:worship: even though i love my mk2, i would have a mk1 again (as a second, project car) in an instant
General fiat punto does any1 recommend it
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General fiat punto does any1 recommend it
:worship: even though i love my mk2, i would have a mk1 again (as a second, project car) in an instant
I'd go with that, although I do own a seaside car, Previous owner of 6 years lived 200 yards from the beach, the top is still rust free although the suspension components gave me a fair bit of jip in the 1st six months I had it due to corrosion. If you get a bad mark 1 you can chuck money at it but afterward it will run reliably for 3 years, get a good one and you'll wonder why people say fiats are unreliable, only time i've ever had one not start in 4 years and it cost me a tenner to sort it out. MK1s are serious fun even the 55 although the fun in the 55 does come from driving it to within an inch of the engine going boom. None PAS cars are heavy parking but lighten up on the move, have the best steering feel, The PAS even more than a year after i switched feel far to light but do actually have some steering feel
I'm on my second mk2, both of which have been very reliable- and i give them a pretty hard time at times!
Only thing ive had to shell out for was 10 quid for a thermostat because it had stuck shut- easy to fit aswell. Parts are usually cheap and easily sourced.
they look great, drive ok- the steering is rather light and not enough feedback but you know whats happening.
Only thing ive had to shell out for was 10 quid for a thermostat because it had stuck shut- easy to fit aswell. Parts are usually cheap and easily sourced.
they look great, drive ok- the steering is rather light and not enough feedback but you know whats happening.
steering always feels crap when driving under 30mph IMO, but above that, it firms up nicely and you can corner really well with it.... far better than mondeo, omega, escort (the other cars that i am used to) :bang:
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I've only driven MK1 non-pas very light on the move, but weights up hugely parking and if you are pushing on into bends, however to use a cliche' if you ran over a pound coin on the road you would know which up it was, the PAS on the MK1 is hydraulic I believe so doesn't have the same lack of feel as apparently affects the electric setup in later cars but is so light its beyond a joke, it takes forever to realise it has feel because after a non-pas car you assume you have no front end grip, because lightness of that level is usually associated with terminal and painful understeer but once you get past that it does actually weight up when you lean it.
personaly i think the hydraulic pas have less feel due to the slack that invariably comes with the rotary valve in the rack but electric although it's very light does tell you what's going on when you get use to it as it's simply a manual setup with manual rack and a motor bolted to the side of the column
i who what you mean about getting use to it thou i had a panda for a day to go to warington on a fiat course and it took a wile for me to stop swerving all over the place at 70 yet once i was in Warrington i had a play round the roundabouts in the wet and you can effeminately feel the front let go and the rear if you dab the brakes lol or turn in under braking
i find my non pas mk1 gets very light steering as soon as you begin to creep never had a problem at low speed parking or manuvering
I'd go back to a non-pas one any day if they were available with a 1.2 16v, Although it does significantly increase your no# of turns lock to lock due to it having to be lower geared. The 85 was designed to be driven with the mimimum of effort which is great round town and in traffic, it has a ridiculously light clutch, steering, gearbox and throttle all of which on my old 55 felt like they'd been lifted from an HGV when you got in after a long day at work, but it was more fun on a back road despite being about as fast as walking...
the gearbox and clutch is identical in the 55 and the 85 so your 55 was obviously worn out a great deal more
the throttle is different but i cant see the return springs being any different fiat will have worked out a specific weight for perfect throttle so why change it on the same car
would be very easy to convert a 85 to manual remove pump nd stuff fit manual rack it will fit on the column then rotate both top mounts to reduce caster to make up the lightness again
al thou technically the pas cars handle better as more caster increases front end grip into corners
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Gothic*Kitty
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we absolutely love ours that we bought a few months ago, we got a 60 sx mark1 punto. we are having to fix a few things due to wear and tear but you get that with any car. it comfortably seats 5 people (ours is 5 seat). but impressed me no end, as it comfortably seats my partner, me, our 10 year old and 18 month old twins in car seats. boot space is good for a supermini, gets our fortnightly shopping in with no probs. our twin buggy fits in the boot okay (stood on its side) with a lil room for a few things aswell. At the mo with cost of petrol here £1.16 pr ltr (cheapest) it takes around £50 to fill the tank. Ours doesnt have p/steering but is still very nippy and easy to handle. I'm currently taking lessons in it and it really doesnt take much to steer the car.
Our insurance at the mo (partner licensed for under 3 years, 26 yo, plus father in law on policy) was around £800. Tax is not bad with being a 1.2.
I had my heart set on getting a punto, even sold my partners 98 vectra to get it and as yet are not disappointed with the car.
never owned a cinq so cant compare the two, but if a punto is something you really want go for it.
:slayer:
This is due to the Punto Mk 2 having a 4 Star crash rating in NCAP. I had Insurance quotes on the 2000 Mk 2 Punto 1.2 8v ( 60 bhp) and a 1997 Ford Escort 1.3 8v ( 2 star rating and also 60 bhp) The Punto was a lot cheaper.
Ivor
Original post was 6 months ago guys....
