General Buying Punto HGT, what to look out for ?

[Ben_uk]

Hello,

I am going to look at a 53 reg Punto HGT this afternoon and take it out for a spin.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2003&vehicleRegLetter=53

Just wanting some advice on what to look out for really ? things under the engine to check etc

Seems a really good price for miles on the clock. Will have 1 months warrenty when i buy it aswell. Full service history and new MOT.

Been offered £1100 for my w reg sporting in part exchange which i am happy with.

Thanks Ben

 

[mikejt]

Nice car... that is a very low milage!

Im not sure about any specific pointers for the HGT but just listen to the engine with the bonnet open, make sure it sounds normal, no unusual sounds

check that gearchanges are smooth and that it is easy to get in each gear

test the steering (full lock both ways..... quiet car park is ideal for this) listen out for any noises


For the age and milage it should be fine!!

Good luck

 

[danhans115]

One thing I would check is that the engine light isnt on. Give the ignition lots of restarts and try and take it for a spin from cold.

My old HGT (W reg, 67k on clock), had been serviced at a fiat garage until recently. Turns out after having it a week the cam position sensor was dodgy and the warning light kept coming on. This caused it to stall now and then at the lights. I was told it was a cambelt off job as it sat behind one of the pulleys as was expensive to do.

The gearstick can lose its ability to auto centre too

Also listen to the engine noise for the variator they tend to go. I cant remember exactly how (it will be on here somewhere for sure). Listen out for a diesel engine noise when starting from cold.

 

[Ben_uk]

Cheers lads

I am going tomorrow night now. Taking it out for a spin and will do what you suggested.

Garage are gonna give me one months warrenty with the car aswell, if i buy.

Let you know how i get on

 

[richie.guy]

Ok, things to check:

Roof rails - rust
Sills - rust
Oil - if it's low walk away it's a time bomb
Ask what oil it uses - if they don't know walk away
Has the variator been done? If not within the last 3 years haggle and do it asap.
Has the water pump been done? If not within the last 3 years haggle and do it asap.
Has the belt been done? If not within the last 3 years haggle and do it asap.
Gearbox - Does it crunch at high revs? If so, synchro is on it's way and it's new box time
Water temp - does it sit at 1/2. If not new thermostat time. Haggle.
Sat nav - does it work? Is the screen damaged? They always break.
Cd changer - they always break.
Backbox - rust. If it's rusty and/or has a hole replacements are ~£200!

It should pull up to red line comfortably and fairly quickly, if it doesn't there is a problem somewhere.

 

[Ben_uk]

Morning all,

Well took the car out lastnight and i aint gonna be buying it.

Smoked alot from the rear.

Banged into reverse everytime.

Did not seem quick at all, not much difference form my 1.2 sporting ! for a 1.8 it just seemed slow and when reving it seemed to take agers to rev up and take agers to rev back down not quick and smooth at all.

and just dint seem smooth when it was ticking over.

Thanks for the help lads

 

[bamfordHGT]

Should be alot quicker than your sporting, i picked mine up on sunday and its rapid, hell off alot quicker than my old 1.4 seat leon...

 

[richie.guy]

Looks like you did well not buying it, it sounds like it's been abused tbh.

HGT's are much faster than sportings.

 

[hitherematey]

I agree, sounds like its been trashed to high heaven.

Trust me though they are fast as hell, esp when you hit 4000+ rpm

Keep looking!

 

[Feline77]

I bought my HGT with 41,000 on clock (2001) 3 weeks ago and its started sounding like a diesel for first 3 sec when starting from cold, what wrong with it? Everything else seems OK.

 

[richie.guy]

Variator.

 

[CHSajid]

i would love to buy one but the problem is high insurance ! iv got 1.2 16v 04 active sport, the insurance is cheap on it , im only 17 yet so my insurance is gona be way too high... thats y cant buy 1.8

 

[flisko]

some old chap is selling a hgt cheap with only 100k km on the clock

it jumps out of third gear
yellow engine light is on, he said cuz he removed catalytic converter
timing belt probably hasnt been done yet, atleast he didnt do it since he owned it- third owner
it has cracked front bumper and dented hood
apparently doesnt drink oil, has been serviced since new

is changing gearbox same as on 1.2 8v or harder?

is it worth it?

 

[oldhammer]

some old chap is selling a hgt cheap with only 100k km on the clock

it jumps out of third gear
yellow engine light is on, he said cuz he removed catalytic converter
timing belt probably hasnt been done yet, atleast he didnt do it since he owned it- third owner
it has cracked front bumper and dented hood
apparently doesnt drink oil, has been serviced since new

is changing gearbox same as on 1.2 8v or harder?

is it worth it?

Gearbox is alot harder to change on a HGT.


Jumping out of 3rd?
just drive it as is, ive had a few alfa's do it, and ive lived with it,

 

[flisko]

i went to the chap and had a look, lowered price from 600 squid to 350

third gear doesnt work and you cant even engage it
when i pressed air con button, that little light didnt even came on - fuse?
fog light switch appears to be broken, cant press it
check engine light is on
red air bag light is on
busted right light holders
cracked front bumper on 1 side
dunno how its called, that plastic below sills has a little crack
busted left mirror
outer passenger side door handle is busted, cant open door from outside
it says on timing belt cover 100k km and date 2007- what that means? - he said he bought car when it had 96k now it has 106k, and he didnt change it

clutch pedal feels smooth and good, he said he changed clutch kit 1 year ago
he changed engine oil+filter+ air filter 1 year ago
no rust anywhere
tires are still good on original hgt rims
car has a total of 4 owners
checked engine oil and it was little bit below max, is that possible that it didnt drink any oil in1 year since it was changed or he was constantly filling it
106k on clock

take it or leave it?

any advices?

 

[oldhammer]

TBH..it Sounds like a 'Heap,
i'd leave it where it is,


it'd cost more to repair than its worth,




-Timing belt is long over due, & they are not cheap to change,

 

[flisko]

mhmhm

i got all parts apart from gearbox, belt kit and cat

 

[oldhammer]

If you like it go for it,




But bare in mind, The HGT is Basicly worthless..Because of the price of insurance/tax.
so if you throw good money into it, and you sell it in the future you may
loose some money.


There was one up forsale on the forum not long back, for not alot of money
iirc Cambelt and and variator has been done on it,


Id buy one today if it wasnt for the price of roadtax on them,

 

[oXRUSSXo]

If you like it go for it,




But bare in mind, The HGT is Basicly worthless..Because of the price of insurance/tax.
so if you throw good money into it, and you sell it in the future you may
loose some money.


There was one up forsale on the forum not long back, for not alot of money
iirc Cambelt and and variator has been done on it,


Id buy one today if it wasnt for the price of roadtax on them,

How much is the tax on them? Just out of interest?

 

[oXRUSSXo]

How much is the tax on them? Just out of interest?

If you like it go for it,




But bare in mind, The HGT is Basicly worthless..Because of the price of insurance/tax.
so if you throw good money into it, and you sell it in the future you may
loose some money.


There was one up forsale on the forum not long back, for not alot of money
iirc Cambelt and and variator has been done on it,


Id buy one today if it wasnt for the price of roadtax on them,

Just searched and £265 just for road tax. Thats a stupid price