Check the maintenance costs on them though. Oil changes were quite expensive from the dealer I thought, but they did extend warranty to 5 years if you serviced it with them. They may not do that at the bargain basement rate though.
When you look at the spec of the "easy" model they are selling at $16000+orc it is a hell of a deal, more so if you plan to flick it after warranty expires. Far far better than the $20,000 Nissan Micra I drove yesterday!
Running cost per year is probably fairly comparable to a 5-6 year old $10000 used import.
They are an "old" car having been around for a number of years. But so has the Mitsi Lancer!
tgray,
Sep 12, 2:37am
Where's Jazz?
stevo2,
Sep 12, 3:20am
I did briefly take a look at the Punto while looking for a car for Mrs Stevo. I thought it had a very poor standard of fit and finish and appeared to be constructed out of tinfoil and glad wrap.
poppy62,
Sep 12, 4:33pm
Well the tinfoil and glad wrap must be pretty tough then. The Punto has had a Euro-Ncap and Ancap safety rating of 5***** for over 10 years. As a comparison the 2015 Mazda 2. Cx3 and Hyundai120i only get 4****. I think your brief look was a mere glance albeit (longingly) but the fact your mates may take the Mick swayed you.
stevo2,
Sep 12, 6:49pm
Poppy, I dont really care what my mates say as the car was for Mrs Stevo (and besides I also have an MX5). The tinfoil and grad wrap quip is more directed at the fit and finish, harsh plastics, tinny doors, flimsy door handles and switch gear etc. I dont doubt its structural integrity at all. And No, Im not anti Euro as 2 of the cars on my shortlist were the Skoda Fabia and VW polo cross.
brapbrap8,
Sep 12, 8:08pm
The Mitsi Lancer still sells quite well, Mitsi have done a decent job of keeping it pretty well up to date while bringing the price right down. I actually bought a new Lancer last year, mostly for the Mrs to drive to work (75km/day), and to use in the weekends as our 'family car'. Up to 26,000km so far in a bit less than a year and it has certainly done it's job so far, of being reliable and cheap to run, and comfortable to drive. $200 a service every 15,000km, and usually averaging 6-7L/100km depending on where we go on that tank of gas, pretty hard to get cheaper motoring I think.
whqqsh,
Sep 12, 10:20pm
Well we bought ours this morning, Ive looked at the many things said on here & actually found the body panels quite sold (the salesman wasn't too happy when I gave a few of them a good press), the interior seemed quite well done & the doors closed solidly & not tinny at all. We both didn't like the g/box in auto but when clicked into manual just took her a bit to get used to a manual with no clutch pedal & sequential pattern but I liked it straight away. The motor switching off then on again at the lights was annoying but theres a button to disable that. All in all is was a very nice car, we got the upgrade with the leather seats, different wheels etc & pick ours up in 4 or 5 days
whqqsh,
Sep 12, 10:24pm
oh & theres a Mk3 Golf VR6, 2 door, manual up for sale soon
poppy62,
Sep 12, 10:27pm
Hmmmm! well whqqsh is the proud owner of a new Punto and his take on all you listed seems to be quite the opposite. I myself have 2 Fiats at my place at the moment and I'm afraid I have to disagree with you.
fordcrzy,
Sep 13, 12:51am
they are cheap because they are on run out. one thing to consider is that in 3-5 years time the juicy cars will hit the used car auctions so the value of priavte cars will take a huge dive if you plan to sell at that time. however if you can pick up one of those ex rentals they will be good buying in 2017 if you pick one up wholesale.
brapbrap8,
Sep 13, 1:06am
Well the most they could ever lose is maybe $5k per year, even if the car was given away in 3 years. That is cheap as motoring in my books, especially since there are minimal servicing costs for the first few years. Any other new car will cost way more to own.
mopeds,
Sep 13, 1:15am
I'd be buying the Fiat Panda with the twin air motor for $14,990, don't go for the Dualogic trans though.
whqqsh,
Sep 13, 3:16am
Panda? we were looking around while there & I jokingly pointed one out & my wife tried to slap me for taking the piss. man they UGLY!
mrcat1,
Sep 14, 1:42am
He's over in farming giving them advice.
henderson_guy,
Sep 14, 1:50am
"What's the best tractor for my farm?" "Tractors are only for those brainwashed by the tractor or nothing mentality in our isolated part of the world. What you really want is VW touerag, it's got towing stability for pulling your feedout wagon through the paddocks, and it will use half the fuel of your average John Deere. Don't listen to anyone who actually knows the industry, I know best!
stevo2,
Sep 14, 2:56am
If this was Facebook, I could hit the "like" button. bahahaha
mrcat1,
Sep 14, 3:04am
No get it right, he would be arguing the advantages of Fiat and Renault tractors over New Holland, Case and John Deere tractors.
henderson_guy,
Sep 14, 3:08pm
They still make Fiat tractors? Haven't seen one since I was a kid!
brapbrap8,
Sep 14, 4:51pm
Well kind of, Fiat Agri owns Case IH and New Holland so they are still quite big in the tractor industry. Case IH and New Holland use FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technology) engines in their tractors. I guess you could technically say I drive a 350hp turbocharged straight 6, 2 seater Fiat for a living.
mrcat1,
Jun 26, 12:28pm
That's only a baby, there are bigger.
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