General HGT Advice

[rushdentillidie]

I have been looking to buy a Punto HGT for some time now,

After having sporting a few years back, I liked the car/model so I am now looking for somthing with a bit more power, and hopefully in time to do a little modyifing to.

The reason i am making this post is to ask advice on what to look for when looking for a good car. Most of the car's I have seen in my price range are on 54-05 plates and around 30-40 miles. Although these are not old cars by any means. Are the any common problems to look out for and questions to ask on the test drive.

Any advice is welcomed.

Regards

 

[dave]

Any advice is welcomed.

get a jtd an a red dot remap on it instead

 

[Dark_Crusader]

I have been looking to buy a Punto HGT for some time now,

After having sporting a few years back, I liked the car/model so I am now looking for somthing with a bit more power, and hopefully in time to do a little modyifing to.

The reason i am making this post is to ask advice on what to look for when looking for a good car. Most of the car's I have seen in my price range are on 54-05 plates and around 30-40 miles. Although these are not old cars by any means. Are the any common problems to look out for and questions to ask on the test drive.

Any advice is welcomed.

Regards

Ask when the last servce was done, was it by a dealer? What was done?

1.Cambelt change, when was last done? Cambelt snapping is quite a known thing to happen if it has not been done at the correct intervals.
2.Power steering? Fully functional when engine first turns over? can lock left and right without light coming on? City Mode operational ? As you had a sporting before you are more than likely to be aware of this me-thinks
3.On start up, although not a 100% sure on the years you mentioned does the car make a 'diesely' sound then return to normal engine hum after 30 secs or so? if it does that means you'll have to change the variator as your first job.
5.Gears, smooth progerssion through the range? any crunching when you change? If you do hear it then it's an indication that synchromesh is wearing and you'll need to refurb or replace the gear box, can be £300 + depending on the solution you take.
6.Check all electrics work properly. brakes/abs functions and stops in a straight line no veering/pulling off to one side!
7.Ensure car not been in smash, HIP if you can or grab AA/RAC man to inspect if unsure.

Those are a couple I'm sure others will post more, I own one and think they're great fun, BUT be prepared to adjust your budget for maintenence costs as some parts may be a bit more than what you're used to with the Sporting and also shop around for your insurance as your age may be a factor as I do'nt know yours...

 

[ChrisUK]

HGT JTD would be my choice. Can be tuned to 160bhp and lots of torque.

Or a 1.4 Sporting and put the change into tuning! but I'm biased :nerner:

 

[DaveMcT]

A diesel with 160bhp will be
# faster
# more drivable
# better fuel consumption
# more reliable
than the petrol model
but considerably more money to buy

 

[ChrisUK]

A diesel with 160bhp will be
# faster
# more drivable
# better fuel consumption
# more reliable
than the petrol model
but considerably more money to buy

Yes all well and good if you can stand diesel cars. I've had a few and I can't anymore. Too dull to drive.

 

[Trem]

We have a 1.2 8v Punto and also a 2001 HGT and I can honestly say the 1.2 is more fun to drive, its lighter and easier around town. The HGT is very hard and actually not as much fun. Mine is in the garage at the minute having the cam belt done and also the matrix replaced and the variator. If you were to get the cambelt service done by Fiat it would set you back about £700.

My advice (and I wish I had listened to what people had said) would be to get the 16v Sporting with the 6 speed box. But if you insist on a HGT can I suggest you look at Alfa 147's, I have had both and the 147 is pretty much the same car but cheaper to buy and quicker. They are so similar its scary, right down the the variator problem.

 

[Jonnio]

Depending on mileage check whether the Cambelt has been done. Think Fiat recommend them done every 72,000 miles, but just half that to be safe!
If the car is noisy/diesely on startup then this is the variator problem. I've recently had the variator/cambelt kit/water pump/aux belt done at a local itailian specialist garage for £450. Mine had been noisey ever since I got it around a year before I had the variator done so theres no problem in waiting.
Check the oil level, this does need to be looked at quite reguraly and topped up if necessary.

If you buy private and ask about these sort of things you'll have a good idea of whether its been looked after or not.

 

[ChrisUK]

I suggest you look at Alfa 147's, I have had both and the 147 is pretty much the same car but cheaper to buy and quicker. They are so similar its scary, right down the the variator problem.

Thats because 85-90% of the parts are the same / similar . Alfa 147 Leather seats fit into mk2 punto's directly :yum: :devil:. Difference is the 147 is based on the same chassis as the 156 so does offer a smooth ride in most trims, much better than any fiat (even though the chassis was stolen from a Tipo!). But I don't find them as fun to drive except for the sport ones (which have a hard ride like the HGT).

 

[rushdentillidie]

Thanks for the reply's guys.

I have seen a car that i am thinking about making a bid for. It is a HGT on a 54 plate, 46,000 miels on the clock. During the test driver and time i have spent with the car, it does seem to be running well, taking into account all the info that i have read on this site.

The only problem is that the garage are not sure if the cam belt has been changed. So i have asked this to be done before i even consider buying the car. As i had a 156 where the engine went because of the cam belt, so this has made me werry. Another problem is that the 6 CD changer is not working, although this is not a major problem for me, as i would consider getting rid of anyway and putting my own stuff in.

Apart from this the rest is a pritty solid car with no mods, which is what i am looking for, so i can do all the modding work myself.

Do any of you guy recommend getting a warranty, as i have seen some on the net for £300 a year are the worth the paper they are written on?

Regards

 

[Trem]

Do any of you guy recommend getting a warranty, as i have seen some on the net for £300 a year are the worth the paper they are written on?

Regards

Read the small print is all I can say, they tend to put *lots* of things down to wear and tear if you try to claim, even the best sounding ones have a catch. I found one which seemed amazing then I read more and it was actually worthless due to how they cover whats warranteed and what isn't.

 

[ChrisUK]

:yeahthat:

Just make sure what they have in writting covers what you want it to cover. But as a general rule they'll try and fight the claim anyway.

 

[DaveMcT]

I recently bought a Y reg HGT Abarth with 66K, but no service history to speak of. Stupid? Maybe, but the car was clearly very clean and well looked after and cheap. The cam belt etc was deffo suspect but allowing for that the price was still OK.
Now the stupid bit... I ordered the cam belt and variator but used the car - new toy syndrome. 2 days later the cam belt failed -lots of teeth stripped off.

That said I have now repaired it.
8 new exhaust valves (£17 each)
Full top end gasket kit (£100)
Full cam belt kit (£80)
Variator (£100)
New accessory belt (£ whatever)
Special tools another £100
£mega in blood sweat and tears.
Other pricey stuff I've forgotten to mention.

But its now done. Goes like stink purrs, like a pussycat and I love it. It might have "only" 130+ bhp but the way it makes that power suits me fine. Its early days, but it seems to be surprisingly economical on fuel.

These belts should be done every 36 to 40K or three years. Time is just as much a killer as mileage. An 05 car with 40K qualifies for a new cam belt on both counts.

 

[ChrisUK]

It is a nice engine. If only it was twin spark like its Alfa Derivative

 

[DaveMcT]

It is a nice engine. If only it was twin spark like its Alfa Derivative

Does the twin spark rally make that much difference? To my mind, it all happens so fast, whichever spark gets the fuel burning, the 2nd really wont have much to do. But agree the TS is nice too.

 

[girlracerdraper]

Hi WhiteSei

Did you fit all the stuff to your hgt yourself if so then how on earth did you know what to do as im trying to find a punto hgt haynes manual and cant find one anywhere? lol

Cheers SJ

 

[Jonnio]

Haynes manuals don't cover the HGT. There are CD repair manuals that cover them available on eBay.

 

[DaveMcT]

I took my time and did lots of searches on the FF. Somewhere you'll find my write-up which eventually I'll get put into a guide. The head comes off complete with all the inlet manifold and injection gear. You just need to disconnect the electrical sockets at the LHS of the head and take off ALL the cam belt covers. And of course all the coolant connectors. Fit a new thermostat while at it.