Hi everyone

This is my first post so hoping to make it a useful one at that! My missus drives a white 59 reg white punto (which we both love :worship and I have the opportunity to buy a damaged, also white 59 reg too.....

The damage it has sustained is to the OSF wing, bumper, bonnet and bolt on arm that the wing/bonnet sit on. Oh plus a headlight and bit of damage to a door

The damage, so I am led to believe is pretty straight forward enough to do/have done BUT it also does not start

My main question is this - is there an engine managament facility that has shut off the engine/electrics after having impacted and if so how ill I be able to ascertain that this has indeed kicked in? If I can cross that from the list of worries, then it's plain sailing and just the repairs to get on with

Also, does anyone know how much from the list price, a cat C/D listed car can depreciate in value? I was told around a third BUT if the repair puts the car back to it's normal self then it should really not be an issue at all

One other thing - the guy said that the car, after getting its VIC check, needs MOT'ing as it's just like a 3yo car now AND also is not covered by any manufacturers warranty as it's been written off and they are under no obligation now with the car

SO, considering - is it still all worth the trouble? I certainly seem to think so as the quirk factor of my missus and I both driving identical cars is funny - plus they're brilliant little cars :slayer:

Pic of it below:

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I have until Tuesday morning to decide as the guy is keeping it on hold for me until then......

Bye for now everyone and great little forum too! :idea::idea:
Stephen

damage looks heavy to me, the way the bonnet is crumpled and the wheels look pushed back toward the back of the arches ??

either way, yeah at the very basic level there is a fuel cut off that will kick in an accident. not sure if there is more on a more modern car like that.

Woah.
Given the picture I'd be very surprised if there weren't any issues in the engine bay. Unless you are qualified to do the repair work yourself I'd leave well alone as the cost of repairs will probably not be economical when you take into consideration the hit the history will make on the resale value.

30111987 said:

.....as the cost of repairs will probably not be economical when you take into consideration the hit the history will make on the resale value.

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Thanks for the answers upto now guys

Does anyone have an idea HOW MUCH a car on the damaged register is effected?

Here's more pics too:




BUT these angles are nice!!!!!



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I went to view this in person and the repair itself seems very straightforward - and I'm no car savvy guy at all. I'd certainly say no more than £1k with parts, labour and paint costs......

A 59 reg (in its repaired state) for around £5k seems a bargain PLUS as mentioned it's the same as the missus' car.

OR am I seeing things through rose-coloured specs people and falling for the romance of it all?

Bye for now,
Stephen

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Have a word with MEP (most easterly pandas), he's just rebuilt a Panda in a similar state.


Trev

You are looking at close to a grand for parts let alone the labour costs.

Front wing: £130ish
Front wing shield: £35ish
Bonnet: £80ish
Bumper: £130ish
Bumper trim: £4ish
Bracket: £10ish
Headlight: £100ish
Bonnet hinge and lock: £40ish

Total so far: £549ish
Might also need a new battery and washer bottle (probably another £120). Fuse box could also be damaged (it sits on the right side of the engine bay). You also need to factor in paint cost.

Plus the wheel and suspension may be damaged. Then you need a couple of days labour to paint and fit the parts.

liverpoolste said:

The damage it has sustained is to the OSF wing, bumper, bonnet and bolt on arm that the wing/bonnet sit on. Oh plus a headlight and bit of damage to a door

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For a start, it's clearly the NSF that's damaged (before you begin ordering parts).

I'd take a good look at the pedals and pedal box. We had a local garage try to get us to reset the ECU's on a crashed/repaired car they were fixing-up, but the pedals were virtually touching the dash and the 'box was so far back the master cylinder was inside the car.

And they asked us to find out why it drove funny.

liverpoolste said:

OR am I seeing things through rose-coloured specs people and falling for the romance of it all?

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You certainly are The front wheel is in the wrong place! If it was an easy and cost effective repair someone would have snapped it up way before now. Get a pro to examine it and listen carefully to what they say...........or walk away.

I can honestly say that to have that back on the road in a road worth state before being painted will be £1k+. I don't know the exact build of the GP, but would say you need a front pannel (so headlamp sits properly), Slam plannel also.

Then there are the obvious, wing, bumper, bonnet, wing splash guard, alloy wheel + tyre etc etc.

Another thing to look at is the damage behind/below the bonnet. Looks to me like the car has been under the rear corner of a lorry.

Also, the NS front wheel appears to be sticking out possibly. Have you viewed the vehicle? Airbags ok?

bolt on arm that the wing/bonnet sit on

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No such thing. Thats welded on, and I do hope your not on about the chasis leg because if so the car well and truely is a fincial write off

Cars are normally written off for a reason. The Panda I've repaired was due to gearbox issues, I knew what I was looking at and so repaired it cost effectivly, insurance assumed worst case senario was a new auto box at £2-3k.

TBH without looking one can't be 100% sure of the work involved but its normally the little bits 'here and there' as you progress along that bump up the price.

As to being on Vcar. Makes car about 10-20% lower in value to the equivilent car thats not on Vcar. You can have it removed from the register for about £350-£500 though where inspections are undertaken on the quality of repair etc.

Jon.

i've done a few buy,repair,sell (as i'm welder/fitter)
and just looking at the pictures, it wouldnt be a simple job, the front wheel looks completely out of line so would need alot of time spent doing suspension and alignment, then there's buying the parts and painting. unless you could get a similar car, with rear end damage for next to nothing, the parts would probley work out more than its worth.
if it's a cat C then you'd need to get the vic marker removed, have a vic check on it, if its passed, then youd have to mot it once you got the log book back. but itd still have on it's record, that it was damaged but repaired so you'd loose up to 3rd of the normal price.
if its cat D its normally a matter or bolting a few bits on, gettign an mot and sorted.
hope this helps.

jed387 said:

if its cat D its normally a matter or bolting a few bits on, gettign an mot and sorted.

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Only if it's due an MOT

i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole, theres 2k worth of work in that to get it repaired IMO, the most expensive part being the chassis and suspension repairs

Hi all

THANK YOU so much for all the replies. You're all slowly bursting my bubble BUT best to have my bubble burst (which is free!) than have my wallet dented with something that is not financially viable!

I have viewed the car MEP and the top welded on arm, is 'apparently' bolt-on. These sellers tell you anything to get a sale don't they!? :yuck:

The drivers airbag too HAS activated. Supporting the theory of a hefty whack needing 'more-than-the-eye' repairs!

And yes I do agree - it is all the little things that you don't take into account that throw the bill up somewhat......

I will have one last ditch effort of wanting this little beast by showing someone from a garage with a realistic quote and nod of perfect repairing.

Will be gutted if it's a no - but you guys have already swayed me (I'm grateful too) from a definite 'Yes, I'm in love with the idea of having EXACTLY the same as the missus' to a 'Can I really risk it financially?'

Also going to have my 4yo daughter in it and newborn when he arrives so should I really be risking buying a car that has had front suspension damage? After all they're never 100% again are they and you can't put a price on or risk your families safety......

Thank you, thank you guys n girls Will be staying a member now regardless of if I buy it as we still have one punto!

Oh and get an ace set of white alloys in the classifieds so once again glad we stumbled across the site :idea:

Bye for now,
Stephen

the fuel cut off is explained in the handbook (FIRE RISK IF FUEL LINE IS DAMAGED)

looks like a good buy if the price is right!! the fuel cut off is built into the ecu on the later puntos (there is no fuel cut off switch) it can be reset with the indicator and wiper stalks which need to be switched on and off in a set order, which you will find in the hand book!! check the fuse box to this is probably the hardest part to sort out...

looks like there is no damage to the leg ? and the inner wing (where the wing bolts to) are easy to replace if this will not repair. they cost around £50 trade for this bit at the dealer. all the other panels are avalible on ebay if you look, and not that badly priced although they may be pattern parts which sometimes dont fit as well. i prefer to use genuine which do cost a fare bit more but its worth it.

as for the suspension a bottom arm hub and strut should do this, track rods are easy to change if bent.

this will make a nice car and with only just over 1100 miles on the clock it is still as new!!!! would guess you will be paying around £2200 to £2700 for this as is?? and would need to be spending around 1100 to £1600 on repairing it with parts depending what airbags need replaceing and may be less if you can do some of the work yourself...

there is nothing wrong with a damaged car if repaired properly and can save you a few quid on buying a straight one!!! they often look worse than they are!!! i have repaired quite a few of these grande puntos and i can say they are a plesure to work on.

jed387 said:

if its cat D its normally a matter or bolting a few bits on, gettign an mot and sorted.

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Most Easterly Pandas said:

Only if it's due an MOT

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My insurance demanded that i had my Punto MOT'd after it was in an accident & repaired from CAT D state, even though it wasn't due an MOT.

dalemultiwagon said:

looks like a good buy if the price is right!!
<£1500 then possibly.

looks like there is no damage to the leg ?
And you can tell how?

as for the suspension a bottom arm hub and strut should do this, track rods are easy to change if bent.
And possibly a new subframe at around £500 from Fiat.

and would need to be spending around 1100 to £1600 on repairing it with parts depending what airbags need replaceing and may be less if you can do some of the work yourself...
Sorry to say your quite far off

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How many GP's have you repaired and with what damage level may I ask? I'd have said your price is quite a way off for repairing this GP, especially if using genuine parts, but then again thats just from my experience, and I can get everything from Fiat at trade.

JTD_Liam said:

My insurance demanded that i had my Punto MOT'd after it was in an accident & repaired from CAT D state, even though it wasn't due an MOT.

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A new one on me. Did they check the register then or did you mention it on insuring it? Afterall an MOT has no bearing on the safety of the repairs, only the road worthyness of the vehicle, but if thats what they wanted then fair enough.

You dont use new parts on a project like this, you use used parts from breakers, although most cars being broken do seem to have front end damage, so recon on it taking a month to get all the parts together.

To me it looks like its hit a signpost or similar which has ripped its way back into the inner wing, its likely to have done alot of hidden damage to the NS chassis leg/inner wing/turret possibly bulkhead & will need all new suspension on that corner.

I`d also expect it to have done some damage to the gearbox casing as thats whats likely to have brought the car to a final halt, recon on a driveshaft & all the NS mounts as well, possibly damaging the bodywork where it all mounts.

Pictures of the inner wing/bulkhead/chassis leg & underside would help.

having repaired over 30 of these now i think i no what im talking about!! it would be nice at £1500 but lets get real its a 59 plate car your going to pay around £2000 plus for this...

you would not repair all this car with new parts when you can use secondhand parts where you can. eg a second hand subframe may set you back £50 to £80, airbag kits can be picked up from as little as £400 to £500 you just need to shop around...

i have a very good working relationship with my fiat dealer and get very good discounts, a genuine bonnet for a punto costs me only £130 +vat. every dealer will have different dicount codes so prices will vary for different people.
as i said i think my guess of £1100 to £1600 is not far off.

ive attached a photo of one of the cars i have repaired with simlar damage....