Starter Car Punto?

Boxoffrogs

I'm looking to buy my first car and on a budget also. I've around €2,500 but insurance will eat up roughly €1,000 of this. With what I have left I want something reliable.

I've found plenty of puntos that I'd be able to afford, they're, in my opinion, fairly basic and non offensive, but my question is, is there negative reason for there being so many on the market? Also, do they make a good starter car?

And lastly (sorry for so many questions), if not a punto, what would make a good starter car, given my small budget?

Thanks

boxermad

diddledum wrote: »

I'm looking to buy my first car and on a budget also. I've around €2,500 but insurance will eat up roughly €1,000 of this. With what I have left I want something reliable.

I've found plenty of puntos that I'd be able to afford, they're, in my opinion, fairly basic and non offensive, but my question is, is there negative reason for there being so many on the market? Also, do they make a good starter car?

And lastly (sorry for so many questions), if not a punto, what would make a good starter car, given my small budget?

Thanks

wouldnt go near fiats (fix it again 2mro). Started off with one and from day 1 had trouble with it it cost me a fortune. I went to a ford fiesta than and hadnt any trouble with it, replaced a tyre is all in about a years driven. Other cars out there would be
almeras, astras, fiestas, corsa, lancer, colt, starlet, yaris, corolla. here are afew links on donedeal to get an idea.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674757
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674751
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1649115
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674378
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674220
hope this comes in handy to you

johnos1984

Punto is a great first car and if its a well minded example I wouldn't worry about buying one. Parts are also very cheap if it does go wrong.

For €1500 you can expect any car to have issues.

Buy the best example of any car you can find and don't worry about the badge on the front.

sean1141

reliable and punto dont go together!!! they are cheap for a reason....they break down lol
you could be lucky and get one that never gives you any trouble but anyone i know that had one broke them..


as boxermad said go for a colt or a starlet or a 1.25 fiesta

johnos1984

sean1141 wrote: »

reliable and punto dont go together!!!

Funny my mate had one and cover 140k miles in it.

The trick was servicing it properly and on time. The poor car was traded in under the scrappage scheme for a Mégane.

The only thing that went was the alternator. I also have another friend with one and its had no issues.

sean1141

johnos1984 wrote: »

Funny my mate had one and cover 140k miles in it.

The trick was servicing it properly and on time. The poor car was traded in under the scrappage scheme for a Mégane.

The only thing that went was the alternator. I also have another friend with one and its had no issues.

i know one girl who had to get the head gasked done twice in 6 months. two or three other people i know had them had to get head gaskets done also.. guess its like any car you can be lucky or unlucky!

johnos1984

sean1141 wrote: »

i know one girl who had to get the head gasked done twice in 6 months. two or three other people i know had them had to get head gaskets done also.. guess its like any car you can be lucky or unlucky!

I would question the people who done the work.

Did they just change the gasket and not actually fix what was causing it to blow in the first place?

The same happens with MG-ROVERS K-series engine the whole time. HG goes, they fix it and hey presto the HG goes again as the cause has never been fixed.

sean1141

johnos1984 wrote: »

I would question the people who done the work.

Did they just change the gasket and not actually fix what was causing it to blow in the first place?

The same happens with MG-ROVERS K-series engine the whole time. HG goes, they fix it and hey presto the HG goes again as the cause has never been fixed.

local garage done the work. know the mechanic well.. it was a few years back and cant remember what caused the problem but it was fixed. came back again after a few months with the gasket gone again.. she got it repaired and sold it. heard it went again a few months after that...

keithclancy

Head Gaskets are a weak spot.

Other than that they have an awful rep ... and most of them for a sale are battered and never looked after

Ghost Train

very little trouble from mk2 punto over 4 or 5 years, but have heard of the head gasket problems

turbojunkie

Steer clear of a Punto. Go for something Japanese like a starlet or Micra. Far more reliable

Boxoffrogs

boxermad wrote: »

wouldnt go near fiats (fix it again 2mro). Started off with one and from day 1 had trouble with it it cost me a fortune. I went to a ford fiesta than and hadnt any trouble with it, replaced a tyre is all in about a years driven. Other cars out there would be
almeras, astras, fiestas, corsa, lancer, colt, starlet, yaris, corolla. here are afew links on donedeal to get an idea.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674757
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674751
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1649115
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674378
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1674220
hope this comes in handy to you

Very helpful thanks, particularly like the look of the corsa, especially considering that I've gotten reasonable insurance quotes on them, pity its in Mayo but gives me some idea of whats available. Thanks

zilog_jones

Most head gasket stories come from Mk. 1 Puntos - only the 1.2 8-valve engine in the Mk. 2 Punto has head gasket problems. I also know people who have had hassle-free 1.2 16V Punto Mk. 2's, as others have said you just have to look after them properly.

What kind of driving would you be doing? I have a Mk. 4 Fiesta and do not find it comfortable at all for any long journeys, the seats do not wear well and legroom is poor (there's no proper resting place for your left foot). You'll probably find similar problems in other cars of this size.

boxermad

diddledum wrote: »

Very helpful thanks, particularly like the look of the corsa, especially considering that I've gotten reasonable insurance quotes on them, pity its in Mayo but gives me some idea of whats available. Thanks

no problem, just search corsa in ur area shud be a good couple, try donedeal, gumtree and carzone but u wont find alot on carzone. donedeal is ur best bet

Boxoffrogs

Argh, mixed reviews, although I kind of expected as much. Some of the puntos I have looked at have been really well cared for so maybe it has a lot to do with how they've been treated?

I know I'll certainly look around a bit more, I'm in no real hurry. Thanks for the opinions people.

Boxoffrogs

zilog_jones wrote: »

Most head gasket stories come from Mk. 1 Puntos - only the 1.2 8-valve engine in the Mk. 2 Punto has head gasket problems. I also know people who have had hassle-free 1.2 16V Punto Mk. 2's, as others have said you just have to look after them properly.

What kind of driving would you be doing? I have a Mk. 4 Fiesta and do not find it comfortable at all for any long journeys, the seats do not wear well and legroom is poor (there's no proper resting place for your left foot). You'll probably find similar problems in other cars of this size.

Thanks, I'll be mainly covering short distances initially, at least while I build my confidence, 40 mins at most and my legs aren't overly long, so leg room should not be a really big issue. I'm just a little wary of trying for a bigger car as they seem to come with a bigger engine and hence bigger premiums.

Ardennes1944

had a 8v mk2 punto and loved it. much more reliable than any 16v engine. just service it regularly and dont drive it hard from cold and theres nothing really else to go wrong. defo recommend a punto