I'm really starting to regret buying this car now. It just seems that it's starting to live up to it's nick-name "Fix-It-Again-Tomorrow"

I filled my tank up for the first time (above half way). Lo and behold, my cabin was stinking of petrol. I've bought a new tank and I'll fit it ASAP, because I don't want my damn car catching fire while I'm driving.

I really wanted to like this car, it seemed like a great first time car, but it just seems to be problem after problem. I'm inclined just to sell it on once I get my MOT sorted and just stick to something Japanese. My mum's 17 year old Toyota has gone through some serious abuse (from me obviously bahaha), It's been through burnouts, high speeds, it's flown through the air off speed bumps, drifted(?!), and the damn thing just won't die, it really is a tank. Only ONE thing needed replacing, and that was the radiator (My dad forgot to top up the coolant after he drained it... *duh*). This Sei has just been used to drive around in and it's just rusting to it's grave.

But anyways, I was wondering whether there are people on this forum who are in the same mind-set as me? Is anyone else looking to just get rid of theirs as well because they're just disappointed in their Fiat? I really think Japanese all the way tbh.

The same amount of issues could quite easily strike down a poorly maintained Jap or German car, it's really not down to the manufacturer. Except in the case of the fuel tank, and there is actually a recall for this issue so it might be worth checking with VOSA.

I've got both Fiat and Mitsubishi, sure the Mitsi has been pretty reliable (so far) but o-m-g is it boring to drive in comparison to the Seicento. Stick with it, sort out the issues and keep it maintained and serviced and it will give you more smiles per mile than any Jap car ever could.

hoi i like my chariots but a bugger to get parts for:bang:

Your mum's Toyota works because it's your mum's Toyota and the rest of the time your mum probably looks after it, buys parts and fixes it whenever she needs to. Your Cento probably didn't get quite a pampered life and now it depends on you to keep it going.

To be fair to the beast, it is only a £6,000 car (when new) built to be cheap and not particularly sophisticated. It won't be as durable as that Toyota... but then that cost twice as much.

I would perservere with it because what your Cento will respond the more you pamper it. At the moment it just sussed that you'll fix it when it goes wrong.. so it's being bit of a Diva. It'll calm down once it's had a bit of TLC.


Ralf S.

Let's just hope nothing else goes wrong on this car. The rear shocks will probably need to be changed though, they are looking very rusty. I just hope the engine doesn't blow... 96k miles and assuming the previous owner before the last was some douche-hat chav, and the problems I'm getting, it really wouldn't suprise me... -sigh-

I will agree though, it is very fun to drive ^^! Planted and it doesn't roll at all, FUNNNN!

I'd love to put the Toyota engine in it, that'll be hilarious!

Ralf S. said:

To be fair to the beast, it is only a £6,000 car (when new) built to be cheap and not particularly sophisticated. It won't be as durable as that Toyota... but then that cost twice as much.

Ralf S.

Click to expand...

£6,000 brand new? Damn, that is cheap. Especially for '98 :/! I guess you get what you pay for. The Carina was £18k brand new? Not sure exactly but it's about that much, but you do get what you pay for.

I'll stick with it for now, and yes, some time and effort will surely pay off ^^!

well red cinq is on 148,000 miles and still going, had the hg go 4 times in 8 years or so due to "drive it till it stops" attitude, still on the oem engine so when its utterly dead will pick another up for a few hundred

all it needs is regular oil changes and your sorted


Ash

That's actually reassuring, thanks. I rarely ever floor my Sei, so hopefully my HG won't blow anytime soon ! I'm all about 'dat eco drive' now.

Fizbne said:

The rear shocks will probably need to be changed though, they are looking very rusty. I just hope the engine doesn't blow... 96k miles

Click to expand...

At 96k I would check every thing over to see how much has not been spent. The clutch might be next?
So many of these cars are neglected because they are bought as a cheap run around.

My friends said I was mad to spend £700 on parts to do up a £1000 car.
I said that after 4 years of usage, even if the total was £1000 after general servicing, £250 a year is a bargain with respect to how much a new car can lose in value each year.
A car is transport, no matter which make/model it is. Save the money for home comforts or holidays.

cc1 said:

At 96k I would check every thing over to see how much has not been spent. The clutch might be next?
So many of these cars are neglected because they are bought as a cheap run around.

My friends said I was mad to spend £700 on parts to do up a £1000 car.
I said that after 4 years of usage, even if the total was £1000 after general servicing, £250 a year is a bargain with respect to how much a new car can lose in value each year.
A car is transport, no matter which make/model it is. Save the money for home comforts or holidays.

Click to expand...

Agree with all that. In the last 6 months I have spent at least £400 on our 2001 899 Sei with 91000 on the clock. But I have no intention of getting rid so I am happy to spend that. I get 58mpg from our Sei and if I replaced it I would expect to spend £2000 or more so £400 is a bargain, especially if it lasts another 4 years or so as I expect it to. I know there will be more to spend though but that's okay, if I had a newer car there'd still be stuff to spend money on.

make sure you do the fuel filter when the tank is done as will be full of crap from tank rotting away.
had this on my mrs sporting and made car run awful after previous owner fitted new tank and also used silicone sealent on it.:bang:

Lol, well now my head gasket blew, I give up all hope for this car lol.

Fizbne said:

Lol, well now my head gasket blew, I give up all hope for this car lol.

Click to expand...

easy enough fix and dont forget its the symptom not a cause

Ash

i love my little cinq, the list of things ive done to it is much longer then any other car, 2 new sills, new shocks all round, new wishbones, new rear arm bushes, back box, track rod ends, both rear backplates on drums, new drums, new calipers (soon) then servicing and a few athsetics but like was mentioned it responds so well, the difference after all this was so much more noticeable then when i did shocks on my old corsa for example. Id stick with it there great fun little cars, parts are cheap, there cheap to run

You haven't said how much you paid for your car but I can't imagine it was a lot so repairs need to be balanced against that original purchase price.
I keep my cars for years, I've never seen the point in having a newer car just for the sake of it and my last car I had 11 years. The great benefit of that is that I know exactly what my cars have had done and are likely to need doing. So if you have to have a few jobs done now you know they will not need doing again for a long time. If you swap your Fiat for another car what's to say it wont have similar problems?
Seicento's are so ludicrously cheap to maintain that they offer amazing value for money even when you do have to keep having jobs done. Even more so if you do the work yourself.
Also, eBay is a great friend to have. Just keep looking for the bits you need or may need in the future. One day they will turn up, almost guaranteed.

Ian.

I paid £450 for the car, I knocked him down from £575. Guess you get what you pay for lmao.

Well, my new exhaust came... Any ideas how to fit it? I can't find a guide on here anywhere !

Also, I fitted my new spring (the old one snapped LOL). It took 6 hours :l

I love both my cento, but my mum starlet (N reg) is much more reliable.

I maintain all 3 of them, but the starlet just seems more of a solid car!

It could well just be me.
Ming

I just think Jap cars are better built. Starlet's cost about the same as a Sei when new, but I think I'm starting to see a trend here.


Sucks!