Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    
    John,
    
    John Baxter who's on D shift here in SQF has one, you could see him
    for some info.
    
    				Colm.

Hope i can help with your Questions...

Both my mother and father have fiat punto's

my dad has a 90 ELX, and my mum a 75SX

both cars are extremely nice to drive, and the 90 ELX has powered steering as
standard. both come with 300 quids worth of stereo gear (RDS EON etc) and
controlls for the radio on the steering collum...

I think the insurance is reasonable on them and i Know that they are very good
on milage to the gallon.

the car comes with i think what is an 8 year bodywork corrosion warrenty
which isnt bad

The interiors are nice on them but on some of the lower models if you get
metallic blue then the interior is in my oppinion gross.....

if its a new small car your looking for then you wont go wrong with a punto..


Jason...

PS the 75SX is a 1245cc
the 90 a 1600

and i think 55's are 1043cc ???


Jason...

    I just had a Punto 55S (1.1) for a few days whilst my Cavalier was in for
    repair and can honetly say its the best small car I've ever driven.

    The performance for a 1.1 is outstanding and the level of equipment
    was very good for a base level car. The quality of finish was very good
    as well. Plenty of leg and headroom and the controls are well laid out.
    I've never rated Fiats but have now changed my mind.

    The only minor niggles I have are -

    . Couldn't find how to switch the interior light on without opening the
      door.
    . The pedals were very close together and I had a scarry moment when
      I couldn't find the brake pedal!
    . No trip counter (surprised by this).
    . Radio didn't switch off with the ignition (fair play though as it
      does have one as standard).
    . No boot light (I suppose thats 'cos its a base model but a very
      cheap cost cut IMO).
    . Light grey dash caused reflection in windscreen making it look misted
      up. (why o why o why do manufacturers have anything but a matt black
      dash? Anything else reflects like crazy)

    After refilling the car it worked out approx 42mpg which isn't bad at
    all. For just over �7k on the road I think its a winner.

    Royston

    I have had a Fiat Punto 75 ELX for four months now, great car, awful
    build quality and even worse dealerships.
    
    I wouldn't recommend it purely on the basis of the dealerships !
    
    This car was bought new, N reg and taken care of, so far I've had the
    following faults :-
    
    1. Replacement Catalytic Converter
    2. Replacement Exhaust
    3. Replacement Air flow sensor
    4. Replacement driver seat ( creaked very loudly all of the time )
    5. Replacement rear seat belt mountings ( also creaked and rattled )
    6. Replacement electric windows motor 
    
    Its been back for all of those faults plus :-
    
    1. Suspension crashing over speed bumps or rough roads 
    
    	This only needed the suspension greasing ?
    
    2. Car couldn't start when warm - then ran like a pig
    
    	Timing had gone off ( so much for electric ignition ) 
    
    Finally I am currently under going a serious argument with the
    dealership over a rattling comming from the gearbox when the car is
    stationary, in neutral and the clutch is not depressed, depressing the
    clutch stops the rattling. The dealership and a Fiat engineer have
    claimed that their is no fault, although the one mechanic at the
    dealership seems to think its one of the main bearings, I am currently
    waiting for the service manager to call me back ( some hope ).
    
    The car is privately owned and has 6,500 miles on it - its not even
    been back for its first service yet which occurs at 9,000 miles
    
    Other than all that though its a spot on car !!
    
    Richard.
    
    Oh sorry - it also rattles from just about everywhere !!
    

    Oh thank goodness.... I thought it was just me who had a bag 'o' nails
    from Fiat! My Tempra.. (see note on most unrelaible cars!) currently
    ONLY has two faults (well three actually but I've given up on the
    third) at present.. handbrake light comes on when you accelerate or go
    round corners..... and so does the oil light! The wipers all do
    doolally if it rains for more than 10 hours!
    
    And yes the dealerships are slightly worse than abysmal!!!
    
    You are not alone!
    
    
    Dave
    

Re: a couple back...

I've had two Fiats and both of them had the characteristic 
gearbox-rattle idling in neutral. I think it's a 'feature', like all 
the bits that fell off or broke on them!

- John.

    Re a couple on Fiat dealers. Suspect this might be a local problem. My
    wife has had Fiat Unos for about six years, and one of the reasons for
    repeat orders has been the superb service from the main dealer. they
    have replaced things FOC out of warranty, when it seems "morally right"
    to do so etc.
    
    Derek

    
    
    	I've always had problems when buying ANY make of car new in August.
    I now avoid it like the plague. The last new car I bought was in
    January 1993. 1.4s Tipo.
    
    I still have the car, have done 67,000 miles and have not had a
    problem. No bits have fallen off (unless helped by me..hence no
    wingmirrors!) and I have been very pleased with the Fiat dealer (HWS in
    Leigh-on-sea).
    
    	Tony

    re: Fiat Punto 75 ELX
    
    Thought I'd post an update on the current situation with my car.
    
    The service manager never contacted me, so I phoned him to be told that
    there was no fault with my car despite being told there was by a
    mechanic at the dealership. 
    
    Not being happy with this I contacted Fiat UK who said since the
    dealership said there was no fault they could look into it but
    ultimately do nothing. So I contacted the AA legal services for advice,
    very helpful. Under advice I contacted the finance company and told
    them that at present I was prepared to accept a warranty repair but if
    the matter persisted, under the 1994 Sale and supply of goods act I
    would seek to reject the car as below my required standards. 
    
    I also sent a copy of the letter to the service manager at the
    dealership along with another letter saying I was considering writing
    to the press about the difficulties I've had with the car.
    
    Anyway, first thing this morning the service manager phones being very
    apologetic and offering me his own N reg Fiat Tempra TD  for a week
    whilst he has my car and tries to track down the fault. I have agreed.
    
    Since the couple of days of the last post though - the dashboard has
    started rattling badly, the remote central locking isn't remote any
    more and the drivers window keeps sticking half way up, sometimes I can
    press the switch again to raise it, sometimes I have to pull it up a
    bit first !!
    
    In its favour, it is definately one of the best small cars I have
    driven to date. It handles very well, corners well and the brakes are
    excellent  although I wouldn't like to try an emergency stop in case
    something fell off.
    
    Richard
    

  >>  excellent  although I wouldn't like to try an emergency stop in case
  >>  something fell off.
    
    I wouldn't get to enthusiastic about accelerating and cornering if I
    were you either %^)
    
    G.

    >> excellent although I woudln like to try an emergency stop in case
    >> something fell off.
    
    > I wouldn't get to enthusiastic about  accelerating and cornering if I
    > were you either %^)
    
    Strange as it is - acceleration and cornering are definate strong
    points for the class of car its in. It's never going to be a missile,
    but for a 1.2 litre car a 0-60 of 12 seconds is pretty good as is its
    top speed of 106mph, compare it to a 1200 Corsa. Even the new Fiesta
    with its Yamaha wonder engine only produces the same power, giving the
    car identical performance figures as the Punto.
    
    The car does corner nicely as well - progressive, not so much
    understeer and it doesn't try to kill you if you lift off mid bend !!
    
    I have a fairly decent car to compare it to - my previous car was a H
    plate Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 ( okay its not a fair comparision but the
    Punto does better than you'd think ), I've also just bought a G plate
    Toyota MR2 and I am still impressed with the Punto's ability.
    
    What im trying to say is that despite the crappy build quality it
    really is a great car !! Its just whether the fun drive out ways the
    stopping every fifty yards to pick a bit up !!
    
    Rick
    

    .12�    Strange as it is - acceleration and cornering are definate strong
    .12�    points for the class of car its in. It's never going to be a missile,
    
    If you like it, then I suggest you try both the Clio and the 106.

    > If you like it, then I suggest you try both the Clio and the 106.
    
    I originally wanted a 106 ( my previous car was a 205 ), but although I
    liked it. I couldn't use the clutch without breaking my leg against the
    centre console ( exit the 106 )
    
    Didn't try the Clio - I once owned a R5GT Turbo - after three weeks of
    ownership I vowed never to buy another Renault.
    
    Tried the Ford Fiesta - should of been shot at birth.
    
    Tried the Volkswagon Polo - errmm ! Nice car, Nice engine - just nice
    nothing special as far as I was concerned.
    
    Tried the Punto - the dealership gave me the keys and said bring it
    back in an hour. I really enjoyed myself.
    
    Incidentally the dealer who was now - with the help of the AA legal
    services, the finance company etc, has agreed to giving me a courtesy
    car for the duration until they can find the fault with my car.
    
    I have been given a new Fiat Tempra SX Turbo Diesel - no problems with
    it so far but it does have a really tasteful dashboard ( NOT ! ),
    actually I quite like it - I probably wouldn't want to live with it but
    for a few days its just like Knight Rider.
    
    Rick
    

    My new cheap 'n chearful Punto 1.1 S arrived this morning to replace
    my Cavalier.
    
    I haven't driven it yet as it is having an alarm fitted at present.
    
    I'll post an update in a week or two to say what its like to live
    with.
    
    Royston

        �   I haven't driven it yet as it is having an alarm fitted at present.
        
        Royston,
        
        An ALARM?  You mean in the highly unlikely event of someone
        wanting to steal your Punto 1.1, you'd be worried?  :-)
        
        Ian.

    Ian
    
    I may have to moderate your reply as my Punto may think your laughing
    at it. Now if you apologise nicely, like I know yer gonna...
    
    Clint

>    I may have to moderate your reply as my Punto may think your laughing
                                                             ^^^^
Oh dear, etc.

Has anyone got any experience of the Punto GT ? or better still 
does anyone in the Reading area have one I could take a look at ?

None of the local dealers have any in stock and I'm looking
at possibly replacing my Renault Clio 16V with one.

Thanks,
Phil.

    Had one for three weeks as a courtesy car - I know it pretty well - I
    also had a Punto 75ELX - so im okay with the punto in general. This was
    only a couple of months ago - so i know it very well still.
    
    Observations,
    
    Forget the performance figures you read about it - when you drive it
    you will swear its as fast if not faster than your clio. As soon as the
    revs hit 2,500 rpm it goes mad - I thought it was dangerously fast ( I
    have owned an MR2, Peugeot 205GTI 1.9, Primera eGT etc ). If you drive
    without your foot near the floor - it will irritate you how slow it is.
    The one I had was standard and a dealer model which was given to me
    until my Fiat Bravo arrived I put three thousand miles on it.
    
    It looks like a standard Punto with alloy wheels and headlamp washers. 
    The interior is a bit cheap compared with the luxury spec Puntos.
    Although it comes with electric windows, mirrors, sunroof, abs,
    headlamp washers, rear headrests, alloy wheels, remote central locking
    etc.
    
    Handles very, very well, probably not quite as well as your clio or my
    Peugeot but very little in it.
    
    The best thing about it is its a real Q car - people look at it as a
    normal Punto - it surprises everybody just how fast it is on the road.
    
    I say buy it - I would of if Direct Line would insure it for a 24 year
    old.
    
   Rick
      

Rick,

Thanks for your comments, sounds like I need to get a test drive in
one. I had the Renault 5 GT Turbo before the Clio so I'm fairly
used to using a few revs to get the car going (the Clio needs 
3.5 - 4.5 K of them to make things really start to move)

Any comments about turbo lag ? The 5 GTT didn't suffer from it too 
much 'cause it was only a 1.4 litre engine - I wouldn't think the 
Punto suffers too badly either (1.3 l) ?

Wheel spin when pulling away quickly-ish wasn't a problem on 
either the 5 or the Clio, how about the Punto - I can't
stand cars that have loads of power, but can't keep it down on the 
tarmac - Vauxhall Astra 2.0 Sport was a bit like that, loads of grunt,
but a pig to keep it going in a straight line while it was torque-steering.

Thanks again,
Phil.

    Phil,
    
    Turbo lag is a problem in first gear if your trying to make a hurried
    start without having the revs up first - ie you just floor it and try
    to go ( it will go nowhere !! ) the turbo will just start to come in as
    you change to second - other than that - no the turbo is no problem at
    all. 
    
    The Punto is a 1.4 litre with 136bhp and 150+ lb ft of torque, wheel
    spin is a problem in the first three gears in the wet, although the car
    has a limited slip differential so torque steer isn't really a problem.
    You might just feel the car hop forward. In the dry - just point it and
    it goes. 
    
    The Punto feels better built than either the Clio or 5, but I would
    recommend a test drive - if you can find any dealer with a
    demonstrator - I only got one as courtesey car because the garage had
    had it in stock for 6 months so they decided to register it themselves
    as a demonstrator.
    
    Thanks for bringing the subject up - im nw looking into getting one on
    the scheme myself.
    
    Rick
    

Thanks again,

I just got the Lease Plan price for my end-of-lease Clio 16V

31K miles 
June '93, K regd
7,650 pounds    (ouch ! - this means Hertz think it is still 
                 worth 58 % of purchase price)

A Punto 1.4 GT quote from LPlan is 4045 and has a taxable value 
of roughly 12,500.

For a <2500 miles per year, 40% tax payer, this is around 350 pounds per month 
net.

The Vauxhall Astra Sport 2.0 "babies car" comes in about the same 
net cost, but the equipment level is much lower (e.g. man s/roof, man mirrors),
and performance, although adequate, is hardly mind-blowing.
Also, since I haven't got 300 small children to cart around, I don't
think I fit Vauxhall's "customer profile".

I'd love another Clio, but that would work out about 111 per month more
than at present, a 40 % increase in 3 years ! Just wish my pay had gone up that 
much.

Phil.

Does anybody know if Kev Symonds still works for DEC and did he actually get 
the Punto GT delivered ?

I need to borrow one to show my brother who is trying to buy one but nobody 
has a Punto GT as a demonstrator.

If Kev is reading this - fancy a swap for a Mazda MX5 with all mod-cons for a 
few days ??

Cheers

Rick Barrett