Brenad new the world of Fiat, and just got a '57 Punto 1.2 Active for my daughter for here first car, and need some clarification on the City Steering.

Button on the dashboard doesn't seem to do anything, how do you know if City mode is on or off ? Should something come up on the dash? I don't have any warning lights to say there's a problem with it, but nothing to show it's working either.

Am I missing something ?

There's a steering wheel symbol lights up on the dash display when it's ON (this is in the manual, there's a link to download the manual somewhere on the forum).

I don't use the girlie switch myself, it does lighten the steering at low speed but modern power steering is hardly much of an effort to turn.

Try here: Clicky

Yes my understanding was there should be some indication on the dash (orange steering wheel symbol), but I don't get anything, but the manual also seems to indicate that if there's a problem with the city steering then the same symbol will illuminate Red, but I don't get this either.

When the City steering is on the wheel should be VERY light. You should be able to turn it with one finger while the car is stationary. Probably your little finger.

Try the steering with the button pushed and released. Can you turn the wheel around VERY easily with one of the depressions? If the wheel stays the same all the time, then your City steering doesn't work...

Well got it sorted in the end when I had chance to mess about with tha car more, it's currently being stored at my parents and I'm still learning

Whilst I was looking for the yellow/orange steering wheel symbol on the dash, it actually comes up with the word 'CITY' in green in the bottom left hand corner of the dash ! :doh: Perhaps I should have read page 70 of the manual more carefully !! :chin:

Ours did that when we first got it. The light on the dash came on, but the steering didn't feel appreciably different with or without it. After a few months, the steering started malfunctioning occasionally and in the end, I bit the bullet and got a reconditioned steering unit. After fitting that, the difference was much more noticeable. I'd say that previously, it had been stuck somewhere between ordinary and "city" mode for the whole time we'd had the car.

When you press the steering wheel button on the center dash panel, a green CITY symbol will appear in the instrument cluster. From there the steering will become much lighter. Personally, I've never had any use for it. So I hardly ever use it.

My GP is also a '57 1.2 Active. It's also my first car as I got it on my 18th birthday, I'm currently 19.

Just a quick question if you don't mind:
- How much is your daughter paying for insurance? inc. details like NCD (if any), age, etc.

I'd love to know.

Daughter has only just gone 17 and has started learning, so paying learner insurance which was surprisingly hard to get for her own car, would have been easier to insure her on my 2.0 TDi Octavia !!

Learner insurance is £193 for two months, she's had quotes of £1600 when she's passed her test with a telematics box.

PickleGP said:

I don't use the girlie switch myself, it does lighten the steering at low speed but modern power steering is hardly much of an effort to turn.

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I didn't notice a difference really either, but it scared me when I was one-hand driving over a speed bump and it was so light at low speed that I swerved as I went over it

I find it really helpful at screwing up reverse parking maneuvers as well. Press the button when a mate's parking and they're baffled as to why they're still half-way in the road.

Panther96 said:

Daughter has only just gone 17 and has started learning, so paying learner insurance which was surprisingly hard to get for her own car, would have been easier to insure her on my 2.0 TDi Octavia !!

Learner insurance is £193 for two months, she's had quotes of £1600 when she's passed her test with a telematics box.

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Ah okay. You'd be getting ridiculously ripped off if you decided to go for the £1600 quote.

I insured my car the day I turned 18 (I passed my test on the 12th December, bday on the 14th Jan) and was quoted £730 with a telematics box with Tesco Bank. Found that price superb. Now in my second year, with one years NCD, still with Tesco Bank and renewal price was £650, still cheaper than any other insurer. Quote details included me as a main driver and my mum as an additional driver. As well as the little things you can do to reduce the premium, such as putting the car in a garage overnight (because I do that all the time, I swear )

Because of these prices I'd HIGHLY recommend Tesco Bank. I've never any issues with them, never an email, letter or phone call complaining about my driving, and I'm not one to particularly follow speed limits on Motorways.

Just another young driver helping a fellow young driver.

HA I wish......... I passed my test in October 2015, and I'm 24 this month. I am insured with Tesco Car Insurance, on the cheapest quote I could find....... Wait for it £1,989.86 for a 06 GP 1.2. I could of saved £100 with a box, but would rather pay a bit more and have no big wig telling me when I can and can't drive.

mh125cc said:

HA I wish......... I passed my test in October 2015, and I'm 24 this month. I am insured with Tesco Car Insurance, on the cheapest quote I could find....... Wait for it £1,989.86 for a 06 GP 1.2. I could of saved £100 with a box, but would rather pay a bit more and have no big wig telling me when I can and can't drive.

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What details did you add in and what area do you live in?

Nearly £2000 is a bit ridiculous for a 24 year old, sure you only passed a few months ago but your still 24, surely the insurer would've thought you to be a bit mature.

EDIT: There's also no curfew with the Tesco Box. The only thing it does is monitors how you drive, gives you bonus miles if you drive 'well' and they don't tell you off for driving badly. It's a win-win situation

I live in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. I went fully comp, I even put I had access to company car for SDP. That reduced it by a couple of hundred. Tried with adding a experienced driver but this increased it. I don't have a garage so put secure car park which I guess is true.... fake Cctv camera

I can only put it down to my area. I would of got a black box but only if it would substantially reduce my premium.

My excess is also £600!!!!

mh125cc said:

I live in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. I went fully comp, I even put I had access to company car for SDP. That reduced it by a couple of hundred. Tried with adding a experienced driver but this increased it. I don't have a garage so put secure car park which I guess is true.... fake Cctv camera ��

I can only put it down to my area. I would of got a black box but only if it would substantially reduce my premium.

My excess is also £600!!!!

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Comparing that to my details on my quote.

I live in south Oxfordshire, relatively quiet and safe location. Also went fully comprehensive. I had no access to any other vehicle. I have my Mum added to my insurance as an additional driver (even though she has an auto only license it still dropped the price lol). I have a garage, so I say it's parked in a locked garage but have I ever parked it in a locked garage? Nah.

Can't remember what my excess was, maybe £500? Not sure.

Quoted £730 from Tesco Bank.

Philip G said:

I insured my car the day I turned 18 (I passed my test on the 12th December, bday on the 14th Jan) and was quoted £730 with a telematics box with Tesco Bank.

Click to expand...

Whaaaaaaaaaat, do you park your car overnight in an army base??? :yum:

Dodgy Geezer said:

When the City steering is on the wheel should be VERY light. You should be able to turn it with one finger while the car is stationary. Probably your little finger.

Try the steering with the button pushed and released. Can you turn the wheel around VERY easily with one of the depressions? If the wheel stays the same all the time, then your City steering doesn't work...

Click to expand...

How can I turn off City light

Push once the little 'wheel' button on the dash just above the radio to toggle the city mode on/off. If not working, the PB's probably dead, need to replace the whole switch assy.

BRs, Bernie

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