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Punto Evo My New (to me) Evo called Eva

Introduction

On Sunday I jumped on an early train down to London and picked up my bargain Evo One owner from new full service history and a book full of paperwork as thick as a tree, including the original sales invoice, the suparguard invoice and the PDI report.

£1500 (+£30 for tax) and I joined the stationary masses on the M25 for a couple of hours to get home again.

I must say I have been impressed so far, given the price my expectations where low. Unsurprisingly the Stop-start didn't work when I picked it up, Fiat stop-start being so picky you only have to look at it funny and it won't work. So a car that had been sat on a traders forecourt for a couple of weeks and seemingly has the original battery, my expectations were not in anyway harmed by finding it didn't work.

However on my way into work this morning, The Stop-Start suddenly started working, got a whole 30 seconds before it started the engine again, that said the time was increasing at each set of lights.

On the downside though is the aircon is a little weak, its comfortable in the weather but it's not icy cold like I'm used to, so that's going to need a recharge.


N.B was going out to take some nice photos of it last night but then had to stop and help at an accident hence the ambulance and police car, (look closely you can make out my golf behind all that, As I called out my (doctor) wife to come help as well.

Blue and Me2 has also impressed me, worked with my considerably newer iPhone, plays all the songs without silly adaptors and connected effortlessly with the Bluetooth hands-free.

There are a few scratches here and there but no significant bodywork damage, a few kerb marks on the wheels. The interior is actually in very good condition, with only (almost essential on any grande/evo/2012 punto) a missing parcel shelf clip (£2 at the dealer 50 yards walk up the road)

Had to put a couple of side light bulbs in as they had both blown as had the glove box bulb.

Got some roof bars from a chap 5 miles from my house, used once then his daughter crashed the car so consigned to the shed (£40 with the original invoice from the same dealer down the road from me) genuine fiat 3 door Evo bars.

The main reason for buying it was that My Golf is not even 3 years old yet and i've already done 50,000 miles. Also I can put a bike on the roof and not care to much if I scratch it. I can load up the boot with rubish, garden waste and take them down the dump or muddy dogs. The Golf can then be pampered a bit and taken out for some top down motoring at the weekend or to go away abroard which we will be doing soon in it.

I'm i'm being honest the punto is going to be used and abused but I do like the way it drives and It is top spec for next to nothing money. (y)
Looks like a nice car, probably my favourite Grande apart from the MJ..personally I'd have the "sporting" version of the same one with the 1.4 multi air, but they look identical.

Also congratulations on being the only person ever to have bought something Italian for weekdays to keep a diesel Golf for the weekend? I know I'm being facetious but that tickles me a bit.
 
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On Sunday I jumped on an early train down to London and picked up my bargain Evo One owner from new full service history and a book full of paperwork as thick as a tree, including the original sales invoice, the suparguard invoice and the PDI report.

£1500 (+£30 for tax) and I joined the stationary masses on the M25 for a couple of hours to get home again.

I must say I have been impressed so far, given the price my expectations where low.

I'm i'm being honest the punto is going to be used and abused but I do like the way it drives and It is top spec for next to nothing money. (y)


What most of us that have bought FIAT for the last 20 years think. ;)

Looks good. Well done.
 
Also congratulations on being the only person ever to have bought something Italian for weekdays to keep a diesel Golf for the weekend? I know I'm being facetious but that tickles me a bit.

Lol I can see your point, the golf however was getting wrecked clocking up all those miles, this car can now take the brunt of that. (y)
 
Looks good. Well done.

Body is a little tatty up close some lacquer peeling on the bonnet, and a few scratches here and there, but it’s pretty good for a 2011.

Did do some machine polishing on the door today front wing and bonnet, the pain (Acid Jazz blue) is definitely an interesting colour that loves the sunlight.

Sadly I think it’s spent it’s life being washed with a gritty sponge and washing up liquid, but once polished the colour comes up a treat.

The wheels however, especially the fronts are both very kerbed.
 
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Nipped down to fiat and ordered a parcel shelf clip, asked about the price of a boot badge, and when I'd stopped laughing they had closed for the day.

In any case, treated the car to a new car smell, now I just need to work out where to put it..... ;)



totally worth £1.50
 

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I’ve not had much of a chance to play about with this car, a few days after getting it I went away on holiday for a week and have only in the last couple of days started using it and had a proper look at it.

I will do a proper update when I get the chance in the next few days,there are a few jobs I need to do and a few modifications worth investigating which I will go into more detail with, however at the moment the most exciting thing to happen aside from an air freshener (still don’t know where to put it) was getting rid of the very worn and battered key case that came with it, and replacing it with a nice simple and blue after market key case to smarten things up.
 

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Presume it's a 1.4 8V ?

Hope it doesn't get trashed and abused (n) it's a lovely colour ! (y)

It won't get trashed and abused in any normal sense of the word, but for me its not going to get the usual level of care I have for cars.

There are several cosmetic bits I have decided to clean up, some scratches which will easily polish out and the trim behind the fiat badge on the front needs repainting which I have a plan for.

I've also bought a new badge for the boot and Will likely do the same for the front when I repaint the trim.

The wheels would also benefit from a clean up and maybe a coat of paint.

So it definitely won't be getting trashed, however I won't be spending my free Sunday's spending hours cleaning or polishing it. It will be serviced at home and any repairs done at home. and it will be taking things down the tip as well as having anything heavy or bulky shoved in the boot or on the roof rack.

Also got the roof rack for my mountain bike so it will likely see some off road action getting me to the trails.

Rather controversially I really don't like fiat petrol engines, I know thats most of the cars they make, however I do such high miles and I need the car to be as reliable as possible so I'm sticking to Fiat Diesels from now on, Fiat do know how to make a good small diesel engine, This car is the 1.6 multijet so will sit happily at 2000rpm all day doing 70mph on the cruise control up and down the motorways.
 
3 weeks and 1000 miles later, I have to admit I am enjoying the car, I've been running back and forth to Cambridge the last couple of weeks and It drives very well on a mix of dual carriageways and single carriageway country roads. 120hp is just the right amount for the size of the car.

Jobs done so far:

.New rear badge fitted
.Fitted a 12v socket in the boot so I can plug my car fridge in.
.Fitted a 68R socket mobile phone holder to the dash, plugged into blue and me gives me a dash mounter Satnav that works through the car speakers and I never has to be updated.

In Tesco tonight they have Redex injector cleaner and Redex DPF cleaner for £2 and £4 a bottle, so I got a bottle of each, although I know from connecting it to MES when the DPF was changed and how much its clogged and to be fair its in good condition so as they are a two-shot bottle, I'll use half in the golf and half in the Punto. lets face it, it won't do any harm
 
Even the lower powered petrol 1s are surprisingly comfy cruisers: I recently went to the other side of London in mine, and it did a grand job: didn't feel like it was struggling, and despite the prolonged higher speeds and having the aircon working hard, it still returned an average of 47mpg. :)
 
it still returned an average of 47mpg. :)

Obviously there is a big difference between 80ish bhp and 120hp. There is keeping up with traffic and there is keeping up with the usual rush hour rep-mobiles on the dual carriageway.

At the moment my 100mile commute is largely the latter and it’s displaying 53.8mpg on the dash, however this is slowly creeping up as it’s getting used to my driving style.

The one thing that has disappointed me a little is despite being 600kg lighter and 400cc smaller engine than my golf, it’s actually not a good on fuel. I think however some of it is the heat and the aircon needing a recharge meaning it’s running constantly and having an impact on the economy.

Forgot to mention another bonus, the start stop now manages about two - two and a half minutes before restarting the engine, basically there are few instances now when I stop at a light or in traffic where it restarts the engine before I have to move off again.

And to some degree I owe you an apology puntofan01..... it is a rather pretty car, not the greatest looking car ever made, but it is pretty, though I like the rear lights and the facelifted look of the evo more than I liked the grande, but I am looking at the grande a little different now.
 
I think the example you bought a few years ago had knackered suspension: I wouldn't say mine is wallowy in the corners. And yes, whilst they're not in the same league as a DB9 or a Jag XK, they are still a looker. :)
 
I think the example you bought a few years ago had knackered suspension: I wouldn't say mine is wallowy in the corners. And yes, whilst they're not in the same league as a DB9 or a Jag XK, they are still a looker. :)



The suspension on a the grande was fine, just very wallowy maybe it was because it was the active and so very cheap model, this one being the sporting has very firm suspension.
 
When you don’t have time to book the car into the garage

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Only to be used when the aircon is working but weak! Never use on a system that’s not working especially if all the gas had leaked out.
 
When you don’t have time to book the car into the garage

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Only to be used when the aircon is working but weak! Never use on a system that’s not working especially if all the gas had leaked out.

Also.. its 'peak season' for aircon regassing.

The £20 job in now priced at £55....


I am interested how much better it gets.. as my TA is probably just like EVA

Charlie
 
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I am interested how much better it gets.. as my TA is probably just like EVA



Charlie



It’s made an incredible difference, it was working before but was weak, didn’t realise just how weak till I’d regarded it, now blasting icy cold air out. I replaced the pollen filter at the same time which has also made a big difference, it was very blocked when removed and even at full power the air coming out the vents was at best asthmatic, now it’s like a gale force wind. So massive difference for under £100 and an hour spent tinkering.

Although I would advise not dropping any bolts or screws in the Evo engine bay, unlike every other fiat I’ve owned, every inch of the underside of the car is covered with plastic covers and guards, drop something and it doesn’t come out of the bottom que having to jack in he car up and remove covers just to find one bolt (an essential bolt that held the fuel filter in its bracket) doh....
 
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