Hi all,

Recently bought a Mk2B Active Sport 8v, but it feels a little bit sluggish when driving. My dad used to have a Mk1 1.2 which he says felt "whizzier" than this.

It's obvious by the noise that somebody in the past has done something with the exhaust. So I looked underneath and it has a Powerflow back box on it.

Being an 8v, it has no centre box, has somebody put a 16v back box on and lost all the back pressure? Or is it just a terribly cheap back box?


Tia for any info,
Callum

Callum1500 said:

Hi all,

Recently bought a Mk2B Active Sport 8v, but it feels a little bit sluggish when driving. My dad used to have a Mk1 1.2 which he says felt "whizzier" than this.

It's obvious by the noise that somebody in the past has done something with the exhaust. So I looked underneath and it has a Powerflow back box on it.

Being an 8v, it has no centre box, has somebody put a 16v back box on and lost all the back pressure? Or is it just a terribly cheap back box?


Tia for any info,
Callum

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Am I correct that your sole basis for the presumption of loss of power is based on what your dad thought his 1.2 mk 1 was like compared to a Mk2 ?

No, (although with the same engine, it should be fairly similar) after looking at quite a few and seeing that I liked the car, I fit in it, and its cheap enough on the insurance, I kept a look out for ones that were going cheap. This one was, so I bought it. It had a few niggles and after they were sorted out, and I settled into the car a bit, I just feel like it isn't pulling through the gears like it should. There just doesn't seem to be any power (I know its only 59 bhp, but comparing to others)

Bearing in mind I haven't been driving very long, it's probably not a bad thing if it's not too fast

Callum1500 said:

No, (although with the same engine, it should be fairly similar) after looking at quite a few and seeing that I liked the car, I fit in it, and its cheap enough on the insurance, I kept a look out for ones that were going cheap. This one was, so I bought it. It had a few niggles and after they were sorted out, and I settled into the car a bit, I just feel like it isn't pulling through the gears like it should. There just doesn't seem to be any power (I know its only 59 bhp, but comparing to others)

Bearing in mind I haven't been driving very long, it's probably not a bad thing if it's not too fast

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The word sport on it means as much as the sport in sunday sport newspaper :yum:
Seriously, with absolutely nothing to base it on I would presume it is probably perfectly ok. They are not a fast car. They are a shopping trolly. If you are revving it more than 3.5-4k you are holding it back. It has good low down power it doesnt want to rev.
The boy racer back box wont do anything for it one way or the other apart from noise. Fit a standard exhaust if you are concerned. A 4 stroke doesnt want 'back pressure' , Most so called 'sport' fart can back boxes never increase back pressure. The ONLY thing they do is make noise.

Honestly, it is a 1.2 8v shopping trolly.
Enjoy it. They are a great trolly. !

Fair enough

I never expected it to be a pocket rocket, but it just felt like it was lacking.

So replacing / changing the back box would have no effect on performance at all?

Not that the trolley with body kit has much performance anyways

i was useing a 1242 eco fiat 500 before my punto and that was really slow.try giveing your car a good service

It's just had an air filter, and the oil looks ok for the mean time. I plan to do one as soon as my bank balance will allow

lol Callum, ,
No, it wont make the slightest difference. Some people like the 'noise', each to their own. For some it gives an 'impression' of performance. Whatever rocks their boat. Same as the so called 'induction kit', purely noise. Ok if you like that sort of thing.
If you are trying to get the best out of it dont hang on to revs in gear, change up at 4k max, it will keep the little beastie happy and return the best performance for you.
They handle reasonably well, but watch out for the steering, it can be a bit light and 'wolly'.. Keep tyre pressures correct and tracking ok. They really are a super little car.

Fantastic, thanks for your help. I'll service it when I can, keep the wheels in check and do what you said with the gear changing

Thanks

if your oil and air filter are ok just change your spark plugs and fuel filter both easy jobs and can make a big differance

The back pressure thing i a myth, as long as exhaust velocity is as it should be then it will be fine.
The 1.2 8v's are pathetically slow, it probarly does feel sluggish and horrible, struggles up hills etc, that's what a car with 59hp and probarly <100ft lb of torque feels like.

Keep it working, save up, sell it, move on to something better bud best advice I can give.
(Im a prev owner of a 1.2 8v)

kyle96 said:

The 1.2 8v's are pathetically slow, it probarly does feel sluggish and horrible, struggles up hills etc, that's what a car with 59hp and probarly <100ft lb of torque feels like.

(Im a prev owner of a 1.2 8v)

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What a load of tosh
the 1.2 8V is a cracking car. Absolutely fine for it's purpose. Yours must have had the handbrake on or, more likely, a problem between seat and pedals.

Twotoncarman said:

What a load of tosh
the 1.2 8V is a cracking car. Absolutely fine for it's purpose. Yours must have had the handbrake on or, more likely, a problem between seat and pedals.

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Except it isn't.
Suppose it was in a GP which is a heavy thing none the less driving it was awful. Any sort of weight in the car and it was more of a ball ache to drive.

£130 tax also isn't acceptable for a car that weak.
After switching to my mjet I got back in the 1.2 and drove it to get valited pre sale, when pulling out on a junction I genuinely thought something was wrong as to why it wasn't really moving, then I remembered I was in a car producing less torque than a hamster in a wheel.

I have no clue what your last comment means.

kyle96 said:

Except it isn't.
Suppose it was in a GP which is a heavy thing none the less driving it was awful. Any sort of weight in the car and it was more of a ball ache to drive.

£130 tax also isn't acceptable for a car that weak.
After switching to my mjet I got back in the 1.2 and drove it to get valited pre sale, when pulling out on a junction I genuinely thought something was wrong as to why it wasn't really moving, then I remembered I was in a car producing less torque than a hamster in a wheel.

I have no clue what your last comment means.

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There is no issue with the 1.2 8V, (I dont give a stuff about tax costs)
The last comment is simple, the problem you had was between the seat and the controls , Which ties in with why you did not understand it.
:idea:

kyle96 said:

The back pressure thing i a myth, as long as exhaust velocity is as it should be then it will be fine.
The 1.2 8v's are pathetically slow, it probarly does feel sluggish and horrible, struggles up hills etc, that's what a car with 59hp and probarly <100ft lb of torque feels like.

Keep it working, save up, sell it, move on to something better bud best advice I can give.
(Im a prev owner of a 1.2 8v)

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Twotoncarman said:

What a load of tosh
the 1.2 8V is a cracking car. Absolutely fine for it's purpose. Yours must have had the handbrake on or, more likely, a problem between seat and pedals.

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I also used to own a mk2b 1.2 8v, and I'm with Twotoncarman: I found my old 1.2 to be deceptively nippy and responsive, and I find the Grande Punto 1.4 8v I'm now lucky enough to own to be just as nippy. The 8v 1.2 and 1.4 are great little engines!

kyle96 said:

Except it isn't.
Suppose it was in a GP which is a heavy thing none the less driving it was awful. Any sort of weight in the car and it was more of a ball ache to drive.

£130 tax also isn't acceptable for a car that weak.
After switching to my mjet I got back in the 1.2 and drove it to get valited pre sale, when pulling out on a junction I genuinely thought something was wrong as to why it wasn't really moving, then I remembered I was in a car producing less torque than a hamster in a wheel.

I have no clue what your last comment means.

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He means that the problem was the driver, not the car, lmao!

Twotoncarman said:

There is no issue with the 1.2 8V, (I dont give a stuff about tax costs)
The last comment is simple, the problem you had was between the seat and the controls , Which ties in with why you did not understand it.
:idea:

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Yeah I forgot pressing the right pedal is something only achievable by the smartest of people such as yourself.

puntofan01 said:

I also used to own a mk2b 1.2 8v, and I'm with Twotoncarman: I found my old 1.2 to be deceptively nippy and responsive, and I find the Grande Punto 1.4 8v I'm now lucky enough to own to be just as nippy. The 8v 1.2 and 1.4 are great little engines!

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So did Kyle the 19 year old speed demon
Quote - ref his 1.2 8v .......

(Kyle96) Our puntos are nippy if you redline and change gear quickly

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Seems a year of driving makes one a veritable font of knowledge and experience

kyle96 said:

A lot changes from going from 17 to 19,
I see you enjoy going down peoples forum history typical for a keyboard warrior.

The original discussion is about a 1.2 8v being stupidly slow and how apparently they're not.
They're still slow rollingaboutflooremojilol

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They're only unbearably slow if you can't drive them properly, lol!

A personal highlight from the near 4 year period I owned my Punto 1.2 8v was leaving many SUVs behind as soon as the road got twisty and with a 60 mph limit. I do the same in my Grande Punto 1.4 8v, lol!

puntofan01 said:

They're only unbearably slow if you can't drive them properly, lol!

A personal highlight from the near 4 year period I owned my Punto 1.2 8v was leaving many SUVs behind as soon as the road got twisty and with a 60 mph limit. I do the same in my Grande Punto 1.4 8v, lol!

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Fair enough they're fine in the corners but so are most hatchbacks,

There isn't much to accelerating, and they're still slow.

This whole drive them properly doesn't mean much to me, it's not hard to fly round a corner, once you drive a car which will wheel spin it's way through 3rd gear you learn how to drive properly,

Never the less there's still plenty of fun to be had in them, they're just really slow, all there is too it mate, the fire engine owners make a bad name for themselves, they have to argue with everyone and resort to trying to rip you over the internet because they're in some disbelief that their 65bhp monster is rapid.