Expecting my 1.4 16v eleganza just after xmas. I know there have been some previous posts on this subject but as a few of you have had the 1.4 16v for a while now, i'd be interested to know how you rate it performance wise now the engines have presumably loosened up.

On paper its straight line acceleration is ok rather than spectacular but what's its real life pace like, in gear and all? Does the fact it has 6 gears make any difference or is the box just like a normal 5 speed with a high cruiser gear for 6?

One interesting point is that FIAT don't seem to be able to decide what the actual 0-60 time is. The UK website has 10.9 but some of the euopean ones have 11.4. Also the new edition UK brochure has 11.4. I guess that's the figure then but why the difference, I wonder.

My mark 2.5 Punto Sporting was ok regards performance, but I wonder about the GP lugging around another 300kgs with 95bhp, maybe 110 would make up for the extra??

Yes I agree, a 1.6 option may have been quite useful. I'm not sure why they didn't put a 1.6 in the line up cos rivals like Renault and Peugeot have em in the Clio and 207. Maybe they just thought anyone wanting more than a 1.4 16v would get the 1.9 diesel.

Cheaper road tax?

Yes that might be a factor as a 1.6 would take emissions over 150 and the economy would drop a bit of course.

I saw the new panda 100HP the other day though (looked pretty nice actually), and couldn't help but wonder why the GP only has a 95bhp starjet when the Panda gets it uprated to 100. I know its a sporty model Panda but then the 1.4 16v does go in the GP Sporting too and surely the extra 5 bhp would help the bigger GP. Perhaps the 100bhp version tips emissions over 150 too?

I got the 1.4 Sporting and I think the engine is quite simply spectacular....I'm most impressed......the technology these days...
The gearbox is great...it's kind of in between a regular 5 with a high gear 6 and truly sporty - bit of a mixture, but nice though.
2nd and 3 rd gear are easily the one's where you can get the most 'take off' speed from the engine......kicks in around 3750 - 4100 rpm.
Wait till you get it and you'll see what I mean - you'll be pleasantly suprised, I'm sure.

In the first few weeks of having my 1.4 16v sporting i was a little doubtful as to whether it was quick enough but after 4000 miles it has really come into its own. You begin to learn when to change and stuff and it really is great fun. Though for motorway driving it could probably do with a few more horses. The back roads are awesome with it though and i do reckon it can keep up with much more powerful cars.:slayer: Like Superboy said 3rd gear is a gem and it pulls well. In 6th the car doesn't really make much headway. Its kind of a fuel consumption minimiser, it hasn't a great deal of pull. I think they even say that top speed is acheived in 5th. On the whole i love it and the engine is good and will keep going forever i should think. Oh and i reckon it makes quite a nice sound for a little 1.4! Well it is Italian!

i have done 3500 miles on my 1.4 16v and it is pretty quick 2nd and 3rd are the best gears and there is a real kick between 3000 and 4000 rpm which is great, the best thing about the car is it cornering it just sticks even in the wet and goes exactly where you want it, you will love it i am sure you got any extras ???

Yeah, ordered the exotica red paint and ESP (see my earlier thread if you want to read about that and see some pics of the car I sent back). Is it the sporting you've got or the eleganza?

Most of my driving is on 40 limit dual carriageways and a quick blast up a 60 and 70 limit road each day to work. So if its nippy in 2nd and 3rd that should be good.

Anyone know if there are any road test reviews anywhere of the GP 1.4 16V (eleganza or sporting)?

I have the GP Sporting a few months now and done over 11000 km....

First of all note that the Panda 100 hp DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME Engine with GP.....it has the 1.4 engine of the MK2B Sporting ,....

Secondly,...note that the GP engine dyno tested is about 98-99 hp NOT 95 Officially stated by Fiat...

Thirdly,....the 0-100 km ACCELERATION figure is 11.4 " (this is the correct....) but in real life is almost impossible to get less than 12"....
on the other hand top speed of 178km/h claimed is achievable,....in downslope can go up to 190+....

Gear box is actually a 5 gears box with an overdrive 6th.....

6th gear is really weak when the road is going up.....

The car is very good regarding fuel consumption,...last weekend I did about 700 km in high way and mountain road and had an average of 6.8 ltr/100km....with speeds in highway of 120+...

There is no comparison between the MK2B 1.4 and the GP 1.4.....the extra weight shows,.....

Regarding actual feeling,......my impression is that you must be always above 4000 rpm to get power and epsecially the 2nd is not good before 4000....

Generally,...if you have driven a faster car,...in the past you may be disappointed.....if you have not a faster car before,....may feel ok.....

The car needed the 1.6 engine of Alfa 147.....120 hp......would be PERFECT....!!!:worship:

Sporty said:

The car needed the 1.6 engine of Alfa 147.....120 hp......would be PERFECT....!!!:worship:

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As long as your willing to change cambelts and variators every 36,000miles .

i have the 1.4 16v sporting with full leather Interior you will be fine with it then. all the gears are pretty (esspicailly 2nd and 3rd) good apart from 6th but this is still ok for crusing on the moterway!!!

Thanks "Sporty"......Really useful information!

Yeah the engine in the panda 100hp is exactly the same as the one in the GP (They are both the 1.4 16v Starjet engine) all they did was squeeze a few more lemons out of it and add a fancy air induction system on it activated by the (Sport button). The engine in the mk2b although very similar is the older unit which was concieved before the starjet and yeilds higher emissions.

ChrisUK said:

Yeah the engine in the panda 100hp is exactly the same as the one in the GP (They are both the 1.4 16v Starjet engine) all they did was squeeze a few more lemons out of it and add a fancy air induction system on it activated by the (Sport button). The engine in the mk2b although very similar is the older unit which was concieved before the starjet and yeilds higher emissions.

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The 100HP engine of PANDA is not the Starjet used in GP...!!!!

No VVT technology, etc......

in 2nd on the 1.4 16v do you get a big 'kick' as such and go? even if you put your foot straight on?

Jason_6780 said:

in 2nd on the 1.4 16v do you get a big 'kick' as such and go? even if you put your foot straight on?

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you do get a pretty good kick if you are revving 4000 when you put your foot down. It especially shows if you are alone in the car, if there are two or more people inside it doesn't accellerate as quickly.

This is probably the only time (2nd over 4000rpm) you are going to be really surprised by the engine. Otherwise its a pretty good ride around town, but nothing really quick.

I have the 1.4 sporting, but unfortunately previous car was a Peugeot 205 1.9 gti. After the 7.6 sec to 100kmh of the 205, the 12 sec of the GP seem like a lifetime.

Yeah, I know what you're saying and pretty much go along with it, however,
it's really when you're in 3rd gear as you hit 4,000 revs that the fun can really start.....especially on country lanes with lots of bends.
If you've got a passenger with you it makes no difference.....still good.
The handling, steering...especially with those excellent tyres and the 'esp' really make it alot of fun.
You gotta remember that this is a very cheap car and that you cannot compare it to a Fiesta ST/Clio sport16v.....it only has a 1368 cc engine....very advanced mind you compared to 1400cc cars from 10 years ago.....the technology is truly amazing these days....such value for money and fun factor
but it's only really a warm GTI.....the thing is for most of the type of driving that we do it is actually a better bet......it's so light and easy to drive, so big and strong and safe.....a Fiesta ST is soooo much more fun when you push it through the corners.....but how often is that?.....the rest of the time you're left with a car that's small and old fashioned, little style, absolutely crap clutch, snatchy and heavy, nasty dashboard and reoccuring engine management problems on most of them.....if you want a proper GTi then find a way to earn more money and spend it on a Golf GTI/Fiesta ST/Megane 225/Focus ST.
The G. Punto Sporting really is placed in a unique market position.
Overall, day to day, I much prefer driving it to a Megane 225....that thing is like trying to control 3 wild horses all at once and although the acceleration is rocket like.....try doing that 2 or 3 times on a journey....it's 'ill making', exhausting and actually quite dangerous. The Golf GTI and Focus ST are actually quite boring to drive and are sort of double the price too.

thats a reallt good superboy 1 passenger makes no difference to performance but as soon as you put someone in the back the car is a lot slower even if its someone pretty small