If anyone has read this thread you will know about the position i am in:

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=59270

my parents arnt realy happy about it at all, i cant realy see a way i can build at home so im just going to build a locost as soon as i move out and in the mean time im going on a welding course, im enrolling on a car mechanics course tonight and im going to do a metal work course soon, (so i can have a go at an ally nosecone and mud guards)

i now have the following option:

i could carry out some tasteful mods to my tintop that i have "inherited" from my Dad (he got a new car and left this one for me)

is a light blue Fiat Punto 3dr, 1.9 turbo diesel, on an X reg, its the mk2

looks exactly like the following car, same colour just without the side skirts and the sport wheels

http://www.in.gr/auto/dokimes/pr_dokimes_in/Fiat_Punto_Speedgear/big/in_Fiat_Punto_Speedgear_13.jpg

i think i will take this option because i can work on a car for now, i could buy a donor car and strip it of its parts and recon them but i dont think that my parents would let me get a decent engine size at the moment and 5 or so years down the line i dont think i will be too happy with a small engine. in the future i will have more skills to rebuild the mechanicals and have more funds to do so and i should be able to do a much better job then. i certanly havent lost my motivation but i will just take the advice of people on this forum and wait until im in my own house to start the project.

so onto my question:

could anyone recomend some mods to do to the punto that arnt too chavvy,
i quite like this bodykit but i fear that it is too chavvy which realy isnt a good thing..

http://www.tuning24.pl/galeria/822.jpg

opinions? budget realy doesnt matter because at this stage im only getting ideas together.

cheers

Matt

[Edited on 29/1/07 by novacaine]

wow, i didnt realise i had been writing for so long! lol

you'll only be able to drive the car in two years.

I'd do nothing to the bodywork cause
a) it will date
b) it will push up your premium (which will be sky high anyway).

Look at the sterreo - but nothing too boomy (cause its sooo annoying to us old (33) folks).

i'd concentrate on doing garage stuff. Make space so you can work, put up shelves, paint the walls white, add strip lights. (all things you're dad will benefit from).

then start to bring things home from your college courses - show them how well your doing. get them interested.

You'll be suprised how much insurance on a 1.9 diesel is when you're 17. I've got a 1.9 diesel polo and in my own name it was £2000+ when i was 17!

If you have to modify the car, then I recommend stereo. It's perhaps the only thing that won't hurt your insurance, or knock value off your punto. Is there any way you could do the metalwork at school with a lecturer?

yea ive got a couple of quotes but ive managed to get quotes down in three figures with bodywork modifications from small, relatively unknown brokers that are underwritten by major firms.

my 16th birthday is only 6 weeks away, 15th of march so ive not realy got that long until im driving.

fiats are good for insurance - companies usualy think there gonna be off the road all the time for repair lol

F - Fix
I - It
A - Another
T - Time

to be honest insurance has always been in mind when contemplating mods for my car, im working on a Speaker enclosure for the boot at the moment, two 15'' subs, but they arent too "boomy" because that annoys me too, it tends to be the chavs in their novas/corsas/saxos/106s that do that kind of thing and they just look stupid IMO

music : loud but not too loud

or

F- fabrica
I - italiana
A - automobili
T - torino

if you realy want to be boring lol

doesnt that sound realy cool? i like italian sounds good....

quote:

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Originally posted by clockwork
Is there any way you could do the metalwork at school with a lecturer?

---

if you want some work experience i have a bike engined project on the go at my place you could have a go at basic fabrication /welding on a saturday if you fancy

that would be great, thanks, i'll u2u you in a bit

cheers

Matt

I'd look at Mechanical, Electrical and even bodywork parts from either other Higher spec Punto's, or even other cars in the Fiat range that are interchangeable.

For my first car I had a Mk3.5 1.1i Fiesta and it was ace fun really.

Not fast enough to get me into much trouble, but you did feel a sence of achievement when you did get it to go quite fast!.

That was lowered 30mm so was just slightely lower than a Xr2i and therefore wasn't overly noticable,
Had Sierra Vented and Groved disks and Painted Calipers on, Braided brake hoses.
And 15" Zetec S style alloys on.

Inside, just the usual discreet stereo mods etc.

That car would corner like it was on rails.. used to be soo funny sailing past cars on the brakes and then throwing it round a roundabout "where did he come from"

And I can't see why Insurance companies don't like alloys... and there for wider better make tyres and bigger brakes!
That setup saved me from so many little bumps etc where as standard i'd have slid into something!.

Wouldnt bother with a stereo upgrade unless the std one is really crap. A car is about as bad as you can get for acoustics, I really dont know why people bother! Seen a few chavs with rattling bodykits driving down the street with some R&B crap playing through their subs, evidently very cool...

It took a bit of pursuading to get my parents to let me get on and build while i am away at uni. But I am now in the position of having a nearly complete car. The main reason turned out to be not really having enough space, got around that one though!

Mod your Punto, but please be sensible and dont spend any cash on it, as modded cars are worth less than an std one normally.

David

im not too bothered about the value of the car because it currently has 150k on the clock, and my dad has serviced it for the last 4 years so no service history, its not worth much.

oh and just a side note, i realy, realy dont like the chavs that go around with R&B and drum and bass or other crap like that (sorry if anyone on here is into that kind of thing, nothing personal) but they look like idiots.

general rule of thumb: if you can hear the music outside that car clearly with the doors closed and windows up, its too loud.

as for the standard audio kit its blaupunks all round, i think its great quality (in terms of a car) just the bass lacked a little bit, so i built a sub enclosure.

Matt

Wheels is all you can sensibly change to improve the look of a car (if you choose wisely ) body kits will ruin the bank account and the resale value and 99 times out of 100 the looks a modest discrete spoiler is ok , assuming you don't total it in the first year just don't spend too much on it cus its money down the drain .........having said all that you are 16 so all this sensible talk is absurd , you are a car nut so express yourself with as much taste as you can afford ....pull some chicks have a good time showing off just like all us old folks did ....please please please tear about but respect trees on fast bends they will kill you good luck .....and trust me on the sunscreen ....nurse nurse ....is it time for my medication ?

quote:

---

Originally posted by novacaine
oh and just a side note, i realy, realy dont like the chavs that go around with R&B and drum and bass or other crap like that (sorry if anyone on here is into that kind of thing, nothing personal) but they look like idiots.

general rule of thumb: if you can hear the music outside that car clearly with the doors closed and windows up, its too loud.

Matt

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Priorities are the order of the day, and this is the situation from what I understand!

1. You want to build a car.
2. You have a useable car for when you are 17.

Therefore, keep in mind you want to build a car, and do as has been suggested by preparing/obtaining stuff for the future build.

If it puts your parents mind at rest, seriously consider buying a chassis and wishbones at least (fifteen years ago my old boss took his son's moped away from him and sold it, as he said he'd kill himself on it. A year ago he did!) - parents want peace of mind and YOU need to bear that in mind!! Also, join a local car (kitcar) club - not one full of chavs, preferable knowledgeable people your parents can talk to, if it helps. Do NOT get angry or peeved with your parents, they are concerned for your wellbeing, not their own. You won't be "on the road" with toy car for 2 - 3 years, so impress upon them your abilties to do a proper job, show care in your work and attention to detail. This includes school if you're still there, and will include your driving. As soon as you've passed your test do Pass Plus, then join RoSPA or IAM.

You have a useable car for when you are legal - DO NOT TOUCH IT. It should be good, reliable, cheap motoring, if somewhat dull, and it WILL still appear EXPENSIVE.

If your parents want to join up on here and need their fears putting to rest, suggest they do.

Maybe you AND your father could go on a welding course together (get him involved if poss) - even if you decide to buy a chassis/bones (etc) (which will only cost about £600)

My parents never showed any interest in what I wanted to do (football/tennis/golf do not appeal to me) and it sounds like you may be in a similar situation.

It just means you do it all slightly later in life - I was 40 last year

Whatever happens, stay on here and do not chav the weasel

ATB

Simon