General Grande Punto vs comparison (-_-;?

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General Grande Punto vs comparison (-_-;?

Neko

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I'm in the process of getting a new car...seriously thinking of the Grande Punto 1.4 16V

I've been in Europe for less than a year (just came from the US) and have no idea about these types of cars (they don't even have Fiats, Opels or Renaults in the States...their loss)...

From what I initially herd, the Corsa is a bit better mechanically and the Punto gets the better-looks prize;however, I have no idea how credible this is...

Does anyone have any suggestions on which car is better in what, or anything that might help in deciding...maybe a comparison link??
I looked around and didn't find much (at least in English that is).

Right now I'm looking at the Corsa and the Punto (seems like a classical rivalry).

...and leaning towards the Punto

Well guys, any help for a Europe-auto illiterate :confused:
 
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Normally you would compare de Grande Punto to:

Opel/Vauxhaul Corsa
Renault Clio
Peugeot 207
VW Polo
Mini (more expensive though)

I would say, which ever of these cars you pick are good cars. At the end its a personal choice of what your priorities are and what type of styling you like. No one could say you are wrong picking any of these cars.

The best advise is see as many as you can. This will help you in making your mind.

This is one of the few group tests I have come by:

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com//14062006/45/mini-mayhem-0.html

On a personal note this is my first Fiat before I have owned vws, peugeot, citroen and renaults and can say I'm very satisfied with the Punto.

Good luck in your search for the right car.
:cool:
 
Welcome to the forum :)

Really its your decision, but if you would like opinions, have a browse around this section and you would find many posts on the love and hate of the GP. And although you won't be able to fully appreciate a motor by test driving it, it wouldn't hurt to try out as many variations as possible.
 
I test drove a Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris (dont ask!) and a Seat Ibiza before picking the Grande Punto.

Found it to be the best overall for price, performance and equipment. Plus was easily the better looking of all of them!

When reading the posts on this forum don't be put off by some of the problems there have been with this car. A lot of people have had no trouble with their cars at all. If you go to forums for other makes you will also see that other cars have issues too ;)

Good luck with it all (y)
 
i use www.whatcar.co.uk that has generally good comparisons of everythign including performace figures etc.
Note the punto grande and the corsa both get 4* on review but the corsa must have piped it as it did win whatcar of the year (i personally think they got it wrong though hence i have got a punto grande sporting :)
 
Well I lived in Los Angeles for 7 years and got back to the UK so I have some idea of what you are going through.......the whole car thing is very different here to the States.
I looked at the Clio, Megane, 207, Fiesta, Civic/Jazz and Fiesta, (wasn't working, had nothing better to do!) and ended up going with the G. Punto 1.4 Sporting in metallic blue.
The Jazz is out 'cause it looks bloody awful, getting old and it's an old woman's car, don't care how reliable it is.....the Civic is really good but it's very expensive...like £4000 more and in a different league, so that's out.
The Clio is expensive, small and dead to drive.....whilst the Megane is now getting old and clunky so forget that too.
The Vauxhall Corsa (which is a G. Punto underneath GM's alliance with Fiat) wasn't out in November.....I've heard that it's great to drive and really good quality.....for me though the shape is so bad, corporate/bland looking that I just wouldn't/couldn't consider it....besides Vauxhall's got a terrible stigma of being driven by 'Chav's'.....ask one of your English friends for an interpretation...
The 207 is very nice provided that you go for one of the sport models but it is more money and isn't so much better to drive than the G. Punto.
Now the Fiesta's very interesting......all the models are crappy to drive, are quite basic and the design is old......BUT the Fiesta ST is the exception and at the end it was a toss up between these two because:
Even though the Fiesta is an older design and smaller with not as much equipment....just get in and drive it.....there's NO comparison to anything else.....it's such fun, got loads of power, sticks to the road and has great, precise steering.....beats the pants off the G. Punto.
You won't care that you don't get side airbags, curtain airbags, ASR and no blue&me....!! (they're all options).
After discount the Fiesta can be got for about £10,800 and the G. Punto for about £9400.....both prices include metallic paint.

I went for the G. Punto because I will probably change it in a couple of years time and treat myself to something very expensive.....so for me it was ok for now and was a much newer design, much bigger cabin, better build quality, much lighter and easier to drive around town than the Fiesta, definitely safer in a crash and had all the junk as standard.....and it's very pleasant to drive and you get moments of fun in 3rd gear at 4000 rpm with it sticking to the corners on it's great big tyres......but you can't compare it to a Fiesta ST! It really is that good.
It's been completely reliable too like a Jap car so don't worry about that aspect.
DRIVE both and make your own mind up.
 
Yes drive both and i think the Grande will be your vote. Mum has a new corsa and its not as nice to drive and the design is not pretty.

Both cars have the same under pinnings though Fiat/ GM venture and the new Ford KA and new Fiat 500 are the same underneath:)
 
neko, the grande punto and the new corsa are built on the same GM platform, as a result of the failed gm fiat group aqusition. they share, more or less, the same parts. so, this can be reduced to a matter of taste when choosing between the two.

other options i would look at would be some japanese cars... toyota corolla or the new honda civic... the latter has some nice design features, while it is placed in another prince range.
 
True european cars are Italian, So get a FIAT.
You get a feeling like you belong to an exlcusive club when driving a FIAT, there special.
 
As many people have said its down to personal preference. I drove a lot of cars before i settled on the punto and there were a few that i liked but there was just something about the punto. I feel that i have had my fair share of niggles with it but lets face it, its a new car and your gonna have issues. I would not change it for the world, driving it makes me too happy to get rid.

Rich
 
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