It's funny when you buy a car you end up reading forum posts about them.
I guess it's inevitable.

So here I am reading how a 106 GTI would "destroy" a Punto HGT from 9 years ago https://www.fiatforum.com/non-fiat/161159-mk2-hgt-vs-106-gti-saxo-vts.html

I am thinking as I drive my HGT how a 106 GTi would struggle to hang on to it due to the zesty engine with extra torque and power, the 5 closely spaced gears and the grippy, pointy, but yes sometimes bouncy, chassis.

I thought it only fair that as the HGT starts to get older and rarer it should be remembered properly.

So I'm doing some sprints in mine this year (whilst I build another Fiat Project). Just surfing I found an evo mag from 2001 testing the HGT against the 106 GTI, Mini Cooper, Lupo GTI and a Yaris "sport" with just 105hp.

They said ""The Abarths chassis isn't without talent either, Witness it's Mini humbling slalom display at MIRA (the MINI was hot favourite for this discipline)
However the ride was described as "ever fidgety"
but when it all boils down " it's gutsy motor papers over its chassis shortcomings to the extent that not even the 106 can pull out a lead point-to-point"

"but boy is it hard work"

Well, you don't get rewards without a bit of hard work....

I was seriously looking at Punto HGT's before I got my Bravo HLX. The fidgety handling was down to not having proper power steering and the shorter wheelbase. With the same engine as the Bravo the Punto was a little more prone to lift off over steer and the lack of feel and feedback from the electronic power steering meant a lot of the correction was basically guess work.

Similar to most cars with early on or off power steering. If I had to make one criticism of the HGT that would be it.

Apart from that it is a capable car and one to look out for in the classic market as forgotten hot hatches are going to be big.