One silver Fiat Seicento sold, but my Italian car nightmares may yet just be starting. The fifteen year-old blue Cinquecento will shortly be having its NCT and as such I have started checking it over and preparing it.
So far I have fixed a leaking washer jet hose, put two new tyres on it, a rear wiper (the original one must have been 'lost' a long time ago) and replaced two bulbs. It was replacing one of the number plate lights that actually proved the most challenging as the plastic cover had been over-tightened previously so when removing the screw the corner of the plastic cover broke meaning it is now held on by one screw at the other end only.
But that's not all, oh no. The rubber housing that the bulb and connectors sit in had also perished and split in many places. One of the connectors was also loose-fitting. It was during all this that, at some stage, either rain water got on the connectors or they touched. Either way, a fuse blew and the troublesome left number plate light then didn't work and neither did the rear light on the opposite side. Strangely, the manual states that the fuse protecting the left number plate light also protects the left rear light - yet not so on my car. Fiat you so crazy!
There also appears to be an oil leak that has not gone away. I think there is more oil on the outside of the engine than there is inside it now. I'll get around to having a look at that soon. Maybe.
This is one of the great advantages to low end budget bangernomics motoring. If a car breaks and the cost to fix it is just too much get rid of it and you are not too greatly out of pocket. So when a small problem presents itself, in the case of my €300 Fiat Cinquecento and its oil leak, you can leave it and just keep the oil level topped up rather than have to fix it. If it lasts you six months I'm sure that would still be a saving on the same journeys with public transport over the same amount of time. Add to that the convenience of door-to-door comfort, not having to wait around for buses in the rain or share some dreadful music with that guy who thinks headphones really are speakers.
I have to admit I myself never use public transport as the convenience of having a car is just worth so much more to me. Cycling is great as a leisure pursuit but not for everyday commuting with the Irish weather and some of the driving standards that we are all witness to now and again. But my own passion for driving and cars in general ensures that I am not even cycling recreationally these days. No wonder I'm getting fat!
I have spent so much time of late between small Italian cars that the Lexus IS 200 and the Clio have been a bit neglected. So much so that the Lexus recently had to be jump started. I love and loathe this Lexus in almost equal measure. So competent and able it may be but its also so devoid of character or fun. Something both the Clio and the Cinquecento have more than enough of.
Pulling away from standstill in the Clio, even the lightest of touches on the accelerator brings such an urgent rush of power that still impresses. Know what torque steer is? If not have a go in one of these early lightweight Clio 172s. It's all easy to control of course unless the front tyres are a bit worn and the road is wet. Oh yes, tyres. I need two for the Clio and possibly another two for the Cinquecento come NCT time.
Speaking of the NCT test, I made a booking for the Cinquecento online this week from the website www.ncts.ie, and on doing so got some hotel discount. How does that even work and where is the relation to car testing? Book your car in for its NCT and get a discounted rate on a room and breakfast. How long is this NCT going to take? Maybe I shouldn't have entered it as a Fiat.