I live in Greece, and after enjoying an Uno and a Bravo for several years, I came across this car (photo), which has 79,000 genuine kilometres, and I am ready to buy it for 1,000 euros. Your opinion would be invaluable and would help me make up my mind. Note that I recently rejected an open-top Cinquecento with 180,000 km, which my mechanic ruled out, as he said 95% of these cars were originally bought by car rental agencies.
General Buyer advice wanted
- Thread starter katsiko
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General Buyer advice wanted
Paint the bonnet and roof and it will look very good. I suppose there is no rust under the body because of the local climate. These are simple cars, check the coolant and oil as head gasket can fail....
It really depends on the service history and general wear on engine low mileage doesn't mean it hasn't been been mistreated! Has the clutch timing belt headgasket or any parts replaced in last 10,000 miles? You might be buying a wolf in sheep's skin for that money ask questions if they not willing to answer them or can't walk away mate.
As stated above rust shouldn't be an issue due to the climate whereas here in the UK it's one of the main things to look for with the Cento's, especially on the rear end. I suppose just check for the usual thing such as
. Any signs of accident damage such as panel gaps, front legs & panels that are a slightly different shade etc
. The bushes in the rear wishbones are common for going, if the rear bushes are faulty you'll hear them knocking when driving down the road or by doing a bounce test on the rear of the car.
. Also on the Cento's the motor in the fuel pumps can go as well, when the motor is faulty you'll hear a constant high pitch whining noise, this is a warning sign that the pump is failing & to change it.
. Also when viewing the car look underneath the front end at the inner driveshaft/CV boot as on these the boots retain the gearbox oil like on old Panda's so if these boots are leaking gearbox oil that'll have to be rectified pretty much straight away as this can lead to gearbox failure if ignored, if there is oil around the boot it can be of either 2 things
1) best case scenario is that the rocker cover gasket is leaking as mine is currently doing this & dripping onto the CV boot
2) the boot is deteriorating & leaking gearbox oil, to install a new boot is a driveshaft out job although I did this on my car a little while ago it was a lot easier to put a whole new unit in which is what I did as it didn't cost that much more.
So if you see any oil around the bottom off either inner boot just wipe your finger over it & smell it, it'll either be engine oil from a leak above or if it smells like gearbox oil which has a very distinctive smell the boots probably need replacing.
. Any signs of accident damage such as panel gaps, front legs & panels that are a slightly different shade etc
. The bushes in the rear wishbones are common for going, if the rear bushes are faulty you'll hear them knocking when driving down the road or by doing a bounce test on the rear of the car.
. Also on the Cento's the motor in the fuel pumps can go as well, when the motor is faulty you'll hear a constant high pitch whining noise, this is a warning sign that the pump is failing & to change it.
. Also when viewing the car look underneath the front end at the inner driveshaft/CV boot as on these the boots retain the gearbox oil like on old Panda's so if these boots are leaking gearbox oil that'll have to be rectified pretty much straight away as this can lead to gearbox failure if ignored, if there is oil around the boot it can be of either 2 things
1) best case scenario is that the rocker cover gasket is leaking as mine is currently doing this & dripping onto the CV boot
2) the boot is deteriorating & leaking gearbox oil, to install a new boot is a driveshaft out job although I did this on my car a little while ago it was a lot easier to put a whole new unit in which is what I did as it didn't cost that much more.
So if you see any oil around the bottom off either inner boot just wipe your finger over it & smell it, it'll either be engine oil from a leak above or if it smells like gearbox oil which has a very distinctive smell the boots probably need replacing.
Thank you guys for your valuable feedback. The good thing is that the mechanic I know for 20+ years now is selling it on behalf of a partner’s widow who only drives automatic (hence the low mileage as it was a 2nd or 3rd car in the family). So he will examine it thoroughly before I take it home. I will revert with more after I drive this boutique car.
It really depends on the service history and general wear on engine low mileage doesn't mean it hasn't been been mistreated! Has the clutch timing belt headgasket or any parts replaced in last 10,000 miles? You might be buying a wolf in sheep's skin for that money ask questions if they not willing to answer them or can't walk away mate
Do good test drive through all the gears what for any lagging while pulling, flat spots pulling, selecting all gears promptly as we all know how easily automatic box's mess up!! My mate brought audi 4 and it drove perfect on way home then next day it gave up so just be very wary ok as they are usually expensive to fix or replace!! But good luck BTW don't matter who owned it doesn't mean it not been mistreated!
So that's where they all are! Rust free too? Maybe I need a trip to Greece...
Sounds like my dream car! Love these little things, and this seems like a good time to get what is surely a future classic
A few other "boutique" cars had a similar open-top version, like FIAT Panda and SEAT Marbella. My mechanic told me that one or two factories used to produce those rolling roofs and supply many car manufacturers. Μaybe it would cost another 500 euros to fix the top of this 5-cento at sale for €600!
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You're a bad man trying to tempt me! I'm easily led astray
I'm also easily led astray as well especially with carsYou're a bad man trying to tempt me! I'm easily led astray
if only I had a dry barn to put cars in, back in my hometown there is currently a really early Alfa 33 cloverleaf project for sale for just under £1k or a couple of days ago I was quite tempted by a MK2 Morris 1300 for £3,350 which looked quite clean, then I thought I already have 2 classic cars I'm becoming a bit of a gluten for punishment 
icheatatscrabble
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You need to go to Malta. You will find rust free Fiats there and they are RHD.....So that's where they all are! Rust free too? Maybe I need a trip to Greece...
Sounds like my dream car! Love these little things, and this seems like a good time to get what is surely a future classic
Just a short update: I purchased the car in subject after all and you can imagine my surprise when I removed the seat covers to discover the original textiles being in such a great condition after 30 years.
Strangely enough, the top of the gear stick has worn out so much that the numbers are not visible anymore!
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So now you should probably put covers on the seats to help preserve them
No way dearest. I recently got over my OCD and decided to enjoy all my belongings during THIS lifetime!So now you should probably put covers on the seats to help preserve them
I've done that with mine to preserve the seats as they are original & in really good condition with no tears in the bolstersSo now you should probably put covers on the seats to help preserve them
