Just bought an 02 Punto Sporting in Spirit blue, so thought I'd join the forum, and say hello.
I've had X1/9s since 2005, currently have a GF in the garage being restored (slowly). Also have a Lancia HPE Volumex, which someone else is restoring (even more slowly!). My daily drive is an Alfa 145 QV, so I'm well used to Italian cars!
Bought the Punto as bit of a runabout - cheap(ish) to tax/insure and more economical than the 145. Also, the Alfa is coming up 15 years old - I've owned it for 14.5 of those years - and the last few years has need some welding etc, meaning it's off the road for a while, so now I have the Punto to use
. Did have a second X1/9 for a while, but between it and the Alfa, I wasn't getting time to do the GF, so that went a few months back. Hopefully the Punto won't need toooo much time/effort ...
Generally it's in good nick:- lips on rear of the front arches are beginning to rust - untreated stone chips I suspect - but thats not too bad. O/s rear arch is bubbling through and will need attention soon and the nearside is going the same way but so far only on inner lip. There is surface (hopefully) rust around the rear belt anchorages and a few scabs in the wheel well. I'll treat these this afternoon. Floor pan looks good, been undersealed recently and shows signs of some surface corrosion, but with Mot done only 2-3 weeks ago, shouldn't be an issue.
It came with only 1 key - as I've read elsewhere on here, Fiat want £300+ for a new remote! Local place want £70 for a non-remote (that was before I realised it had remote locking, as the button is missing off the key). I'll try a mobile auto locksmith.
Drivers seat bolster has worn through on seat back and foam worn and the side bolster is splitting away from seat base: do they all do this? I guess 'sporting' seats are different from other models, so what are the chances of finding a used one in good condition? With a good passenger seat, I guess a trimmer could mix and mend?
Where should the jack live? Was floating around in the boot. It's got a space saver spare. I've seen some cars with a round tray that sits on top of the spare with jack/towing eye/locking wheel key etc - got none of that but the wheel bolt key.
Got no handbook either. Plenty on flea bay, but there seem to be editions for 1999, 2000, 2001 2002. With a 2002 year car, suggests the 2002 book, but I didn't think they changed the Mk2 until facelift in 2003. Any help appreciated.
Presume the wheel bolt pattern is the traditional 4x98? If so, same as the 145. It's got cheapo tyres atm, but new. I use Toyo Proxes on the Alfa, what tyres are recommended on the Punto?
There is a GPS receiver behind the interior mirror - is this an add-on someone forgot to remove or standard fit - if so, for what?
The factory radio has been replaced, so the CD auto changer is redundant. Anyone removed it and if so what do you do with the void? Was thinking of relocating stereo down there as I find the high level one a distraction.
Anyway, back to the car.
Thanks in advance for help!
I've had X1/9s since 2005, currently have a GF in the garage being restored (slowly). Also have a Lancia HPE Volumex, which someone else is restoring (even more slowly!). My daily drive is an Alfa 145 QV, so I'm well used to Italian cars!
Bought the Punto as bit of a runabout - cheap(ish) to tax/insure and more economical than the 145. Also, the Alfa is coming up 15 years old - I've owned it for 14.5 of those years - and the last few years has need some welding etc, meaning it's off the road for a while, so now I have the Punto to use
. Did have a second X1/9 for a while, but between it and the Alfa, I wasn't getting time to do the GF, so that went a few months back. Hopefully the Punto won't need toooo much time/effort ...Generally it's in good nick:- lips on rear of the front arches are beginning to rust - untreated stone chips I suspect - but thats not too bad. O/s rear arch is bubbling through and will need attention soon and the nearside is going the same way but so far only on inner lip. There is surface (hopefully) rust around the rear belt anchorages and a few scabs in the wheel well. I'll treat these this afternoon. Floor pan looks good, been undersealed recently and shows signs of some surface corrosion, but with Mot done only 2-3 weeks ago, shouldn't be an issue.
It came with only 1 key - as I've read elsewhere on here, Fiat want £300+ for a new remote! Local place want £70 for a non-remote (that was before I realised it had remote locking, as the button is missing off the key). I'll try a mobile auto locksmith.
Drivers seat bolster has worn through on seat back and foam worn and the side bolster is splitting away from seat base: do they all do this? I guess 'sporting' seats are different from other models, so what are the chances of finding a used one in good condition? With a good passenger seat, I guess a trimmer could mix and mend?
Where should the jack live? Was floating around in the boot. It's got a space saver spare. I've seen some cars with a round tray that sits on top of the spare with jack/towing eye/locking wheel key etc - got none of that but the wheel bolt key.
Got no handbook either. Plenty on flea bay, but there seem to be editions for 1999, 2000, 2001 2002. With a 2002 year car, suggests the 2002 book, but I didn't think they changed the Mk2 until facelift in 2003. Any help appreciated.
Presume the wheel bolt pattern is the traditional 4x98? If so, same as the 145. It's got cheapo tyres atm, but new. I use Toyo Proxes on the Alfa, what tyres are recommended on the Punto?
There is a GPS receiver behind the interior mirror - is this an add-on someone forgot to remove or standard fit - if so, for what?
The factory radio has been replaced, so the CD auto changer is redundant. Anyone removed it and if so what do you do with the void? Was thinking of relocating stereo down there as I find the high level one a distraction.
Anyway, back to the car.
Thanks in advance for help!
