First Car - Fiat Punto!
Discussion
Been a long time lurker on here for the past year or two. Being a student, i've reasoned that there's not much point posting in reader's cars considering my car isn't anything to shout about really, however, the recent influx of reader's car threads on people's first cars has prompted me to share with you mine, so here it is..
It's a 2002 1.2 8v Fiat Punto Mk2 Mia, which develops a frankly terrifying 62 horsepower. Bought for the grand total of £1,000 back in May 2012 with 42,000 miles on the clock, it's a car which overall; whilst upholding the motto 'fix it again tomorrow' and the next day, as i've often found out, has been everything I could have hoped for as a first car. Ticking over 57,000 miles the other week, i've become quite attached to 'Percy' as it's become known, as despite the need for a bigger car next year for my year in industry i'm struggling to justify parting with my fun little Punto for something more suitable to the motorway commute.
Naturally, being a Fiat, it's not the last word in handling. In fact, if the road is even slightly wet the slightest application of throttle will cause catastrophic understeer. But, that is all the fun of a first car; being able to have oodles of fun, without going fast enough to hurt yourself. It is very good fun though, and despite being a tiny 8v engine, it is quite gutsy and is alot of fun around town.
So, before this turns into an essay I best sign off, comments both positive and negative are welcomed, I know this isn't the most PH worthy car, but I've not messed with it in the hope that once insurance prices become less ridiculous I can afford something with abit more poke!
(Hopefully the photo uploading worked)
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/v87uDptw.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/wSs9ue8Q" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/wSs9ue8Q.jpg)
It's a 2002 1.2 8v Fiat Punto Mk2 Mia, which develops a frankly terrifying 62 horsepower. Bought for the grand total of £1,000 back in May 2012 with 42,000 miles on the clock, it's a car which overall; whilst upholding the motto 'fix it again tomorrow' and the next day, as i've often found out, has been everything I could have hoped for as a first car. Ticking over 57,000 miles the other week, i've become quite attached to 'Percy' as it's become known, as despite the need for a bigger car next year for my year in industry i'm struggling to justify parting with my fun little Punto for something more suitable to the motorway commute.
Naturally, being a Fiat, it's not the last word in handling. In fact, if the road is even slightly wet the slightest application of throttle will cause catastrophic understeer. But, that is all the fun of a first car; being able to have oodles of fun, without going fast enough to hurt yourself. It is very good fun though, and despite being a tiny 8v engine, it is quite gutsy and is alot of fun around town.
So, before this turns into an essay I best sign off, comments both positive and negative are welcomed, I know this isn't the most PH worthy car, but I've not messed with it in the hope that once insurance prices become less ridiculous I can afford something with abit more poke!
(Hopefully the photo uploading worked)
That looks like a very tidy first car. Is that snow on the windscreen?
I really probably shouldn't admit this but my first car was an Austin Princess, albeit the Vanden Plas edition, which meant plush velour seats and a radio cassette. You probably won't even remember them, why would anyone.
Sadly I can still remember the reg. RCL 440R, in burgundy and I would never have posted that up.
So I think your first car is very credible in comparison. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
I really probably shouldn't admit this but my first car was an Austin Princess, albeit the Vanden Plas edition, which meant plush velour seats and a radio cassette. You probably won't even remember them, why would anyone.
Sadly I can still remember the reg. RCL 440R, in burgundy and I would never have posted that up.
So I think your first car is very credible in comparison. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
I had one as my first car (well, first car I bought with my own money)too. Mine was a Mk2 1.2 Sporting with the six speed 'box, and I thought it was the absolute nuts. Until the gearbox catastrophically disintegrated...
I still do have a soft spot for them though - much better looking than the equivalent Fiesta or Corsa.
I still do have a soft spot for them though - much better looking than the equivalent Fiesta or Corsa.
had ham said:
Great first car, quite a good looking thing too!
ETA Piccy of St Mary's makes me homesick......
Cheers for that, I am quite find of the looks, more so than the facelift really! And apologies about the picture, back from uni for the weekend and couldn't resist, you local to Whitley Bay?ETA Piccy of St Mary's makes me homesick......
Thanks for the comments, nice to see some Punto love on here! Apologies I can't multi-quote, still figuring out how to do it!
Melvster, I have seen yours on here before looks very tidy indeed, I has looked at a sporting albeit pre facelift, but backed out due to a sloppy gearbox
RacingBlue I know what you mean I've heard a few stories of gearbox woe, my worst problem so far has been the windscreen wipers attacking each other on the A1, common problem apparently, so mine is running aftermarket wiper linkages direct from Italy.
Melvster, I have seen yours on here before looks very tidy indeed, I has looked at a sporting albeit pre facelift, but backed out due to a sloppy gearbox
RacingBlue I know what you mean I've heard a few stories of gearbox woe, my worst problem so far has been the windscreen wipers attacking each other on the A1, common problem apparently, so mine is running aftermarket wiper linkages direct from Italy.
Spantney said:
Great little car dude. I had one for my first car, in banana yellow (inherited from my mum!), never lost it in the car park 
Enjoy it!
That's brilliant, must have been a hoot to own, presume it was a sporting model though? Would love the wheels on mine but to be honest it's not worth the hassle and with 2 years no claims now it'll not be long before I can afford something abit quicker anyway! Enjoy it!
Coaster94 said:
Cheers for that, I am quite find of the looks, more so than the facelift really! And apologies about the picture, back from uni for the weekend and couldn't resist, you local to Whitley Bay?
I was, once, but a long time ago - back when the Spanna (Spanish City) was still a big attraction. Now resident in leafy Herts.. Still get homesick though!had ham said:
I was, once, but a long time ago - back when the Spanna (Spanish City) was still a big attraction. Now resident in leafy Herts.. Still get homesick though!
Ah fair enough, sad to report that the Spanish city is looking rather sorry for itself at the minute! I'm a student in Leeds but it's always nice to get back to 'the bay' every so often!Anyhow back on topic, will post some more pictures tomorrow after a quick trip into Northumberland!
SLR400 said:
That looks like a very tidy first car. Is that snow on the windscreen?
I really probably shouldn't admit this but my first car was an Austin Princess, albeit the Vanden Plas edition, which meant plush velour seats and a radio cassette. You probably won't even remember them, why would anyone.
Sadly I can still remember the reg. RCL 440R, in burgundy and I would never have posted that up.
So I think your first car is very credible in comparison. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
Thank you, yes indeed it is snow already! An Austin Princess doesn't sound too terrible, my dad's had some shockers in his time.I really probably shouldn't admit this but my first car was an Austin Princess, albeit the Vanden Plas edition, which meant plush velour seats and a radio cassette. You probably won't even remember them, why would anyone.
Sadly I can still remember the reg. RCL 440R, in burgundy and I would never have posted that up.
So I think your first car is very credible in comparison. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
Defcon5 said:
My first car was also a 1.2 Punto, same shape as that. HGF after a few months put me off it and I got rid
Sorry to hear about that mate, in my experience, there not as unreliable as people think, although they do seem to go through general wear and tear parts a little quicker than i'd imagined; although maybe that says alot about my style of driving.Think in the time i've had mine i've had the following done:
2 Front Springs
Windscreen Wiper Linkage Conversion
Middle and Rear Section Exhaust
And a full set of Uniroyal Rain Expert Tyres.
Oh, and a new battery!
So overall, I don't think that's terible. But I was rather annoyed at paying £140 after 4 weeks of ownership on a new exhaust.
Also, if anyone's interested here's a pic of the interior
My son bought an 02 plate Punto three years old at 26,000 miles for 3k. Still got it, now on 80k, still very reliable in daily use...probably only worth around £500 now though.
Other than usual brakes, exhaust, battery conusummable replacements had two issues, which are common problems with these cars...
1) New sump required due to rusting through at the front, (causing oil leakage)due to stone chips, because not much protection...cost around £175 inc labour IIRC
2) Wiper mechanism has failed twice....a VERY common problem, the second time fixed with one of these, cost less than £5.......been on for two years now...still OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBArvIey9D8
Other than usual brakes, exhaust, battery conusummable replacements had two issues, which are common problems with these cars...
1) New sump required due to rusting through at the front, (causing oil leakage)due to stone chips, because not much protection...cost around £175 inc labour IIRC
2) Wiper mechanism has failed twice....a VERY common problem, the second time fixed with one of these, cost less than £5.......been on for two years now...still OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBArvIey9D8
Coaster94 said:
Sorry to hear about that mate, in my experience, there not as unreliable as people think, although they do seem to go through general wear and tear parts a little quicker than i'd imagined; although maybe that says alot about my style of driving.
Think in the time i've had mine i've had the following done:
2 Front Springs
Windscreen Wiper Linkage Conversion
Middle and Rear Section Exhaust
And a full set of Uniroyal Rain Expert Tyres.
Oh, and a new battery!
So overall, I don't think that's terible. But I was rather annoyed at paying £140 after 4 weeks of ownership on a new exhaust.
Also, if anyone's interested here's a pic of the interior
That looks wonderfully clean - totally unlike the average student house!Think in the time i've had mine i've had the following done:
2 Front Springs
Windscreen Wiper Linkage Conversion
Middle and Rear Section Exhaust
And a full set of Uniroyal Rain Expert Tyres.
Oh, and a new battery!
So overall, I don't think that's terible. But I was rather annoyed at paying £140 after 4 weeks of ownership on a new exhaust.
Also, if anyone's interested here's a pic of the interior
vrooom said:
I had one of those mk1 shape. it was real fun car. it could oversteer on demend.
Sure you dont mean understeer ?, only driven a Punto biefly but had a Cinquecento Sporting years ago and loved it, that was also terrible for understeer in the wet, even with good tyres (was controlable though)Regarding the headgasket, mine went at 70,000 miles, i remember reading at the time that fiat F.I.R.E engine headgaskets desintigrate and need done at this mileage anyway, was lucky i could replace the gasket myself though.
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