red key, timposons do it for about £20

Always good to have the red key, but i wouldn't be too fussed if it didn't have it with an n-reg car, just use the fact that it hasn't got it to bargain down the price with whoever your buying it from

hope this is of some help

when i first bout car red key was supposidly lost but i said if they found it id sort em 20!

before that though the fiat garage said there branch in southend could use the blue key to create copies by removing the info! i think it can be done now although it never used to be available and limited branches use the machines.



whos ur daddy!???

Good idea about getting the price down i like that. Cheap the price. I know there was some models that did not have the red key, but i am not sure of which ones. I reckon, at a guess, models after 96 had a red key and the ones before did not. Not a 100% on this, someone will have to confirm this for me.


Cheers

David Pearson

i've got an N reg cinq WITH a red key so haggle away,paid a grand for mine at a garage 2 former owners 55000 miles and small dents on the bonnet where the former keeper tried to push the bonnet shut,theres plenty out there so if you're not happy walk away i needed a car fast so was pushed for time

Custard boy the man who loves the man from Creative

I kno M reg cinq's dn't have the red/blue key dilemma

http://jonesycinquecento.4t.com

as your a student try www.endsleigh.co.uk they give a discount to students in uni! [^]

Chris

Do you think it will matter the I am leaving Univeristy in July as its my last year?



David Pearson

try norwich union, very good rates for me at least

btw, saw that cinqi, dont reckon cinqs look good in silver tho tbh (personal opinion/taste, no offence intended)

Now written off Cinquecento Sporting,
and yes it was indeed Broom Yellow :(

Dont worry, the poppy coral lives on for another car :p