Mk2 Fiat Punto as first car?
I am looking at MK2 Fiat Puntos to buy as my first car.
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
(edited 9 years ago)
I know people who own them, all electrics are prone to go wrong, and it's not if it's when.
Original post by kmcg97
I am looking at MK1 Fiat Puntos to buy as my first car.
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
We had one briefly, it was a very tired one that I bought primarily for my eldest daughter to learn how to drive and learn how to fix some basics.
Problematic? There are some expensive components on it that do tend to fail chief among which is the Electric Power Steering.
Timing belts like all Fiat and Alfa Romeo cars must be changed religiously as otherwise like magic they do break right around 40k
Electrical issues can be a problem for cars this age as the cables would start to degrade at its sheathings and connectors start becoming brittle, the latter will be true for anything that is subject to generating lots of heat. The upside to it is nothing other than the EPS unit are expensive to fix or a pain to get to.
If you must buy one then buy the MK2b variant or better yet buy a Panda instead.
Original post by Alfissti
We had one briefly, it was a very tired one that I bought primarily for my eldest daughter to learn how to drive and learn how to fix some basics.
Problematic? There are some expensive components on it that do tend to fail chief among which is the Electric Power Steering.
Timing belts like all Fiat and Alfa Romeo cars must be changed religiously as otherwise like magic they do break right around 40k
Electrical issues can be a problem for cars this age as the cables would start to degrade at its sheathings and connectors start becoming brittle, the latter will be true for anything that is subject to generating lots of heat. The upside to it is nothing other than the EPS unit are expensive to fix or a pain to get to.
If you must buy one then buy the MK2b variant or better yet buy a Panda instead.
Problematic? There are some expensive components on it that do tend to fail chief among which is the Electric Power Steering.
Timing belts like all Fiat and Alfa Romeo cars must be changed religiously as otherwise like magic they do break right around 40k
Electrical issues can be a problem for cars this age as the cables would start to degrade at its sheathings and connectors start becoming brittle, the latter will be true for anything that is subject to generating lots of heat. The upside to it is nothing other than the EPS unit are expensive to fix or a pain to get to.
If you must buy one then buy the MK2b variant or better yet buy a Panda instead.
It's the MK2 version not the MK1 version I made a mistake! Thanks for your help though. I really want the MK2a because something inside me just pure hates the MK2b facelift
Original post by kmcg97
I am looking at MK2 Fiat Puntos to buy as my first car.
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
Dont get one. Never.
I had one. I had to get rid of it after 6 months because that many things went wrong with it.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407125772742/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/page/3/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/maximum-mileage/up_to_70000_miles/radius/10/price-to/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/postcode/tw75al?logcode=p
this worth it, seems a bit too good to be true
this worth it, seems a bit too good to be true
Original post by kmcg97
It's the MK2 version not the MK1 version I made a mistake! Thanks for your help though. I really want the MK2a because something inside me just pure hates the MK2b facelift
In that case look for a very late model Mk2a, it would have ironed out most of the bugs in the car and the condition of the electrics should still be fairly good.
Original post by kmcg97
It's the MK2 version not the MK1 version I made a mistake! Thanks for your help though. I really want the MK2a because something inside me just pure hates the MK2b facelift
The pre facelift looks better than the facelift in my opinion.
But still. It's one of those cars you should expect to go wrong.
All 10 year old cars can be expected to have problems tbh. This Punto might be an absolute shed or it may give years of trouble free motoring, there really is no way of knowing. It's the risk you take buying a new car. I'd look at a Toyota Yaris if it was me. They look awful but should be fairly reliable and worth the same you paid for it when you come to get rid.
Original post by Alfissti
In that case look for a very late model Mk2a, it would have ironed out most of the bugs in the car and the condition of the electrics should still be fairly good.
I am hoping to buy a 2002/2003 Active or Active Sport model. Any recommendations guys?
Original post by kmcg97
I am hoping to buy a 2002/2003 Active or Active Sport model. Any recommendations guys?
Active and Active Sporting were the "strip down" cars and had very little kit to it.
I'd personally go for the HLX or Dynamic models instead as those have air conditioning and ABS.
Original post by Alfissti
Active and Active Sporting were the "strip down" cars and had very little kit to it.
I'd personally go for the HLX or Dynamic models instead as those have air conditioning and ABS.
I'd personally go for the HLX or Dynamic models instead as those have air conditioning and ABS.
What about a Peugeot 206? Such as this? £1280 insurance quote too.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407226019438
Original post by kmcg97
What about a Peugeot 206? Such as this? £1280 insurance quote too.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407226019438
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407226019438
Not a bad one. However you should have it thoroughly examined prior to buying.
Also not an expensive car to fix if anything goes wrong and it is a good one to get as a first car. Personally I think it is a better car than the Punto.
Original post by Alfissti
Not a bad one. However you should have it thoroughly examined prior to buying.
Also not an expensive car to fix if anything goes wrong and it is a good one to get as a first car. Personally I think it is a better car than the Punto.
Also not an expensive car to fix if anything goes wrong and it is a good one to get as a first car. Personally I think it is a better car than the Punto.
Will the car inspection for like £128 from aa be good enough to go ahead and buy the car?
Original post by kmcg97
I am looking at MK2 Fiat Puntos to buy as my first car.
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
I really like them and always have; they are well designed and my friend has one that I like too. He has had no problems with his but I wanted to know what you guys thought? If you've owned one, or still do, and have had problems? What to watch out for etc? Thanks
i know loads who made the mistake of buying one. never again.
they are awful.
Original post by daydreamer93
Will the car inspection for like £128 from aa be good enough to go ahead and buy the car?
I personally don't recommend AA or RAC.
Personally I'd find an independent or specialist mechanic to perform that inspection. It generally cost less than £100 and a good one will also point out to you as he or she checks the car where something is amiss and how much it would cost to fix it as well as whether it needs to be done ASAP or in the very near future.
I have a fiat Punto Mk2 (year 2000) as my first car, have had it about 1.5 years.
have luckily had no power steering problems but I have had to change the head gasket at 58k miles, I purchased the car to lean car-maintaince/repair stuff on and the 1.2l 8v version is very easy to work on (and a non-intereference engine so if the cambelt snaps, no damage is done) but obviously not as fast as the 16v versions
Parts in my experience are very cheap, so if you want to do stuff yourself its not too bad.
but yes, as everybody has mentioned, it will definatly have small problems what with it being an early fiat etc..
have luckily had no power steering problems but I have had to change the head gasket at 58k miles, I purchased the car to lean car-maintaince/repair stuff on and the 1.2l 8v version is very easy to work on (and a non-intereference engine so if the cambelt snaps, no damage is done) but obviously not as fast as the 16v versions
Parts in my experience are very cheap, so if you want to do stuff yourself its not too bad.
but yes, as everybody has mentioned, it will definatly have small problems what with it being an early fiat etc..
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