P1010009.JPG

Grande Punto Possibly the coolest learner car around!

Introduction

Here's a few pictures of my new Grande Punto.

I'm a driving instructor and the car is used as the tool of my trade as well as my personal transport.
Sweet, did you have dual controls fitted?

I love those alloys!

Ditto.
:p Very nice car to learn to drive in that would be! What's it like to drive?

Now for the dual controls and the learner stickers and the ADI sticker and you're away! :D
 
Very nice, although i dont think i could cope when some learner grinds those lovely alloys against a kerb by mistake lol

That's what I was thinking. Think I would punch them and make them walk home!! lol!
 
I don't think I could cope in this job without dual controls!!! Eek. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

The duals were fitted the day I picked her up. £345 well spent.

The alloys were possibly a bit of overkill but they were so nice I couldn't really resist and I got such a killer deal on the car from my local dealership that a few (okay a lot) of extras seemed worthwhile.

I plumped for Climate Control, Rain Sensor, Reverse Parking Sensors, Leather (which is gorgeous) and those alloys plus a spare alloy for the boot.

I will, undoubtedly, wince when the alloys get kerbed but it's part of the job and my old Fabia vRS's wheels were not too bad when I sold her last weekend after 86,666 miles and two and a half years.

The ADI badge is already in the window and the learner sign is on the roof already.

So far I've covered around 900 miles and, aside from a few people having minor issues with changing from a diesel, it seems to be going well.

I would recommend the Tjet certainly - There's plenty of power when you need it and the delivery of the power is very smooth indeed - Quite different from the vRS which gave all its power in one hit...it was like being walloped in the back with a wrecking ball!!!

The only issue I have with the car at the moment is that sometimes, when you straighten the wheel after turning right, the indicators don't just cancel, they put on the soft-touch three-flash signal to the left which is a bit odd but I'll get that sorted under warranty.
 
When I went from a Focus 1.6 petrol to a Panda diesel the pupils hardly noticed.

I think the transition from petrol to diesel is noticably easier than the other way around.

Before my Fabia I had a petrol Mitsubishi Colt and the change was very straightforward.

The main difference really is that the petrol GP is so much quieter than the diesel and makes much less fuss when you stall!

Where do you teach?
 
Mancland matey, but only do it to keep my hand in. Which reminds me, I've got to pay the new Sherrif of Nottingham his outrageous tax in the next few weeks.
 
Does having a sign like that on the roof cause damage when its removed? I imagine its magnetised though
 
The AA focus I learned in had a clear poly sheet on the roof to stop scratches/provide purchase during emergency stops with a magnetic sign on the top.

Yes, I have a clear plastic film on the roof which protects against scratches. The sign itself is held on with 5 very strong magnets which virtually rip the sign out of your hand when you put it on.

I also have door panels which are soft magnets but I tend not to use them as I like being incogneto when I'm "off duty"! :slayer:

When I first started my driving school, I had a Mitsubishi Colt which was heavily signwritten - In that, you felt like your driving was being scritinised whether you were working or just popping to the supermarket (see attached photos). :rolleyes:
 

Attachments

  • new car side.JPG
    new car side.JPG
    380.7 KB · Views: 31
  • DSCN3076.JPG
    DSCN3076.JPG
    372.1 KB · Views: 27
I think the roof signs are magnetic or somehow stapled down to the roof. Are you going to get any FiatForum.com window stickers for it?! :p That certainly would be a unique thing to see in and around Slough, a learner car with FF stickers :D

Can't the door stickers just be peeled on and off? Thats what my instructor used to do.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top