Mrs MLC has had a 54 reg Hyundai Getz for the last six months. No problems and she quite likes it. However, I just find it a bit dull.
Saw an 06 plate Grand Punto for sale at a dealer for £5000. Looks nice and a bit more 'grown up' than the Hyundai. Not seen many used ones around and finding it hard to judge used values. I have my doubts on what I'd get offered for the Getz though.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 03/11/2007 at 13:35
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you would get offered more at the undi dealer thats a pretty fair bet
i looked at drive the deal a few weeks ago in response to a post and seem to remember a fresh one was only 6-1/2 brand new?
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Couldn't stretch to £6500. (Car's a 1.2 active by the way)
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Check the previous owner was not a young lad who thrashed it. It seems to be at risk from being bought by that category of driver when new.
They have had steering rack problems and water leaks into the double skin of the tailgate and some have lots of annoying minor faults.
The 1.2 engine allegedly is prone to blowing its head gasket at low mileage.
On the upside, its galvanised and won`t rust.
How good is the Fiat dealer though? there have been issues and if he has no competition due to a thinned dealer network, watch out (allegedly)for mark ups and attempts to `double up` the labour when a stripdown for one component leaves another `exposed` and not needing the full labour charge.
Regards
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oilrag you sound like a bitter and twisted ex fiat owner ;0)
good points though,although i still think the h/g saga is down to poor maintainence and sticky thermostats
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current :)
Sure, i`m bitter and twisted though, although i hadn`t made the link LOL
Edited by oilrag on 03/11/2007 at 13:28
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It is supposed to be an easy job to change the HG on the FIRE unit too. Myu dad 60,000 in his before it was written off and was fine (we owned it since nearly new). This was the MK1 55bhp.
I suspect though towards the end the HG had shown signs of failing.
To me the FIAT bargains are at the bigger end, their larger cars go for stupidly cheap money on the used market.
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I understood the HG and steering rack faults to be on the old shape Punto.
Does the Grand Punto suffer the same faults. The cars at an Indie dealer by the way, my local Fiat/Alfa/Subaru/Hyundai dealer is worse than useless. Couldn't even source a touch-up pen for the current car.
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Check the previous owner was not a young lad who thrashed it. It seems to be at risk from being bought by that category of driver when new.
Possibly also a 'cab forward' driving position to maximise driver comfort...?
Good all round visibility..?
I bet it reminds you to put your seatbelt on... just like the Maestro
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 04/11/2007 at 20:00
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Autotrader has Grande Punto from £4850 - 06/06 1.2 Active 3dr 14k miles.
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I'd bet that a lot of the 6 month to year old ones are ex fleet/rental market... rather like my "2B" Punto active (end of previous shape) a year old when I got it.
A year on, and I don't regret buying it - despite the odd power steering and the bit of trim which seems impossible to fasten on - it's just worked, and been economical on fuel too.
Main dealer servicing, if done to the book, is more expensive than you'd expect from the comments on here though:
2 year service (new plugs and cam cover off to check clearances in addition to a (scheduled) trip on the diagnostics machine) came in at nearly 250 UKP. (2 1/2 hours plus bits).
No hydraulic tappets on the 1242 petrol, just shims.
I'd argue anyone with an 80 UKP service is getting oil and filter only, and I have a feeling that some of the spiked ECU's died because of excessive gap in worn plugs.
You pay your money and take your choice. Cheap car to buy though.
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