Grande Punto First Fiat - Newbie

[jrobertl1991]

Hi guys,

Hello from wet and windy Devon! I'm Thinking about getting my first fiat in a few days it's a 56 plate sporting 1.9 JTD Diesel. Was hoping you guys could help me out ... It's got pretty high mileage at 91,000 miles and wanted some opinions on whether it's worth buying with the mileage? Has got good service history and as far as I'm aware a cambelt change.

It is a beauty, orange with black powder coated alloys. Haven't seen many around!

Help much appreciated!
James

 

[farnboroflyer]

Welcome to the Forum James.............#
You don't say which model you have?..........

That sort of mileage on a diesel is not usually a concern with any make of car, but as I have never owned an oil burner............take no notice of me.
Hopefully you will get some positive feedback from those here ???

Good luck

Ian

 

[jrobertl1991]

Hi Ian, sorry I forgot to say it was a grande Punto 1.9 Sporting.

Never heard of them being referred to as an oil burner before, are they known to go through a lot of oil?

 

[udtrev]

Oil burner = diesel if you check your log book it will say you run on heavy oil !

91k is nothing for a diesel engine, I wouldn't worry about it,

I would check that the waterpump was done at the same time as the cambelt.

Enjoy your new baby

 

[jrobertl1991]

Cheers for clearing that up! Must sound like a right noob! Will post some pics if I go ahead and get it.

Any tips on what to look out for when taking it for a test drive?

 

[udtrev]

Cheers for clearing that up! Must sound like a right noob! Will post some pics if I go ahead and get it.

Any tips on what to look out for when taking it for a test drive?

Make sure everything works.

If the steering light is on don't panic, it could just be a tired battery.

Obvious look for any rust (at that age it shouldn't have any) and make sure the panels line up - if they don't as if it's had an accident.

Check the oil filler cap, it should not show anything milky.

Any knocks or dents acan be useful ammunition in negotiating a lowering of the price

If possible take a friendly mechanic with you.

Good luck and I hope you get a winner

 

[jrobertl1991]

Ended up avoiding this one in the end! Even though it looked great.

The guy wouldn't even let me test drive it, but took me on a drive instead, (apparently for insurance issues). The rear bumper was a slightly different orange, it was damp in the boot and the car was warm once I got there.

There was supposedly a lot of paperwork with the car but this turned out to be the V5, service book with about 4 stamps (1 recent) and a receipt from 2 years ago for a clutch kit!

Hopefully something else will come along!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi, and welcome to FF,

you "dodged a bullet" there..!!

reminds me of a car I went to see years ago "in the trade" , "service history" it said - but non-runner..,

it had 145K on it - 1.2 petrol = Bravo,
3 stamps in book , oil change every 50K at Halfords,
they were right about non-runner though.. it was 90% seized and no oil showing on dipstick,

the starter squealed away to make the engine CR a WL over,

YES - I DID walk away ; - },
Charlie

 

[matkin2007]

Where about in Devon you from pal? I'm from Holsworthy in north devon
Kind Regards,
Mark

 

[jrobertl1991]

Hi matkin2007, I live in Exeter.