David C said:

Exactly.

Cinq & Sei are very VERY light cars, only weighing slightly more than the air contained inside them!!

So they don't need big brakes and wide tyres.



When I got my 899 Cinq in 2005 I put a new set of Ferodo Premier front pads in. Still haven't worn them out and they work very well.

Rear drums & shoes need setting up well to work properly, but once sorted they are fine for the car. You can even get a working handbrake.... my MOT man is amazed every year.

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That's a lot big time for one set of pads! And I much prefer disc brakes, for the looks as well as the performance and reliability of the brakes

Baxter2000 said:

That's a lot big time for one set of pads! And I much prefer disc brakes, for the looks as well as the performance and reliability of the brakes

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I didn't expect them to last that long either, but they have.
Good pads and a light car. It also helps to know when you don't need to brake... but that comes with experience.
Rear brakes don't do a lot on a light FWD car and the rear drums work fine.

Baxter2000 said:

That's a lot big time for one set of pads! And I much prefer disc brakes, for the looks as well as the performance and reliability of the brakes

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You do not want rear discs unless you change the pedal box to one with a balance bar....and we are back to a big insurance bill again.

D

Having followed this thread I'm in despair. There's a lad here who has not even taken a test yet and is contemplating buying the cheapest car he can get, not the most suitable car.You do not need a college education to see where this is going, superchargers etc.!!!!!
I might be an old f..t but I have been round the block a few times.
We all like to impress but there's better ways of doing it.
Go round to your local police headquarters and get them to show you pictures /videos of modified cars after accidents, and think of the people who took those photographs and had to attend.
As others have posted, by all means get a nice car, learn to maintain it.This will stand you in good stead in the future.

ArthurM said:

Having followed this thread I'm in despair. There's a lad here who has not even taken a test yet and is contemplating buying the cheapest car he can get, not the most suitable car.You do not need a college education to see where this is going, superchargers etc.!!!!!

I might be an old f..t but I have been round the block a few times.

We all like to impress but there's better ways of doing it.

Go round to your local police headquarters and get them to show you pictures /videos of modified cars after accidents, and think of the people who took those photographs and had to attend.

As others have posted, by all means get a nice car, learn to maintain it.This will stand you in good stead in the future.

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I whole heartedly appreciate your opinion and accept your advice but as I stated in a reply to blu73, I'm not your typical yob that likes to show off. In college I tend to sit in my own company and get on with my work. Im doing well in my A levels and am shortly starting my own business. I honestly don't care about impressing anyone.
As for 'buying the cheapest car' I can, I have stated that I want one due to liking them since I was 8/9, when my dad crashed into one. Something I'd have expected you to notice since you have read the whole thread.
Additionally, I have seen lots and lots of pictures of young lads who have crashed their Peugeot's and lots of experienced drivers who have crashed their Toyota Supra's. Speeding is never something that I want to do unless on a track and after some lessons. Also as stated earlier in the thread, I refused to get in a car with my friend who is a bit of a reckless driver (not that he speeds excessively or overtakes all the time, he just doesn't think ahead much).
So, believe me when I say I'm no yob trying to impress some girls or mates. I don't think a little fiat would do that anyway, no matter how I modify it.
Thank you.

Baxter2000 said:

I whole heartedly appreciate your opinion and accept your advice but as I stated in a reply to blu73, I'm not your typical yob that likes to show off. In college I tend to sit in my own company and get on with my work. Im doing well in my A levels and am shortly starting my own business. I honestly don't care about impressing anyone.
As for 'buying the cheapest car' I can, I have stated that I want one due to liking them since I was 8/9, when my dad crashed into one. Something I'd have expected you to notice since you have read the whole thread.
Additionally, I have seen lots and lots of pictures of young lads who have crashed their Peugeot's and lots of experienced drivers who have crashed their Toyota Supra's. Speeding is never something that I want to do unless on a track and after some lessons. Also as stated earlier in the thread, I refused to get in a car with my friend who is a bit of a reckless driver (not that he speeds excessively or overtakes all the time, he just doesn't think ahead much).
So, believe me when I say I'm no yob trying to impress some girls or mates. I don't think a little fiat would do that anyway, no matter how I modify it.
Thank you.

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Basically what people are trying to say is, a Cento is a great first car but keep it stock standard initially.

You can buy a good, well looked after, low miles, tidy one for not alot of money.

When you get it 'cut your teeth' by giving it a good going through with a full service, all the fluids, checking all the brakes tyres etc plus cleaning and tiding it up.

Learn to drive it correctly and responsibly while enjoy the fun these cars bring.

After a year or two you will have gained experience mechanically as well as from a driving perspective to look into doing slight mods. Induction kits etc..

But make sure any mods you do you declare to your insurance, you are able to pay the increased premiums and you don't get carried away with any performance improvements these mods may bring.

Nothing wrong with having an interest or desire to 'play' and 'modify' cars, generations have done it and generations will continue to do it, I know I did.

But just make sure you do it in a responsible way that will keep you and more importantly everybody else safe.

Cars are and should be fun but never forget they can and will kill you or an innocent person in a blink of an eye.

Good luck and keep posting on this forum.

ArthurM said:

Having followed this thread I'm in despair. There's a lad here who has not even taken a test yet and is contemplating buying the cheapest car he can get, not the most suitable car.You do not need a college education to see where this is going, superchargers etc.!!!!!
I might be an old f..t but I have been round the block a few times.
We all like to impress but there's better ways of doing it.
Go round to your local police headquarters and get them to show you pictures /videos of modified cars after accidents, and think of the people who took those photographs and had to attend.
As others have posted, by all means get a nice car, learn to maintain it.This will stand you in good stead in the future.

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Aye, changed times, my first car was freedom & it started & it stopped, an old Ford Popular, mustard in colour. I realise times have changed. The money that the young team have these days to my thinking is quite a sum. It's one thing to purchase your chosen weapon, but adding go faster bits & pieces & what have you is quite surprising to say the least. Insurance will kill you even if you declare the mods, even worse if you don't & something happens.

Young Baxter is just one of many,many similar stories across most car forums. I'm not having a go here by any means, & to certain extent we've all been there. Big changes on the road these days. More congestion, more in car gadgetry to distract, you get the picture. What I'm saying is, it's more likely to have an accident these days than ever. It will cost as well. I don't have to point out that keeping your nose clean for the first couple of years is vital, if you want to hold onto your licence. Getting a licence is a different matter