Right after looking at these for the last few years I decided to go and buy one. I've had a number of cars in my three years of driving including....Saxo, Clio, Focus, Corsa, MINI and a TT. The last was costing me so much in petrol and insurance I decided I needed something a bit more practical - bare in mind i'm only 19.

Not many plans really other then colour coding wing mirrors and a set of standard fiat alloys. Anyone know of any garages local to me: Fleet, Hampshire. I'm going to book in for cambelt, water pump etc but anyone got any where they recommend? Also what sort of price am I looking at?

Thanks

Tried adding a picture but won't let me until i have reached 5 Posts. I used the gallery tho.

Hello mate and welcome to the forum I hope you enjoy your GP ad much ad all of us enjoy ours.

Regards
Stephen

Welcome. Alot of new Grande owner joining up lately

Jordan

Hello and welcome,

You aren't that far away from me, I'm in light water, just down the m3. Last September I was looking for a local independant fiat garage to change my cambelt and water pump. There's certainly not many fiat specialists in the area but one of the garages I contacted for a quote was AHM who seem to have a good reputation with the guys on Alfa forums and they're just down the road from you in Hartley Wintney.

They quoted me £250+vat for my 1.4 t-jet and most of the quotes I got in the end were around that price so they seemed fair though I didn't end up going there as they don't allow you to supply your own parts. You dont say what engine you have but it might be worth dropping them an email/call to see what they can do for you.

Edit: a website address for them might help! www.alfacare.co.uk

Thanks for the replies.


Oh really? Where did you go in the end that allowed you to supply your own parts? Including vat makes it around 300...does that include oil change? Never had cambelt done before. Thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures soon. Oh and its a 1.2.

How did you manage to get a TT at 18/19? Haha.

Good choice btw, they are actually quite big cars, is your 3 or 5 door? Reliable, cheap, fun.

I ended up making a trek all the way down to Bianco Alfa near Gatwick http://www.bianco-alfa.com but as my lass's parents live over that way we went to see them.

No, that price was just for the cambelt/aux belt/pump/coolant. I wanted a full 4th year service too (inc. sparks/oil/oil-filter/brake-fluid/gearbox-oil) and they wanted a further £252+vat for that lot.

With Bianco they charged me £330 incVAT for labour for the whole service and cambelt etc. Parts/fluids cost me £185 from shop4parts+ebay.

I stuck a bit of a review in the Garages section on here:
https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/313551-good-experience-bianco-alfa-surrey-gatwick.html

Seems theres one for AHM too, though no "real" work done:
https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/316310-ahm-alfa-fiat-care.html

Hope that helps!

Erm well let's just say my insurance and tax has halfed and my mpg has more then doubled!



Crikey!! That's a lot!! I believe I can get all that done (service) for around 50 less then that incl vat. Going to speak to krisb as I have used him in the past and I've also contacted someone at foster and heanes. Thank you for your help.

Since you've got a 1.2 I wouldn't be surprised, theres a lot more space to work in the engine bay. Good look with it and enjoy your car.

matt93 said:

Erm well let's just say my insurance and tax has halfed and my mpg has more then doubled!

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Can imagine!!! Well you bought the right car for the community anyway, literally every problem you might have is covered here and we will be able to help you out.

GavinAshford said:

Since you've got a 1.2 I wouldn't be surprised, theres a lot more space to work in the engine bay. Good look with it and enjoy your car.

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Just been quoted 250 including vat for everything...that's including a major service so pretty happy.

just about to drop the car of for its major service and cambelt change...£220 for everything

However need to get two new front tyres. Anyone know of any deals? My sister got a voucher in the sun for BOGOF so hers are £50 and mine will be £100+ by the looks

How did the service etc go mate?

Regards
Stephen

Was good just need a new breather hose and maybe an exhaust as its corroded bad...it would pass Mot just want it perfect tho. Are the exhausts on grande puntos all the same?

No mate I dont believe they are. Although I couldnt point you in the right direction, sorry.

matt93 said:

However need to get two new front tyres. Anyone know of any deals? My sister got a voucher in the sun for BOGOF so hers are £50 and mine will be £100+ by the looks

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Continental sport contact 5s look good value at £130each from quickfit (205/45/17 88load).

I now have a red warning light on the dash which will not go off even though all doors including boot are closed. Any ideas? Started around midday in this hot weather so bit confused.


Thanks

Not much to update on really, cars been running fine, no problems! Had to get a new windscreen over Christmas which was a pain! I have now finally got a working remote key! So chuffed to bits with that. Colour coded my wing mirrors as well:



Finally, I treated myself to an armrest yesterday and it arrived today. So obviously I fitted it!




Also now have Ring xenon ultima bulbs which are great, bright white light.



Just waiting on my new aux cables. Going to fit a socket in the passenger foot well instead of just having the wire dangling.

Got some alloys and painted them black



Anyone got a picture of these alloys on a gp? Gloss black and grey gp.


Cheers