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Picture courtesy of Ieuanfawr.
| Performance | 5/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 6.5/10 |
| Reliability | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 6.5/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 5/10 |
| Overall Rating | 5.6/10  |
Full review by
Ieuanfawr
on 17th May 2006
User Rating : 6
Respect :
0
Good Points: Basic, economical, reliable, not uncomfortable, roomy.
Bad Points: Basic, under-powered 8v engine, lacks refinements such temp gauge and light in boot, tyre noise spoils otherwise quiet car.
General comments: The Fiat Punto 1.2 Mia requires an adjustment of expectation. There's nothing fundamentally wrong or unsafe about it; it's just basic. It's low performance as distinct from under-performance.
Over the last 11 years, I've had several Puntos. This is the lowest spec one I've ever had, and being at the bottom of the range, it lacks the zip and the refinements of my previous twin cam ELXs. It had one previous owner who put about 50K miles on it.
Having said that, nothing has failed, broken or fallen off, and it returns about 42mpg. Oil consumption over the first 3K miles has been negligible, which is a good sign. Brakes are very good, responsive and powerful, but acceleration is lethargic at best and it runs out of steam uphill on motorways. It's hard work sustaining a press-on 70 mph on the motorway. The gearbox is OK, but the lever needs to be moved accurately to make slick changes. The clutch is light, but its bearing can be noisy reversing first thing in the morning. The steering is on the firm side, but the "girlie button" can be pressed to engage additional power assistance, but I find it becomes far too light, even when the car is stationary. All the electrics work fine, and the stalks and horn do just what they should. Heating and ventilation is good, but I suspect the vents are partially blocked with leaves or other rubbish.
The unbranded tyres are noisy, and I really should change them for decent Michelins or Pirellis. There's more headroom than in the MkI but there's no sunroof. Seats are fine, and adjust easily to accommodate my 6'2" frame. I've upgraded the basic (there's that word again) FM Radio/Cassette to a Radio/CD Player, and the sound quality has improved considerably without having to upgrade the original speakers. There are no rear speakers but the mountings and wiring are all there.
Boot is good for the groceries, but it was a real task to get two suitcases in. It has the volume, but it's wrong shape somehow.
I used Turtle Wax Colour Magic on the paint work, and it came up a treat. A few more applications should hide all the tiny scratches on the roof, which were probably made by the previous owner putting bags &c. on there while opening the door.
There's key operated central locking, and the interior courtesy light is linked to the ignition key and door locks, one of the few refinements. The front windows have electric winders, but no "one touch" facility.
If you want a basic car, it's fine. However, I expect most drivers will soon want more in the way of refinement. I hope to be moving on to another car soon, not because the Punto is problematic, but because I want a higher level of trim and bit more power.
So it's a conditional recommendation - don't expect a basic car to be like a higher spec'd model.
Ieuanfawr's review and ratings | 517 words
Review by
Kevstar
on 30th Jan 2006
User Rating : 4
Respect :
0
I bought my Fiat Punto in 2003 and kept it about 10 months. The car was ok'ish, and as this was the first newish car I had bought, I was very pleased with it. The car never gave me any mechanical problems and always started first time, however after having the car 3 months I realised just how basic it was inside, but then again, I did buy the basic model!!!The gears are terrible in them. As I use my car to and from work- and as in any city centre (Crawling traffic) the gearbox cant handle chang ...
Kevstar's full review | 185 words
