Advice? Fix my Punto or cut my losses and get a new motor?

Ashmil

I'm quite naive on cars, and could really use some advice.

My Punto's not well....

OK, the garage said it needed a new clutch and gears and that I should consider whether it's worth it. I haven't yet got a price off them (they're finding out), but it may be more than I could actually sell the car for.

The car is a Fiat Punto 5 door 1.2 Y-reg with only about 67000 miles on the clock. But it may have arrived at that point in its life where stuff starts going wrong. Last month it needed a new head gasket, and some other stuff, costing £250. Now this has happened.

Thing is, it's not a great time for me to be buying a new motor financially(although I would like one).

I just wondered what other people would do, cos I don't know much about cars (the Punto is my first). Does it sound like I'm better off shot of it? If so, what should I do with it - tow it to the scrapyard?

I know it's of course my decision at the end of the day, but some outside input would be helpful...

Thanks in advance

Ash

Inactive

Get shot of it, get yourself a cheap little Japanese or Korean branded car, far more reliable than any Punto.

Lirin

Would have to ask why it needs new clutch/ gearbox on that mileage? Head gasket also- do you drive the car roughly at all, or is it problematic? Do you over-rev and ride the clutch at lights for example?

Long and short- your gearbox and gear system at least should not be going at that mileage. Or even close to it.

Get a second opinion if you distrust the garage.

Strider590

Ordinarily id say keep it because you'll lose more on a newer car.... However it's a Fiat and it's Italian.
Oh and if the garage you use sells cars DO NOT go to them for your next car!

An ex did this, same garage that told her than her Micra was scrap.... Ended up paying £1400 for a Fiesta worth no more than £350....

Ashmil

Thanks for the speedy responses people!

Don't know why it needs new clutch, but it seems like a true enough diagnosis judging by the murderous noises that were coming from that area before I checked it in - it was evident that something bad was going on.

I'm not a rough driver, and I don't tend to ride the clutch or over-rev. I AM guilty of not servicing it often enough though.

And no they don't sell cars at the garage...

The car is like 9 years old, with 67,000 miles as I said. Would I not normally expect the car to be entering the problematic 'autumn years' of its life yet do you think?

angeltreats

Having experience of the exact same car, I would say get shot of it and buy something else.

My husband has the same year, same model, with around the same mileage, and I can't even remember everything it's needed done so far this year (off the top of my head: head gasket, water pump & cambelt (that was before the head gasket trouble so was done again after the HG failed), steering rack & track rod ends, forget what else but shortly before he bought it last year I know the clutch and power steering motor also had to be replaced). Luckily he can do most of the work himself, if he couldn't it would have had to be scrapped. It's been serviced on schedule all its life. And he doesn't ride the clutch or over-rev either.

Ashmil

angeltreats wrote: »

Having experience of the exact same car, I would say get shot of it and buy something else.

My husband has the same year, same model, with around the same mileage, and I can't even remember everything it's needed done so far this year (off the top of my head: head gasket, water pump & cambelt (that was before the head gasket trouble so was done again after the HG failed), steering rack & track rod ends, forget what else but shortly before he bought it last year I know the clutch and power steering motor also had to be replaced). Luckily he can do most of the work himself, if he couldn't it would have had to be scrapped. It's been serviced on schedule all its life. And he doesn't ride the clutch or over-rev either.

Thanks - That's some relevant info right there! Hmm, doesn't look good for the Punto...

Ashmil

OK - Garage says it'll cost £600 to put things right. And I know there's other stuff that will need doing too (new sump, timing belt etc). So it looks like it's goodbye Punto.

Question now is, what's the best way to get shot of it? How about selling it on ebay for parts - is that an advisable route? There's still plenty of good bits in it.

All advice welcome...

Inactive

eBay, sold as spares ..is as good as anywhere.

Your local breaker may give you around £75 to £125 depending on your location.

johnnyroper

Ashmil wrote: »

OK - Garage says it'll cost £600 to put things right. And I know there's other stuff that will need doing too (new sump, timing belt etc). So it looks like it's goodbye Punto.

Question now is, what's the best way to get shot of it? How about selling it on ebay for parts - is that an advisable route? There's still plenty of good bits in it.

All advice welcome...

ebay list it as spares/repairs and describe the clutch/transmission problem someone with mechanical skills may well buy it as a cheap car to repair?

Heliflyguy

Ashmil wrote: »

OK - Garage says it'll cost £600 to put things right. And I know there's other stuff that will need doing too (new sump, timing belt etc). So it looks like it's goodbye Punto.

Question now is, what's the best way to get shot of it? How about selling it on ebay for parts - is that an advisable route? There's still plenty of good bits in it.

All advice welcome...

I wonder whats wrong exactly with the gearbox,as far as I know Punto's are not known for gearbox problems (everything else though )
Ref the timing belt, if your car has the FIRE engine then if the belt breaks then it will not damage the engine.
Maybe have a word over on this Punto site first re the costs to fix it there may be someone intersted in your car as well if you decide to sell it, although reading about Punto problems may just make your mind up but do consider there are a lot of Puntos running about just fine.
http://www.fiatforum.com/punto/

This post may be of interest to you re the clutch problem.
http://www.fiatforum.com/punto/243601-perfect-driving-punto-goes-bad.html