Fiat Grande Punto's

jase1

Tilt wrote: »

Rubbish. I've owned 13 Fiats and only had an issue with 2 of them. One was a corrosion problem (1979 Fiat Mirafiori which was pre-6 year anti corrosion scheme) which Fiat authorised repairs on even though it was out of warranty, the other was a seized Turbo which was rectified under warranty.

It isn't rubbish that Fiat (along with the French carmakers) bodge the RHD conversions though.

These car companies don't sell many RHD cars, and so spend as little as they can get away with converting them.

They also don't spend much money on electrical toys, as no-one in Italy bothers with them.

So you end up with a core of a decent car, but corners cut right, left and centre by the time they make their way to the UK market, with all its demands re toys, driving on the wrong side of the road etc etc.

Tilt

jase1 wrote: »

I wouldn't call it arrogance as such.

They're parochial manufacturers (like the British Rover of old) and their cars are under-engineered in the areas where the domestic market has no need for a given feature (like electronics -- French/Italian buyers tend to go for basic cars).

Again, someone clearly dosn't know much about the marque. Proves it by saying that Fiat is "under-engineered". Their engines are more or less indestructible for a start, which is more than you can say about "the British Rover of old". Yes, they had a bad rep back in the early 70's with bodywork, but since the early 80's they really turned the product around. I've owned 13 high spec models since 1978 and have had very little to moan about. I've certainly not found them to be "under-engineered". My current one is a 13 year old Punto HGT with all the electrics still working as they did when I bought it new.

jase1 wrote: »

If you go in with your eyes open, there's no problem. But I certainly wouldn't expect the same levels of solidity as you get from the more serious global manufacturers from the USA/Japan/Germany/Korea.

Now I know you are joking!!

Tilt

jase1 wrote: »

It isn't rubbish that Fiat (along with the French carmakers) bodge the RHD conversions though.

These car companies don't sell many RHD cars, and so spend as little as they can get away with converting them.

They also don't spend much money on electrical toys, as no-one in Italy bothers with them.

So you end up with a core of a decent car, but corners cut right, left and centre by the time they make their way to the UK market, with all its demands re toys, driving on the wrong side of the road etc etc.

Sorry, You clearly don't know what you are talking about. Fiat (just like any other manufacturer) actually have R/H drive factory manufacturing runs where the cars are completely built as R/D versions from scratch. In other words the line will produce R/D versions on 1 or 2 days per week.

As I have said in my previous post, my current HGT Punto is 13 years old and has Sat Nav, ABS, traction control, climate control, electric front windows, electric assisted steering with 'city mode' and it all still works as it should. It sails though it's MOTs and until that changes, I have no reason to change it. Plus all my cars (Fiat ones) have been either top or high spec with full electrics and I can honestly say that I have not experienced the 'sub-standard' issues that you suggest.

I suppose you will say that i've been lucky. Well that of course is possible. But I can assure you that when I change my current car, it will deffo be another Fiat.

jase1

Tilt wrote: »

Again, someone clearly dosn't know much about the marque. Proves it by saying that Fiat is "under-engineered". Their engines are more or less indestructible for a start, which is more than you can say about "the British Rover of old".

Selective quoting. I said they are under-engineered in the areas that are not required by their core business. Fiat engine reliability is clearly not part of that.

Having said that, the Fiat engines installed in Vauxhalls are anything but 'indestructible' (in fact they're bloody awful) so what you are saying clearly isn't universally true :rotfl:

jase1

Tilt wrote: »

Sorry, You clearly don't know what you are talking about. Fiat (just like any other manufacturer) actually have R/H drive factory manufacturing runs where the cars are completely built as R/D versions from scratch. In other words the line will produce R/D versions on 1 or 2 days per week.

At what point does any of that reflect on the design of Fiat's RHD systems?

I'm sure Citroen designed, rather than literally bodged the RHD solution in their smaller cars where you could hit the brake pedal from the passenger side It was a bodged design, not bodged manufacture.

Fiat's RHD solutions aren't quite as bad as that, but they still have horribly offset pedals, and cable runs that go all the way around the front chassis due to the inferior RHD designs.

Tilt

jase1 wrote: »

Selective quoting. I said they are under-engineered in the areas that are not required by their core business. Fiat engine reliability is clearly not part of that.

Having said that, the Fiat engines installed in Vauxhalls are anything but 'indestructible' (in fact they're bloody awful) so what you are saying clearly isn't universally true :rotfl:

Whatever. I speak from owner experience x 13. Also I have worked in customer service (after-sales) in a main dealership in the mid 1990's.

From my experience they are as good as quality as anything else for the same money.

HOWEVER and now you have mentioned it, the pedals in the Punto HGT are a little to close together so i'll give you that. But I didn't find this in my previous car (Bravo HGT) or the one before that (Coupe 16v).

powerful_Rogue

My partner and I both have Grande Puntos and never had any issues with them. Great little cars

jaydeeuk1

The Grande Punto is one of the few cars Fiat actually did alright on. Still wouldn't buy one with my own money. If you buy it expecting loads of problems, and don't get any, treat it as a bonus.

Tilt

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

The Grande Punto is one of the few cars Fiat actually did alright on. Still wouldn't buy one with my own money. If you buy it expecting loads of problems, and don't get any, treat it as a bonus.

And what do you base that opinion on? Are you talking recently or what? Because they have done "alright" on a few other models as well actually. What about Uno, Tipo, Punto mk1, Brava/Bravo, Panda and 500? All of which are European Car of the year winners.

In fact Fiat have had 9 winners in the European Car awards since they started in 1964. Think you will find that is more than any other manufacturer.

Giggs_11

Thanks for the replies.

The lack of power thing kind of worries me as I've my 1.2 8v Clio is useless when building up speed on dual c/ways.