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General Soon to not be GPS owner anymore!

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General Soon to not be GPS owner anymore!

auto_blanco

auto_blanco

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Parked in the garage
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Our Boxster went to the bodyshop to have some scratches repaired, and we were lent a pov spec 1.25 Style Fiesta, woo I thought....

But...after going round my 1st corner in it I was very impressed, I had always planned to change to a run out Zetec S TDCi in the summer after being lent a 1.4 diesel Zetec a couple of years ago, but I went straight down to Ford and did a deal on the special edition 1.4 TDCi Zetec Blue, with Bluetooth, auto lights and wipers pack etc etc etc fully loaded with spec its ace.

Best of all, it comes in white, with privacy glass and bigger wheels included in the price, I got a great trade in on the Punto and a super cheap deal, gotta love soon to be replaced models, and its 35 quid a year to tax and will nearly hit 70mpg, I know this, because I did a trip to Preston and back in the 1 I borrowed and brim to brim tests showed 68mpg actual consumption.

My Punto, despite Fiats wild claims of around 50 odd MPG are not even close, I get 32mpg now in normal driving which is pants, especially just after a 200 quid full service, and even more annoying considering the performance is only ever average, and very poor on the motorway.

The Fiesta is 68bhp standard, but remappable by Angel to 93, and thats more like it, especially when the 1.25 Zetec Fiesta with 70bhp will spank my 1.4 16v Punto, I know, we had the slowest drag race ever earlier lol.

Its got all the spec of the Punto and then some, combined with a chassis designed by someone who actually likes driving round corners on british roads!

A few weeks and I will be out of the slow, rattly, crashy Fiat into an arguably uglier and very much older car that is just sooo much better in every way!

I dont mean to seem bitter about the Fiat as I clearly adored it to start with, but all it has is its looks, its like a really gorgeous girl with a mind made of cheese, desirable to start with but soon you actually want some substance....
 
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Sorry to hear you are that cheesed off with your GP but understand your criticisms of the car. You must know that a new Fiesta is on its way - I have already seen a picture of it. In terms of reliability, I think you will be safer with a Ford but won't you miss the beauty of the Punto? Mine is white and people are always admiring it.
 
I orginally looked at the Zetec-S 1.6TDCi as I get Ford Privalege discount. But I dont like the look of them, or the interior which is a bit nasty. If you got it from Bristol Street in Shirley, frustrations will be wating for you at the service department like Fiat garages. Im starting to get peeved myself now with the ongoing faults with my car, I got it back today after taking it in with a list of 9 faults to be looked at, 3 of which are outstanding still, also meaning Ive had to book it in to another dealer because they broke clips apparently in my climate control panel :mad:. What did I get as a courtesy car?? A Peugeot 207. Not very good advertisement! its handled and rode better than my GP. Though it has to be the slowest car Ive ever driven. A stiff letter is due to Fiat me is thinking...
 
auto_blanco said:
....especially when the 1.25 Zetec Fiesta with 70bhp will spank my 1.4 16v Punto, I know, we had the slowest drag race ever earlier lol.
Click to expand...
Are you serious? A Mickey Mouse Festa beat up your 120BHP GPS?

Wow...am I glad I have th M Jet now! It'll stay with an ST, no bother, on all but the twistiest roads, nevermind the toy town models!
 
Shropshire_lad said:
Are you serious? A Mickey Mouse Festa beat up your 120BHP GPS?

Wow...am I glad I have th M Jet now! It'll stay with an ST, no bother, on all but the twistiest roads, nevermind the toy town models!
Click to expand...

I would imagine (and hope) that he was referring to the Starjet 1.4 16v Sporting, which is 0-60 10.6 s, 111 mph, 95 bhp.

and not the 1.4 16V T-Jet Sporting which is 0-60 8.6 s, 121 mph, 120 bhp.
and has comparable performance to a standard MJet 130 Sporting, until the MJet is remapped and of course it will then have much more power and torque.

But there's been enough Mjet -vs- Tjet bashing for now, I don't wanna start yet another war :p
 
auto_blanco said:
Our Boxster went to the bodyshop to have some scratches repaired, and we were lent a pov spec 1.25 Style Fiesta, woo I thought....

But...after going round my 1st corner in it I was very impressed, I had always planned to change to a run out Zetec S TDCi in the summer after being lent a 1.4 diesel Zetec a couple of years ago, but I went straight down to Ford and did a deal on the special edition 1.4 TDCi Zetec Blue, with Bluetooth, auto lights and wipers pack etc etc etc fully loaded with spec its ace.

Best of all, it comes in white, with privacy glass and bigger wheels included in the price, I got a great trade in on the Punto and a super cheap deal, gotta love soon to be replaced models, and its 35 quid a year to tax and will nearly hit 70mpg, I know this, because I did a trip to Preston and back in the 1 I borrowed and brim to brim tests showed 68mpg actual consumption.

My Punto, despite Fiats wild claims of around 50 odd MPG are not even close, I get 32mpg now in normal driving which is pants, especially just after a 200 quid full service, and even more annoying considering the performance is only ever average, and very poor on the motorway.

The Fiesta is 68bhp standard, but remappable by Angel to 93, and thats more like it, especially when the 1.25 Zetec Fiesta with 70bhp will spank my 1.4 16v Punto, I know, we had the slowest drag race ever earlier lol.

Its got all the spec of the Punto and then some, combined with a chassis designed by someone who actually likes driving round corners on british roads!

A few weeks and I will be out of the slow, rattly, crashy Fiat into an arguably uglier and very much older car that is just sooo much better in every way!

I dont mean to seem bitter about the Fiat as I clearly adored it to start with, but all it has is its looks, its like a really gorgeous girl with a mind made of cheese, desirable to start with but soon you actually want some substance....
Click to expand...

This MUST be some kind of wind up surely:confused:. My much better half has this Fiesta and is reasonably happy with it but in terms of comparing it to a Grande Punto its a lost cause. Everyone is entitled to there own opinion of course but this is a very strange one for sure!!?:confused:

Did you consider a Suzuki Swift at all? This is really good car to drive and hard to beat for fun factor!
 
^^ Hmmmmmmm 1.25 Fiesta faster than the 1.4 16v Punto. Don't think so, Something wrong with either driver I think. Punto is about 10.3 and Fiesta 1.25 is over 11. One of my best mates has just got what you've described, in white. Well to say the least, the interior is dull and looks like its been made by a child. The engine makes a horrible, horrible whining noise (fake supercharger?) when under any acceleration. My punto is away from the Fez every single time. Would love to get rid of that 200kg fat of the new model just to get under that 10second mark :(
 
The grass is always greener for some.
 
I can understand some of your reasons as we have already discussed but i do think you will miss the looks a bit.

Ive got to say though in defence of the 1.25 Zetec it is a fantastic engine and it certainly will do a lot of damage to other 1.4's. It is very responsive and definately won me over. I would never swap my M-Jet for one obviously but i would be more than happy with one as a loan car, miles better than the GP 1.2 i was given.

Rich
 
I understand your pain autoblanco, after 23k my GPS still has rattles, squeaks and crashes. Steering issues, braking issues and not to mention all the other crap to go with it.

Fiestas are alot more reliable and the 1.25 engines are very good up to 60, but after that it's not good.

The fiesta handles very well I took my firends ST the other day and I was impressed. But then again fiestas always have done. Always plenty of feedback through the wheel of a fiesta.

If I had to buy a fiesta it wouldn't be anything less than an ST or maybe a zetec-s, but I know you have access to faster cars so your choice is understandable.

Fiats reliability is crap, always has been and always will be. Thats something you have to accept if you buy one. But in fiats defense the problems are usually niggles, rather than big engine problems that the likes of companies like citroen have.
 
puntokris said:
companies like citroen have.
Click to expand...

And BMW, Merc, Older Alfa's, GM powered Vauxhall's, Pug and renault to name a few. I've heard of major disasters from these marque's first hand.

As long as your happy with the fiesta thats all that matters. I must admit I had a 05 1.25 Fiesta as a loan car, it was SLOW as a contipated duck but it handled fantastic and found my self taking corners FAR to fast :devil: :eek:. Oh and the Heated windscreen is brilliant in the winter and frost and snow :cool:.

I'd be weary of the the 'Expected' gain from the Angel Tuning remap and the economy and smoke afterwards.
 
puntokris said:
I understand your pain autoblanco, after 23k my GPS still has rattles, squeaks and crashes. Steering issues, braking issues and not to mention all the other crap to go with it.

Fiestas are alot more reliable and the 1.25 engines are very good up to 60, but after that it's not good.

The fiesta handles very well I took my firends ST the other day and I was impressed. But then again fiestas always have done. Always plenty of feedback through the wheel of a fiesta.

If I had to buy a fiesta it wouldn't be anything less than an ST or maybe a zetec-s, but I know you have access to faster cars so your choice is understandable.

Fiats reliability is crap, always has been and always will be. Thats something you have to accept if you buy one. But in fiats defense the problems are usually niggles, rather than big engine problems that the likes of companies like citroen have.
Click to expand...

My GPS has 22k on the clock now, no rattles, squeeks, crashes, bangs, pops or wheezes, I dont know WHAT you dun to yours Kris... or what some others must do to their cars, but I can guess! Lol! As for reliability, I must say, I use my car for business and pleasure, (yes I am insured for both) 21k miles in a year and other than a few of the well documented Known Issues I have had NO problems. My horn was awkward to push, fixed. My door lock rattled, fixed. My back brakes groaned in reverse, fixed, my windscreen washers hit the wiper blades (mostly fixed) lol. None of these problems came back!
WTF the car was £9.5k looks fabulous, drives great, no complaints here, I'm havin another next March! (y)
 
Ffoxy said:
My GPS has 22k on the clock now, no rattles, squeeks, crashes, bangs, pops or wheezes, I dont know WHAT you dun to yours Kris... or what some others must do to their cars, but I can guess! Lol! As for reliability, I must say, I use my car for business and pleasure, (yes I am insured for both) 21k miles in a year and other than a few of the well documented Known Issues I have had NO problems. My horn was awkward to push, fixed. My door lock rattled, fixed. My back brakes groaned in reverse, fixed, my windscreen washers hit the wiper blades (mostly fixed) lol. None of these problems came back!
WTF the car was £9.5k looks fabulous, drives great, no complaints here, I'm havin another next March! (y)
Click to expand...

Got dibs on your old one :p ;)
 
ChrisUK said:
Got dibs on your old one :p ;)
Click to expand...

Mrs Ffoxy's havin it to replace her 1.2 16v Stilo Active Aircon! She had a Punto 60 before and thinks the GPS will be the same to drive lol! I told her to try it 1st but shes soooo confident lol! :slayer:
 
Ffoxy said:
I dont know WHAT you dun to yours Kris... or what some others must do to their cars, but I can guess! Lol!
Click to expand...

Other than drive it like a grandad to work and back and occasionally put my foot down in a straight line, nothing.

Mine is on an 06 plate, so a very early sporting. Which has all the common problems that everybody else has but combined into one, nothing out of the blue that would be caused by the driver.

Also my dealer has a really fun game they play, it's called 'we'll tell him it's fixed but it actaully isn't' I don't enjoy this game very much maybe I don't get the rules? But i've got a game i'd like to play called 'strangle the service manager', that game explains itself and is alot easier to play.

I treat my car with great respect, more than my own mother. It gets the best treatment in all aspects of it's life.
 
puntokris said:
Other than drive it like a grandad to work and back and occasionally put my foot down in a straight line, nothing.

Mine is on an 06 plate, so a very early sporting. Which has all the common problems that everybody else has but combined into one, nothing out of the blue that would be caused by the driver.

Also my dealer has a really fun game they play, it's called 'we'll tell him it's fixed but it actaully isn't' I don't enjoy this game very much maybe I don't get the rules? But i've got a game i'd like to play called 'strangle the service manager', that game explains itself and is alot easier to play.

I treat my car with great respect, more than my own mother. It gets the best treatment in all aspects of it's life.
Click to expand...

Mines a 56 plate, probably rolled off the proddy line about the same time but not much will have been done differently or better to mine than yours mate. Yup dealers do have a lot to do with disenchantment, I have been lucky I guess, avoided driving like a granny, but never thrashed it (dont need to) and I know you wash and clean it like ur obsessd lmao! Mine just get an average washing (every weekend) jetwash under the arches included (probably bu**er my springs up if the Stilo experience is similar) but honestly, mine has been brill... luvit 2 bits! (y)
 
Ffoxy said:
Mines a 56 plate, probably rolled off the proddy line about the same time but not much will have been done differently or better to mine than yours mate. Yup dealers do have a lot to do with disenchantment, I have been lucky I guess, avoided driving like a granny, but never thrashed it (dont need to) and I know you wash and clean it like ur obsessd lmao! Mine just get an average washing (every weekend) jetwash under the arches included (probably bu**er my springs up if the Stilo experience is similar) but honestly, mine has been brill... luvit 2 bits! (y)
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I love my GPS, it's perfect for what I need at the moment. But I'm not going to be an owner of it when the warranty is out.
I'll get all the problems sorted (which are not massive problems anyway but annoying all the same) and then on to the next motor.

I should have my company car by the end of the year (or a car allowance depending on what I choose) which should sort me something nice. I'm thinking Integra DC5, or maybe a lotus elise. I could do with hitting the grand old age of 21 as soon as possible to bring my insurance down aswell.
 
puntokris said:
Don't get me wrong, I love my GPS, it's perfect for what I need at the moment. But I'm not going to be an owner of it when the warranty is out.
I'll get all the problems sorted (which are not massive problems anyway but annoying all the same) and then on to the next motor.

I should have my company car by the end of the year (or a car allowance depending on what I choose) which should sort me something nice. I'm thinking Integra DC5, or maybe a lotus elise. I could do with hitting the grand old age of 21 as soon as possible to bring my insurance down aswell.
Click to expand...

I hear that and aymen! :D Let someone else fund your motoring, tax is a bu**er but its still worth having a company motor if you can, especially if choices are wide. Car allowance gives you the choice, I get 40p / mile for business use on mine, £40 for every 100 miles is nice, but I just fail to scrape into "business needs" due to total annual business mileage, 17k and above qualifies for that where I work. I do on average around 8 - 10k business miles, but for journeys over 200 miles total we can order a free (to me) hire car and just claim back whatever fuel we put in. I quite fancy a Swift Sport but looking in their Forums they are very similar with issues as FIAT! So another GPS for me... better the devil I know IMO! (y)
 
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