(G) What do you hate about the mk2 Punto?

Well I rest my case then, since you have a Punto Ideale, mine is a sporting one...

Punto Ideale mine is a 7 speed sporting

Kiddin'.....cause it doesnt brake its ideal

How do them 7 speed feel like? I cant imagine how they streched the gear ratio or what...6 that I have are too much, only when I hit high speeds for lower consumption

Yes, likewise, I don't have a clutch either, so we have something in common and no problems!

My driver's side wiper link keeps dropping off its ball, but this isn't a problem since the passenger's side wiper link (on the bottom) prevents the driver's side link from falling off completely, so the wipers keep wiping

Oktopod: the '7 speed' part is just a gimmick, it means that in the 'Tiptronic' mode you have an extra gear, BUT as I've discovered the ratio range in D or D(Economy) is greater anyway than the seven 'gears' provide. In other words you can do 100km/h at about 2000RPM in D(E), with a light foot, but then when you shift across into '7', the revs go up, i.e. '7' is NOT the highest ratio, so there could have been even more 'gears' provided! The actual ratio range is the same for the 7-speed as it is for the 6-speed. As for using 'Tiptronic' to shift up through the gears, I can't see any advantage in introducing artificial 'steps' as you accelerate. Maybe if it makes you feel better... (one driver I lent it to thought that something was wrong as the transmission "failed to shift when I drove off" )

The Japanese have provided a torque convertor (for better or worse) which means that even in a fixed ratio, the engine revs still vary a lot on/off the throttle, so you don't get the 'direct' feel of a manual (or even of a good European auto with lockup torque convertor). Basically what I'm suggesting is to use the CVT for what it's best at and does well - smooth driving around town in D or D(E), and don't try to use it as a 'manual'. It's a clever transmission that suits the character of the car (and engine) well. The huge ratio range makes for relaxed cruising and at the same time gets off the line reasonably well, plus I just love reverse - the sound is excellent, just like a manual only quieter, smoother, and faster!

Having had mine a month now, here are the things I don't like:

- Yellow paint fades more on rear quarters compared with tailgate (and neither has been resprayed, happily the resprayed panels at the front are a good match).

- Ride quality is amazing ('Sporting' - does it have springs?) and road noise is embarrassing when there are other people in the car and they have to shout to be heard. I can't remember driving anything with more road noise. It's not really a car that you want to give your friends cross-country rides in, particularly when said friends drive German cars with '5', '6', or '7' in the name.

- Performance is so slow. 0-60 in over 12 seconds. Slower than my Austin Princess! I have driven slower cars, but they're long forgotten My Alfa 164 feels twice as fast but then, the engine is more than twice the size.

- Engine sounds... well, it doesn't 'sound' - it's just a roar. I think that driving a V6 Alfa has spoiled me, though

- Economy is a bit poor considering the performance penalty (I got 44mpg on a trip, but I did 40mpg on a trip in the Alfa recently). Around town there's no contest: the Punto's quite good, I've averaged 36mpg across three fills now. The Alfa managed 18mpg around town but 36mpg is a long way short of the Honda Civic Hybrid's 46mpg that I averaged around town over six months.

- Seat materials: stained, 'fishnet' pattern wearing off, foam collapsing at sides, cigarette burn hole (another reason to refrain from smoking in the car!), but who cares really - once you're sitting on the seat no-one sees it and you don't see much from looking in the window either.

Other than that, fantastic - no rattles or squeaks, and everything works - love the electric steering (so high-geared), may as well leave it in CITY mode and practice driving precisely. My brakes are super-responsive (even though there are drums on the back, haven't had a car with drums for five years now! ) and not a trace of a squeal, quite a surprise.

People seem to love my Punto and it gets far more comments than my (beloved) Alfa 164 which no-one seems to notice!

So anyone who's bothered to read this far, don't expect any two FIATs to be exactly the same (ever), but those are my experiences with my Punto so far. I reckon it's a great car for the type that it is. I think here in NZ, where insurance is optional and does not depend on engine size, it might be a better idea to go for the HGT rather than the Sporting (only a little more expensive to buy), or maybe wait until the Stilo becomes a bit cheaper (I had a Stilo Abarth and it was quite a bit more of a car than the Punto (and a lovely sound...) but again, no-one cared, so I sold it )

-Alex

thats quite some story
its also quite reassuring that you have had minimal problems with yours...

and yes, the Mk2 sporting/HGT is a very good looking car, so problems it has are forgivable

Thanks
The Mk2 Punto story began for me in August 2003 when I came to England and rented one for three months. I clocked up over 3000 miles (it only had 60 miles on the clock when I collected it) and I thought that maybe one day I would own such a car. Then I went home to my (t)rusty Uno Turbo (which I still have).

I've owned 14 FIATs now, though the total does include three Unos, and it's been almost ten years now since I inherited my first car when my Dad died. It was a 128 Coupe which I restored and kept until 2004.

Of all my FIATs, the Uno Turbo is probably the best (it was 'right' for its time in many ways), but the Punto Mk2 Sporting rates fairly high with me (seems a well-made car, appropriate for what it is, so much more solid than an Uno!), though it's a bit 'girly' in the sense that it's more looks than performance.

I liked the Croma ('88 2.0 i.e.) too, and other people liked the 126. Neither car was particularly well-made for its purpose, though!

-Alex

Its only slow because you got the dodgy auto . The manual will crack 60 in 9.5 (factory figure sub 9s in reality). I've got the 1.4 16v and everyone thats been in it says 'wow thats quite quick is it a 1.8?' . Totally agree on road noise I've got the mk2b which is slightly better but not by much, maybe cause I've got 17" wheels with 40profile rubber?, Soon to change if munkul wants a swap .

[quote=ChrisUK;1337625]Its only slow because you got the dodgy auto . The manual will crack 60 in 9.5 (factory figure sub 9s in reality).
[\quote]

What car are we talking abbout here?

I have 1.2 16V 80bhp, factroy figures are arround 11.x but if anyone gets there in less then 13-14, I'll shoot myself

I have a video on which it took me 16sec, but to be honest I wasnt chesing time, it was a bit poor start and gear change at 5k rpm, not 6200...but anyway 16 was the time, cant get it 2-3 secs lower no way...

[quote=oktopod;1337650][quote=ChrisUK;1337625]Its only slow because you got the dodgy auto . The manual will crack 60 in 9.5 (factory figure sub 9s in reality).
MORE THAN 2-3 secs lower no way...

factory figures for the mk2 sporting 1.2 16v is 10.6

you maybe using ****ty low-octane petrol...

Ok let me clarify:-

1.4 16v sporting factory figure= 9.5 reality= high 8's

1.2 16v sporting factory figure= 10.6 reality= 9.5ish

It all depends on how healthy you engine is if its been looked after and the quality of the petrol (at least 95octane from a decent supplier).

100 posts on this thread, wow...

http://www.carenthusiast.com/roadtest/99punto3.htm shows 10.9 seconds for the Sporting (manual), and http://www.carenthusiast.com/roadtest/99punto4.htm shows 12.3 seconds for the 'dodgy' auto 'Reality' is more like 15 seconds!

-Alex

'Reality' - that's what I'm talking here, how fast do you hit 100kmh in 'reality'

And I know petrol here isnt best plus no one knows the state of the engine, but if this also is the case, then my car is not for sale but for bin

And I just cant beleive that I'm the one that has every simptom that has been mentioned here on this Forum and my car still runs just fine

so you say that you have had lots of problems but the car is just fine?

plus, low octane fuel will hurt any car's performance, if your certain that it IS low-octane, can you buy octane booster additive in beograd?