The Fiat Punto - An ideal First car!

Advantages: Cheap to run and Fun to Drive, Excellent Value for Money
Disadvantages: Safety, Style

...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...

sbutler1 02.11.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

Living and driving with Fiat Punto

Advantages: Economical and spacious
Disadvantages: Heavy steering and noisy at speed

...Why, of all the cars on the market did I choose to buy a Fiat Punto? I have to admit that I only considered this car because I had been driving one on hire for a few months. When I looked at the vehicles available, Fiat seemed to offer good value. Have I come to regret this decision? I bought an ?98 registered vehicle in early 2000, and have driven about 16,000 miles since that time. So what are the pros and cons of this vehicle? This isn't the current model, but the immediately previous one wnich is very commonly available second hand. Firstly, I should say that I am married but have no children and virtually all my mileage is from my daily 50-mile round trip to work. Most of my driving is on the motorway with a few intervals of stationary urban traffic. Pros ? Decent fuel economy, not the best in class but I return about 43...

pauljm 16.03.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

1998 Fiat Punto 55 sx

Advantages: Parts are cheap, fuel efficent, drives well (when running)
Disadvantages: Car suffers mid life crisis after 40,000 miles.

...I bought this car for £500. It was a 1997 (R) reg Punto 1.1sx. It had 50,000 miles on the clock with full service history. I thought the car would be OK as the milage was quite low and there was only two previous owners. After a month of owning the car the heater matrix went. These cost £60 from fiat and about £300 to fit as the whole dashboard has to come out. When the matrix goes you know about it as steam starts coming through the heater vents inside the car. I fitted the matrix myself, the job wasnt hard but it was time consuming. The car lasted another 2 months when the engine started overheating, this was a blown head gasket. apparently punto's are known for this problem, they fail around 30 to 60 thousand miles. A month and half later the clutch went. two months later there was a water leak from the bottom of engine...

masterm1nd 29.10.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

Fiat Punto - The perfect first car?

Advantages: City Button, Lots of boot space, good handling, comfortable, cheap
Disadvantages: small car

...I bought my fiat punto second hand, the previous owner bought it from new and has used it whilst in England, and was selling it as he was returning to his own country. I got my car for a very good price, and I still have this car now. It's sitting on the drive waiting for my to drive to work tonight in it =] - Why I like the Fiat Punto - - The shape is nice - It runs very well - It has a CITY BUTTON! =] Which makes the power steering very light for driving around the city. You can steer with one finger it's so easy! - Lots of boot space - Comfortable Ride - Good runner - Easy to park - Lots of room in back - Any negatives? - - There is an electrical fault meaning that the brake light comes on randomly, even though the breaks have been checked over many times and are fine. - Even though the car is small I still can...

Autumn1991 26.07.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.1

Fiat Punto MK1 1994-1999 S, SX, ELX, Sporting & GT

Advantages: Fuel economy, Running costs, Used purchase price
Disadvantages: No major ones

...use width and length, the Punto uses depth.The seats on the majority of models fold down for taking larger loads. With the insurance groups being low (not including the GT) and most models being in the lower tax band, they make ideal economic cars for any age group. Also, with so many reasonably priced after-market products available, from halo headlights to lowering kits. Punto's make an ideal car for younger drivers who can be creative and really make the car 'their own'. A few years ago, Fiat realised that the brake pipes were corroding quite badly on the mk1's. This had previously caused some brakes to fail. All mk1 Puntos have been recalled and if your Punto brake pipes have not been treated/replaced, please call your local dealership who will check if the car has been done and book you an appointment if needed. This is free...

virmin 06.11.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 60

Pedalling the Punto

Advantages: Fairly inexpensive to buy
Disadvantages: Parts are expensive, insurance grouping is high

...As you fellow Ciaoers may know by now I do like to write the occasional car op. After having driven the face-lifted model Fiat Punto I could not resist putting "pen to paper." The Fiat Punto has been "re-invented" since it first appeared on our roads, the very latest version has modified light clusters and a few other adjustments, but is very similar to the range made up to 2003. What does it look like ? ************************* The Punto is one of the smaller Fiats (Fiat have just launched the NEW Panda), the Punto is available in both 3 and 5 door. Compared to most cars if it's class it is not that distinctive, it blends in with most cars on the road. The main head turner with these cars is usually the colours they are manufactered in, I really do not understand who would buy a car in some of the shocking paintwork they...

Buenosdias 21.04.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

Fiat Punto 1.2, to buy or not to buy!?

Advantages: Cheap to run, looks, practicality.
Disadvantages: performance not fantastic

...Many of us know that the Italians have produced many wonderful cars, often decribed in term of their sole and passion. However, does this statement remain true with the Fiat Punto, I believe it does. Being one of the most unoffensive vehicles on the road, it is a car which simply blends in to all surroundings, and will often go unoticed (unless bright yellow and pimped!). This in my opinion is a good thing, as it allows you to get by from day to day without having complete strangers stare at you; this also prevents embarassment on the odd occasion when you have to pick your nose for example! Looks: you gotta love the design of this car, its funky, smart, and just looks a nice piece of work. Inside is rather basic, but everything that is needed is there, so I give it a thumbs up. Performance: With this car, you're not gonna be...

howser17 15.05.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2 

Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 dynamic

Advantages: Cheap, good looks, equipement, running costs, spacious
Disadvantages: underpowered, build quality not up there with the class best, Fiat dealers

...Price is good, and can be many thousands of pounds cheaper than a clio, corsa e.t.c. The new punto is also cheap to run, and with long 18.000 mile service intervals servicing is cheaper than some rivals as well. Economy of 40 MPG for my 1.2 petrol aint bad either. Although the engine is underpwered for a car of the size and weight, so needs revving a bit, but at home on the motorway at decent speeds. A slightly more powerful engine would improve economy as there would be more power to shift the bulk of the car, but as it is thats my only complaint about the engine. Safety - Full 5 star NCAP rating with 6 airbags accross the range, so if im driving it i feel safe and secure. Comfort - Very comfortable to be in, with controls mounted on the wheel. Seats could be more supportive, but other than that the fiat is a nice place to be in...

andreweddy 11.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat Punto MK1 60 SX - 5 years on

Advantages: Well designed, Fuel economy, reliability
Disadvantages: Underpowered with a load, airbags optional

...1999 Fiat Punto SX 60 - the mid-range Punto of the time. 1.2 Fuel Injection Engine Alloy Wheels Front and rear foglights Power Steering Power Brakes Electric Windows Casette/Radio built-in Body coloured bumpers Immobiliser In 1999 I purchased a car - a Fiat Punto 60Sx - from my local dealer. For the past few weeks I had tried several other cars, Saxos, 106s, 206s, VW Polo, and I had been driving a Ford Fiesta for a year. None of them seemed right, confortable or able to accomodate my tall, long-legged body type. Then, on a whim, I visited the Fiat garage. At first, I wasn't that keen on the Punto - I didn't like the body shell in particular - but I sat in and had a look around the interior. Interior: The driver's seat instantly took to my favour because it could be raised as well as slid backwards...

frostrobo 17.08.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 60

Bye Bye Punto

Advantages: good all rounder
Disadvantages: -

...There always comes a time when we are fed up with our current car and want to move onto something new and that time has come for me. I currently have a Fiat Punto Active Sport in Imola Yellow (Bright Yellow) to suit my personality but its warranty has just expired, I'm a little bit fed up of of and want to try something different, particularly looking at Honda Civic or possibly Seat Leon. Over the years, I have had 4 Fiat vehicles, at one point I was marketing manager for a Fiat dealership so I suppose I was being loyal to the brand there and tended to stick to what I knew best but overall I have found every Fiat that I have owned to be superb little motors. My current Punto is 1.2 Active Sport, 54 plate therefore manufactured in 2004. All Fiat vehicles when purchased new come with three years warranty and as per usual are not...

blondgem 26.01.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fiat Punto 1.2