Fiat Punto GT Review

Overall Rating

The Fiat Punto GT has good road manners, levels of comfort and road holding "only if left on the standard suspension set up, and now lowered". It is spacious inside and I can honestly say I have had no trouble with my engine (although the cam is worn and the engine is due for a rebuild). It is fast and a nice looking car in my eyes. It has good levels of potential if tuned correctly.. The series 3 gt turbo is the best of the bunch from 97-99. It has the best trim, best engine and has the best handling due to having a thicker role bar.

Buying a car of this type and age you should be prepared to spend thousands on it unless the following components have been replaced. They will either be on the last legs or have failed already. Most of these cars have been clocked even if the MOT's look in order if the car shows low mileage. People have 2 sets of clocks they swap and change periodical to keep the mileage down. Lots may have been in collisions also.

These are the major parts I have had to replace on this car
starter motor
wheel bearings x4
track rod ends x2
rear cross member bushes x4
petrol tank (rots and can leak)
engine mounts x3
break discs x4
rear radius arm bushes
front arm bushes
anti-rollbar (only comes as a bar with bushes)
power steering pump pipe (cracks with heat over time and splits)
petrol filler cap (old barrel lock can be reused)

weak build flimsy body panels... not worth the money to put it right gt makes a bad buy unless it has been practically rebuilt I have the bills to prove it too.

I have had my Punto gt for over 5 years. Since that time I have learnt many things through trial and error.


These are the modifications I have learned should not be done on this car. I hope this helps some

The car does not like atmospheric dump valves!!! It upsets the balance and smooth running of the engine. If using an atmos valve poor idling cutting out and loss of boost can be experienced. no true performance car has them!! I have binned my forge atmos in favour of a superior recirc type.

The car does not like fancy spark plugs or leads, stick to OE leads and NGK plugs. If using other types, the electrical properties of the ignition system are changed, and poor running car result. Pops and misfires and incomplete combustion and rich running can occur..

The car should not be lowered. If it is lowered.....

The ride quality becomes harsh, and will hammer hell out of the car and all the other components which will experience increase ware. The car will become too low to the ground, and will hit the floor quite often over bumps, and speed humps are a nightmare. The tyres will not be in full contact with the ground and will be set at an angle like this / ... Instead of how they should be like this | | The geometry of the car will not be as it should, everything will be out of sync...The car will never track correctly. The tyres will ware on the inside edges badly.. It will not handle or break as good as the stock suspension. The car will become very skittish on the road. You will no longer be steering the car, the road surface will be steering you, and you will get constant negative feedback through the steering wheel. It will have no feeling of control or inspire confidence to the driver and become highly unpredictable. I recommend this car is kept on the original Monroe suspension, as it is designed and intended to be, this will offer the best handling on this car. The original suspension is extremely good and should not be changed. If you do you will regret it, honest.. The lower you go the worse it gets I took my car to within maybe 4" of the road with a G-Max kit. Maybe it would not be so bad if it was a slight drop. But the standard car handled so well before it is unnecessary, lowering can only have a negative effect due to the geometry changes... The only thing lowered suspension is good for is the looks and use on flat smooth surface race tracks. Not on the road.. Road holding can be increased with a slightly bigger wheel and a wider tyre. Some power flex arm bushes maybe a good idea too.

Members' Comments onunclebill's Review

• unclebill on 30th May 2007

  Just to comment further on my review as UNCLEBILL.
  
  Other things that are gone on the car is the rear breaking compensator's - they seize and leak unless changed through old age.
  
  The car melts the ABS sender wires.
  
  The odd break line can be corroded also front or rear... There was a recall for the break pipes under the tank..
  
  The floor pan leaks water through to the underside of the carpet through 8 semicircular drain holes used in manufacture to drain paint out of the floor pan when dipped in a paint vat. These drain holes are not sealed properly only undersealed and WILL LEAK WATER INTO THE CAR. The carpet is rubber lined so you will never know about the flood under the carpet rotting the floor pan in places. Also the bulk head leaks water into the cabin by near the peddles.. The only singe of water in the car will be the stale smell in the cabin..
  
  Also be careful with exhaust tuning some exhausts will loose the car so much power and make it run bad... The scorpion exhaust is the best exhaust on this car. For get all that noisy exhaust stuff its pants.. it's OK if you want to lose power.

• shep1980 on 18th Feb 2009

  could you tell me were i could get a petrol tank for my gt thanks