Grande Punto My Bella!

[PuntoMatty]

So here is my Bella...

2006 Grande Punto Active. 62k on the clock. I picked her up last week and she was in a bit of a sorry state - paint was flat, interior filthy (and smelly), wheel trims kerbed and smashed. NSF front had had a ding and the headlight was smashed and finally the OSF coil was broken and there was play in the OSF ball joint. Last but not least the rear wiper arm had been broken off! Phew lots of jobs to do! Oh and the MOT was also due! She only cost me £1200 because of all this which I thought was a reasonable price TBH given the work.

So (thanks to the net):-

Car fully valeted (didn't want to go near that grot myself! Really was horrible inside dogs + children and lack of hygene in gereral!)
New NSR headlight replaced and fitted
New set of wheel trims
OSF front wishbone replaced
New OSF spring fitted
Paint getting better - now has a shine! This after spending a couple of hours with a rotary electric polisher and 1/2 container of auto glym resin polish!
MOT passed

Very very impressed with her. Finally she is looking as she she should. Just have a few scratches on the rear bumper to sort out and on the NSF bumper (where the car was caught in the incident that broke the front light).

Looking "Grande" again indeed....

On a separate note not sure why but Italian cars always stir up my passion for cars. Something about them.... the styling, the elegant simplicity, the spirited drive they aways give. It's a pleasure to be polishing them and looking after them! Glad to have rescued my little Bella from an undeserving owner!

BTW huge Fiat/Alfa fan - Had a 145 - 3 x 156's (including a 2.5V6). Also had a Marenello yellow Cinquecento sporting and a Marenello yellow Mk 3 Punto Active Sport (like yellow Fiats!). Loved everyone one of them. Like I say something about Italian cars.... Like a bloody virus once the passion gets in your body. Be nice to go back down to the Italian car show in Brooklands again and drive onto site in an Italian motor!

Anyhow thinking of adding some vinyl stripes to the side of the car in the Italian flag colours! What does everyone think?!

Oh and thanks for reading if you made it this far!

 

[jameshobiecat]

Glad to see the new wheel trims are not the ghastly halfords specials and that she has scrubbed up ok. Personally I quite like the thin Italian flag stripes on the 500, though they are quite common; think they would be good on a punto.

The grade must feel a bit slow having owned a 2.5v6 156?

I know what you mean about Italian cars, I could never own a German car and am eyeing up a flawed Alfa when I move on from the Grande.

 

[PuntoMatty]

Yeah the V6 156 was awesome.... unfortunately other commitments came along meaning I had to reallocate car funds (children!). So she had to go! Was around 8 years ago now but still miss her sometimes. Loved the exhaust notes from that Alfa V6.... Think it is still my favourite car I have ever owned. It was Alfa red in full sport pack 3 trim (leather seats and lowered suspension).

Still needs must and the Grande Punto is ideal for my commute needs at the moment... it's a hoot to drive down a few of the twisties I drive down on the way to work and seems to sit on the bit of motorway drive I do well enough.

Ultimately I'll be getting another V6 Alfa at some point - looking for a GTV 3.2 V6 in Alfa red. But not in a rush. Want to drive that over too and around Italy stopping of at the Nurbergring on the way back!! Looking forward to it. Having the economy of the Punto will help me save funds towards the trip and getting the car!

 

[PuntoMatty]

Glad to see the new wheel trims are not the ghastly halfords specials.

Ick I would *never* put those on! I actually think the factory do a great job of styling the cars in the first place and anything I do *has* to be subtle as I really don't want to mess up the masterpiece of industrial designs that the Italians make.

 

[jameshobiecat]

I agree, mine is staying completely factory standard.