General Punto as a first car?

[ashleymarshall]

Hi all,

I'm 17 and am thinking of getting a mk2 Punto as my first car. I've owned motorbikes for 2 years now and know a little about cars. So the basic matence won't be a problem.

As my dad has an 2008 grande Punto which I love! I was considering getting my very own Punto (on a students budget!) ie the Mk2. Just wanted to know the things to look out for when looking at them and what to avoid ?

Thanks

Ash

 

[atom0007]

There's a buyers guide on the site I think.

They're great fun cars, fairly easy to work on, good parts availability, and a great forum here to support you

I sound like a broken record, top of my list would be underbody rust.

 

[Brendan W]

I would be looking at 8 valve motors , manual in as original condition as possible with less than 80k on the clock and as few owners as possible - ideally one.
Look hard at the seller - do you think they looked after the car?
We have an 01 8v with 104k miles on the clock , had it since 05 and put three learners through it to boot and it has never refused to start or left us stranded.
It generally sails through tests and is still on original shocks suspension bushes steering arms etc etc. In spite of pub gossip Fiats are reliable but like any need regular checking and staying on top of the little things. Unfortunately the generally accepted wisdom is that they are rubbish so they are bought cheap and treated on the cheap.
The trick is to find the seller who is different from the crowd.
Post up what you are considering and we'll have loads of armchair wisdom I'm sure

 

[Ziggy122]

you'd have to look out for the Howards version of a Punto

You want one thats had some minor work to keep it sweet

Simple things like recent brakes, exhaust. tyres
Show the owner has put money into it

No money spent could be a sign of a cheap runner and poorly looked after

A Must must must checks tho for Mk2 / mk2b

The floor - Get under and prod and poke, any holes WALK AWAY
Wiper linkage - give them a little push/pull, if they pull off easily, demand money off
powersteering, lock to lock - should buzz only when on full hard lock
Check city is happy too!

Accept a Leaking rocker cover and Coil pack seal, they are 20min max DIY tasks And Seals are £5 + £3

8v's dont usually have timing belts replaced, due to been a safe engine, but a belt replacement is always a good thing!

ziggy

 

[PuntoHowTo]

look at a 2003-2006 multijet especially if on a student budget, can be picked up for £1200 and cost naff all to tax (£30 a year) and insure and will give you 60+ mpg

they don't have any of the issues of the 1.2s