Buying New.

There is obviously no way you are going to get a brand new Cinquecento now as production stopped in mid 1998 but its successor the Seicento is available in two Sporting versions those being the standard model and one with the full Abarth pack fitted including 14" alloy wheels complete with scorpion motif's scattered around the interior and exterior, the engine is the same as the standard version so the car is no quicker but looks the part more than the normal Sporting. The availability of the Abarth pack as a factory fitted option has lead to less standard models being purchased new with most owners going for the sensible option of having the kit with the car from the factory unlike the only option that was available to Cinq owners, that of entrusting the dealer to fitting it with the increased cost involved in the after-market fitting of accessories.
Fiat are still offer Zero finance and free insurance (i think) to entice prospective (female targetted) buyers into the showrooms. The motoring press does not seem to like the Seicento Sporting as much as the Cinq, this seems to be because the Sei is quieter, safer and generally more refined, 'Car' magazine likes the Cinq because it has more of a Sporting character a point echoed in one way or another by several similar magazines, most have picked up on the point that the new car is quieter and better built than its predecessor but fail to mention the improved safety of this very similar design which is bascally just better made and thus more refined.... after having owned both I have to say the Cinq is a more fun car and is much more 'Sporting' by far, the Sei is almost a different car and is in my opinion more of a luxury choice, test drive both and you will see what I mean.
As ever showroom discounts (in the UK) are hard to come by as a great deal of Sportings (especially Abarth models) are being made to order with a corresponding lead time but I understand dealers do have some margin to work with on these cars so ring round a few to get the best price, failing that why not try one of the many Euro importers bringing RHD cars in from the continent at a reduced price or if you are feeling really brave, why not bite the bullet, travel to Holland or Belgium and try negotiating a real bargain, do not worry about the warranty either as the manufacturers are bound by European law to honour it... we pay far too much for cars in the UK so why not give your local dealer the two fingered salute and save a packet into the bargain.

Buying Used.

Seicento.

There are many standard Sportings and many Abarths available now as the Seicento's production draws to a close, the second hand market seems almost flooded with them, these cars range from the first right hand drive cars produced right up to and including the present mk2 in Sporting, Abarth, and Schumacher versions, so a large range of prices from £2500 up to near retail prices apply. Obviously buying any car second-hand can be fraught with many pitfalls so at the very least get an RAC inpection carried out if the car is in anything but perfect showroom condition and if buying privately the obligatory Hpi check should be carried out also. Due to the relatively short supply of brand new cars compared to the massive range of cars available on the second hand market a choice wether to buy New or Used will have to be made. Fiat dealers are especially pricey but offer peace of mind and a Fiat warranty other used car dealers base their prices (and often increase) on the Fiat forecourt price but offer less service backup and warranty sureity, the cheapest cars can be sourced from 'used car supermarkets' but caution should be exercised as some cars at such places are ex-hire/lease vehicles and something of a gamble is taken when purchasing cars like this. I am unsure of what faults to suggest to look for on such a new vehicle when buying privately but the basics apply, any body repairs are to be treated with caution, a service history is obligatory, wheel and tyre damage however minor should be closely looked at as the 13" wheels are £100+ each and tyres are £50 per corner with the 14" rims and tyres on the Abarth version being even more expensive so beware.

Cinquecento.

There are so many Cinq Sportings for sale second hand, so many in fact that the choice is quite staggering which is quite a turn round from a few years ago when decent cars sold very quickly and all that was left were overpriced or rough examples. A glance at the Autotrader or Exchange and Mart websites will show you that there are cars available to suit all price ranges and preferences from £1500 up to £4000 for a very overpriced, very perfect, very late model car, the choice is endless and a great deal of time can be wasted travelling to see privately advertised cars due to the pure sellability of the car with sales taking place very rapidly on good quality cars quite often before the next prospective buyer has turned up. Once again a good place to get a big discount is a 'Used Car Supermarket' or 'Trade Sale' establishment but as I mentioned above be very aware of what you are buying, also the RAC inspection is recommended unless you are very sure of what you are buying from either a private or trade source.

Key points to look for are :
Any body damage (or repair). Welding can upset the Galvanic protection where the panels are attached. Also panels other than Fiat are often not Galvanised so caution is neccessary.
Poor Paint. On earlier cars severe fading takes place with the surface taking on a matt finish (Red and Yellow are the worst), polishing does not rectify the situation, but a re-spray does.... at a price.
Service History. Proof of proper servicing is essential for peace of mind, so make sure its all there, the more history the better, if sufficient mileage has been covered proof of the all important cambelt change should be included, if in doubt have it done when you have purchased the car as £100 now could save you up to £1000 !
Gearbox Noise. A certain amount of noise is always present on these cars testing a few will prime you for what is normal steer clear of anything which seems louder than neccessary. I am told that some cars have had syncro failiures on second and third most of these followed a period of increasing noise from the box so again be wary.
Ignition Keys. Make sure the car comes with the original RED key (only applies to P platers or later) as the Fiat dealer needs this (for its special master code) when servicing the car, the normal Ignition key is BLUE in colour (usually 2 with car) and should be the one that is used every day, replacements for either the RED or BLUE keys can be very pricey indeed. Also note that the same key fits all locks so make sure the one key opens everything, if not you have another excuse to demand more money off.
Mileage. Avoid high milers i.e post 60k even with FSH unless VERY cheap, the Cinquecento was designed as a town car so extreme miles really don't suit it. Although many are still operating fine with up to 100k on the clock.
Fakes. Early standard cinq's dressed up to be sportings (motor trade scam) easiest way to spot this is a circular fuel filler with no flap on early cars, all sportings were made after the first revision of the model and have a fuel flap and recessed locking cap, abscence of electric windows is also a giveaway, fakes made from later cars are harder to spot but basically have a look at a proper Sporting (at a reputable dealer) open the bonnet and note what the F.I.R.E. engine looks like if you see anything other than this (i.e the 45hp 900cc engine) walk away (and phone the Police or trading standards).
Locking Fuel Cap. All Cinq's have a locking cap beneath the flap on the drivers side of the car, check it is there, the Ignition key fits and opens it, as, if it is missing or has been lost, a new cap with seperate key will be required as normally the same key fits all locks in the car... a good bargaining point for ££'s off.
Wheels and Tyres. Check to see if all wheels are are ok, shoddy alloys area good bargaining point but only if you intend to change them (for bigger 14 or 15's) or get them refurbished lots of £££'s. Spare is spacesaver but check for wear, use, and most important of all its presence. Tyres should also be checked for wear and wall damage as new ones are £50 per corner.

Hopefully this has given you some insight and helpful pointers towards buying one of these small funsters and has'nt scared you off altogether, basically don't grab the first car you come across, get to know the beast and you will be better off for it, there are many many good cars out there it's up to you to sort through all the dross and find them !

Select this link to return to the index page.
or....
Select this link to continue the tour.