A Fiat Punto HLX JTD. Not actually driven one as the garage was closing when we saw it. Looking at the specs it seems to have alot of equipment for less than

The Puma got 5 stars in Evo mag's 'The Knowledge' section , so it must do something right! The FRP was built by Tickford , wasnt it?...like the Capri Turbo?

Wouldn't have one compared with a Puma Rob, not even close.

Steve

Its not really my choice:(. The puma is still top of my list for cars we've looked at. I'd like to give her the Fab and have the puma myself, but I'm just a little too attached to it...

Come on mate, work on your persuasion techniques!

Steve

P.S. I've been there and tried that, and failed, but it's worth a shot, surely? You'll only end up being lumbered with fixing the Fiat :P

306 DTurbo can be had for 1k on a R/T plate with aircon etc.

Very nice car and I don't think you will find many other cars in the price bracket that will handle as well from stock. That plus parts are cheap for them too.

I found them mechanically very reliable.

Mechanically, yes. The rest, I'm not so sure. Electrical systems would potentially concern me. That's why I've decided not to hunt down a GTi-6 - as good as the reviews of their driveability are.

Steve

What about the liks of a Pug 106 quicksilver, Polo of some description, Seat Ibiza?

What about the liks of a Pug 106 quicksilver, Polo of some description, Seat Ibiza?

Looked at those the other day but the 106 and Polo were quickly eliminated. She did like the look of a Mk 2 or 3 Ibiza though.

Think we might have found something though, we're going to see a Puma at the weekend - R Reg 1.7 with only 37k on the clock and air con etc etc or

My missus has just got rid of her Micra 1.0l. She bought it new in 1999 has travelled up and down the country in it clocking up 73K it never failed her once!! The only 2 things that went wrong was the neutral return gear spring came off (common Nissan fault and a peice of cake to fix 30min job max) and exhaust hanger came loose!!!!! Most reliable car I have ever seen. Only reason we got rid was we needed a bigger car and I was not getting rid of MR2 :P So we bought another Nissan in the form of a Primera 2.0 TD, boring as hell but boy is it economical and reliable!!!

Mechanically, yes. The rest, I'm not so sure. Electrical systems would potentially concern me. That's why I've decided not to hunt down a GTi-6 - as good as the reviews of their driveability are.

Steve

Owned a BX and a 306 dt.

There is very little to go wrong in such a way that they won't run due to the mechanical fuel pump and lack of an ECU of the same sort you know today. I think there was a glow plug timer and an anti-dieseling solenoid were the only majorly electrical things on the engine.

From an electrical point of view there were no problems on the 306 and the BX had a liking of electric window switches once in a while, but that was oxidation and the parts were easy to change and easy to clean up so they worked again.

I do think the the electrical issues are over stated, and while the 306 etc may have issues the older ones are sound.

One of the cars made 140k miles before an accident and the other made 250k miles before the ultra low sulphur derv killed the fuel pump due to lack of sulphur lubricating it.

Anyway, they can't be that unreliable as there are plenty of the very early k and l reg examples on the road still.