grande punto ?

Officer_Dibble

OK, fair point. I'm generally disappointed by new models because they insist on making them bigger. Some of us are buying smaller cars for a very good reason - we live in the middle of cities and can park in spaces and squeeze through gaps that other people can't get through. The current Jazz has plenty of room, as had the Punto, but every time they release a new model, it's bigger, without feeling it. I suppose it's mostly down to safety, side airbags and the like...

I was probably unduly negative about my Fiats earlier, I wouldn't have stuck with them for so long if they were that bad. I'm just enjoying spending less time having my car fixed though...

Broadwood

Not owned or driven the Grande Punto, but I did own and drive only Fiats from 1987 until 2008, getting through two very used 128's, a new Mk 1 Uno, a new Mk 2 Uno (all petrol), and lastly a slightly used turbo-diesel Mk 2 Punto. During those 21 years I averaged about 9000 miles a year, did almost all my own servicing and broke down only once - due to Fiat using cheap jubillee clips on the Mk 1 Uno which rusted and snapped when car only 10 months old, leaving steam pouring from under the bonnet. Nothing major ever failed, no new clutches or batteries, just plenty of squeaks, rattles, noisy wheel bearings, vague gear levers, leaky heater hoses and air cons, loose or failed wiper mechanisms, plus a tendancy for rear wheel arches to rust eventually from 128's to Puntos inclusive.

Basically, they've all been good fun to drive, cheap to own and run and above all, reliable if not abused. Fiats have never been the best built cars, which is a shame because most have been good designs let down by poor build quality and having to be built to a relatively low price which has been the main reason for me owning them.

Unfortunately for Fiat, there is now much stronger competition in the value for money stakes, but having said that, I now own and run a VW Polo only because my son is a VW mechanic and I am getting too old for getting under cars doing DIY servicing.

hissingsid

I bought a 1 year old Grande Punto 1.4 Dynamic Sport in August, and am very pleased with it. Hadn't wanted a Fiat, but the local nearly new car supermarket didn't have anything that grabbed my attention so I looked at what they did have (including lots of G Puntos), and to my surprise I liked them.

1.2 is a little underpowered for me, but the higher spec 1.4's are perky, very well equiped and fun to drive with no problems (touch wood) in the first 6 months.

System

thanks for all you replies he changed his mind completely and has gone for a c3.

drivebyargument

koe_182 wrote: »

wouldnt touch a fiat again tbh after my current one, should have listened to the warnings as should you.

shame, i always like the look of fiats as well

What he/she said.

Would not go near one again. Not many worse driving feelings than putting your wipers on full on the motorway in the rain and one [or both] of them "going".

Whoever said there aren't any deals on Jazz's.. there are plenty. If it's space and practicality you want, pre-registered "old" shape is your best bet as there's not too much difference between that and the "new" shape.
Looks wise there's better though...

Wannabedebtfree

I have just had a Grande Punto 1.2 active as a courtesy car for four days.

All I can say is that it wasn't Grand and it wasn't active. The 1.2 is an awful engine and it screams at any speed above 40.

I've had to do 20 mile journeys in it going to work and I now need to see a doctor as I could not find a decent driving position.

There are much better cars out there.

thunderchump

i have had 1.4 T-Jet (turbo :j ) for 16 months and its been utterly faultless! Well built, no rattles and the engine is a blinder! very fast for car only on group 6 insurance. i can get 42 mpg too. I think people that automatically assume Fiats are going to fall to pieces need to stop stereotyping and realise that these days they actually make some excellent cars. i will most definately be getting another Fiat. Nothing else of a similar price can compete with the specs. I can imagine what the 1.2 are like though, need more ooooomph!

T-Jet is what you need :T