Review writing on hold - too much school work and coursework to do at the moment. Don't think I'll b...
Review writing on hold - too much school work and coursework to do at the moment. Don't think I'll be writing until after my exams in late June :(
Member since:09.10.2006
Reviews:23
Members who trust:27
I began driving this time last year and my first car was and still is a Fiat Punto 1.2 S, T-reg 1999, 3 doors. For a student such as myself, I would say that it is an ideal first car to have and I have thoroughly enjoyed driving it. It is not lightning quick and insurance is cheap!
Obviously because of the age of my car, it is not going to set the world on fire, but I have been very pleased with it so far. I paid £750 for it from an auction and two years previously it had been bought for £4,200! Luckily for me, it has so far been very reliable and I hope that it will last me until next year when I will sell it before I go to University.
Ride Quality
Obviously, the car's ride quality is not awesome compared to
most modern cars around today. But if you can't afford to spend loads on a set of wheels, the Punto offers a very good ride quality for the amount of money I paid. It runs fairly smoothly, but it doesn't have amazing suspension and can be a bit bumpy on un-even roads. I'd give the ride quality a good 6/10
Handling
Unfortunately due to the age of my car it doesn't have power steering, and this makes parking in tight spots fairly difficult (and tiring). It is only at these slower speeds where I notice the lack of power steering. If you don't like parking, or want power steering, I would avoid buying a Fiat Punto without power steering! When driving along normally, the handling is good and you don't notice that it doesn't have power steering. Because the car is small, it is very responsive and this makes it fun to drive. The handling gets a good 7/10
Comfort and Space
The Punto is known for being very spacious. It has a good sized boot that can get your shopping in easily. My car only has three doors so getting people in and out of the back can be interesting. I can however, fit 5 people in my car easily. This includes me and four of my footballing friends, three of whom are over 6ft tall! The Punto is fairly comfortable to drive and the seats are pretty nice. The longest I have been in it was three hours and nobody in the car suffered any bad injuries from being uncomfortable. 7/10
Safety
I'd be lying if I said that my Fiat Punto was a safe car. It has no airbags or other safety features. Therefore I am always careful when I drive. It is important to know the cars limitations and stick within them to be safe. The car does have pretty reasonable acceleration and speed, but I don't advise it for speedy drivers who are more likely to crash. 4/10
Reliability
My Punto has done almost 50,000 miles now and has not had any major problems (as of yet). I was lucky when I brought it that it was in good working condition, and with the correct TLC I think that it should be fine for at least another year. I have recently started experiencing slight problems with the clutch and gearbox, but this is mainly temperamental and hopefully nothing too serious. For the age of car and money I paid, its reliability has been brilliant 7/10
Fuel Efficiency
The car is very efficient driving around town. I don't have to fill my tank up for several weeks at a time despite regular around town driving. I don't have any accurate figures of MPG but I can tell you that it is very fuel efficient and doesn't burn a hole in your wallet! 8/10
Style
Although it's not the best looking car in the world, its looks aren't too bad. The car has a fair bit of charisma and many of my friends like the style and shape of the body. (It is mk1). Its perhaps not the coolest car in the world, but as a student on a tight budget, I'm not too worried about that. 6/10
Value for Money
I have been delighted with my Punto and for £750 it has been fantastic. Its good fuel efficiency has also helped and I think that it is an ideal first car for a student or somebody on a low budget. 9/10
Other Info
The dashboard is quite plain and boring - nothing special The car is fairly secure, but if people really wanted to break in they could. An alarm could be fitted to increased security. Getting hold of spare parts is not a problem if required.
Overall, the Fiat Punto is a good sound car. It has its good points and its bad points, but considering its age and the amount I paid I have been very pleased with my purchase. If you are considering buying one, I would definitely test drive it and look over it for any signs of problems. Also, check out its mains such as the Renault Clio, the Citroen Saxo, VauxhallCorsa, Pegueot 106 and 206.
Taking all aspects into account, I would rate the Fiat Punto as a solid 7/10.
Happy Car Hunting!
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Punto's Rule! Great review - you can tell I am a Punto owner - mind you mine is an old diesel but I still love it!
staceyvm 07.11.2006 12:44
I've got one of these - it's done a fine job for me but I think I'll be upgrading in the new year!
lesa60 03.11.2006 02:27
My son had a Punto as his first car earlier this year but told me that as his was a 5 door, it wasn't as 'cool' as a 3 door! It was a good little car. :)
Advantages: Cheap, roomy, stylish, nippy, practical, reliable. Disadvantages: A bit of a struggle on motorways, not comfortable enough for long journeys.
eduardob 26.01.2004 (26.01.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2
Advantages: A lot of kit for the money, and very large inside. Disadvantages: 3am breakdowns, clutch, electrics, body panels extremely weak, can be dented with a slight pressure.
Coops46 08.01.2009 (08.01.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2
Nov 2nd, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
