Almost got one.....

[Carl 83]

Well I am still quite new on this site, so I am just looking round for ideas and advice.

I currently own a modified smart car that I am looking at selling for a Punto Sporting. This is my second smart and I have had one for the last 4 years and its time to change. I have certainly spent enough money on them, both cars together I have spent over £11k. Its running 90-95bhp at 1.3bar. I have done the following to the engine:

Pipercross Air Filter
Pipercross Cold Air Feed
Denso Hot and Cold Spark Plugs
De-lipped Air Intake
Air Scoop
Roadster TIK Air Pipe
Remap
Evil Twin Dump Valve (show use only)
Janspeed Stainless Steel Exhaust with Twin Centre Exit
Janspeed Mirror polished Stainless Steel Intercooler Pipes
Switchable Trust+

As you can see I have done lots of visual stuff, but wont bore you with that.

I have found a 1999 V reg Sporting in yellow, 60k, all the normally stuff for £3,095. Although I can get more for it privately, they have said they would do a straight swap so I mite do it.

What engine mods other than an exhaust and induction kit, would be benefical getting. I looking at a superchip and for £300 they only give you 4bhp, so I wont bother with that. I will probably just get the exhaust and filter.

I was also just thinking of getting 16s, but are 17s better or just look nicer?

Any help would be great!!

Carl

 

[beau]

that 1999 sporting, is it mk1 or 2? either way, i think that sounds rather expensive, and i wouldnt swap, no wonder they said they would! lol sell your smart else where, dont know whats its worth, but id say more than a 1999 punto sporting.

16's, 17's slows your car down too much and extra strain on gearbox etc.

 

[thepottleflump]

You'd be a bit mad to do a straight swap of a newer Smart for an older Punto. Sell privately then buy the Punto but bargain hard to knock chunks off that price which is way too high.

 

[Carl 83]

Thanks guys.

It was a mk 2 punto. What so of money do you think the punto should be going for then? I think I could probably get up to £4k for mine maybe slighty more as I have a couple of one offs or limited edition stuff on my car.

Yeah mine is a mk 5 51 reg LHD Cabrio. One of the last LHD made. Has heated leather seats, air con, roof release on the key, etc.

Im glad I posted on here now before having a look at the car.

Carl

 

[beau]

Thanks guys.

It was a mk 2 punto. What so of money do you think the punto should be going for then? I think I could probably get up to £4k for mine maybe slighty more as I have a couple of one offs or limited edition stuff on my car.

Yeah mine is a mk 5 51 reg LHD Cabrio. One of the last LHD made. Has heated leather seats, air con, roof release on the key, etc.

Im glad I posted on here now before having a look at the car.

Carl

well to give you an example, heres a 2003 42k milerer for £3400

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fiat-punto-1-...oryZ9843QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

a 1999 would be £2000-2500, take a look on parkers!

parkers says for a 1999 sporting with 70k-

Original Price £11,496
Franchised Dealer £2,465
Independent Dealer £2,270
Private Good £2,115
Private Poor £1,595

 

[Carl 83]

Cheers for that!! I think I will look else where cos I dont think I will be able to get the garage down to £2,500.

Thanks for the advice. At least I wont be driving away and the sales man laughing his head off now!!!

Carl

 

[thepottleflump]

Cheers for that!! I think I will look else where cos I dont think I will be able to get the garage down to £2,500.

You won't know unless you try, set your limit at £2,500 and negotiate hard.

 

[Black Panda]

Good luck with trying to sell it, it still looks like a disabled persons car to me :bang:

Still it takes all sorts!

If you want to throw your money away modding modern cars, it's up to you, but why dont you get a Classic Car and mod it, or even better don't mod it, because at least that will end up increasing in value, instead of ending up as a washing machine in 10 yrs time.

 

[jug]

I have found a 1999 V reg Sporting in yellow, 60k, all the normally stuff for £3,095.

my girlfriend has an 2000 X reg sporting, we paid £2300 lasy year with 38k. so paying £800 more for an older car with more miles seems a bit crazy.

exhaust and filter is all you can do, and neither will make much difference, but the sporting is very surprising for a 1.2, i love drving my girlfriend's it can cruise down the motorway at 100mph without even hitting high revs (thanks to 6 speed box) but around the town it pulls happily it right up to the rev limiter thanks to the 16valves. and it uses almost no petrol.

the main problem with sporting is the engine management light comong on for no apparent reason. the dealer couldnt fix it, but it seems one of the two heating elements on the lambda is the problem. it hasnt affected the car a tall. also the airbag light is on, but the dealer couldnt fix that either (after spending a lot fo money and trinyg a few dealers we've gave up on it). also the power steering fails, and the front wipers can pop off the linkage (scary when it happens) and you get rust along the top of the windscreen, and the paint is thin and chips easily, and the inteior fabric is a nightmanre for getting clicks. but overall its a great car and easily the best looking and spec for the price and class.

 

[ChrisUK]

If you do get around 4k look for the mk2b Sporting which has the far better 1.4 16v engine which is 95bhp as standard . And no don't be daft and put 17" wheels on you will kill your back and loose fuel economy and slow your car down!.

 

[jug]

thats a good point, now that the grande punto has been out a while you can get a mk2b sporting very cheap.

have to agree 17s on a car this size is a silly mistake to make. the main problem for me is a loss of acceleration. 17s will make more difference to performance than an airfilter and exhaust. 15s with 45profile tyres would actually increase acceleration over a standard car (very slightly).

 

[ChrisUK]

I'd go for 16" its the best trade off and get quite a low profile rubber on them.

 

[jug]

195/45/16s would probably be my choice. the standard tyres are 185/55/15s so the overall diameter of the wheel and tyre combines is not that big a difference. plus if you only go as wide as 195 you dont need to worry about loss of grip in the wet. i'm sure many people use 205s happily, and they would be better in the dry, but they will also be more likely to wear on the inside (cant adjust camber). wider tyres spread the car's weight so the pressure per square inch is less, meaning its easier to slip in the wet.

 

[Venters]

I concur my 215 are great on frost! as I found this morning!!

 

[arc]

i do like them wheels on that there smart. do you post on smartmaniacs at all - you might know me, or my mate viv (phoenix3dfx225)

 

[faster4_tec]

thats 215 on a barge like marea, not a crisp packet punt ho

if you swapped your smart for a mkb sporting (1.4 16v 6speed), I think you'd be much better for it

 

[oldracer]

from a smart car you should be loohing at 16v engine

 

[Carl 83]

Thanks for your comments guys!! Well I have finally decided on a car which I confirmed this morning and hope to collect just after Christmas.

Its the the car I originally wanted so please dont laugh.

Its a 1.2 Fiat Punto ELX in gold. Its nothing special, but it will do me and my gf for a bit.

Its a nice tidy car and Im really pleased with it. I hope to get it either at the weekend or just after christmas.

I wont bother doing any major mods to it, mite get a new stereo, uprate the speakers at some point, get a panel filter but other than that it will stay as it is.

I will post pics of it when I get it.

Carl

 

[missey]

Nothing wrong with an elx

What year is it? (mk1 or mk2?)

 

[Carl 83]

Its a 2001 Y reg, so Im guessing a Mk 2.

Im well looking forward to getting it, I just want it now!!! lol

Carl