Hi everyone, I live in Shanghai, China. Now I'm a university student heading towards a bachelor degree. Finally with my efforts, I've accumulated 30,000RMB(around 3312GBP or 3760EUR) for the first vehicle in my life. I choose Grande Punto. So in this thread I'd like to share my experience about buying a second-hand Grande Punto, of course, in distant China. I'll keep this thread updated as long as I make progress. It may last long, but I'll persist. Thanks for supporting!

Hi and welcome and looking forward to some pictures of your car,and China

Why FIAT? Why Punto?
Frankly speaking, my interest of automobile was not so intensive and only limited with brands and models. But in 2018, the flagging interest suddenly awoke as i had enough money.
I prefer small hatchbacks rather than sedans or limousines. Meanwhile, European brands are good at manufacturing small hatchbacks which attract me. (actually I cannot afford sedans or limousines lol) With 30000RMB, what kind of hatchbacks can you purchase? Actually you have not too many choices besides the first generation Citroën C4, Peugeot 307, Peugeot 206, VW Golf Mk4 or VW Polo Mk5. Are there any other choices? When I played NFS9, it occurred to me that Grande Punto may be a really good choice.
In 2008, Grande Punto 1.4 Starjet, in total 2 specific versions called "spirited version" and "fashion version" were introduced in China for the first time. As imported models with more taxes, their prices were marked with 148,800RMB and 166,600RMB(around 18397GBP or 20883EUR) separately. At that time, you could buy a brand new Golf Mk6 with better configurations and more engine power. As a result, Grande Punto encountered a debacle and became uncommon with less than 500 cars sold in 2 years in whole China. Coincidentally I like to pursue something uncommon. Even if I consider rationally, Grande Punto is no worse than those rivals I mentioned above, and with less mileages and higher emission standard. So why not Punto！
However, the biggest problem is, where to find a Grande Punto with a nice condition. I browsed almost all auto websites in Chinese, only 2 cars with high prices and terrible conditions are selling. Another problem is that there is no standard of price because of the rarity of Grande Punto. So 2 cars I mentioned above are set with high prices. How can I make it?

*only limited within
*introduced to China
Please forgive my poor grammar.

*only limited within
*introduced to China
Please forgive my poor grammar.

Morning lads. I'd like to answer your questions if you are interested in FIAT in China, Cars in China or even everything about China

QuadrifoglioVerde said:

*only limited within
*introduced to China
Please forgive my poor grammar.

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I wish mine (grammar) was as good as yours !! Don't know about (genuine) Fiat parts in China, and with ca. 500 cars sold you' ll have almost no chance to find a scrappy down there !

Anyway, I wish you good luck with finding/fixing?/driving your Grande !!

BR's Bernie

Bernievarian said:

I wish mine (grammar) was as good as yours !! Don't know about (genuine) Fiat parts in China, and with ca. 500 cars sold you' ll have almost no chance to find a scrappy down there !

Anyway, I wish you good luck with finding/fixing?/driving your Grande !!

BR's Bernie

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Merci ami! It won't be easy as you said, but actually I've made some progress, and I'll show it below!

[Update]I've found a person who sells his Grande Punto!
As I mentioned above, only around 500 models are sold in China between 2008 and 2011, so the chance of finding a Punto with nice condition is elusive. In the whole Chinese Internet, as far as I know, only 2 models are listed in the online car market. In addition, their prices exceed my budget(4445GBP 5029EUR/5556GBP 6286EUR separately). So I removed my sight, and threw my attention on Chinese FIAT forum. It sounds reasonable, but the this kind of forum is totally different from this one. Instead of being established by owners spontaneously, the forum is based on commercial portal sites. Actually almost all the car forums in China run in this mode. With FIAT struggling in China, the FIAT forums are almost deserted. After searching among several FIAT forums, it showed that the latest thread about Punto was posted in July. I replied but received nothing from the original thread poster. However, another person, and the mere person replied me! He asked me if I wanted a Punto. Of course as i replied but I waited and waited with no further contacts. I clicked his profile and found his Wechat number in another thread. He told me he had a Punto, but this is not the point. The most amazing thing is that, he is in the same city as my hometown! It means I don't have to go to another unfamiliar city, affording the fare of travelling or risking cheat! I'm now in Shanghai with my study, so when I'm free in Winter, I'll pay a visit to him to check the detail of the car. He sent me few picture about his vehicle, and the condition is perfect, at least as the pictures show! No parts are damaged or scratched, and the condition of interior is perfect! And he changed a sport slipcover of the steering wheel, which looks nice. What a coincidence and how lucky I am! So now I look forward to the winter.

Those are Fiat Bravo wheels, they're 4x98, the GP should be 4x100.... or is it different in China?

I just thought you might want to look into that.

Some indent/scratches here and there and missing the left rear-mirror, but hey this Grande seems in very good shape, and it did not came from India (sharp top corner on front door) ! Here's how original GP alloy looks, a bit different but not much ;-)

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Hey, sounds like this is going to be a good thread. Looks like a nice car, I do like that blue.

Bernie, they are the GP standard alloys? They look muh nicer than the ones on my car!! Ill attach a photo soon.

Sounds "cool", to have very special/rare car (in your country)...
But, first of all, check if there is any access to spare parts! :chin:
It can be nightmare to service this car (if you will be forced to order everything from Europe). :bang:
Especially, if you have "two left thumbs" (if you will not do any job personally, by yourself, "DIY").

TheLankyTwig said:

Bernie, they are the GP standard alloys? They look muh nicer than the ones on my car!! Ill attach a photo soon.

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Fully originals and untouched on my GP 1.3mjt90hp 2009 ...

BRs, Bernie

aurick86 said:

Those are Fiat Bravo wheels, they're 4x98, the GP should be 4x100.... or is it different in China?

I just thought you might want to look into that.

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Oh thank you for noticing me! I just briefly chatted with the owner and he might hold back something. But I'll check it in this winter. BTW the hub shells seem to be missing...

What are these off of then???

Bernievarian said:

Some indent/scratches here and there and missing the left rear-mirror, but hey this Grande seems in very good shape, and it did not came from India (sharp top corner on front door) ! Here's how original GP alloy looks, a bit different but not much ;-)

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Click to expand...

Hey Bernie,

I think, this is not manufactured in India. The ones sold here don't have three wash jets upfront.

I saw many reviews showing only 2 functional water jets, mine doesn't have the 3rd fake one.

Just the 2 operational ones.

Since, I am assuming it is an EU model.

Also, i feel the rounded corner of doors is in just a 3 doors,
Check this video out.

Bernievarian said:

Some indent/scratches here and there and missing the left rear-mirror, but hey this Grande seems in very good shape, and it did not came from India (sharp top corner on front door) ! Here's how original GP alloy looks, a bit different but not much ;-)

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Click to expand...

Hi Bernie, do you mean the car I showed has those problems that you mentioned?

GrandePunto PL said:

Sounds "cool", to have very special/rare car (in your country)...
But, first of all, check if there is any access to spare parts! :chin:
It can be nightmare to service this car (if you will be forced to order everything from Europe). :bang:
Especially, if you have "two left thumbs" (if you will not do any job personally, by yourself, "DIY").

Click to expand...

Hi mate, thanks for reminding me this! I've took it into consideration. I asked the owner how can I find parts and services and he told me he had channel to get parts(maybe he's acquainted with former FIAT dealers). As for services, I can drive to FCA's stores which now sell Jeep instead of FIAT. And I can do it myself to say the least. Indeed, buying a uncommon car burdens the next owner, but I can embrace GP.

Hi lads, I've come up with a modification plan, but I don't know if it's possible to achieve. Someone may give me some advice if good at technics or mechanics. Thanks for suggestions in advance!:idea:
I've searched Wikipedia and it says that Abarth Grande Punto uses the same engine as Bravo(1.4 T-Jet 16V 150HP 230N⋅m). So I wonder if I could replace the original 1.4 Starjet engine with 1.4 T-Jet engine, so that I could turn this ordinary Punto into "Abarth version". Are those mechanical structures of 1.4 T-Jet engines the same on Bravo and Abarth Punto? And what's the difference in mechanical structures and other aspects between normal GP and Abarth GP? I mean if normal Punto with its parts can be installed with a 1.4 T-Jet engine. (Maybe the body of Abarth GP is enhanced and the parts is specialised.) And the last, if the 6MT gear-box on normal Punto can bear the torque of 230N⋅m?