Head gasket was replaced by previous owner.
Car periodically overheated for no apparent reason, maybe a bad job by the mechanic on skimming the head (if at all) when the head gasket was replaced.
Seat fabric somewhat like a mesh curtain from cigarette ash blowing around the car.
Dents all over, not worth fixing.
Very sporty for a 1.2. No doubt due to the tinfoil body.
Fuel economy was good,
Handling could be termed good if you're into driving something that feels like a skyscraper on rollerskates.
It's a deceptive car, makes you believe that it handles well, which is OK if you're steady and don't spring any surprises on the running gear when you're committed to a line. Things change quickly for the worse when the local inbred moron comes around a corner on the wrong side of the road in his nitrous-kitted Nissan Twinkie giving every appearance of being totally out of control but doing it as fast as he can (or can't)
Fortunately the Punto folded in on itself one day after connecting a Sprinter at 30kms in torrential rain. Thus ending a somewhat torrid and risky relationship. Not a car I'd trust with my life.
Bought a far more dependable and sweet-handling Mitsubishi Colt.
Why do all old Punto mark ones have dents all over the body?
I am about to buy my first car and was thinking about a Punto.
The main reason to not do is because the bad metal, I think it's a hair thick, other cars of the same age like Opel Corsa, Renault Clio, Seat Ibiza of around 10 years have straight damage free bodies, a Punto NEVER has.
I have noticed the same - they are always covered in door dents. We had three Puntos, a 96, 98 and 00 models, all were stylish in their day but poor quality-particularly the trim and electronics.
Personally, as a first car, I would be more interested in safety and would buy something newer on cheap finance - spending a little more on buying it will work out the same as keeping repairing an older Punto in the long run, and you get a safer, more reliable car in the meantime.
If you can live with the silly comments of the daft uneducated, try an early Skoda Fabia (pref with air-con) ; they are strong, reliable, safe cars and were usually bought new by older owners who will have looked after them. Watch out for power steering issues, though, caused by damp getting into the angle sensor under the NS headlight.
Or try a C1 - a bit tinny but fun to drive and cheap to run and insure.
More reliable than the old Punto but not much safer would be a Daihatsu YRV - a Toyota Yaris under the skin, quite cool and you can get a sporty looking, nice driving, good spec car with air-con and a glass panoramic roof for around £2000 now, and it will stand out in the crowd!
To get an idea what cars are available, just enter min and max price on Auto Trader website and get some ideas!
Insurance grouping will be a factor for you. Good luck!
Note: A Comments RSS Feed is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site