WOULD YOU FIX THIS OLD CAR ?

Hi all
In this short video I talk about this cheap Fiat Punto Grande Evo I have just purchased for £450 and how a car that might look cheap on paper can soon rack up costs.
Please like and subscribe to the channel 👍
#carauction #caruk #sellingcars #fiat #cheapcars #wheelerdealers #flippingcars #auction #carsales #carprices #cars #motortrade #motor #cardealer
TO CONTACT ME PLEASE EMAIL ME AT
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[@bunzbe9578]

There’s no doubt that you are giving Joe blogs exceptional value for money with all of your cars. You have earned every penny of your profit margins and deserve to run around in a nice car. The fact that you enjoy doing what you are doing is to our benefit as we get to enjoy your journey as much as you do. Thank you for filming!

[@FatHead1979]

100% agree, I'd definitely be comfortable buying from Lee.

[@spotsterjon74cu]

I think this video is a great advert for your business, the buyer may well be a subscriber and therefore can be confident that they are getting a sound little car which it will be shortly👍🏻

[@andynightingale7335]

The attention to detail and PDI is second to none Lee. Credit to you. Glad you're looking and sounding better m8.

[@GeekOfShaves]

Great video explaining why older cars are good when your hands on.

[@SteveOakinsMakeWorkplace]

One man's rubbish is another man's treasure... get its new life it deserves

[@christineayres7199]

That is rubbish though lol I own a Fiat 500 which is basically a Punto with a classier design and its been a lemon , Japanese cars are what we all should buy as then you can sleep at night with no worries.

[@WilliamLenny]

As someone who does there own work,i would certainly put the money into the punto..........not just for the good margin,but for the satisfaction of turning out another cracking car 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@liamegan4303]

Hello from Ireland again Lee. It's great to see you up and back to yourself. You were missed. Take things easy Mate. 🙏🙏👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@NoelMcGovern]

Lots of cars 5k and under still have lots of life left in them. This video shows the non mechanical buyer the things that garages should be doing like you do for your customers. I think given the increased living costs and repossessions you are in a very good price bracket for your cars. Very interesting videos. Continued success.

[@stephenlynch3411]

Its good to see an older car being saved. Much "greener" than buying an ev if you believe in all that!

[@andrewwelsh7842]

H Lee. I agree entirely. For a few parts and a couple of days, another has survived !!

[@graemew7001]

If my 2011 Panda hadn't just passed it's MOT this week, that's the sort of car I'd have been in the market for and if I'm getting a well fettled car for that price and you're getting a decent margin from it then everyone is a winner. We can't all be in the position to be spending £10-15k on a second hand motor.

[@christineayres7199]

DO NOT BUY ANOTHER FIAT lol I own a 2013 500 and its been a nightmare , cost me around £1000 to repair gearbox clutch shocks brakes and new tyres , I would advise buying a Toyota or a Mitsubishi , I used to own a 2007 Colt and it drove way better than the Fiat 500 and was a lot faster , never had an issue with that car but sadly someone hit it and wrote it off so bought the Fiat 500 as i love how they look but Fiat=Shiat lol had to make it rhyme lol

[@graemew7001]

@@christineayres7199 I'd only buy a Panda or a Punto, nothing else, don't worry lol. It's funny that underneath a Panda and a 500 are the same car and yet 500's have loads of issues and yet Panda's not so many. I think it could be down to the nature of the first owners driving them differently. I've had mainly just running costs and known issues like the sump, the rear hatch electrics issue and the coolant pipe across the front of the engine leaking but overall its been a damned good car. Had it 4 years, put on 36k and just passed its test for £350, its a high miler petrol too (126k) and I'll keep it til it drops to bits, maybe another 2 years as my mileage has gone up tp 15k a year.

[@christineayres7199]

@@graemew7001 Yeah 👍 you could be right as girls in their teenage years usually buy the 500 🤣 👍 but I would not buy a Fiat again just unreliable in my opinion

[@paultrussy]

You do more for the environment than EVs. 👍

[@marklittler784]

Air fryers do better than most solar panels too !! 😅

[@kirk5030]

Glad you're feeling better Lee. Another insightful video into how much prep you're happy to do to get a sale. Seems as though someone will get a good car for the money after all your hard work.👍

[@volt8684]

Deffo, very underrated. Tough little cars and nice mechanicals. Rubbished by people that haven’t owned/run bangers. Hope u recovering well

[@watchanything-c7r]

you having a laff fiat are crap

[@greenzero3389]

Great video mate. With all this work being done, it should make a nice car for someone. I think you're MOT testing experience helps you decide when a car needs to go to the scapyard in the sky.

[@davidstevens1547]

Great work Lee. You do things which very few do but you make a living and enjoy what you do so why not do it. You have a great following and sales are good so why do otherwise. Hope you are feeling better. Take care.👍👍

[@duncan-ellison]

Good morning Lee. Yes, seeing as you now own the car and have the expertise to repair it then personally if I were you I would see it through. Personally I try and look for a bit less work if possible but I know what you mean about the satisfaction. I admire your work ethic. Have a good week.

[@stucarver8068]

Cracking video, opens your eyes up to what goes into prepping a car for sale.

[@vinegarjoe9706]

Good on you, Lee. Great to see a dealer who is not just out for the profit, and who is prepared to invest a bit of time and effort into these cars. In my day, a car with 70k+ on it was a no-no. But modern cars if looked after can run for much longer. Again, good on you!!!!

[@marklittler784]

Yeah galvanized and plastic wheel arch liners nowadays.

[@zfid]

Hey Lee good to see you up and about again. Thing is I guess you get plenty of sales and a good reputation and you're never stuck with expensive stock.

[@williamfence566]

Problem with cheapies is that those who are maximizing their budget for that want it to be like a new car . See recent chops garage vids for e.g. Good job you've got the skills to keep the costs down

[@clivet3252]

Chops is an old woman who wants everyone to feel sorry for him. Take no notice of him.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

It's good to see your fit and well Lee!

[@barrycrellin1742]

I drive a 25 year old Audi and a twenty year old volvo. Both just passed MOT total cost £ 290 for two tyres on the volvo couple of bulbs and MOT cert. So I do think you are right to refresh older cars! You also are enabling those with less deep pockets to actually get a vehicle, a real issue for younger drivers who will face massive costs for initial insurance. I think the whole deal will only win you more customers and repeat business from family contacts along the way. Good on you!!!

[@marklittler784]

Good body is a fantastic start and selling point it generally implies past owner or owners have at least cared to some extent about the car and probably the basic servicing too.

[@davidhumpherson4904]

If you can make a decent margin then it makes sense. It's also eco friendly. Glad you're on the mend lee 👍

[@TrumanShow-im2ve]

Anything that keeps these old cars on the road instead of an exploding 'control/cancer' vehicle has my favour. Using your expertise to get them turned round and a young kid a decent first run around is brilliant. You make some money out of it aswell. Everyone's a winner.

[@leegorman8322]

The 1.4, 8 valve was the best engine. We had one for 10 years in Ska red throughout. The only problem an occasional knocking sound, n/s rear, with a crushed wheel bearing (too many pot holes). Otherwise, started on the key. 👍👍

[@christineayres7199]

The 1.2 8valve in my Fiat 500 has been reliable , the problem is the rest of the car falls apart lol , new Gearbox bearings clutch shocks brakes tyres etc , not very good for a 10 year old vehicle especially considering i used to own a 2007 Colt and it never had 1 issue in the many years i owned it , sadly i got suckered into buying the 500 as it looks so beautiful , Fiat are like the fake Chinese Rolex watch of the car world , they look good but will fall apart. lol

[@paulhill1379]

Good video i like the way you try to keep these cars going.

[@WilliamTimothyFarrell]

Your investing in your workshop, technicians and equipment proves your commitment to this whole business of value used cars - put clear water between you and thosd who are no more than traders. Great info re 3 door Vs 5 door thanks. The oldies saw only 3 door cars racing, on the basis that they had stronger body shells, no longer true so practicality triumphs.

[@kevinshanahan6064]

Such a pragmatist - excellent.

[@FatHead1979]

Love the attention to detail and approach to getting each car is a good genuinely solid state. Shame that most of your contempories in your sub £5K market aren't a committed to doing things properly. Keep up the good work mate (both the YT stuff and your approach to prepping your cars) 💪

[@italyforme1053]

Check the sub-frame behind the lower arms, they go holey. That driveshaft may be okay, the gearbox selector shaft seals above go and the oil runs down and looks like the drive shaft seal has failed. You're lucky the paint is also good as the white ones have a paint flake issue over the roof and bonnet, often looks like a poor respray flaking off but actually the original paint (happened to ours). I think the 500's also suffer similarly. Good luck nice to see it live on.

[@MegaReddevil71]

I used to trade cheap cars I often made more money on the cheapies basically paid scrap money for them and it's sense of achievement saving something from being scrapped often to give several yrs more motoring

[@markfoden765]

You are the main man lee💪💪good to see and hear you getting better👍

[@sharla82]

Who can you trust in the secondhand motor trade ? Lee certainly comes across as an honest person, I dont think many other traders would go into details about the cost vs possible profits.

[@stewartturner814]

Good to see you back and hopefully feeling better . I would definitely save the Punto . Has the bones of a decent car and I like these older vehicles for being much simpler both to drive and work on 😊

[@dillonblake6219]

Had an 11 plate punto evo myself, 1.4 petrol 5 door in a lovey blue. Gave me a fair bit of hassle compared to a standard 60 plate punto my other half had. Also seemed to go through a lot of oil. Ended up binning it off after a leak in the boot at 50k miles. Still going now at 110k according to mot history

[@barryr10]

If that were a 12 plate Corsa or something, id say trade it on. But that is a fairly unique good looking car in my opinion, and with the decent margin left in it, it's worth a fix.

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

I get saving older cars, as well as my books I run a laptop repair business, I love buying older broken laptops, repair them and then sell on.

[@EgoShredder]

Thinkpads are my personal favourite, due to their brilliant engineering and free service manuals, and how well they perform when modernised.

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

@@EgoShredder agreed, solid and reliable.

[@merv690]

I know as you do there are many dealers out there, who would do only the bare minimum of prep on cars at that price point, I would be very happy to buy from you with that level of preparation. I bought a Fiesta from a dealer close to where I lived he had been in business for years, 12mnts advisory free mot, drove it for a day took it back with a list of fault all I got was, well it had an advisory free mot , told him to change his mot tester🙄🙄

[@bikerclivew]

Lee, very informative video. And I totally agree. Hope you’re on the mend

[@MariaMadden-d1d]

Lee, great to see u back!! 💪💪

[@alundavies5171]

the older cars are far more ecologicaly friendly than even electric cars ! you keep going Lee without guys like you the likes of kier starmer will scrap em all!

[@neil1997]

That car in Italy would be €5k all day

[@chrislloyd5602]

Hope you are feeling well.

[@johnbrown3471]

It would be scrapped if somebody didn't put a bit of effort in. Be a shame to see it crushed.

[@christineayres7199]

It will fail an Mot in 3 or 4 years on Rust , trust me Fiat=Shiat

[@andypalin3287]

Great comparison Lee! 😀

[@marcusmaximus451]

Good vlog Lee, I would save it as it would do someone a really good turn once all fixed and serviced kind regards Mark from Billericay 😃

[@UnusSedLeo-w5l]

Good one to keep on the road for some years. I like the cars made in this era, no downsized money pits. Just a 12yo old Italian car.

[@morgansteele3158]

Even you doing all the work thats a lot of work mate

[@johncollins2966]

Seems like a car that hasnt been looked after but with a bit of love attention will be a nice car for someone 😊😊

[@ladalout245]

You're a braver man than me, I would've steered clear of that one but hopefully you'll turn a decent profit. I wouldn't change the rear springs if they're OK and I'd only do the offside lower link if the nearside is OK, nearside probably done at some point because it's always the nearside that fails first. I reckon customer would be more bothered about the bit of rust on the offside front wheel arch. Good to see you fighting your way back, hope you got that dodgy toof sorted before you started on the Punto!

[@FeeneyStephen]

Hi Lee, welcome back to work. This is a simple fix and a budget of £1000 gives you a good profit. All the work will be plus points for selling and if you can get it done at a price then it is worth it. This is the dilemma of all businesses. Good luck. £2500 all day long.

[@paultaylor7684]

If I had a ramp to use ide never have got rid of my older cars

[@edwardospells7477]

Will ring you tomorrow , I work in Europe and from audlem close to you and I’m back beginning of November and looking for a cheap run around . This looks like just what I’m after 💪💪

[@paullanchbury9380]

Us old'ens need savin' Good one Lee

[@damianleah6744]

I think because you are a mechanic and you know what you are doing then it’s probably worth doing. But if I was trading, buying and selling cars, then I wouldn’t bother because it would probably cost me dearly! 😂

[@white183a]

Lee you are offering a public service to save older cars and sale at affordable prices for many drivers, good on you. Have you thought of getting an apprentice or semi skilled or semi retired extra mechanic to help turn around more vehicles

[@richardmendham5278]

At first glance, I would say: 'No!' However, in your conversation you let slip: "I love working on these cars!" [I know that's true, because I'm a devout viewer!] Therefore, your job is a passion, not just a job! As you know, my dad bought his own cars from auction and fixed them with tin and fiberglass! (In those days viewers, this was not illegal and the cars passed the MOT!) We the could probably get another year out of them! So, if you want to do it, and you know you have got the time, do it!

[@clivengauge]

Great video I would repair it and get it back on the road and save an older car 👍

[@MartinMagee-q2r]

Yip would do the repairs. Hope u are feelin better.

[@johndawson8806]

hi lee, i think a massive point that nobody mentions is this punto and other cars you refurb are actually the most enviromentally friendly cars you could buy! i think its much greener than buying new junk in my opinion?

[@neil1997]

Absolutely! After he's put a grand in, this car's good for 5 years. How much would an EV be on PCP for that duration only to be binned

[@skrimshanker1]

u have an advantage on doing the work yourself so its a decent turnaround, but its not always as straightforward. Fact is you do things right, thats golden and puts you above the norm’, well above

[@Matty12333]

My Ford fiesta 2010 is on the same clutch, no leaks, just the usual consumables, tyres, brake pads and discs

[@henrykravitz468]

I guess 1st-time drivers, want 5 door cars so they take their friends out on the roads. It is a car I would save aswell. Good to see you up and about Lee, I hope your feeling better.

[@simonwhittle5190]

well done saving an old car from the crusher, saves the planet too!

[@SRTV2022]

I lost £1000 on a 2011 punto evo. It had all the rust issues, exhuast pipe gone, clutch and all. Down south these are scrap cars unfortunately. It all adds up here. You did it good job.

[@christineayres7199]

Agree 100% as i got scammed too , bought a 2013 Fiat 500 beautiful looking car in Modena Yellow but paid £3000 for it then a month later clutch and gearbox went bang , cost me £800 to repair and i had to get the motoring ombudsman to write to the dealership to get £400 of that repair money back , they refused to pay me the full price of the repair and if i had gone to court well it would have taken months to get anywhere , also i had to replace the brakes and shocks recently , so in total around £600 of my own cash gone in the last 6 months , If i sell it i will be very lucky to get £2 grand back , so am just keeping it as Mot is due in December , once i get it through that then will sell as winter is a bad time anyway to sell a car.

[@davidshepherd4753]

Hi ya Lee Glad to see you're on the mend after your recent health scare, I started watching your channel coz I used to go to auctions many years ago but only to buy the odd cheap car for personal use, I notice you drive a Maserati , Just wondering if it has been a fairly reliable car for you, Or has it been a money pit that you'd never advise anyone buying one, ? Love the video's mate, All the best,

[@notmenochanceillfighttillt9254]

Glad to see you feeling better Have you any topdon discount codes coming soon

[@robertpowell7672]

Ideal car for an on the drive DIY'er.

[@ndiggadee2663]

Be a great car for someone who wants a cheap car when you done the work

[@martinwood9014]

Pretty little car. I had an uno years ago, over 30k miles very reliable. Your punto is worth mending and keeping, maybe as a curtesy car

[@Wiltshire-observer]

Hello Lee, yes I would repair and refurbish the Punto. Despite its high mileage, it’s not rusty and if it can pass its MOT easy enough, then why not refurbish it. We are too quick to junk cars that still have life in them. It will serve someone well for a few years yet and that person on a tight budget wouldn’t have a car otherwise. Good work I would say. That customer will return again for another well prepared car from you and hopefully recommend your Car Pitch.

[@johnchincotta1qwdb15]

Hi Lee,in these circumstances, I believe it's worth doing such repairs.Bodywork seems to be straight too.Do all the stuff you mentioned which are the essentials, less wheel refurbishments.You don't need to go to town with it either, given it's current age.

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

If there's a profit Lee then yes mate I'd have it up on my ramps getting the work done then knocking it out!!!

[@shirleyelliott9848]

I would fix,somebody would pay good money for it.

[@watchanything-c7r]

yeah come back saying theres a issue fiat are bangers that why you dont really see them as they bad as alfo

[@westendwatch]

Great video Lee ! Would it be worth treating the whole underside of that Punto for rust ?

[@johnedwards3198]

Lots of bits and bobs to do so yes will take up space on the ramp but it will be a quick seller at a good price, you'd know all those bits are good so less likely to be claimed on and although it's a business... If you enjoy turning these older cars around you hopefully get a bit of pleasure out of it

[@SimT8]

Helped my lad get his first car almost 2 years ago. Punto 1.4 EVO 2010 100ish k miles. Paid £1400 this was when a really rough Corsa was 2k and prices were mad. Needed exhaust, service, cambelt and other bits. That cost just shy of 1k. Bodywork fair, wheels bit tatty but tyres all good. Told my lad to get it serviced annually which he does and also needed an alternator after a year. Now if he keeps it for 5 years builds his no claims up then sells it for sub 1k. Would have cost him about £400 a year depreciation. Annual servicing and parts cheap on this car so saved a bit compared with something else as well. He owns it and can afford it and not losing loads on depreciation or finance costs or costs on repairing small scrapes which he has as first car. So in a nutshell ideal first car until he wants to spend a bit more in a few years.

[@tardeliesmagic]

I agree with you Lee,i'd make an effort to keep that Fiat on the road....maybe F.ix I.t A.gain T.omorrow, i'll get my coat 😆 Jokes aside,you did the right thing fella.

[@robblack7560]

I would treat it as a "filler job" if the ramp becomes free. Gradual progression is better than delayed perfection.

[@neilmartin5341]

That's the sort of quality stuff I buy all the time 😅 . Bought a 75k 2007 Citroen C1 for £300 weekend. The last owner got a garage quote for wishbones links discs pads & shocks etc for £1400🤑. I do 90% of the work myself as I'm in the car body trade but if I had to send it all out even to someone cheap would kill the profit. I also love fixing up stuff that could So easily been scrapped, the lady nearly scrapped the C1 because of the repairs

[@Mark-uo2uh]

Your right most people would scrap it 😮

[@neilwharton720]

I thought they stopped making the Vauxhall Viva in the 70s your red motor 😳🙈😂😂

[@peterbrownless]

It's an Opel Karl, but Vauxhall management had had enough of $hitty car names (the Adam) putting punters off, so they went all rebellious, and the Viva had a second coming.

[@thevauxhallman7157]

Hi, I read that Lee had collapsed a few days ago? Yet he didn't mention anything about it in this video. So it couldn't have been serious.

[@excalibur9768]

I have a 2013 Fiesta (1.5 diesel) with 82k on the clock. Apart from servicing, tyre changes, and cam belt/water pump at 80k, she's cost me barely anything bar a new starter motor and battery a few months ago (original battery). I fully expect repairs given the age but I have no plans to retire her because just north of 80k for a diesel is nothing and her engine etc still feel like how they did 11 years ago.

[@christineayres7199]

Yeah that was true of my old Mitsubishi Colt from 2007 that car was indestructible , timing chain 1.1 engine it got to 135 thousand miles and was still pulling well but sadly an OAP smashed into it on a roundabout and it got scrapped , I wasnt too sad as the car only cost me £600 in 2017 and lasted until Nov 2023 , I then made the big big mistake of Buying a 2013 Fiat 500 in March this year and ever since then its been a problem , Gear bearings and clutch went £800 down the drain , then the handbrake snapped another £80 then shocks and brakes went so around £150 and had to put tyres on another £120 for cheap China made tyres , I paid £3 grand for it and will be lucky to get £2 grand back , so yeah dont buy Italian cars they look lovely but will hurt your pocket , Alfa Romeo Giulia another good example lol

[@markcropper7182]

i would fix it up two years ago i bought a project car from a dealer he was going to scrap it a little red 3 door fiesta i have done all the work on it myself the car is now mint and looking very close to new condition and did not cost a lot of money to do it

[@marklittler784]

If you can cut down on make and manufacture of models you deal with you'll become much more familiar with their problems and the speed at which you can fix them.

[@dan44zzt231]

Imagine the look on Lee's face when someone tries to haggle him down on orice saying I could get a 12 plate Punto off FB Marketplace for £500 😂

[@bigeein]

Trade it on mate, use your time more wisely. Hope your feeling better

[@tardeliesmagic]

Naa,there's money in it. He's done the right thing to fix it back up.

[@Conflictofinterest902]

It might cost him money to trade it on. Say he gets what he paid, he’s also brought it back on a wagon, that costs a bit of money, has to take it back to auction again or spend time trading it on. Obviously he doesn’t want too many like that on the go at once, but having one among many others isn’t too bad. After all, there’s still profit in it…..if there wasn’t a profit in it, he may as well stay in bed

[@stepheng8779]

​@@tardeliesmagicSpot on, only thing he's trading on is profit.

[@scorcha100]

This throw away society that we live in unfortunately sees many cars which could be given a new lease of life just sent to the scrap yard which is a shame. I think these sort of cars are ideal for people who are very hands on and like a bit of a project

[@peterbrownless]

Given the costs to you with your own mechanic, it's definitely worth doing. But for the bloke in the street who has to take it to a garage and pay £50 or more per hour, then it probably isn't. I do like to see older things kept going, far better for the world/ environment than binning stuff and buying new. There could easy be another 10 years life in that car once you've titivated it.

[@phil25051]

£50 per hour!! Let me know what year you went to that garage! Try £75 PLUS.

[@darenward5256]

I never understand the throwaway culture, my car is 21 years old. It does cost me a lot in repairs, but, it's still a viable car.

[@Roblox_Lover2.0]

I would fix it because they are becoming rare

[@watchanything-c7r]

rare you having a laugh they a bag of crap cars they not classic pal ya in lala land you that dumb that would buy them and cry when you in debt because of it even last year someone selling a turbo edition for £1k and no1 wanted it

[@shaunmacmcdermott840]

Blimey! I have just forked out £9995 on a low mileage 18 plate Captur from a Renault main dealer, all 4 diamond cut alloys need refurbishing and it's going to cost me best part of £300 of my own money to get it done, your work does you credit. Few dealers round here seem to do cosmetic stuff on a PDI it seems, I have seen good cars for sale with some very tatty alloys.

[@-DC-]

Did you not view it before purchase?

[@shaunmacmcdermott840]

@@-DC- I did but somehow missed it, it was raining.

[@jamesgowing3856]

I think you are likely to make a profit on it. The main issue is time. The faster the turn over the more money you will make. Cars sitting in the garage or in the lot make no money whilst they are there. Anyway you are probably the best judge on this & will make the best decision.

[@brianridley1102]

Suspension rusts as you can see with the car but it's not terminal on the main components. Do you ever say put Lanoguard or Bilt anti rust on to future protect them?

[@philwindows6932]

It's worth spending the money to fix it and sell it. There is still going to be a good profit in it. Definitely fly at £2295. Would be a great buy!

[@MattMcKimmie]

I helped get my wife's pal a fiat same as this 11 plate cat n it sailed through its last 2 mots after getting new suspension etc and i got it for £1050 it has 90k miles but very clean so she was happy.

[@johnc9228]

I've got one of these puntos am selling currently Has a issue with heaters not working has previously had all the wiring redone etc but the blower motor just doesn't kick in