Runaround

[Maser Sod]

No, not the aspartame-fuelled kids programme hosted by Mike "Eastenders" Reid, rather the type you have when you need to get from A to B but it's inconvenient or impractical to take the Maser.

So I need a new one, as the Kia will very likely be going to the missus shortly.

Requirements are as follows:
- reasonable fuel economy (40+ MPG on motorways)
- fun
- NOT a diesel
- 2nd hand, less than 10K GBP

First thoughts are a Grande Punto Abarth Esse Esse. It's Italian and looks like it will tick the 'fun' box.

Any other suggestions?

cheers, pat

 

[conaero]

Alfa GT 1.9JTD

Yes I know it's the fuel off the devil, but Pat, we have both had V6 GTV's, 3200 and GS, believe me it's the right car!

Fun, engaging, efficient and pretty, Nuff said.

 

[Andyk]

Pat, good choice from Matt....but also the Fiat does it for me...Are you thnking new or used and what sort of price......There are other Fiat cars I would think off for fun but smaller....500 Abarth, Panda HP.....Had a lone of Cortese Panda HP and it was so much fun....

 

[dem maser]

panda HP or abarth 500 for me....

would love a 500 abarth......

 

[conaero]

Surley you could get a Fiat 500 for 10k new at the moment?

 

[Andyk]

What are they new 14k...Abarth that is....?..They do still seem to hold their value......

 

[dickygrace]

I had an Abarth Esse Esse for the weekend. A real disappointment, torque steer, awful visibility, not particularly quick. I agree on the diesel being the devil's fuel but GT is a nice car. Got one coming in as a px tomorrow. Jtd, black 57 plate. Top spec, let me know if interested cos I'm giving it away to free up funds for Maseratis!

 

[MAF260]

You should perhaps advertise that GT on here Dicky - plenty of us to back up what great cars they are, even in diseasel flavour!

 

[dickygrace]

Fun, petrol and 40mpg? Tough question! LPG's about the only way of doing that. Lotus Elise will do 40mpg if it's a K Series engined early one.

 

[dickygrace]

You should perhaps advertise that GT on here Dicky - plenty of us to back up what great cars they are, even in diseasel flavour!

Maf, not sure it's flouting forum rules for me to actually advertise it on here. A mention when someone's considering is fair enough in my eyes. I need to discuss it with Matt really. I'm after £6500 with warranty, serviced, £6k as is. Spotless, done 48000 with full history and big spec.

 

[Paco]

Chum of mine is selling a mint, 19k mile GT JTS - let me tell you how this makes sense.

Nearly new Punto for £10k - £1500 at least in year 1 depreciation buys a lot of petrol
Minter GT on an 05 plate IIRC but seriously looks like it just came off the line, keeps £3,500 in your pocket and how much further will it depreciate from £6,500???

Ok so it uses more fuel but you would you rather buy petrol or depreciation? Lets say the depreciation of the Punto is matched by the thirst/servicing of the Alfa - After 3 years, Punto worth the same as the Alfa probably £3k?, the annual costs square out and you still have £3,500 in your pocket and a gorgeous Alfa!

And no I'm not on commission!!

 

[MAF260]

Petrol GTs drop value much quicker than diesels Paco. When I bought my Blackline I drove the petrol & diesel back to back (2.0 vs. 1.9). Aside from the engine noise outside the car (inside you really can't tell it's diesel) the petrol was the poor relation. Slower, less torque, much less fuel efficient and 5-speed vs. 6-speed gearbox. No contest!

 

[dem maser]

that GT dicky has sounds good value........

 

[dickygrace]

Chum of mine is selling a mint, 19k mile GT JTS - let me tell you how this makes sense.

Nearly new Punto for £10k - £1500 at least in year 1 depreciation buys a lot of petrol
Minter GT on an 05 plate IIRC but seriously looks like it just came off the line, keeps £3,500 in your pocket and how much further will it depreciate from £6,500???

Ok so it uses more fuel but you would you rather buy petrol or depreciation? Lets say the depreciation of the Punto is matched by the thirst/servicing of the Alfa - After 3 years, Punto worth the same as the Alfa probably £3k?, the annual costs square out and you still have £3,500 in your pocket and a gorgeous Alfa!


And no I'm not on commission!!

I've been trying to convince everyone I know over the years that it's better to spend it on fuel than depreciation but folk don't seem to listen. Then they say I'm a lucky b*****d as I drive a Maserati!

 

[dickygrace]

that GT dicky has sounds good value........

Dem, it is seriously cheap. We rob any car said 5700! I cant say fairer than that. If I don't flog it this week, I'll service it and run it and ask £6950 inc 6 month warranty. Just spoke to Matt said I'm OK to put the odd car on here so I'll put a post in the Alfa section and add my 3200 too.

 

[Paco]

Agreed, that is good value, shame I can't find room for it for Mrs Paco with the miles she does, but her 147 is proving very resilient. I think if my chum's 19k miler was a JTD he might want more than that for it!

Funny about the depreciation thing on the diesels though, once DPF bills start to arrive will they soon look a bit dear to run? Makes a 5 year old Peugeot (I know...) almost a write off!!

At least the new gen petrol engines are getting seriously economical these days.

 

[MAF260]

No DPF on the GTs Paco - result! No swirl flaps or any of that other nonsense either. I read up on occasional EGR valve issues where the soot clogs them up, so cleaned mine out before thinking I would eventually need to replace it (£100 part to replace, not too bad). It was quite sooty, so is now part of a 6-monthly check of all things Alfa that may go wrong with my GT.

 

[toomanyhorses]

... is now part of a 6-monthly check of all things Alfa that may go wrong with my GT.

What else is on your 6 month check list?

 

[conaero]

No DPF on the GTs Paco - result! No swirl flaps or any of that other nonsense either. I read up on occasional EGR valve issues where the soot clogs them up, so cleaned mine out before thinking I would eventually need to replace it (£100 part to replace, not too bad). It was quite sooty, so is now part of a 6-monthly check of all things Alfa that may go wrong with my GT.

Indeed Maf, when I first had mine serviced by Mike Roberts, he fitted a modification plate to the ERG valve, I think it had holes drilled in it rather than an open inlet, or the other way round. Anyway, its been good so far, with the exception of having to replace all my wishbones and drop links at 30k miles.

I did the uppers and drop links last weekend, an hour and £50 a side. That cured the squeaking, now I have to do the lowers, 2hrs and £60 a side as one of the outer balljoints cracks now and again, plus when you go over rough ground, you can feel the inner bushes wobbling.

 

[MAF260]

What else is on your 6 month check list?

The oil cooler pipes are known to corrode on GTs as I found out to my cost late last year. They're in a very vulnerable place, exposed to general road **** and salt etc. and the ends of the pipes are made out of a special disintegrating metal! When you then try to remove said pipes to replace them (c.£200 each!) they are so corroded into the aluminium oil cooler that the seals are destroyed and you have to replace the cooler as well. That was a £700+ bill I could have really done without. Fortunately my pipe corroded through when the car was idling on my drive and didn't dump too much black oil everywhere - at speed this could have been a knackered engine. Now I check them regularly and cover them with anti rust treatment. Wishbones and bushes are next - check for worn bushes and knocks from the suspension. Whilst the bonnet is up, I check the turbo hoses which can be prone to perishing - silicon pipes are easily and cheaply available as replacements, but as yet mine are fine and I promised myself I wouldn't spend any unneccessary cash on this car. Finally it's inside the car and a check of the clutch pedal - there is a securing pin where the clutch pedal attaches to the master cylinder push rod. The pedal makes a slight sideways movement as it is depressed and this puts pressure on the pin which can then fracture. Again, found this to my cost/embarrassment in traffic on the A4 one day when the clutch pedal went bang and dropped to the floor! Fortunately I was on the elevated section and rolled the car down and off the A4. A key ring made a suitable replacement pin and I was on my way in 10 minutes!