General Buying my first car - 2007 GP 1.4 16V sporting or 2011 Punto Evo 1.2 8V?

Currently reading:
General Buying my first car - 2007 GP 1.4 16V sporting or 2011 Punto Evo 1.2 8V?

chaz1992

New member
Joined
Aug 2, 2015
Messages
4
Points
1
Hey everyone,

This is my first post now that I've decided my first car is going to be a Punto, but just which one?

I have a budget of around £3k for the car, road tax, and insurance (this latter may be excluded from the budget and I may just have to pay it monthly).

I have found two models I am particularly keen on, that being the GP 1.4 16V and the evo 1.2 8V. The former seems a much more technically advanced car. Being a multivalve has its obvious advantages and should see me hit 0-60 in 11 seconds hopefully! The down side is the interior looks quite dull compared to the evo and ICE seems poor (I'd like to be able to listen to music off my phone which I don't think it'll manage). This is the strength of the 1.2 evo, but I'd have to sacrifice performance.

I think the 1.2 evo has 0-60 time of 13.5 seconds. Would this additional time be noticeable compared to the 11 seconds of the GP?

I learnt how to drive in a fiat 500 (remember those BSM cars driving around?) around 3/4 years ago, which I loved, before doing my final few lessons and test in a corsa, which I hated, and now that I've finished uni I want to rediscover that driving fun I had in the fiat 500 by driving a punto.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Charlie :slayer:
 
Personally I would go with the GP 1.6 16v thr insurabce would be slightly higher than the 1.2 (I assume) the GP will be able to play music from your phone it should have blue and me the same as in the evo. I had a 1.2 as a courtesy car once and found it to be woeful (personal opinion).

The only problem I see it getting one for cheap enough that it will be under £3000 with insurance. The cheapest I've ever seen a good 1.4 16v was £3000.
 
How about a compromise: the Grande 1.4 8v. Between the two in terms of performance, examples are plentiful, and the insurance shouldn't be too horrendous. Personally, I prefer the Grande to the Evo, it's design is purer.
 
I should say I was surprised when I got an insurance quote of £600 for the sporting, and £650 for the 1.2. It allows me to pay in installments, which would thus allow me to buy a better kept model and only allow me to only factor in £100 or so from insurance into my budget of £3000. Road tax is about £150ish so for the actual car I'd be looking at £2750 or so. I saw the 1.4 16v sporting on a second hand car forecourt for £3000, but it's been there for months so might use that in negotiations. The 1.2 is newer and it's a private seller. They want £3.5k for it but my dad says people find it difficult to shift cars in that price range (no idea why) and says it's quite possible to get a massive amount off it but I'm not too sure.

Both have done around 60k miles, so I'm going to ask if the cambelt has been changed. If not, I might have to factor in that cost in the not to distant future.

I did look at the 1.4 8V, and there are plenty of models about. I think 2 more valves per cylinder makes a bigger difference than adding 0.2L to the swept volume of the cylinders to performance, and the price gap between the 1.2 to the 1.4 is quite noticeable, so I thought from a value perspective a 1.2 8v and 1.4 16v would offer best value for money?

Just come across this:

autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507165252822?postcode=w71bj&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&make=fiat&page=1&model=grande_punto&search-target=usedcars&sort=default&radius=1501&channel=cars&keywords=T%20JET&logcode=p

Might be a winner :eek:
 
How about a compromise: the Grande 1.4 8v. Between the two in terms of performance, examples are plentiful, and the insurance shouldn't be too horrendous. Personally, I prefer the Grande to the Evo, it's design is purer.

I second this, just bought my first car as a 1.4 8v in very good nick with 40k miles for 2k, I then paid 1200 quid for insurance and 130 something? For a years tax, this would only just break your budget and if you're willing to go slightly older (mines a 56) then you can get a good deal. Good luck :)
 
Personally I would go with the GP 1.6 16v thr insurabce would be slightly higher than the 1.2 (I assume) the GP will be able to play music from your phone it should have blue and me the same as in the evo. I had a 1.2 as a courtesy car once and found it to be woeful (personal opinion).

What was woeful about it? Was it general driving experience, cabin feel, powertrain?

Up to now I've assumed all models are identical engineering and dimension wise (roughly) for the 3 door model bar the powertrain. Has there been any major new features in the facelifted evo over the gp? If not I may take a look into the 1.4 8v as well then as £1k saving is quite a bit!

I'll be doing a 20 mile motorway commute to work so I'm hoping 13 seconds 0-60 won't be too long!
 
I've got a 1.4 8v they are not to bad. Sporting be faster but all comes down to condition service Insurance and running cost. I drive my partners (75 miles each way) and find it more than capable.

Also what phone have you got? And what reg is the sporting?
 
Last edited:
What was woeful about it? Was it general driving experience, cabin feel, powertrain?

Up to now I've assumed all models are identical engineering and dimension wise (roughly) for the 3 door model bar the powertrain. Has there been any major new features in the facelifted evo over the gp? If not I may take a look into the 1.4 8v as well then as £1k saving is quite a bit!

I'll be doing a 20 mile motorway commute to work so I'm hoping 13 seconds 0-60 won't be too long!

Both the power train and the cabin feel. The 1.2 I had was just very basic and felt rather cheap. The throttle response was also terrible (I used to own a 1.2 mk2b which I really enjoyed driving) I own a 1.4 8v they just "feel" alot better. I do plenty of motorway driving and it's fine, I mean it could be more powerful but insurance is an issue!
 
My daughter has a 1.2 - 8 valve on a 56 plate. Yes, it's pretty gutless and very low-geared, which means it'll be scraming its bits off at 80 on the motorway! Bless it though, if you're willing to rev it, it can cover ground on A and b roads reasonably well, you just have to keep it "on the boil". Good on fuel and simple to work on though. Haven't ever tried any of the others, but from experience of other cars, you'll certainly notice that kind of difference in performance in the 0-60 times.
 
My daughter has a 1.2 - 8 valve on a 56 plate. Yes, it's pretty gutless and very low-geared, which means it'll be scraming its bits off at 80 on the motorway! Bless it though, if you're willing to rev it, it can cover ground on A and b roads reasonably well, you just have to keep it "on the boil". Good on fuel and simple to work on though. Haven't ever tried any of the others, but from experience of other cars, you'll certainly notice that kind of difference in performance in the 0-60 times.

I noticed that my Grande is low geared. It's not a problem though: it's still quiet and economical. :)
 
I've found a decent 1.4 8v model with panaromic sunroof (massive fan of (y) ) that's done around 46k miles over three owners. Looking through the photos, the steering wheel looks very worn. The outer layer looks like it's pealing off and you can see the grey colour underneath. This got me worried as either the steering wheels on puntos are incredibly delicate, or the car may have done more miles than advertised?

Anyway, if the steering wheel does have peeling issues, roughly how much would a new steering wheel cost to fit? Thinking it may just be worth getting a cover for £10 or so.

Also, what tends to need replacing on the car around 46k miles? I suppose the cambelt/water pump change is not too far off, the clutch, brake pads and discs?
 
The steering wheel on my 09 gp isn't to bad at 42k. Its leather so going a bit grey on places.


I'd consider getting a car valuation service done on any car. This way your covered if mileage is incorrect amongst other things.


Multiecu scan can check cars ecu for mileage but don't go altering it has that's illegal.


you'll be looking at second water pump/timing belt and tensioner (around £250 or so). The auxiliary belt is ever 4 years as well (still not done mine). Has for breaks etc all depends on how low they are. Being drums no doubt on the back you'll not have to worry for a while about replacing them. Discs and pads set you back around £150 or so fitted from an indie.


Clutch again depends on what the current one is like but these are not cheap
 
Last edited:
I've found a decent 1.4 8v model with panaromic sunroof (massive fan of (y) ) that's done around 46k miles over three owners. Looking through the photos, the steering wheel looks very worn. The outer layer looks like it's pealing off and you can see the grey colour underneath. This got me worried as either the steering wheels on puntos are incredibly delicate, or the car may have done more miles than advertised?

Anyway, if the steering wheel does have peeling issues, roughly how much would a new steering wheel cost to fit? Thinking it may just be worth getting a cover for £10 or so.

Also, what tends to need replacing on the car around 46k miles? I suppose the cambelt/water pump change is not too far off, the clutch, brake pads and discs?

The leather wheel on mine was worn in 1 area when I bought it with 48k on the clock, so I bought a wheel cover from halfords.
 
Back
Top