Samc36's Fiat Punto Mk2 1.2 16v Sporting with Abarth bits in White :D

samc36

Copy & Paste job from other forums....

Hey everyone, tell me what you think about my first car. .

Please no "Puntos/Fiats are C**P rubbish! It is what it is.

I've had it since October and I love it.

I spent a good bit putting it right after abuse from previous owners but it has low mileage, got it at 84000, has 89500ish now. Has new Head Gasket, Timing Belt, Tensioner, Water Pump. Serviced and well cleaned and valeted of course. One of my favourite things in it is the Pioneer head unit I put in, with loads of colours and a mix feature. It's already smooth-sided, has Abarth bumpers and spoiler, abarth logo valve caps, is de-badged on the rear,a slightly unsightly e-Tech aftermarket spoiler, and has tinted rear passenger windows. I plan on tinting my other windows.

As for plans, I would love to lower it on lowering springs or coilovers (Expensive), but we'll see. On the subject of lowering, it being the higher spec model, lower only to the HGT and Abarth and that's only engine-wise AFAIK, it sits quite low already.

(Specs

2000 Fiat Punto 1.2 sporting. (mk2/a High spec model 80BHP)
16v engine
Sporting Alloys
Sporting Sideskirts
Abarth bumpers, front and back
Abarth Spoiler
Tinted Rear Passenger Windows
Aftermarket E tech rear spoiler (now removed!)
LaserLine Alarm System
LaserLine RCL? Maybe Standard
Immobiliser as standard
Abarth logo dust caps
Pioneer DEH - X3500 radio (Awesome)
Smooth sided (no damage strips)
De-badged on rear
Febi Bilstein HG ( The right one for the car unlike the one the idiot before me had in. )
Airtex Water Pump
Contitech Belt kits
Bosch Oil Filter
MAN Air Filter, stock air box.
Full Set of NGK Spark plugs
All sitting on 4 Fiat Punto Sporting 15"s wrapped in 4 Firestone Tyres.NEW:
New Windscreen from Autoglass (Splintex or something)
New Back Wiper Arm and Blade (Somebody smashed the old one)
New Aerial Base as the old one was f**ked. I just need a screw in aerial now
8 Grommets instead of my spoiler
16 SMD led festoons in my interior dome lightPlanning on getting:
Abarth gear knob,
scorpion badge,
Abarth scorpion seat belt pads,
more new car smell Christmas trees
Planning on getting: New
Blue Led strips for interior, in footwells, under seats facing rear seats and cupholder area.
Paint, Primer & Clear for touching up. No idea how to do any of it properly.
Filler possibly for alloy and body touching up (I didn't cause the damage)
Degreaser for a bl**dy good clean up.
I've gotten fond of black ice air fresheners so maybe a few of them

)

As for me saying my car is high spec (80BHP haha), it is much higher than a standard mk2 punto. I'm not saying it's extremely powerful. I use BHP to help distinguish easily between mine and the regular punto which develops about 59BHP.

It also has (compared to standard punto):

Improved seats, headrests, doorcards, steering wheel, black interior dash and glovebox, colour coded bodykit,
6 speed manual gearbox,
8 more valves (twice as many, 4 each cylinder),
improved suspension,
front foglights.

Here's some pics:

Interior (Wide)







More interior:

Clocks & Mileage



It redlines at about 6900 and most of the power delivery is at 5000 revs apparently. It'll do 80km/h or 50mph in second gear, and it'll do 115 ish km/h or 70 mph in 3rd gear. It's really nippy and quite torquey in the lower gears. It pulls well at lower speeds but these small engines have power gaps after a certain stage in the rev range. It's a fun car to drive though.

Oh yeah, it gets good mileage too, 50ish mpg at around 60mph being consistent (National Roads),
and through town it gets between 36 and 44 ish mpg.

NOTE (about spoiler): I didn't put the spoiler on. It's bolted through my boot and secured with brackets, so I don't fancy messing about with it. I've learned to live with it though and you do get used to it . It looks better in person I think.

In other news, I think I've managed to get rid of all the car's smokeyness after the blown HG. I don't think it's burning oil anymore either.

Thanks for your opinions and stuff and more pics to follow haha. :cool::D

samc36

My Pioneer HU (Head Unit), some different colours (Fully customisable):

Blue & White

Green & Red

Orange or Amber, to match the dials.

samc36

Here's some pics of the inside.. did a mini photoshoot. Sorry about the dirt in my car. It's in need of a good hoover and that.

I took them quickly because I had people looking at me for taking pictures of my car and I felt weird lol .
Oh and my car is called Gertrude, stupid name, no idea why, but she is kinda old and the name sounds old and it bothers people that I'd name it that so I thought it was funny.


Flying Gertrude

D...d..d..doors

Clean Gertrude

Gertrude

Interior Nice

Interior Front

Semi Bucket Seat/Centre Console

Interior From Boot

samc36

Angled Interior Close

Main Front Interior

Main Front Interior Slightly Blurry


Silly through windscreen shot


Legroom with Front Seat Back all the way

Legroom with Front Seat Forwards all the way

And last but not least...

Back Seats

Back Seats and Belts

You can literally remove all legroom from the back haha, but I don't care because I don't need to use the back ever.

samc36

Oh and I took down my spoiler. The area where it was needs some cleaning up, but I've some nice tight little grommits in there till I can make it look better. I think it makes the car look smaller haha, maybe lower, but now I don't have a shelf to hold my keys when I get petrol, or a water trough to let thirsty birds have a drink lol.

samc36

Photoshop Practice

More Vivid White:


Black


Blue


Purple


Green


Yellow


Red

samc36

I just painstakingly spent hours stickerbombing my entire car. No not really, I'm taking the P**s. Was mucking about, decided to stickerbomb it quick in PS to see if I could.

Supergurrier

Good to see such enthusiasm.

Keep us updated on Gertrude's adventures.

Noccy_Mondy

Get the L plates down as soon as possible, and you're away!

samc36

OSI wrote: »

Haha. I think this is my new favourite thread in Motors.

Nice Punto Sam, well wear. Just ease up on the stickers :pac:

Thanks, and yeah I don't think there's a single sticker on the car haha, just practicing with Photoshop.

Supergurrier wrote: »

Good to see such enthusiasm.

Keep us updated on Gertrude's adventures.

I will indeed !

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Get the L plates down as soon as possible, and you're away!

Passed my full test first time on the 6th of this month, just waiting on my license from NDLS :rolleyes:

Noccy_Mondy

samc36 wrote: »

Passed my full test first time on the 6th of this month, just waiting on my license from NDLS :rolleyes:

Well done! I'm assuming you have the L plates down now though!

samc36

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Well done! I'm assuming you have the L plates down now though!

Thanks, and nope I've opted to go non traditional on this. There shall be a ceremonial burning of the plates of "L" on the after eve of the arrival of said license of fullness!

Personally I think NDLS is a complete joke...but thats my opinion. They quote 8 days on all documentation, tell you 6-8 weeks in the centre and 3-6 weeks on the helpline. Card printing and verification could easily be done on-site and for a low cost. You're completely unlicensed while waiting on all of this rubbish anyway. You're meant to be able to produce the license if asked for.

Noccy_Mondy

As long as you have the receipt from the NDLS in the car, you're ok if you meet the gardaí. (until you get the full license)

SEPT 23 1989

Nice machine

how much is it insured for?

justsomebloke

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Get the L plates down as soon as possible, and you're away!

I surprised he didn't use an "L" as the basis of one of the stickers

samc36

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

As long as you have the receipt from the NDLS in the car, you're ok if you meet the gardaí. (until you get the full license)

Thanks, seems to be the generally done thing anyway.

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Nice machine

how much is it insured for?

Thanks, I'm older than most first time drivers (21) and thanks to the gender equality thing it's not too bad. Most quotes on anything under 1.4 are around the €1200 mark for me. But it should be different now as loading should be gone with me having a full license.

samc36

justsomebloke wrote: »

I surprised he didn't use an "L" as the basis of one of the stickers

I could do that, hmmm yeah I like the idea of big red L's all over the car haha.
No, of course I don't really, could make it happen in Photoshop though..

dgt

Great thread OP!

samc36 wrote: »

Photoshop Practice...

Yellow

Ahhhh.... That brings back memories :cool:

Jesus.

Lovely little Motor there Sam. Well wear. Your enthusiasm is a shot in the arm. Fair play to ye!

Go forth and drive, my child

JESUS

Ded_Zebra

Lovely little car and a brilliant way to introduce yourself to the forum

GvidoR

I saw that Punto on mightycarmods forum. :pac:

samc36

dgt wrote: »

Great thread OP!
Ahhhh.... That brings back memories :cool:

Thanks . I'm glad I could give you a nostalgic moment. I like the yellow puntos.

Jesus. wrote: »

Lovely little Motor there Sam. Well wear. Your enthusiasm is a shot in the arm. Fair play to ye!

Go forth and drive, my child

JESUS

Amen brutha! Cheers

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Lovely little car and a brilliant way to introduce yourself to the forum

Thanks, thought it was about time to do something on Boards.

Thanks for all the compliments and opinions everyone! :cool::P

samc36

GvidoR wrote: »

I saw that Punto on mightycarmods forum. :pac:

Ah cool, I presume it was me . I'm also on:

Fiat Forum
Midnight Club
Italian Car Club of Ireland

GvidoR

Yea, it was definitely yours. I saw those midnight club pics from a meet in Waterford, Wexford or something.

samc36

GvidoR wrote: »

Yea, it was definitely yours. I saw those midnight club pics from a meet in Waterford, Wexford or something.

Ah great so, yep was up in Wicklow.

dgt

samc36 wrote: »

Ah cool, I presume it was me . I'm also on:

Fiat Forum
Midnight Club
Italian Car Club of Ireland

Join our Irish society

GvidoR

samc36 wrote: »

Ah great so, yep was up in Wicklow.

Damn, so close.

samc36

dgt wrote: »

Join our Irish society

Done already I'm sure

GvidoR wrote: »

Damn, so close.

Next time bud!

samc36

Right so, Gertrude is just after flying past her 90,000th mile and is looking great after 6000 miles of my ownership .

I've polished my lights and they're sooooo much clearer without the oxidation. The pictures do no justice to the difference haha . I also got a new aerial, an extendable beesting one, and polished out some scuffs and paint transfers. Am thinking of adding some blue interior led(SMD) lighting. Footwells first, and I'll see how that goes.

Sorry for any poor pics, using a phone camera in a rush :P




Edited (Contrast, colour and brightness)


Unedited copy


Inside Lit


Inside Dark


Conté Crayon Filter


Much Brighter Lights


Rear


Front


Nice Bright Fulls and clear light casings


Parking lights and Dome light activated with my alarm fob (Gonna be using this for the interior footwell lighting )

samc36

Nice shot, not blurry


Another nice pic


Full shot


Blurry pic

samc36

I just have no words.... Gertrude is no more!

She went up in flames tonight. It was myself and my girlfriend in the car and luckily we are both ok if a little shook up. I can't believe my car is gone, I didn't even get a good look at it. I'll be seeing it Tuesday and talking to Insurance co. :(:(

Noccy_Mondy

samc36 wrote: »

I just have no words.... Gertrude is no more!

She went up in flames tonight. It was myself and my girlfriend in the car and luckily we are both ok if a little shook up. I can't believe my car is gone, I didn't even get a good look at it. I'll be seeing it Tuesday and talking to Insurance co. :(:(

Jaysus that's awful news man As long as no one was hurt! Any idea of what caused it?

samc36

I know, thanks, that's the main thing, I'm just happy we're ok!

I've no idea why it went up

Ded_Zebra

Good lord!!! I'm really sorry to hear that, it was a really nice looking little car

At least no one was hurt but a really shocking way to lose a car :(:(

samc36

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Good lord!!! I'm really sorry to hear that, it was a really nice looking little car

At least no one was hurt but a really shocking way to lose a car :(:(

Thanks, I absolutely loved it. I'm gutted, but I'm so happy we're ok. It is a bad way to lose the car. Horrible to see it like that.

GvidoR

Sorry to hear that, mate. I know what it's like, I lost a car I was really attached to as well, but in my case I didn't get any compensation for it or anything. Hopefully you'll get something from the insurance and it won't go up in price as well. Time to get something else now. Maybe German or Japanese?

samc36

GvidoR wrote: »

Sorry to hear that, mate. I know what it's like, I lost a car I was really attached to as well, but in my case I didn't get any compensation for it or anything. Hopefully you'll get something from the insurance and it won't go up in price as well. Time to get something else now. Maybe German or Japanese?

Hopefully insurance doesn't go up yeah. I'm covered for for fire anyway. I probably will end up getting something German or Japanese when I've enough money. At least for a small while I owned an Italian Sports Car. (Technically) as it was the Fiat Punto Sporting haha. I will miss it though. It's too weird still wanting to hop in it and head to the beach or the shops or whatever and it's not there.

GvidoR

Yeah, I remember looking out of the window where I used to park my car... there was nothing there, it was so sad.

samc36

GvidoR wrote: »

Yeah, I remember looking out of the window where I used to park my car... there was nothing there, it was so sad.

Yeah, I'm really getting that now. . Not to mention losing out on like €600 left on my insurance policy.