General Another Test Drive of a 1.4 Dynamic

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General Another Test Drive of a 1.4 Dynamic

MattCupra

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Just back from a test drive of the new Grande Punto. Impressions, the car looks stunning especially in New Orleans Blue the Maserati style front end is great and the rear end with the clean hatch and lights in the pillars is also very nice.

The key is the flip type with 3 buttons, lock, unlock and boot (there is no boot release on the tailgate only on the key or on the dash)

The interior is very roomy with large comfortable seats, the rear space is also very good with pleanty of leg and head room, the dash is well laid out and the plastics whilst not upto BMW or Audi standards are more than on a par with Seat or Skoda.

So to the drive, the first thing that stikes me is the Steering which is very very light even with the girly setting off (but then coming straight from a Mini running of 17" runflats a bus would probably feel light), gear action is light but precise clutch is also very light. The 1.4 engine feels willing even though its only got 75 miles under its belt. The worst bit about the test drive had nothing to do with the car, it was when I nearly got us T boned by a BMW (not my fault honest).

Would I buy a 1.4 Dynamic, NO, so I surpose its a good job the order form with my name on it is for a Grande Punto Sporting in New Orleans Blue:D , I've also gone for Cruise Control and Climate Contol as well, dealer seemed confident for a March 1st delivery and I can't wait(y)
 
I've just got back from a test drive of a 1.4 Dynamic (the showroom was very busy; they sold two Grande Puntos whilst I was waiting there!), and although some might think that the 1.4 is a bit slow, I personally thought that it was great fun to drive and it's very willing once you get used to it. Indeed afterwards my current car (a four year-old Mini One) didn't feel that much quicker to drive and I'm now seriously considering the 1.4 as a possible option even though my first choice was the 1.3 Multijet (90bhp); the dealer in question (Mangoletsi in Cheshire) didn't have any 1.3's available for testing but I will try another dealer tomorrow.

The ride quality is roughly equivalent to the Mini with 15" wheels; you feel big bumps but it's always very comfortable, stable and secure. And anyone who still thinks that Fiat build quality is rubbish ought to be forcibly dragged inside a Grande Punto; to get noticeably better quality you're going to have to spend £15k on an Audi!

If the amount of interest I saw today is repeated in Fiat dealers across the UK then the Grande Punto's going to be a huge success for Fiat here and there could soon be a sizeable waiting list for the car if the initial reaction is anything to go by (y)

Anyone interested in a four year-old Mini One? :D
 
Loads are getting sold already,seen people come in & buy one while hardly looking at it!
Anyway space it out guys & girls will ya,got no chance of a few days off work with you lot buying them all at once!;) Going to be doing PDI's for months by the way these are selling!:bang:
 
Argh nice one! I'm really looking forward to placing my order in April...no doubt there'll be a long waiting list by then - but hopefully i'll get it in time for summer! I want to get one with the SkyDome sunroof, subwoofer and maybe the climate control. Not forgetting NFS kick plates too! Oh and red of course...unless i see an orange one and love it!
 
Suasexed said:
Oh and red of course...unless i see an orange one and love it!

Dont get the orange one, its the least number of vehicles in that colour they are making so youll have a longer delivery time (n)
 
Suasexed said:
Argh nice one! I'm really looking forward to placing my order in April...no doubt there'll be a long waiting list by then - but hopefully i'll get it in time for summer! I want to get one with the SkyDome sunroof, subwoofer and maybe the climate control. Not forgetting NFS kick plates too! Oh and red of course...unless i see an orange one and love it!

Had a call from the dealer today, they can't source a car in the colour and spec I want thats already built but they have managed to amend the spec of a car waiting to be built, but they are now quoting a 10 week delivery(n)
 
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