Hi,
Since I was last here my 1.2 mk2 Punto has left me and I have ended up driving a Nissan Almera Tino, it's a long story.
Thankfully at the end of this month I can rid myself of this hideous, dishwater dull, lump of a car and go back to something fun.
I loved my old Punto but it was a bit lacking in get up and go, so this time I want something with more power. As far as I can see that means a mk1 1.4 turbo, a mk2 1.8 hgt or maybe a mk2 1.4 16v sporting would do.
I'd appreciate any thoughts around these cars, buying them or other Punto models I should consider. No mk3's please, just personal preference.
Thanks all ?
Edit: Drat it, I thought I was posting in Punto 2 forum. Sorry, don't know how to move this.

A good Mk1 Punto GT will be expensive (well £3,000+) classic insurance and strong following.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Fiatpuntogt/

The Punto HGT was in my opinion a bit of a let down. The same engine and gearbox as my Bravo HLX but the electronic power steering made the car feel vague and the weight up front was basically a pivot if you were to drive close to the cars limit. Having said that as you have had the Mk2 on/off power steering before you should get used to it. Not classic insurance yet, good ones are around the £1,000-1,500 mark and could be a wise investment.

The 1.4 Sporting is a good shout. Dynamically the same as your old car but with more low end torque and perkier top end. Cheapest of the three with good ones between £600-1,000 and you know all the foibles already.


Have you considered a Bravo t-jet? Practical sized as your Nissan yet with the Fiat fun factor. £800-£1,500 for a good one and would be more practical, real world quicker and faster than the Sporting 1.4

Sounds like the GT might be out, my budget will only go to 2k for this, no point buying​ a dog.
The 'leccy power steering doesn't bother me, at least it didn't in my old punto. The heavy front end might not be good though.
The sporting 1.4 might be enough, I'll have to try one and see.
I'm not a huge fan of mods but I wonder if some additional power could be coaxed from a sporting. I'll take a look at the bravo t-jet, totally unfamiliar.
Cheers ?
**Please could a mod move this thread to punto forum? Thanks**

Where abouts in the country are you? I have a 1.4 Sporting, not in the best condition visually but she's a good runner about to hit 100k. If you're anywhere near York, you're welcome to come and give her a quick run out and see how she feels.

It is possible to get a GT for reasonable money, but you get what you pay for (I used to own one which had been through a few previous owners, and even more now, when it ran it was great but it did like to break things!). The HGT is fast, but as said front end weight is compromised which negatively affects handling. I once owned a JTD HGT which was great for motorway stuff, but not so nice around town.

Good GT's are £3,000

For £1,000 to £2,000 you can get one that has either been modified (again that's subjective at best and needs to be addressed and accessed up close and personal) or needs work. Less than a £1,000 you're looking at a wreck or a parts donor these days.

Rust around the rear floor and aches is a killer, be weary of poorly repaired cars with tidy looking paint. Too many "Wheeler Dealer" types in the hot hatch market.

The Punto Sporting 1.4 is the same unit as the Panda 100hp and the 1.4 T-jet should be a straight swap if you want HGT performance without the under steer and snap lift off over steer.

I wouldnt go HGT - Purly cause there isn't many around, and if you bump it - bumpers are ALOT harder to get hold off....

Sportings weather its a 1.2 or 1.4 sporting are a little bit easier, but still can be hard at times

If it was me - personally i'd look a the 1.4 mk2b (its the mk2 punto with a slight facelift - where the 1.4 engine was available, the 1.4 wasn't available in the mk2)

Ziggy

Liquid Knight said:

A good Mk1 Punto GT will be expensive (well £3,000+) classic insurance and strong following.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Fiatpuntogt/

The Punto HGT was in my opinion a bit of a let down. The same engine and gearbox as my Bravo HLX but the electronic power steering made the car feel vague and the weight up front was basically a pivot if you were to drive close to the cars limit. Having said that as you have had the Mk2 on/off power steering before you should get used to it. Not classic insurance yet, good ones are around the £1,000-1,500 mark and could be a wise investment.

The 1.4 Sporting is a good shout. Dynamically the same as your old car but with more low end torque and perkier top end. Cheapest of the three with good ones between £600-1,000 and you know all the foibles already.


Have you considered a Bravo t-jet? Practical sized as your Nissan yet with the Fiat fun factor. £800-£1,500 for a good one and would be more practical, real world quicker and faster than the Sporting 1.4

Click to expand...

what did they do to add 15hp to punto

flisko said:

what did they do to add 15hp to punto

Click to expand...

Nothing internally or dynamically. They took away the power steering pump reducing the resistance from the serpentine belt and pulleys.

Liquid Knight said:

Nothing internally or dynamically. They took away the power steering pump reducing the resistance from the serpentine belt and pulleys.

Click to expand...

quite sneaky, just remove power steering pump and u get 15hp

If I was in the market for a small but quicker and fun fiat to drive, I'd go for the panda 100hp or the 500 1.4 (with 100hp) I would also happily have another Diesel HGT JTD also 100hp but a whole bucket of low down torque you'll never get on a petrol.

There's probably a little more to it than that but that's the main difference. There wasn't enough room in the Mk2 engine bay for the alternator to be at the back (something several Coupe transplant Punto owners have found out) so it had to be moved and meant the car had to have the electronic power steering.

The 1.4 16V is a hoot to drive if you want to drive like that and it can be perfectly civilised if you don't. We have a 5 door Eleganza that will be for sale later today but it's probably too far away (Fife).

I own a Panda 100HP and owned a mk2b 1.2 and driven a 1.8 HGT Punto many times. The Panda has the nippiest steering out of them all, and it also pulls the quickest. The Punto 1.8 is obviously also very quick but feels like it takes a touch longer to get going compared to the Panda but is then a lot faster then the Panda as soon as it goes, then it just really goes like stink,.. both are small, light cars so don't need much to get going.

The Mk2 1.2 is already a fast little car going around country roads and about town, but totally agree, overtaking on highways and going up steep hills you really do feel a little underpowered. Upgrade to a 1.4 or 1.8 and you quickly notice the difference. Same quick handeling and speediness around town and country as the 1.2 but just a lot more power going uphill and overtaking.

The Panda 100HP is a lot more readily available many still going at traders and eBay and there are some crazy mods out there especially if you look at the Polish who have them with 180+ HP coming out of them (with a turbo). There are only 16 HGT Punto Abarths left so very difficult to get and just under a 100 HGT Puntos so also getting rare and many have been badly kept by boy racers or just age.

However I personally still preffer the Punto HGT, compared to the Panda.. I just love the design of the Punto mk2 and 2b it is just gorgeous. Especially the rear end, with the iconic lights, gotta love that ass... But each to their own.

flisko said:

quite sneaky, just remove power steering pump and u get 15hp

Click to expand...

I've removed the AC pump from my Bravo freeing a few pit ponies but the plan was to use the AC pump bracket to mount a supercharger. I don't know if I'll get round to it by the next track day in June.