faster4_tec said:
when the mk1 came out in 1993 it wiped the floor with all the other manufacturers attempts, it had curves, style, a modern interior and driving position, more boot space than any rival, a zesty engine, fine economy a dazzling array of colours, a diesel version, a sporty version, and a turbo'd version.
DId vauxhall or ford do that with any of their mid nineties small cars. I think not.
well ford had a turbo before the punto (remember the 1.6 RS turbo? it would leave a GT for dead) but you're right there was no corsa turbo
both fiesta and corsa had sporty verions (1.6 Si and 1.6 GSi) and both had diesels (1.8 and 1.7),
and lots of colours, and very similar economy, and zesty engines (maybe not the mk3/4 fiesta, but they were more reliable and had timing chains)
boot space is about the same, the interior on the corsa (best dash) and fiesta (best seats, remember the Si recaro style winged seats) was better overall, unless you like the punto's grandad check patterns and the bare dash and the soft flat seats,
driving positon was best in fiesta for a man sized person, girls fit in corsa best (due to crappy small offset accelerator pedal) so i guess the punto was the best compromise, i can drive punto's comfortably
punto was better looking than the fiesta and corsa.
you really cant say the punto wiped the floor with them, i'd say the punto came 3rd over all out of the 3, compared to fiesta and corsa its only real strength is its looks.
and compared to all of them the micra was a far better car that also came out in 93. if the micra looked better it would win on every aspect.
which brings me to my point, if you dont like a punto because it has to many faults and drops to bits, yet you dont want to spend a fortune, why not get a micra. they aren't too common, and they're one of the most reliable cars ever built, the engines are great, the chassis dynamics are surprisingly good, the interiors arent great style wise but its well built with good quality plastic and things fit well and its easily improved with a few minor mods, the main problem is the exterior styling, but thats the best thing about them, if you get it looking good you'll really have a unique car that is very good all round. i'd recommend one over the other supermini competitors of that era.
the toyota starlet is similar in that it is well built, reliable and ugly, but it doesnt match the micra because they cost more to run, cost more to buy, and dont give as good a drive. i learnt to drive in a starlet 1.3sportif. it was ok, but no where near as much fun as a micra. i've had the joy of abusing 3 micra courtesy cars and can confirm that they make good field/rally cars, especially with no airfilter on