General Buying Advice Needed - Please help a tall, skint newbie.

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General Buying Advice Needed - Please help a tall, skint newbie.

Potato

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Hi all,
Apologies for the typical needy-newbie post title. I've been lurking here for a few days but I'm not making much headyway on my own so need to ask for help.

I'm looking to buy a used Punto. This will be my first car, and given that I know nothing about cars or mechanics, I'm utterly adrift. I've been driving a friend's 1997 R-reg Punto_s for a few months and despite it not quite comfortably accomodating my 6ft 3ins frame, I love the little bugger.

What I could really use is some general buying advice that's specific to Puntos - what are the things to really look out for when buying used? So far I've identified the 'red key' as something to watch out for, but that's about as far as I've got. Please dumb it down as much as possible - I'm one of the "what's a gasket?" crowd (for now..).

I have around £700 to spend including any repairs and suchlike, and looking through AutoTrader and eBay it seems like there's quite a range available to me at around that price. With that in mind, I'd like to try to thin the herd. Do you think it would be possible to find one with power-steering, and a height-adjustable steering column and driver's seat within my budget? If so, what numbers and letters and codewords do I need to be looking out for? If not, how much more do I need to save?

I'd be massively grateful for some help here and can't wait to get my new baby and become another member of this forum. Please help!!

Many thanks.
 
belive me, Fiats take getting used to if your tall...


but in the end you kind an ideal driving position, and its fine from there (took me about a month)

i mean im also 6"3' and i fit in a Cinquecento, which is even smaller (y)
 
buying a fiat is always a minefield, and a mk1 punto is no different. there are so many boy racer punto's, dont even bother with one of them, get a completely bog standard original low milage full service history example, for £700 that'll be fairly easy. also get at least an sx, they dont cost more than an s but you get more. i'd personally go for a 1.2 sporting, they sell better so its harder getting a good one but worth holding out for.

check for signs of head gasket failure. if you buy a punto you'll very likely learn the hard way what a gasket is (lol). check the coolant, if it looks or smells like oil walk away. open the filler cap on the engine, if there's white/yellow slime that looks like mayo walk away.

also check that all the lights on the dash come on when yo first insert and turn the key. punto's have all sorts of sensor problems and the problem will usually cause lights to illuminate on the dash, peolpe pull the bulbs out prior to selling so you dont notice. i'm not sure which lights you shouldbe looking for but the engine management light and airbag light are most commonly pulled out.
 
Common problems Ive had with mine...

Electrics - combinations, such as brakes and indicators did not go well together, Headgasket, (major) oil leak. I know alot of people with suspension problems but mines been ok but it looked newish when I bought it.

When I got my bog standard punto 55 S for £900 from a garage a couple of years ago I thought it was overpriced. I was prepared to pay the extra because a) wasnt much around cheaper and b) was in the middle of insurance claim for my written off Seicento and needed something quickly to tide me over. Plus the garage put new brakes and exhaust on and the standard MOT and service. I didnt think Id keep it past when I got my money back for my Seicento. For one reason or another Ive kept it. It always gets me from A-B and it does it decently. Theres been lots of minor niggles over the last 2 years but luckily when my headgasket went I was covered under AA parts and labour cover.

Ive seen a few Punto's out there being sold privately some for as little as £300. Ive seen some decent looking ones with good spec for £700 but dont know what condition they were in mechanically.

Knowing Fiats, Id say make sure its got a very good service history and keep an eye out for signs of the common problems mentioned above. You've already pointed out the red key, if its not got that it will affect the value of the car.
 
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Thanks a lot for the help all - it really is appreciated! I do have a mechanically minded relative who'll help me when looking at potentials, but I'm trying to get educated as much as possible so that I have a slightly better idea what I'm looking at. Your help is very gratefully received.

Can you guys help me with understanding the model numbers and engine specs a little?

Like I said, I've got £700 to spend (£800 at a very long stretch) and I think that an SX is the minimum that I'll want (that'll get me the power-steering and suchlike, right?). So if I settle on an SX, what other specs do I need to be looking for? What about that 55/60/85 number - what does that represent and what do you think might realistically fall within my budget? What reg should I be looking at? Also, what sort of engine do I want - 1.1, 1.2, 1.6 etc etc? I'd like to keep it down to £700 if at all possible, but I don't want to come home with a lawnmover with electric windows if you know what I mean, and I honestly don't know what 1.1 means in relation to 1.6. Not to mention the difference between having 8 valves and 16.

At the risk of sounding desperate:
Please Help!
 
Oh! Now I get it - thanks a lot!

I've been looking through some classified ads and have seen a few 60SX and 75SX that mention central-locking and electric windows, but do not mention the tilt steering-wheel or power-assisted steering? Am I right in thinking that this means that SX models do not come with PAS and tilt-wheel as standard?

Also, just for the sake of comparison - what other small cars might you guys recommend for under £800 (keeping in mind that I'm a couple inches over 6 feet)? Hope that question doesn't cause too much offence on a Fiat forum...

Cheers!!
 
To get PAS in a Mk1 punto, you'll need to get one of the following:

90 ELX (early model), there was an 85 ELX but doubt you'll find one in budget in good nick. And the cabrio with the same enigine I think(again cost)

Either the 1.6 or 1.2 Sporting (but will be more to insure) and again, when I was looking for a 1.2 a few months ago, there were none around for under £1000 that were worth considering

GT (probably not an option at that price or insurance wise)

Diesel - could find one and of course cheaper to run as better mpg

Selecta auto - very slow, doubt you'll want an automatic either

You're a 6'3 bloke, sure you'll cope without PAS, so if I were you, I'd look for a 75SX with history (IIRC the seat and steering wheel go up and down) You may find that one without a sunroof fits you better :)

In terms of other options at that price, maybe look at a bravo (can be quite cheap), even a non Fiat like an escort or an astra as they are both plentiful and cheap :eek:
 
Thanks a lot for the info Vickster - have taken it on board. I am tending to focus more now on the 75sx. Could anyone confirm for me that the 75sx does have the extra seat and steering-tilt features?

It's a tricky situation really cause I'm quite tall and want to be more comfortable that I am now in the 60 S, but I do want a small and nimble car. Astras seem to have good specs for the price, but I just don't think I need such a big car right now. Hmmm.

Thanks again!!
 
Potato said:
Thanks a lot for the info Vickster - have taken it on board. I am tending to focus more now on the 75sx. Could anyone confirm for me that the 75sx does have the extra seat and steering-tilt features?

It's a tricky situation really cause I'm quite tall and want to be more comfortable that I am now in the 60 S, but I do want a small and nimble car. Astras seem to have good specs for the price, but I just don't think I need such a big car right now. Hmmm.

Thanks again!!

I have a '96 Punto 75 SX and it does indeed come with an adjustable steering column and also a height adjustable drivers seat. However, I'm fairly sure ALL 75 SX models (all SX models possibly?) have a sunroof. There's plenty of room inside though, so maybe you shouldn't worry too much about that.

Good luck with your search!
 
Hi,
I 18 driving for 6 months and just got the 1.6 punto sporting having come from 2l clio 172, and this is comfier, not as poky but for general use absolutely brill!! It has PAS electric everything (mines a M1 1996) and it only cost me £280 - it didnt have any MOT but flew through that for £180 (including new tyre). I have this on the road for £460 and insurance was only £350 fully comp for the year. - On your budget this really is one to go for!!
Emm
 
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