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Punto (Mk2/2b) The car I wasn't going to change...

Introduction

Bought my Punto back in June (2012): to replace a (well it was originally) white 1994 Clio 1.4 RT automatic, that's now gone to Renault heaven. It was just meant as a second car: spending most of the time sat on the drive... -- especially as we had just ordered a brand new Panda TwinAir Dualogic... (which then failed to materialize: hence the 2009 Panda currently starring in my signature, below...). :eek:

However, something about this (extremely cheap) FIAT really got to me... -- whether just the sheer joy with which it revs; or the way it chucks itself round corners; or even the quirkiness of the electrics... -- and I found myself tinkering with a car for the first time in many, many years. Not since I owned a succession of VW Beetles and Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Escorts, in the '80s, have I had so much fun...! :)

Because I'm disabled, it had to be an automatic, of course. Also, any 'heavy lifting' means that I have to take it to a garage to be fettled... -- so the progress you see below is a mix of me getting (slightly) oily, and Black Cat Motors taking up the slack, and doing much more than their fair share of the difficult stuff...! ;)

I haven't got the stamina (or attention span) to post everything at once: so, for starters, here's the photo that attracted my attention -- and, I must admit, initially put it near the bottom of the list of cars I went to test-drive... (sorry) -- on AutoTrader:



More to follow, shortly...! :wave:

Edit
Here's how the car now looks (May 2014): (y)

Maybe even steel wheels with huge offset streched tyres and 100mm drop! lol

I followed a Golf, this morning, in pretty much that state. Didn't help that it was driven by someone that looked around eleven years old, wearing his baseball cap back to front; and that it was covered in stickers.... :nutter:

Maybe I'm turning into a grumpy old f*rt: but the tyres looked like they were going to burst; and I couldn't see how he could get it round tight bends, there was so little room between the wheels and the arches -- even though the wheels stuck out several inches(!?) from the side of the car.... Scary.... Ahhhh
 
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OMG Homeward, your a man of balls, even with your "issues" you still do more than I ever will to my cars, keep it up, may inspire me one day. Looks like you live in a nice area, bet its lovely in the snow. I'm sorry you were sent to Coventry though ;)
 
i take it - since its internal - the MOT man cant fail the car for obstructing wipe pattern?

That's a bl**dy good question; and had me running to The M.O.T. Inspection Manual. Section 8.3 says (phew)... :eek:
Additional mirrors and tinting films are not subject to Reason for Rejection...
I'm tempted, i agree that Winter morning sun and Overly bright summer sun is just a pima

...especially when it gets in that gap between the visor and the A-pillar... :mad:

If you're seriously tempted, you may want to have a look in the Classifieds... -- hint, hint.... :D
 
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This could well be the most exciting post of the thread... ;)

...but I replaced both sunvisor clips, earlier: as I'd noticed (i) the passenger visor often fell out of its clip, going over bumps, etc.; and (ii) my driver's side one was also quite loose. Ooh: the difference a 30-second job can make...! :spin:

PS: Haven't checked part numbers, but the Mk2 Punto's clips appear to be identical to those in the Mk3 Panda. Might be useful if anyone needs any that are less worn.... :confused:
 
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early punto visors were rubbish the pins used to spin in the material or the clips broke
dont ever see this problem in the 2b unless abused

Ta! I wonder if 2b ones fit the Mk2...? (Hopefully, the ones I've fitted will last; but, if not, it would be useful to go with something a bit stronger....)
 
hello mate, any updates on your punto?
also your past quote
I followed a Golf, this morning, in pretty much that state. Didn't help that it was driven by someone that looked around eleven years old, wearing his baseball cap back to front; and that it was covered in stickers.... :nutter:

Maybe I'm turning into a grumpy old f*rt: but the tyres looked like they were going to burst; and I couldn't see how he could get it round tight bends, there was so little room between the wheels and the arches -- even though the wheels stuck out several inches(!?) from the side of the car.... Scary.... Ahhhh

wasnt these guys by any chance?
 
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hello mate, any updates on your punto?

Thanks for asking...! (y)

A few minor things in the pipeline -- e.g. new front speakers (Hertz: won -- including fitting -- in a competition!); and a new HU (to be fitted at the same time...). :D

Apart from that, just waiting for the weather to get a bit warmer: so that I can do a bit of routine maintenance, and replace the increasingly tatty breather hose (which, so far, doesn't seem to be affecting mpg...) and air filter box (which is broken and missing a bolt: and is starting to vibrate annoyingly...). :(





And then, maybe, just maybe, I might replace the seats.... We shall see...! :cool:
 
Nice punto. Never really had a thing for automatics but I bet it's not as fun to drive as a manual lol anyway nice little car mate:cool:

Ta! (y)

In some ways, I'd agree... -- one of the most memorable drives of my life was from the Isle of Skye, down through Glencoe, etc., in a 2.8 litre Audi 100 estate: and I remember thinking how much fun it was snicking through the gears on some of those Highland roads.... :)

However, it's a case of 'needs must', now... -- being the victim of three rather savage motor accidents, I have "this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side"; and a few other (what are charmingly described as) "neurological deficits".... But I have to say, the Speedgear's pretty good; and I prefer it to the Dualogic in the Panda... -- it's very smooth; revs cleanly and freely; you just, occasionally, lack that little bit of control over the rev range.... :cool:
 
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