Fiat Grande Punto

I_am_mad

I have a budget of £7000 max. The reason I like Puntos and Corsa's is because I like the style of them. I dont really like Fords and I was thinking about a Honda Civic but cant afford the one that I want (Type S).

It has to be a diesel ideally 1.7 and over and ideally black but colour is flexible, any ideas?

TiTheRev

So a diesel hot-hatch type?

LandyAndy

I_am_mad wrote: »

I have a budget of £7000 max. The reason I like Puntos and Corsa's is because I like the style of them. I dont really like Fords and I was thinking about a Honda Civic but cant afford the one that I want (Type S).

It has to be a diesel ideally 1.7 and over and ideally black but colour is flexible, any ideas?

If your main criterion is style then you will just have to live with the fact that they are unlikely to be as reliable as some other makes.

You might just get a current model Mazda2 in your budget. Would be my choice:D.

I_am_mad

Well obviously I would like a good car as well as good style! What can people recommend? It has to be diesel due to the amount of miles I do in a year as I share the car with my partner and the miles just fly by.

TiTheRev

My choice for style, reliability and a bit of poke is the Skoda Fabia VRS, similar to this one?

TiTheRev

Or even this one?

It's a very reliable engine, good interior spec with quite a bit of electrics, pas/airbags/computer/cd etc and my mum's got one, so I know they are quick and cheap to maintain as all I've had to do on hers (since new) is a temp sender for £15 and regular servicing since 2004.

Plus at this price you're saving 2500? It's a bit of a no-brainer if you ask me

angeltreats

TiTheRev wrote: »

Please keep your unhelpful comments to yourself!

Why was recommending a Panda over a Punto unhelpful?? It's a much better car.

I've never owned or driven a Grande, but my husband has a mark II. It's a hateful thing to drive, and has had endless expensive problems. According to my cousin, who until very recently was a mechanic at a Fiat dealership, the Grande isn't much better.

Shame really because I do think they're very nice looking cars.

OP, why does it have to be diesel? What sort of mileage will you be doing?

TiTheRev

Why was recommending a Panda over a Punto unhelpful??

It was a little tounge-in-cheek after the comment previous!

10JH

Parkers rate it as pretty decent -

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/fiat/grande-punto-2006.aspx?

I'd look at the Skoda Fabia too though before buying one.

I_am_mad

We would just prefer a diesel as its does more miles to the gallon, we just do a lot of miles as we share a car, and I dont know hoe far I will have to travel to work in September.