Hello ladies and gents,
I've been hanging around the forums for a few months now, reading up on stuff and doing my research whilst I've been in the hunt for a cheap commuter and shopping trolley, but staying mostly quiet whilst having nothing to add to discussions, but now its time to ay Hello
Well, as of yesterday I am the new owner of a 1 previous owner 2007 Grande Punto 1.3 M-Jet 5-door 75Bhp with supposedly full service history.
After looking at and driving 4 different Grande Punto's during the past week, I was left with the distinct impression that these cars are mostly much unloved and just used until various maintenance and other jobs are overdue, then traded for a new motor at the main stealers, which dully pass these trade-ins to the second hand traders who then talk up a good advert with little to no evidence to back up their claims. Well, this car is no exception on the surface on general inspection.
With that said, the car had received the recommended 18K, then 36K, then a 4K later 58K service, according to the available dealer receipts but no log book and no stamps. The car now sits at 79.5K with no evidence of any servicing after the 58K service.
As bought the car needs the following:
4 new tyres (current tyres look like they are the original 4 tyres supplied as new).
Front discs and pads (also look like the factory fitted discs at least, as they have 4mm of pitting on the outside and more on the inside).
Rear shoes at least (both rears spin but snag at certain parts of their rotation).
Broken glove box release handle (held closed with a bit of female hair band and clip lol).
Broken and completely missing passenger side sun visor (all other cars had the drivers side inner clip broken of the sun visor, suggesting rough handling or just a weak part).
Heated rear screen, AC and ? buttons slightly recessed from fascia and not working unless the fascia is pressed down with one hand then the other hand used to turn-on and turn off the functionality of said buttons.
Slight judder from the Dual mass flywheel, although clutch bite is almost at the bottom of the pedal travel.
Stiff gear selector and not every gear can be selected without forcing the stick or having a couple of attempts to get it in second and third and reverse.
Obviously a full engine and gearbox oil service, air filter and pollen filter service, along with brake fluid service during the brake maintenance.
Air-con re-gas (works but not very cold, no leaking pipes at least).
A couple of Front and rear light bulbs.
Broken unlock button on keyfob, (the other two work fine).
Needs taxing and apparently the MOT will be due soon (still waiting for paperwork to arrive).
A number of scratches on the paintwork in various places, with the NS rear quarter of the rear bumper having taken a proper scuff (luckily no dents that are noticeable on the car overall).
Ohh and the steering wheel looks like a squirrel has been nibbling at it.......
The irony of course is the dealer advertised the car as IMMACULATE, FULL SERVICE HISTORY, 1 FEMALE OWNER CAR, JUST SERVICED, and of course asking a premium for that year and spec car.
When I went to view they were quite surprised I turned up with a flash light a rag and spent a good 40 minutes looking over the car before I took it out for a drive. Suffice it to say, they had only just collected the car from a main stealer 48Hrs ago where the lady owner had traded for a new car, so they couldn't even produce all of the documents and the V5 as this was still at the stealer, never mind quantifying when they managed to service the car between picking it up and my inspection
Whilst I paint a pretty grim picture above, I bought the car because despite being rough around the edges and less than loved over the past 3+ years, the car is mechanically sound overall and a gem waiting to be re-polished after only 2 years of ignorance, as such the turbo is sound as is the gearbox and AC compressor. The chain tensioner doesn't clatter, which is more than I can say for the other 3 GP's I saw and drove in different parts of the country in the 2.5K-3K price range. What is clear is that a 3K doesn't buy you much these days
Everything above will be addressed in due course, starting in order of priority to get her road and MOT legal and I hope some of the non maintenance items with some help from here
Apologies for the lengthy post from a newbie, I hope I haven't bored any of you! I will update you with developments and pictures in due course.
For now I would like to ask only one question........I received only 2 keys from the seller with little suggestion that there is more coming from the main stealer. One of the keys is the multi function keyfob and the other is a plain simple black or dark blue fiat branded key with no buttons. What I would like to know is, how to identify if I have the "master" code key in my possession? Can somebody please provide me with some feedback in that regard or an image of said key? I would really like to have a new multi function key fob programmed at the stealer (or anywhere else that can do this), in order to regain access to remotely unlock the car. This is my biggest area of concern in terms of cost overall.
best regards, Humour
P.S. this might be just the commuter but I have every intention to have this car returned to its former glory and modify in places too of course :yum:
I've been hanging around the forums for a few months now, reading up on stuff and doing my research whilst I've been in the hunt for a cheap commuter and shopping trolley, but staying mostly quiet whilst having nothing to add to discussions, but now its time to ay Hello
Well, as of yesterday I am the new owner of a 1 previous owner 2007 Grande Punto 1.3 M-Jet 5-door 75Bhp with supposedly full service history.
After looking at and driving 4 different Grande Punto's during the past week, I was left with the distinct impression that these cars are mostly much unloved and just used until various maintenance and other jobs are overdue, then traded for a new motor at the main stealers, which dully pass these trade-ins to the second hand traders who then talk up a good advert with little to no evidence to back up their claims. Well, this car is no exception on the surface on general inspection.
With that said, the car had received the recommended 18K, then 36K, then a 4K later 58K service, according to the available dealer receipts but no log book and no stamps. The car now sits at 79.5K with no evidence of any servicing after the 58K service.
As bought the car needs the following:
4 new tyres (current tyres look like they are the original 4 tyres supplied as new).
Front discs and pads (also look like the factory fitted discs at least, as they have 4mm of pitting on the outside and more on the inside).
Rear shoes at least (both rears spin but snag at certain parts of their rotation).
Broken glove box release handle (held closed with a bit of female hair band and clip lol).
Broken and completely missing passenger side sun visor (all other cars had the drivers side inner clip broken of the sun visor, suggesting rough handling or just a weak part).
Heated rear screen, AC and ? buttons slightly recessed from fascia and not working unless the fascia is pressed down with one hand then the other hand used to turn-on and turn off the functionality of said buttons.
Slight judder from the Dual mass flywheel, although clutch bite is almost at the bottom of the pedal travel.
Stiff gear selector and not every gear can be selected without forcing the stick or having a couple of attempts to get it in second and third and reverse.
Obviously a full engine and gearbox oil service, air filter and pollen filter service, along with brake fluid service during the brake maintenance.
Air-con re-gas (works but not very cold, no leaking pipes at least).
A couple of Front and rear light bulbs.
Broken unlock button on keyfob, (the other two work fine).
Needs taxing and apparently the MOT will be due soon (still waiting for paperwork to arrive).
A number of scratches on the paintwork in various places, with the NS rear quarter of the rear bumper having taken a proper scuff (luckily no dents that are noticeable on the car overall).
Ohh and the steering wheel looks like a squirrel has been nibbling at it.......
The irony of course is the dealer advertised the car as IMMACULATE, FULL SERVICE HISTORY, 1 FEMALE OWNER CAR, JUST SERVICED, and of course asking a premium for that year and spec car.
When I went to view they were quite surprised I turned up with a flash light a rag and spent a good 40 minutes looking over the car before I took it out for a drive. Suffice it to say, they had only just collected the car from a main stealer 48Hrs ago where the lady owner had traded for a new car, so they couldn't even produce all of the documents and the V5 as this was still at the stealer, never mind quantifying when they managed to service the car between picking it up and my inspection
Whilst I paint a pretty grim picture above, I bought the car because despite being rough around the edges and less than loved over the past 3+ years, the car is mechanically sound overall and a gem waiting to be re-polished after only 2 years of ignorance, as such the turbo is sound as is the gearbox and AC compressor. The chain tensioner doesn't clatter, which is more than I can say for the other 3 GP's I saw and drove in different parts of the country in the 2.5K-3K price range. What is clear is that a 3K doesn't buy you much these days
Everything above will be addressed in due course, starting in order of priority to get her road and MOT legal and I hope some of the non maintenance items with some help from here
Apologies for the lengthy post from a newbie, I hope I haven't bored any of you! I will update you with developments and pictures in due course.
For now I would like to ask only one question........I received only 2 keys from the seller with little suggestion that there is more coming from the main stealer. One of the keys is the multi function keyfob and the other is a plain simple black or dark blue fiat branded key with no buttons. What I would like to know is, how to identify if I have the "master" code key in my possession? Can somebody please provide me with some feedback in that regard or an image of said key? I would really like to have a new multi function key fob programmed at the stealer (or anywhere else that can do this), in order to regain access to remotely unlock the car. This is my biggest area of concern in terms of cost overall.
best regards, Humour
P.S. this might be just the commuter but I have every intention to have this car returned to its former glory and modify in places too of course :yum:
