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Punto (Mk2/2b) The car I wasn't going to change...

Overview Gallery Discussion

Introduction

Bought my Punto back in June (2012): to replace a (well it was originally) white 1994 Clio 1.4 RT automatic, that's now gone to Renault heaven. It was just meant as a second car: spending most of the time sat on the drive... -- especially as we had just ordered a brand new Panda TwinAir Dualogic... (which then failed to materialize: hence the 2009 Panda currently starring in my signature, below...). :eek:

However, something about this (extremely cheap) FIAT really got to me... -- whether just the sheer joy with which it revs; or the way it chucks itself round corners; or even the quirkiness of the electrics... -- and I found myself tinkering with a car for the first time in many, many years. Not since I owned a succession of VW Beetles and Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Escorts, in the '80s, have I had so much fun...! :)

Because I'm disabled, it had to be an automatic, of course. Also, any 'heavy lifting' means that I have to take it to a garage to be fettled... -- so the progress you see below is a mix of me getting (slightly) oily, and Black Cat Motors taking up the slack, and doing much more than their fair share of the difficult stuff...! ;)

I haven't got the stamina (or attention span) to post everything at once: so, for starters, here's the photo that attracted my attention -- and, I must admit, initially put it near the bottom of the list of cars I went to test-drive... (sorry) -- on AutoTrader:



More to follow, shortly...! :wave:

Edit
Here's how the car now looks (May 2014): (y)

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homeward said:
Priscilla's probably going to need one, as well -- and a new manicat... -- at the next MOT. Thankfully, not until October: so plenty of time to save my pennies.... :(
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I think the bits are pretty cheap but the garage labour wasn't, never going back there again as I wasn't impressed. I'll just have to learn to do it myself.
 
puntofan01 said:
Mk2 Puntos are fab to drive. Had mine nearly 4 years, and still love it to bits! :)
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I'm starting to feel that way to, can't get over all the little pockets and hidey holes. Just these nasty maroon seats and door cards have to go, I need some leather and new wheels or original wheel trims to make it look a bit smarter. Can't fault the peppy engine with the auto. Never use the semi part though, if I wanted to change the gears I'd get a manual.
 
Numptey said:
I'm starting to feel that way to, can't get over all the little pockets and hidey holes. Just these nasty maroon seats and door cards have to go, I need some leather and new wheels or original wheel trims to make it look a bit smarter. Can't fault the peppy engine with the auto. Never use the semi part though, if I wanted to change the gears I'd get a manual.
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Mine was a 1.2 manual. I've just traded it in for a Grande Punto, lol! :)
 
homeward said:
Have had endless problems with my front wipers: so replaced the whole motor assembly, earlier on -- which you can see documented in this Guide. :)

This is the final result... (y)



...blades that park and sweep where they should, finally...! :slayer:

Bring on the rain...! :eek:
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I seriously need new linkages... i've bolted mine up
But they over sweep top and bottom when it rains and when its windy

Hmmmmm
2x Door straps
1x Wiper repair setup....


Ziggy
 
Although the Toyos that came with the Sporting alloys have been pretty decent, with around 3 mm of tread left, they have started to get both a bit slippy, and very noisy... -- so, earlier in the week, after hearing lots of good things about them (and getting a good price from them), I went online, and booked Event Tyres to come out and fit four new 185/55 R15 Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 tyres (class: C1; fuel code: C; wet grip: A; noise dB: 70; noise: 2). :)

Well, after a courtesy call, early this morning, Greg arrived, this afternoon (and nicely ahead of schedule!), and was an absolute star. Not only was he a nice guy, but he obviously knew his stuff (even though he drives an Impreza...!), and he's the only guy that has then torqued up the wheel bolts by hand, in front of me: with his torque wrench set to 190 Nm. The locking bolts were done by hand; and he even pumped the tyres up to the correct pressure...! :worship:



The whole process (apart from nattering about cars, wheels and tyres...) took about 30 minutes; and was extremely painless (apart from paying the bill, at the end... -- although the price was extremely competitive (especially with an Honest John code I'd picked up...)). Highly recommended. (y)

The tyres themselves have yet to be rigorously tested. Tomorrow's weather should be a good comparison with yesterday's deluges: where I was starting to lose grip on standing water.... However, they have made the car a great deal quieter (so the tyre ratings do mean something...)! :cool:
 
Ziggy122 said:
Cant give them any rating for atleast 100miles as they need to scrub in
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200 miles in; and they're still eerily quiet; and my fuel consumption appears to be creeping up.... Larger tyres; or more fuel efficient...? We shall see.... :chin:

homeward said:
My grump is that, driving over a stupid speed-bump (one of those that looks like a Toblerone...), not only did a spring go twang through the back of my seat (thankfully, out of the back of the back, not the front of the back -- IYSWIM...), but something went twang in my spine, too.... :mad:

Replacement Alfa 147 blue leather seats bought.
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And now fitted... -- although they weigh a tonne: and were therefore one of the more challenging bits of work I've done on the Punto... -- even though all I needed (apart from a new spine) was a 6 mm Allen key..... :eek:

Here's the errant spring. The side bolster (on both the back and side) had also lost all its padding.... :(



Anyway: gave the car a good vacuum, whilst taking each seat out. It's amazing just how much crud collects under there.... :yuck:



They are blummin' comfy, though -- even though they lack the lumbar adjustment of the originals -- and are much more supportive...! (y)



Only real problem is that the dial for adjusting the reclining seat back (on both driver and passenger sides) is smack next to the B-pillar: as they're on the outside of the seats.... :eek:

However, best £60 I think I've spent...! [And I may even get round, one day, to replacing the back seats, as well.... or maybe not.] :D

PS: Just went out to tidy up.... :cool:

 
Last edited:
homeward said:
I know I have a reputation for turning up at Midlands Italia meets with a dirty Punto -- but, as founder, and beloved leader, I believe this is my prerogative: especially as I always turn up to shows with a clean and shiny car.... :p

Anyhoo: decided to break the mould, today, for the Donington meet, on Sunday. Five hours later, and I'm knackered... -- and I haven't even done the inside.... :eek:

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Seven weeks later, and I was pleased to come out to this, after last night's torrential downpours... :)





All that's been done, in the interim, is a very quick wash, at the weekend, before the Chiltern Hills Rally, on Sunday. Oh, how I love Autoglym...! :D
 
Well, the front bumper I replaced about 18 months ago, suffered some trauma, yesterday: when a silver Mercedes decided to reverse into it in the local Waitrose car park... :mad:



Having had a good look around the car, it doesn't appear that anything structural has happened: just that the bumper has been pushed back on its mounting bolts... :(



Nothing more than a very slight mark on the Merc. However, the guy whose fault it was 'fessed up immediately -- especially as I have a very authoritative neutral witness. I'm hoping, though, to avoid going through insurance -- it was his mum's car; and she will be deciding over the weekend... -- and will use the company who painted the bumper originally for me, to sort it (I already have a quote...). Depending on the health of my wallet, I may get the bonnet properly resprayed, as well.... :chin:

One of the outcomes of the bump was that I discovered my horn sounded like a wet fart in a monsoon. (I was too late to warn the guy who hit me, anyway: so the toot was moot...!?!) So it's been replaced.... Here's old and new, side-by-side... (and no, I didn't need the Haynes -- it was just a convenient resting place...): :)



As you can see, the old one was a little rusty. The new one is one of a pair of symmetrical high- and low-toned ones. As the low one wouldn't fit, without some bracket bodgery, it's still in the box. I may add it later, when I can think of a suitable place for it to go.... :rolleyes:

Anyhoo, here's the new (high) one in situ -- and it makes a rather pleasing (and very clear) sound. (The neighbours were suitably impressed with it, anyway...!) :D



Still peeved, though, that my pride and joy has been wounded.... :cry:
 
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