Hi
I just bought an old Punto 55S off eBay wasn't a lot of money I had to replace the front disks & pads but otherwise it seemed OK until I had a closer look under the driver side rear wheel arch - yuk! rust I investigated further car has had a crash repair probably a long time ago competent repair but replacement panels not gavanised. Water has got under the seam sealer & rotted joint at end of sill, inner wing where fuel pipe is bracketed, behind the filler, along the seam of the chassis rail & back inside bottom corner.
I've started welding it & going to use some of the rust killing/converting products from Bilt Hamber. should last a year or two once I finished it.
Moral of the story try & find out if any punto you buy has had bodywork repairs & look very carefully before you buy! Pity really because the rest of the car is rock solid some surface rust on bolted on bits, tank strap especially!
Engine runs well but I will change the cambelt safe engine it may be but...

this is what HPI checks are for matey, cost circa £20 and save you a whole lot of hassle, generally if the seller doesn't tell me anything when asked, I hold them to a truce, the car is dodgy, they pay for HPI, and I walk away without a lump of pain and anquish, car is true and to book, I pay and I buy.

Sorry for harshness

Welcome to the forum!!

I'm sure i read this in another thread the other day

your imagining it dave, go to bed and rest!!

Your not dreaming I had it on the Newbie forum - this is a bit updated the Bilt Hamber stuff didn't turn up in time so Hammerite stuff got used instead, pig of a job but nearly finished now, MOT booked Tuesday.
OK on the HPI check probably would have done on a more expensive car but what the hell, I've got the equipment to fix it so only real cost is my time (& mangled fingers from sharp bits!)