I cleaned it last wednesday and took a picture



I used some new spray on wet wax after washing it and was really actually impressed. It took me an extra 5 minutes over a normal wash and the finish was certainly worth the 5 minutes. Ok it's not the same results as if I spent a day using 3 stage Meguiars but given the time consideration I was very impressed. I used some stuff recommended in autoexpress, I can't remember its name. Also used "black in a flash" which is by far the best trim stuff I have used - well worth a try IMO.

It past its MOT at the weekend so I am going to be nice to it with:

Bonnet lifters (what am I turning into?!)
New black trim that goes between the door windows (nearside one has a little bit of damage)
Clear side repeaters (if Helz is kind and finds them for me).

It already has my nice sound system with Becker headunit, Marea console/armrest and remote central locking I quite like it at the moment. I started driving it 10 months ago and it has done from 33k to 48k.

only 1 pic? times must be hard

i like the colour and wheels, and it looks like a clean example.
that spoiler is a rare sight

replacing the black plastic on the door is not easy, actually i'd describe it as impossible. you cant remove your existing part without destroying it, which means you cant remove the replacment part without destroying that as well, and fiat dont sell new ones seperately you have to buy a door!

on my previous bravo i used black liquid shoe polish, it made them blacker than they were when new and it hadnt come off months later.

It looks easy on the CD I have? I'll forget about it otherwise! The other pictures are at home on the SD card and I was having a quiet moment at work so used the only one I had uploaded on PB I assure you it's the same car no matter where I take a picture from

The nearside plastic has a bit of the black layer missing with a bit of metal showing through (think somebody pressed a screw driver against it) and it is slightly bent. The rest of the car is pretty much perfect (even the door handles are like brand new) so would have liked that silly panel to be perfect too

The Negotiator said:

It looks easy on the CD I have?

Click to expand...

i hope i'm wrong, but when i removed one in a scrapyard it was stuck on with adhesive.

what does the CD suggest?

I'd rather check tonight than write it on here wrong - I might have dreamt it

Looking very smart there!

Are they original alloys? Look like the Bravo HLX ones only with 7 spokes instead of 5. As for the spoiler - they're rare on JTDs, but nearly every 1.2 16v has one

Thank you

Yep, original Fiat alloys; I think they're normally on HSX models; very rare but there's a car I pass everyday that has them. I really like them!

My 1.2 16v had the lip spoiler too We now have 2 x Bravas and 1 x Bravo in the family (myself and two sisters). Elder sister is home this weekend so will try to get a picture of the 3 cars together.

HSX - is that one of those Irish spec ones?

Think so, that's the conclusion that was drawn ages ago, I think anyway. The alloys were on my sisters 1.2 16v SX but it has leather steering wheel and gearknob, gorgeous black interior, charcoal dash (10x better than mine), electric mirrors and passenger airbag (+ those alloys). I think we concluded that it was a HSX but for some reason badged as a SX (although it also has no sunroof or AC!). Mine is SX and has normal SX spec (Sunroof but manual mirrors, horrid green seats and so on). I should have swapped over the whole interior before I gave her the 1.2 but couldn't be bothered

SX seats really do suck :yuck:

what were they thinking?

Probably the same when thing as when they put the clock on the radio, designed the rear wiper motor, stuck that filter into the windscreen washer fluid bottle and designed the high level brake light bulb strip...."I want to **** off the buyer so that they don't want to own this car!"

They're comfy enough, nothing special, but the material and the patterns is so second rate.

I have no learnt to remove the filter when topping up the windscreen fluid though, woo!

To satisfy Jug:

tidy biscuits

nice driveway

LOL thanks Gaz, we pressure washed it and re-sanded it the week before - i think it's 5 years old now and still looks great!

My drive full of paint, oil and coolant patches

Got told to clean it, so did with brick acid, now it looks dull

LOL Gaz, if any oil is spotted on my daddy's drive I get into trouble

Jug:

yeah thats the guide i used to do it. i removed the 3 screws and it was still stuck solid, i pulled so hard it bent and still wouldnt budge

Well that's nice of them isn't it! I will try it on a scrapped one first then and hope yours was a one off/repaired one! If not I shall live with it it's just a slight imperfection that bugs me a little.