Got a new car!! :D / Tell me about the Punto 55 :)!

Efaws

Efaws

Efaws

Associate
Joined
11 Aug 2005
Posts
1,019
Just got one of these 'beasts'

1.1, '55', SX model ( I think ) its a mark 1 (97, P) but still has power steering, leccy windows and central locking! :D Managed to blag a free mp3 cd player into the bargain as well!

The low down

1.1
P-97
71K
Yellow
10 months MOT, 2 tax
All extras as far as I know

One major problem (if you easily get embaressed!) Has a pretty big dent in the drivers door and rear quarter clearly from a recent accident, no paint loss but quite a big, or even several small dents combined, looks bad but I dont mind, not had a crash in 4 years so I know Im a good driver, the funny looks Ive been having already are quite funny tho! Considering Im probably a better driver than themselves :D

Worth about 800 quid I'd say without the dent, cosmetics dont bother me tho :) Especially when you get the car for half the price! 400 notes :)

Scrap value is 80 quid, CD player 20 on the bay of fleas so 300 quid for 10 months of driving, and 22 months if Im lucky and she passes the old MOT not costing too much :) Nice run around to get me 5 miles to work every day and the odd road trip.




Now, anything I should know? Known problems, tricks, tips, anyway of removing the fascias so i can beat the panel from inside a little? Seems a door and rear quarter at my scrappy in the right color, 50 the pair, fittings just going to be the main cost!


Also cambelt change when? is it vital? Anything else?

:D Thx!
 
Also one wheel only has 3 wheel nuts instead of 4, will have to get another from the scrappy, wont be a problem with 3 tho, will it?
 
800 quid eek :(

i honestly think you paid too much,

Recently bought an S reg punto sporting 6 months t&t for a grand
 
Aye :D I reckon 800 if the dent was ironed out, altho its gonna cost 2-300 to put right and I think Id sooner drive around in a tin can and live with it (and a nintendo wii.. :P ) giving that after 10 months it may fail its MOT

400 quid was the price, dont think I can argue, I say the dents huge but I spose its not that big, will have to get a photo to see what you guys think when its light :)
 
If the car works, and not many major problems then its worth 400 imo.

Bargain, got the nut in ASAP!

Having a wheel fall off ain't funny, trust me! ;)
 
Just googoled - cam belt is 71-72k I think, so needs doing, any idea of prices if a punto man pops in? And is it desperately needed? or not? Ill probably only do about 6-8k this year at the going rate and if I got another year for my money I wouldnt mind forking out a bit more :)
 
800 minus the dent is about bob on.

Keep an eye out for a HGF (unless it's already done that and been sorted). They all do one about that mileage.

Otherwise keep it in good oil and water and it'll keep on trogging.

Does it have a Red key?
 
My spare key is red and bigger, normal key is small and blue, whats the diff? Reds meant to be an immobiliser I think but Ive no idea how it works if so

HGF = head gasket failure? how much is the repair gonna be IF it does happen? no idea how to check for things like this, car drives like a dream tho for the age :)
 
Does the 55 refer to the number of horse power it develops? Still a 1.1 doing 10 miles a day will prob cost about £7.50 a week to run. Result.
 
bigchez said:
Does the 55 refer to the number of horse power it develops?
Click to expand...

Top speed. Or maybe bhp :D

BigglesPiP may know if this is an interference engine or not, but it's always a good idea to get the belt done anyway IMO. Sods law dictates it will snap at the most inconvenient time otherwise.
 
Efaws said:
My spare key is red and bigger, normal key is small and blue, whats the diff? Reds meant to be an immobiliser I think but Ive no idea how it works if so

HGF = head gasket failure? how much is the repair gonna be IF it does happen? no idea how to check for things like this, car drives like a dream tho for the age :)
Click to expand...

DO NOT USE THE RED KEY
DO NOT BRAKE THE RED KEY
KEEP THE RED KEY SAFE
DO NOT LOSE THE RED KEY

Clear?

The car has a code immobiliser via the key (that's all of the keys).

If you do loose the red key, and you need to program another blue key into the car etc. Then you need a new Code ECU, new Red key, and new or decoded Engine ECU.

Advantage is it is actually impossible to start the engine without one of the keys present (in that no thief has done it, although there is a way to bypass it if you have the 4 digit code from the card).

If you want I can explain how the immobiliser works.




As for HGF, £300 at a main dealer, but much less then £50 if you DIY, including getting the head skimmed. Have done it for ~£30 plus some of my time in the past.
If it goes one of these will happern:
-Water and oil will mix (oil in the water, mayonnaise in the oil).
-It'll burn oil (blue smog out the exhaust, and run out of oil).
-It's burn water :D (white smog out the exhaust, and run out of water).
-It'll misfire.
-It'll overheat.
-Or all of the above.




I've heard a lot of people comment on how they feel to drive, those with an open mind seem to like them. My S 60 feels like any other hatch from today, but for the lack of power steering. The present owner of the other one we got at the same time and then sold for a tidy profit is ecstatic with his.
 
Last edited:
Efaws said:
Nice one, sounds like you speak from (bad) experience? :D

Should get one from the scrappy for a quid or 2 hopefully :)
Click to expand...

Yeah the old mans a lecturer, mechanics.

The students put the wheels back on!!

Didn't fully fall off, but was close enough!
 
i had a p reg and i spent more on repairing it in 2 year that i paid for it originaly i finaly put it to rest when the radiator went and headgasket and i think a few other things
 
BigglesPiP said:
DO NOT USE THE RED KEY
DO NOT BRAKE THE RED KEY
KEEP THE RED KEY SAFE
DO NOT LOSE THE RED KEY

Clear?

The car has a code immobiliser via the key (that's all of the keys).

If you do loose the red key, and you need to program another blue key into the car etc. Then you need a new Code ECU, new Red key, and new or decoded Engine ECU.

Advantage is it is actually impossible to start the engine without one of the keys present (in that no thief has done it, although there is a way to bypass it if you have the 4 digit code from the card).
Click to expand...

Hopefully it's more secure than the system in the Fiat Coupe which apparently has a very fundamental flaw so it's not hard to bypass it.

The importance of red key ownership, for the Coupe at least is vastly over-rated. In the absolute worst case, a set of keys, locks, ECU and code transponder for the Coupe can be had (S/H) for around £200, for the Punto I'm sure it would be somewhat cheaper than that.

You can also get new keys made and coded without the red key.
 
If it makes you feel any better, my mate's got a 'S' reg 60 bhp punto and pretty much anything that can happen to it has happened at some point, including HGF twice :D.

He doesn't exactly drive it like an angel though.
 
well, its a risk, but for 400 im willing to take it :)

you mention you can do the HG yourself for abuot 50 quid, how long does it take & is it hard? ive never really done anythign mechanical myself, but obviously if it did go and i could get the part for 50 quid, wouldnt mind gettign my hands dirty to saev 250 quid and erscue the car from the scrappy

also if the cambelt snaps, is that headgasket failure, or is it something worse?



red key is safe :) woot woot, how come you need to program another blue key if you lose it ? is that if you lose the red key, THEN lose the blue key the car is useless (as theres no way at all of getting in or duplicating the key?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom