Am looking at a metallic orange one. Going for $2800. Guy says the paint is a bit faded but otherwise ok car. Looked at polos but they are twice the price. Want to stay around five K. Any independant mechanics on the shore or just go to any!
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 17, 8:11am
I'm not in Auckland but I do get bits now and then from Italian Auto Centre on Great South Road who also do servicing and no doubt pre checks.
The most important things being a 2000 model is to check very carefully for rust above and around the windscreen. They are galvanised but in 2000 there was an issue with a non galv bracket rusting through on just a few.
Also, check carefully that the power steering is smooth and not overly noisy (should just be a quiet electric noise when turned) again this was a problem on a handfull of 2000 models.
These are the reasons why its sometimes easier for others just to avoid the 2000 but really its pretty unlikely you would find one with either of those two problems.
Check all electrics work, look for fade in the rear lights. Make sure the occupancy sensor goes off when you sit in the seat and most of all if its CVT make sure for certain its been serviced on time every time if over say 60K on the clock. if under just service straight away.
$2800 is the cheapest one I have ever seen, be a little wary at that price and take your time. You can get a real low km kiwi new well serviced stunner with a bit of care and patience for around 5K.
Best to stay with someone with plenty of Punto experience for a pre-check as the basic mechanicals are super reliable so if there is a problem its likely a punto quirk.
Good luck with it all, great choice of car for 5K.
daryl14,
Jan 17, 7:30pm
Thanks Jazz. Will take that all on board. Is a manual car. It's actually in orewa I just realised. It's just the faded paint I mentioned that seems to be the reason for the low price. Thanks again.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 17, 11:27pm
daryl, this is definitely a new shape 2000 model you are talking about!
If so that is sounding really good, with the cheaper higher km ones the manual is the way to go then you don't have to worry about service intervals etc.
Just be aware that for a MK2 to be faded it must have seen some serious sun over time. Check the wipers carefully and make sure they don't pop out of their sockets when you use them. If they do its a fairly easy fix but your wipers may always be a bit juddery.
Thats a consequence of the plastic elbows in the sun BTW.
It sounds pretty good for the money to me.
Worth checking what motor is in it too, there were just a handful of kiwi new 8 valve ones initially as opposed to the usual 16 valve. Still a good engine and cheaper to do a cambelt no doubt but it won't have anywhere near the go the 16 valve has.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 18, 5:07am
Thats the new shape so all good there! Was just wondering with it being manual and the price whether it was the very last of the MK1.
Sounds great anyhow, how many km's on it!
It will certainly be cheap and safe for commuting. Can't think of anything else that cheap to run and safe for the money.
Just get them to check the paint fade carefully. It was common for the previous model to fade in the sun but not really this model (at least not yet that I have seen) so just make sure they know to check thoroughly and ensure there have not been any dodgy repairs done or the the rusty bracket problem by the windscreen.
It will be great to hear how you get on with it!
Don't forget too, cambelt engine so be wary of age + km's don't just change on km's alone.
daryl14,
Jan 18, 7:01am
Hey, 165 K on the clock and cambelt done at 100k. Getting excited now and thinking I've a few spare quid to look at upgrades. Definately some nice wheels. how about those mirrors! they look a little weird. Are there any other enhancements I could think about!
rovercitroen,
Jan 18, 6:56pm
Daryl, if or when you need parts see Dino Enterprises (Mal) in Cambridge. But if you have been reading here for long you will alraedy know that!
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 18, 8:12pm
Have a look at the Abarth wheels. A few from Japan (even not Abarths) have them and they look factory but mean! A call to Mal at Dino or Italaian Autos might unearth a used set. You wouldnt want to buy them new I don't think given the price. I had them on my black one and it looked really mean.
If not Abarth wheels the HLX Punto wheels look nearly as good but don't have the scorpion pincer curve to the spokes.
How long ago was the cambelt done! I wouldn't go over 5 years between changes.
There are lots of Punto tuning sites on the net and plenty of aftermarket gear about. I personally would not be in a hurry to mess with that little motor, Fiat have good factory cold air box's and its a finely tuned little machine.
A good service likely wouldn't go amiss though. Also being that cheap I would hang on a couple of weeks before blowing the extra cash just in case something gets unearthed that needs attention.
Dino enterprises is near you which are great for cheap parts BTW but do be a little weary of Mals service charges. I have heard a few fairly steep quotes of late but to date any work I have had done (which isn't much as I do my own) has been at a good price. Just a case of evaluating a quote before you get stuff done.
Glad you are excited about it, while they are only a little commuter they still have a bit of fun Italian charm about them!
EDIT 171579085 listing has the Abarth wheels I was thinking of. They look correct and mean but not so big as to upset the practicality of the car for commuting and the Speedo should stay accurate.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 18, 8:19pm
Whoops, missed your post rover, didn't mean to repeat what you quite rightly said!
daryl14,
Jan 22, 5:07am
Just drove the wee Fiat home from Auckland. A pleasure to drive. Seems a very capable little car. Wonder if you can change out the blaupunkt tape player for a cd! The factory sub woofer cracks me up. Car only has the plain black dash not the silver one. Might pop out to Dinos next week for a scrounge.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 22, 5:15am
Yes they go well for 1200cc aye! I havn't changed a Kiwi new stereo before but have swapped the Jap import stereo's before. It was apiece of cake and the replacement unit went in without a hassle.
Assuming it has the same carridge it should be fine.
Have a look at the dash of some Jap ones and you will see the stereo sticks out a bit, I would expect the same once you fit a replacement.
Are you heckling the mighty 6" Sub! LOL (actually. is it even 6"!) BTW, if you don't want the sub it comes out easily and gives you some more boot space.
incar.,
Jan 22, 7:22am
Hey mate, so your happy with the car!
daryl14,
Jan 22, 8:15am
Hi Carl,Man what a small world! Yeah I think it's a good buy for the money. I hope you agree. Thanks heaps for your time with the check up!
jono2912,
Jan 22, 8:16am
Hey Jazz, would it have a amp as well (since it has a sub) if it has a amp, and that amps the speakers, replacing the headunit may be a big job, that's if it's anything like the jappas. Levin etc have amps under passenger seat that amp all 4 speakers, BUT if you install a new headunit you have to bypass the amp or install a new one, if you install a new one, you may as well install new speakers.
Just a thought.
(sorry about the long sentences.)
incar.,
Jan 22, 8:49am
your welcome.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 22, 10:29pm
To be honest. I can't remember!
I do remember though it was very straight forward to do the change. If you get stuck one of my workers did the change on the one he had as a work vehicle. He has a better memory than me!
I have a vague thought that the sub may have been a powered sub so its only a simple single amp for that and may be in the sub itself. can't really remember though.
If in doubt, jump on the Fiat forum, they will tell you straight away!
daryl14,
Jan 24, 11:32pm
Oh hey Jazz, Guys,What's the best way to go about getting a second key cut and programmed! Also could I hook a Blaupunkt cd changer to the Tape deck! Would I have to find a particular model of CD changer! Cheers.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 24, 11:43pm
Dude! CD Changer. are you serious! Why not just stick a turntable on the back seat!
Seriously though, I wouldn't muck around with it. Just over $100 should get you a brand name CD head unit with input for your MP3 player. Its going to be a lot less hassle and a better result. Thats what I did anyhow, when my worker took his flash head unit out of his work one I just slipped in a Sony headunit from Repco. Piece of cake.
If you don't mind spending a little more go with a bluetooth one that can deal with music from an android or iphone. Realistically thats where most people will be at in a year or two. Being able to read MP3's off a memory stick is great too. So much better than CD's.
As for the key, never had to have one done. Perhaps ring Mal at Dino's or Italian Auto's for advice. If it seems a bit pricy then you can buy the keys off ebay etc cheap but you would need someone who can code them. I suspect that any Garage with Fiat/Alfa diagnostic gear may be able to code one for you. There are a couple of very capable aftermarket diagnostic programs that may be capable of that as well. Some fiats when they were new came with a special key that was just used for coding (different colour one) but I suspect thats no longer needed.
This would be a great question for the Fiat Forum as well. they will have much more in depth advice for you!
Are you still enjoying it BTW!
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 24, 11:46pm
All that said, if you really wanted to keep it factory and get a CD changer you will probably find Mal or Italian's will have an appropriate one.
An audio shop would tell you if it takes a standard changer but most Kiwi Multipla's etc have the Blauplunkt changer factory fitted so there should be some around.
I wouldn't be entirely surprised if the CD changer wiring is actually already in the car. Could be wrong on that though.
I think fiatecuscan is the software that will do the coding. Mal or Italains or even another Fiat service garage over your way should have it. (or something else that would do)
If for some bizzare reason they want a fortune to do it you could always buy the software (about 50GBP) and use my laptop OBD cable sometime when you are over this way.
Hope that helps.
EDIT: Scratch that. apparently you do need the proper dealer software for the keys. BTW the dealer service software (called examiner) is the same for Alfa and Fiat as far as I am aware. So any good independent Alfa/Fiat specialist may be able to help.
daryl14,
Jan 25, 4:37am
Thanks heaps for that jazz, Yeah I'm really having fun with it. I actually went for a wee skid yesterday when I came up on a roundabout a bit fast in the wet. I've been to see both Mal and Maurice Thompson in T.A. They want $800 for a set of Abarth Wheels without rubber. No luck on stereo or Key so I will try Italian autos.
Might go for aftermarket CD player yet, But I'd still just play cd's in it anyway. I'm worried an aftermarket unit won't have correct wiring for the sub. That's why I thought genuine would be best.
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