Some of you may or may not remember me but I have been a FF member for quite some time now, originally owning a Punto MK1. Hello again. :slayer:

Recently, after a non FIAT history (BMW 318, Vauxhall Astra (MK4)) I have been looking again in to FIAT's and as you can probably tell, the Grande Punto - 1.9 Diesel Sport 3dr specifically.

The positive buying points for me are the good looks of the Italian design, the fact it is a FIAT and I adored my MK1 Punto, the insurance is cheap (19, male - £1000 fully comp a yr- with 2 yr no claims!), also let's not forget the stated 50mpg.

With the proclaimed 50mpg being extra urban driving, how many MPG's do you normally see? Motorway driving and town? I'm covering 400+ miles a week (motorway and town) Would a petrol model be more sufficient?

With the 1.9 being 130bhp and quite a bit of torque, does it put a smile on your face every time you put your foot down, had any problems over taking?

Now tell me, why should I buy it, why did you buy it?

Why wouldn't YOU buy it (if you hadn't already done so)?

Many thanks for all of the input I am sure you will offer

PeteyPye said:

Some of you may or may not remember me but I have been a FF member for quite some time now, originally owning a Punto MK1. Hello again. :slayer:

Recently, after a non FIAT history (BMW 318, Vauxhall Astra (MK4)) I have been looking again in to FIAT's and as you can probably tell, the Grande Punto - 1.9 Diesel Sport 3dr specifically.

The positive buying points for me are the good looks of the Italian design, the fact it is a FIAT and I adored my MK1 Punto, the insurance is cheap (19, male - £1000 fully comp a yr- with 2 yr no claims!), also let's not forget the stated 50mpg.

With the proclaimed 50mpg being extra urban driving, how many MPG's do you normally see? Motorway driving and town? I'm covering 400+ miles a week (motorway and town) Would a petrol model be more sufficient?

With the 1.9 being 130bhp and quite a bit of torque, does it put a smile on your face every time you put your foot down, had any problems over taking?

Now tell me, why should I buy it, why did you buy it?

Why wouldn't YOU buy it (if you hadn't already done so)?



Many thanks for all of the input I am sure you will offer

Click to expand...

Quite a lengthy one! lol.

When I replaced my Focus 2.0i Petrol, I didnt even consider the GP. Their wasnt much I liked out at the time. Where I work is a Fiat garage and I saw two GP's one day and loved them both. One beign a M-Jet sporting, and one being a M-Jet Elegenza. Both up for the same price, I went for the elegenza because it had done 20 000 less miles, far better condition and more equipment, and had the same engine.

Mine is the 1.9 120bhp same engine as the sporting (-10bhp). Around town is about 40mpg, I think motorways, a roads etc you should be able to get 45-50mpg. It puts a smile on my face when I put my foot down, as it shames a lot of 'bigger' cars. Never had any problems overtaking what so ever, flies in 4th gear when over taking. It is a great looking car. Their have been issues with build quality, and mine in particular has been back numerous times, but when their ironed out the car is great. Newer models should be okay from issues in theory. The GP is a lot cheaper then equivlent manufacteres cars and looks far better.

Your insurance sounds steep? im only paying £480 with 2yrs no claims and was 23 when I insured it.

I would of got the 1.9 if i thought about it properly but didnt think i do enough miles to justify it but i do!

JimbbobW1977 said:

Wall of text

Your insurance sounds steep? im only paying £480 with 2yrs no claims and was 23 when I insured it.

Click to expand...

I'm 19 and I'm male - instant boy racer stereotype, hello to high premiums! For comparison, my 1st policy at 17 was £1800, on an MK1 Punto, 1.2 petrol.... That's the cheapest possible price I could get...

Anyway, thanks for the above too, makes me want to buy a GP even more!

but didnt think i do enough miles to justify it but i do!

Click to expand...

I'm also thinking the same thing, can I justify the costs of diesel to petrol and MPG etc etc, but I am pretty certain the diesel is my best option.

PeteyPye said:

The insurance is cheap (19, male - £1000 fully comp a yr- with 2 yr no claims!).

Click to expand...

I have virtually the same stats as you here unyet I am paying £1200 fully comp for the basic 1.2 Active model What insurance comp. is that? And thats the cheapest, my 2nd cheapest was £1500.

PeteyPye said:

With the proclaimed 50mpg being extra urban driving, how many MPG's do you normally see? Motorway driving and town? I'm covering 400+ miles a week (motorway and town) Would a petrol model be more sufficient?

With the 1.9 being 130bhp and quite a bit of torque, does it put a smile on your face every time you put your foot down, had any problems over taking?

Click to expand...

Might I just say good choice of car

I would say if you can go for the MJet go for it, it is a quick car. And you can just cruise at 2-2.5k rpm doing like 70mph no problem.

OCZedd said:

I have virtually the same stats as you here unyet I am paying £1200 fully comp for the basic 1.2 Active model What insurance comp. is that? And thats the cheapest, my 2nd cheapest was £1500.

Click to expand...

I was lucky, my first policy was cheap because I believe I caught my insurer (eCarInsurance) as they had just started up the company. Beau (from these forums) actually pointed me in their direction, and low and behold, I was faced with an extremely cheap premium compared to other quotes. Unfortunately their prices are no longer as they were (my renewal went UP £20, but it was still the cheapest I could get)!

I actually had a quote with Direct Line - they have offered me the £1000 fully comp on the 1.9 diesel, but previously - they quoted me a ridiculous price for my current Astra (at a mind blowing £4,500!) same insurance group too!


Sounds like the 1.9 GP is the one to go for then, I want the power and I want the MPG - I don't have to worry about the design, as it is a FIAT after all!

I've read that the build quality is shocking as usual, how true is this?

Unfortunately I can't find a dealer anywhere near to me where I can test drive the 1.9 which puts me in a bit of a risky situation!

PeteyPye said:

I was lucky, my first policy was cheap because I believe I caught my insurer (eCarInsurance) as they had just started up the company. Beau (from these forums) actually pointed me in their direction, and low and behold, I was faced with an extremely cheap premium compared to other quotes. Unfortunately their prices are no longer as they were (my renewal went UP £20, but it was still the cheapest I could get)!

I actually had a quote with Direct Line - they have offered me the £1000 fully comp on the 1.9 diesel, but previously - they quoted me a ridiculous price for my current Astra (at a mind blowing £4,500!) same insurance group too!

Click to expand...

Just doesn't make sense I am with Direct Line also (2 years now) but paying more for a lower group car.

Just out of interest are these internet quotes on or the phone?

Also the GP Mjet will put a grin on your face everyday

Just had a go on eCarInsurance and got £1400 full comp for my 1.2

And £2300 for the 1.9 Mjet just out of interest.

PeteyPye said:

I was lucky, my first policy was cheap because I believe I caught my insurer (eCarInsurance) as they had just started up the company. Beau (from these forums) actually pointed me in their direction, and low and behold, I was faced with an extremely cheap premium compared to other quotes. Unfortunately their prices are no longer as they were (my renewal went UP £20, but it was still the cheapest I could get)!

I actually had a quote with Direct Line - they have offered me the £1000 fully comp on the 1.9 diesel, but previously - they quoted me a ridiculous price for my current Astra (at a mind blowing £4,500!) same insurance group too!


Sounds like the 1.9 GP is the one to go for then, I want the power and I want the MPG - I don't have to worry about the design, as it is a FIAT after all!

I've read that the build quality is shocking as usual, how true is this?

Unfortunately I can't find a dealer anywhere near to me where I can test drive the 1.9 which puts me in a bit of a risky situation!

Click to expand...

If you want to mod your car in any way stay away from DL though

*cough* T-jet *cough* Be lucky to see 30mpg, but people dont think its a tractor, bit more nimble, cheaper to insure (im 19, 2yrs NCB and its £950) More fun to drive......

i bought mine cause I wanted a big deisel in a smallish car, Liked the looks and loved the colour,

they are quite nippy, they never feel slow or underpowered, near the top of the rev range the engine gets a tad rough though IMO still no problem though, Nice and comfy and quiet will do a ton all day at 3k

Something to note (although certain Fiat representatives still won't confirm this), is that you'd have to buy the car second hand / pre reg 08 at the latest - as they've supposedly stopped making the 1.9 engine version, which has been replaced by a 1.6 16v for all the "Series 2" (58 reg) onwards.

Although the 1.6 could turn out to be just as good as the 1.9 has proven. 120bhp, less weight, less C02 = lower tax, better MPG.

Hellcat said:

Although the 1.6 could turn out to be just as good as the 1.9 has proven. 120bhp, less weight, less C02 = lower tax, better MPG.

Click to expand...

I've actually heard it'll still be 130bhp, so 10bhp more than the same engine manages in the Bravo?

Whintersby said:

I've actually heard it'll still be 130bhp, so 10bhp more than the same engine manages in the Bravo?

Click to expand...

Got a source?

If the 1.6 engine is true then its a no brainer to go with the 1.6

punto_matt said:

*cough* T-jet *cough* Be lucky to see 30mpg, but people dont think its a tractor, bit more nimble, cheaper to insure (im 19, 2yrs NCB and its £950) More fun to drive......

Click to expand...

I'm starting to think insurance companies hate me

Hellcat said:

Got a source?

Click to expand...

It was the email sent to the FIAT dealers, which was paraphrased to me over the phone. I shall ask if he can forward it onto me to post here

Wheres Scrogg when you need him!

Bought my MJet 34,000 mile ago and I get the best of all deals.

Cost 9,500 quid with 1,500 miles on a 56plate. Its quick enough as standard but re-map is very attractive at 199 quid for the extra 30 - 40 bhp and around 310 ft lbs torque.

44 mpg around town and today I did 300 miles at 51.8mpg and an almost constant 70 - 80 mph both ways.

Always a big silly smile on my boat race, I love my 1.9MJet GPS to bits!