Fiat Punto 1.1 55SX Review

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Fiat Punto 1.1 55SX
★★★☆☆
3.4
From 9 reviews
67.0% of users recommend this
  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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pritch's review of Fiat Punto 1.1 55SX

“The Punto replaced the Uno in 1993 and marked the dawn...”

★★★★☆

written by pritch on 27/01/2004

Good Points
A cheap yet attractive car to own and run. Excellent interior space given its size. Versatility, visibility and even build quality are good. It's fun to drive in true small Fiat fashion.

Bad Points
The ride quality and suspension are poor. A few question marks over electrical reliability. Steering a little tricky without PAS. Bodywork is easily dented.

General Comments
The Punto replaced the Uno in 1993 and marked the dawn of a new era for city cars. Here was a small Fiat that was very stylish, with lights running up to the roofline and a streamlined, almost organic design to it's overall shape.



Punto was always intended to be very friendly to the environment, and it's engines, all built with precision by robots, are very econmical. For this model, the 1.1 litre 55, 44mpg is possible on the Euro combined cycle.



The entry level 55 develops just that - 55bhp. It's hardly a quick car but it always feels like it's going faster than it really is thanks to small wheels and a willing engine note. The pull from the engine is good given it's size. Moreover, this is an engaging little car to drive, you can throw it round bends with what the Italians refer to as 'brio' with confidence as the Punto has articulate road manners. Even if it understeers (quite possible given the body roll it sufferes from) it is predictable and soon recovers.



The interior is tasteful and bits do not fall off, as many Fiats have been accused of. The dashboard has a graceful ergonomic design that is functional and pleasing to the eye. The seats are comfortable and very supportive for taller drivers.



The SX model is worth the small premium over the S thanks to the extra equipment, including central locking, electric windows, a split/fold rear seat, trimmed headrests and fog lights amongst other minor trim upgrades. In five door mode 4 adults can sit quite comfortably as there is plenty of room. The boot is a generous size and when those rear seats are folded away the load space become truly cavernous (don't overload it though - the Punto has weak rear suspension).



This brings me on to the car's Persian flaw - it's ride quality. The suspension is rudimentary on the 55 - lacking roll-bars and decent shock absorbers. The car rides harshly over pot holes and lurches into bends with an alarming slice of body-roll. You should aim to change the shocks if they have done upwards of 50000 miles.



Other niggles include slightly temperamental electrics, especially on earlier cars, though these problems can usually be sorted. The main issues mechanically are dodgy ignition coils (cost about £100 to replace) and a noisy gearbox caused by worn bearings (ignore unless really terrible and causing problems - budget up to £400 for a reconditioned box). Other than that, Punto is very reliable, and responds well to being looked after. Change the oil and filter regularly, spray the leads with wd40, and you'll have yourself a reliable and cheap little stylish car.



Although the gear stick is a bit rubbery and the steering a little onorous without power assistance, the car is fun and easy to drive and responds surprisingly well to a driver able to unlock it's full potential. It may not live up to even the least of your wildest dreams but it'll put a smile on your face and it won't dent your wallet!



There are plenty about, and they are very cheap now, so get a decent one for as little as £1000. Check all the electrics work, and look for small dents along the door lines. If you look after your Punto it will provide you with all the things one looks for in a great small car.



Car of the Year 1995 and deservedly so. Enjoy.

  • 1995

    Year Manufactured

  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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Cyberdog's Response to pritch's Review

Written on: 16/10/2006

I got my M reg 55sx Punto for free off a well known online classifieds site - the old owner thought it would cost 400 to put it through its MOT, but I got it through instantly for £160. Immaculate inside and out, minor fixes for MOT and all the normal extras such as electric windows, central locking etc.
<br/>
<br/>I quickly prepped myself up on the pros and cons of Punto ownership, and I found the following:
<br/>
<br/>Bodywork dents easily. Don't let a learner driver near your Punto because it will cost you too much in bodyshop work.
<br/>
<br/>Radiator is temperamental - you can normally fix it by nicking a thermostat from a scrappy (new they cost 18 quid..) or replacing the wiring loom to the radiator.
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<br/>Gearbox is rattly, but with a bit of persuasion it manages to fall into the right holes.
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<br/>Performance wise it's great - feels really sporty, although when you are racing against a Renault 5 1.4 it soon puts you to shame - being outran by an old banger! lol Nice styling, looks modern, lovely interior, great exterior and minimal rust.
<br/>
<br/>The engine is small, but for a city runabout it does the job more than expected - I get 160 miles out of 20 quid of petrol, and I know I need to tune the engine a lot, so you can expect up to 200 or 250 miles for 20 quid if you look after your engine.
<br/>
<br/>All in all, it's a very good little city car. One thing I do suggest if you buy one is to get a remote central locking kit for it off eBay for 20 quid. It adds instant kudos to the car, and it is really the cherry on the cake, what with flashy lights, beepy siren and the lovely little clicky sounds lol
<br/>
<br/>If you buy one expecting to be a boy racer, I hope you know how to take a joke.

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Duncanarsenal's Response to pritch's Review

Written on: 08/04/2010

I found this review very helpful because...it was very informative

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Mattpointless's Response to pritch's Review

Written on: 15/01/2007

The noisy bearing is the gearbox input bearing. The actual part will set you back about £6 - £10 (make sure you get a bearing with oil seals to avoid the noise again in a few thousand miles). Doing the work won't take that long. You will need a bearing puller (to avoid damage to a gear just below the bearing). Also, you will need a piece of steel pipe about 15mm diameter by 300mm long. This is used to hammer the bearing back on via the inner race.
<br>
<br>Overall, it's not a hard job to do, and it will only cost you about £20, including new hub nuts.
<br/>
<br/>Matt

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