Bought a car for number 1 son

[Tiff]

. while the rest of the car rusts all around it

I'd go as far as to say that my 88 X1/9 had less rust than my 95 C200,and the Fiat had been lying in a field for 4 years....

Our 1994 Lancia Dedra was 100% unmarked,even the wifes old 88 panda was near mint,whereas my 230E needs 2 front wings...

I love Mercs,but wish they had the rust resistance of Italian cars...

(this should stir it up a bit! )

 

[Dieselman]

I'd go as far as to say that my 88 X1/9 had less rust than my 95 C200,and the Fiat had been lying in a field for 4 years....

Our 1994 Lancia Dedra was 100% unmarked,even the wifes old 88 panda was near mint,whereas my 230E needs 2 front wings...

I love Mercs,but wish they had the rust resistance of Italian cars...

(this should stir it up a bit! )

I agree here.

Any Fiat from about 1988 on isn't going to rust, other than possibly the floorpan. Why? Becuase Fiat took to galvanising all the bodies of their cars.

Last year we got rid of a sixteen year old Tipo that only had a small section of rust which was due to a poor accident repair.

The car had never failed an MOT and had been generally very reliable.
The only major repairs were fuel pump under warranty, faulty door locks, water pump, clutch wearing out.

Rubber pipes and gaiters tend to decay prematurely but electrically they are spot on if kept original.

We had kept the car well past the intended disposal date (like ten years or so) due to it being so reliable and hassle free.

One thing to check on the Punto would be suspension anti roll bar link bushes, they wear quickly but are cheap and easy to replace.

 

[sportyreptile]

Sorry for Hijacking the thread, but it's kinda relevant,

My Daughter has just started taking driving lessons as she's turned 17, I figure I've got 9-12months before she passes her test so I'm think what would make a good first car?

I'd thought of a Punto and what I've read on here it sounds encouraging, the others on my list were in no particular order

1. Ford Fiesta/Ka
2. VW Polo
3. Nissan Micra

I don't know what a 17 year old girl would think is cool or not, the Punto or Ka I'm guessing would be top of the cool list???

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[GrahamC230K]

Sorry for Hijacking the thread, but it's kinda relevant,

My Daughter has just started taking driving lessons as she's turned 17, I figure I've got 9-12months before she passes her test so I'm think what would make a good first car?

Is she on drip feed lessons or do you not have much faith?!! Surely it only takes a couple of months?

I personally think all of your 3 cars listed are great and have experience of the Fiesta ('98) in 1.25 engine, Micra ('99) in 1.3 and Polo ('00) in 1.0 so probably the models you would be looking at.

 

[Shude]

Bah, I didn't have my own car until I was almost 23!

Tell kids that these days and do they believe you?

 

[Deleted member 2227]

LOL. Ah we had it tough, up at 4am, drove t' pit in wheel barra'. Greatful 't still 'ad its 1 wheel........and you tell kids today

 

[sportyreptile]

Is she on drip feed lessons or do you not have much faith?!! Surely it only takes a couple of months?

I personally think all of your 3 cars listed are great and have experience of the Fiesta in 1.25 engine, Micra in 1.3 and Polo in 1.0 so probably the models you would be looking at.

Faith! I'm gonna need a strong religious belief and a hotline to God if she's going to pass in a couple of months, she's had 3 lessons and I don't think she's been out of 2nd gear yet! Kids Aye.

I shouldn't have a go really, I was a bag of nerves for the first couple of weeks. You wouldn't know it if you saw the way I drive these days!

Looks like I'm thinking on the right line then, small car with a small engine and cheap to fix when it goes wrong.

 

[BTB 500]

IMO you can't really go wrong with a Micra, we had an old F reg. one and a later P reg 'Vibe' and neither ever needed anything apart from servicing and tyres. Totally reliable, economical, cheap to insure, and actually quite fun to drive. Friend of mine bought the P reg. for his daughter, had no qualms whatsoever about selling it to him.

 

[Shude]

What kind of car is she learning in?

 

[Flyer]

Bah, I didn't have my own car until I was almost 23!

Tell kids that these days and do they believe you?

My daughter's only 16 and has her own car! A Ford "something-or-other" (Ozzie Fiesta-equivalent). Still having lessons, but terrorising the neighbourhood

EDIT: Just for pluggers - she lives in Australia

 

[lotusmark2]

Tought my sister in law to drive in her Ford KA, cant fault the little thing!

 

[mapleleaf]

Well, the deed is done and our lad has been tootling around quite happy in his new wheels! He even drove in the dark on his own last night which he has never done during his tuition. Thankfully he arrived at his destination about 4 miles away without incident.

of course wifey was on pins the whole time he was out on his tod - but thats mums for you I am sure my mum was the same all those years ago

One slight issue with the car I'm not sure about is the fact that when we parked the car on our slightly sloping drive I wasnt sure the handbrake would hold it so we put it in reverse gear & took the handbrake off so see how well it held in gear. However, with the two of us sat in the car it kept creeping forward in tiny lurches. Does this indicate a gearbox fault? I am so used to auto boxes locking teh transmission I've forgotton about the characteristics of cars with a wiggley stick. We then put the hand brake on as well and the car stayed put.

 

[Shude]

He even drove in the dark on his own last night which he has never done during his tuition.

He has if he has got his pass-plus!

 

[Tiff]

I'd thought of a Punto and what I've read on here it sounds encouraging, the others on my list were in no particular order

Ka- I've welded a Ka at 3 years old for an MOT-sills.Spark plugs snap off in the head,if not serviced properly,also some really sound like a bag of nails,only buy with a history.The cat is very expensive,and a bugger to fit too!

Polo,N, P and R reg,seem to rust right in the middle of the sills?Otherwise,pretty good,also look at the Ibiza,same car,but cheaper-would be my top choice along with the Punto!

Micra,same again-rusty sills!,also had a few faulty throttle bodies,and timing chain problems.Just a wee bit boring,no street cred at all....

 

[Howard]

Ka's rule .....

We've got a T reg one, i'll agree it sounds like a bag of nails, but its always serviced properly, oil is kept topped up, its just noisy...

I love it !

 

[sportyreptile]

What kind of car is she learning in?

A 54 Plate Toyota Yaris, a nice little car, the wife had one for a while. A bit steep for a first car though.

She needs a few years in a jalopy to toughen her up a bit, as we all had too in the early days.

Steve_BCS, how you getting with the Punto? I think it's the favorite so far.

 

[Tiff]

Yeah,Ka's are great fun if you get a good one,I hired one when they were first launched,and giggled for ages,modern day (real) Mini Cooper! Its just that some of them seem to attract uncaring owners,or spend all their life's in citys,doing short runs.Whatever it is,I've seen some really bad ones.

 

[Dieselman]

One slight issue with the car I'm not sure about is the fact that when we parked the car on our slightly sloping drive I wasnt sure the handbrake would hold it so we put it in reverse gear & took the handbrake off so see how well it held in gear. However, with the two of us sat in the car it kept creeping forward in tiny lurches. Does this indicate a gearbox fault? I am so used to auto boxes locking teh transmission I've forgotton about the characteristics of cars with a wiggley stick. We then put the hand brake on as well and the car stayed put.

Have the rear brakes checked for the handbrake issue, it should hold the car, if not how did it pass the MOT?

If the slope is steep enough a car will creep if parked in gear due to the force overcoming the compression inside the cylinders. Remember all that is holding the car back is the compression.

If the car generally drives without rattles and clonks, and operates smoothy then all is well.
Gearbox issues show themselves up as grating changes due to beating the synchromesh when changine gear.

In general FIAT mechanicals are very tough.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Another vote for the KA. I bought my ex a KA2 just after they were released (R-reg). Never missed a beat. Nice enough inside. Comfortable ride. Noisey engine but cost peanuts to run. First year service at Ford dealer was £60, and insurance was about £200 (we were both 22 at the time). Great car - I think she's passed it on to her mom, so must be going strong.

 

[mapleleaf]

He has if he has got his pass-plus!

Oh no he hasnt

It seems the nice AA instructor merely talked through the do & donts of night driving and bad weather driving. I wonder if there is a specific sylabus for the passplus I could check