I'm after some advice from anyone who's got one?

I'm considering getting one but i'm kinda put off from my last punto (a 1999 mk 1) which was horrendous and had fault after fault after fault!

I've currently got a new Corsa sxi which wouldnt be bad if it wasnt completley gutless! I've only had it a few months but i hate it so i'm looking at changing it and have been considering the sporting.

I'm considering petrol and diesel and was after hearing what they are like to live with from someone with one, and if you've had issues with it? Would you recommend one or not etc?

Also is there a reason why it was dropped from the new 'punto' range? (altho i'm probably one of the rare ones that think the evo looked slightly better then the new one)

It's because they have re-vamped the spec tree, instead of going:
3dr
Active -> Dynamic -> Sporting

5dr
Active -> Dynamic -> Eleganza

So now they've made it "easier" by using the same tree for both 3 drs and 5 drs

Pop -> Easy -> Lounge
with the "Special" edition GBT sitting between Easy and lounge.

As for engine wise on the evo sporting, it all comes down to whether you want a diesel for economy but remember it has those daft DPF things, or a turbo petrol. The petrol is game to around 170-180 bhp if interested in tuning.

Personally, I love the Sporting.

Mines got 30k on the clock and not had one problem. If economy is what you're after, be it the petrol or diesel, (mines 1.4 petrol) then you won't be let down and the same goes with performance. It doesn't feel far away from a hot hatch and I believe it looks like one... and it has some great pull

It wasn't really dropped from the new range though, they just replaced it with the Lounge 135... which I don't think is anywhere near as striking.

thanks for the spec tree info scoop/jocky didnt realise the lounge 135 was its replacement -i was a bit confused as i thought they'd ditched the multiair turbo engine (even though i know it was fairly recent) along with the 1.6 multijet which doesnt seem to be an option on new puntos either.

Agree though i dont think the lounge 135 looks as good as the evo sporting.

Probably wouldnt tune it or mod it - its the insurance hassle of making any changes i cant be arsed at all - had my share of insurance companies this year!

Its probably quick and powerful enough in standard unchanged spec - i'd be coming from an underpowered corsa which you have to floor from gears 1-5 just to get it going, is just really frustrating to drive.


DPF and DMFW on the diesel would bother me but i do the mileage so could make sense - having said that just looking for something more enjoyable to drive and the multi air turbo is fairly economical for what it is/does by all accounts so and i'm considering petrol and diesel with the petrol probably ahead of the diesel.

I've not driven either or sat in a punto evo yet, i want to test drive them although the sporting seems pretty rare my local fiat dealer doesn't have any in at all.

Yea, when I went to see about my punto the first time, they only had one in the whole comapany brand new, not sure how many were pre-reg though.

If you get the MA T-Jet, you will get no where near the said economy. I'm now only getting 33 lol, drastic reduction from 50, but with no catalyst..........

Economy isn't really the driving force in changing the Corsa - i've had smart cars overtake me :bang: and show it a slight hill and it just doesnt cope! It was the first newish car ive ever been able to buy and a few months in its disappointing.

Is the 1.2 vauxhaull unit the same as the punto 1.2? maybe someone else will know what i mean if it is cause its probably as much of a dog in the punto as the corsa if it is! - i know they share tech like platform and engines n stuff = although i know they arent sharing the multiair or twinair units.


I've considered everything from the 1.3 diesel standard 1.4multiair to the abarth (but think that would be a bit overkill coming from the 1.2 corsa!) and reckon the evo sporting is probably my best bet on paper.

Just need to find one n drive it - theres only like 10 on autotrader and some of the asking prices are a joke. Also if anyone has any advice on good dealers i used evans halshaw for the corsa and they were crap.

Yeah, as long as you don't hoon it everywhere, and arent engulfed in traffic, you should easily get 40+mpg from the petrol sporting.

not sure what stock is like, but I got my Sporting from Rockingham Cars in Corby (about a 2.5-3 hour drive for me) and they had a great range of MA's and Abarth's, and this was back in March, so I can't imagine much has changed since then.

You're right about Autotrader though - hardly any to choose from and prices are pretty steep. Guess it's a case of calling around maybe!

I have the petrol version on a 60 plate. It's just passed 14k miles and had it's second service, the engine and gear change are freeing up nicely. The majority of the time mine only sees 'B' roads (doing the work commute) and I do like to have some fun with it but it always averages around 38mpg.
The only niggle I've had with it was the Blue&me Tomtom not talking to the car and the Blue&me ECU was changed under warranty. I've had no other real problems (apart from the price of servicing!) and after two years I still love the little thing.

if you want one get one, or do what i did ask the wife to have a look at them (puntos) to see if she likes them before i start looking and bartering with prices and she just buys a fecker anyway :bang:

isafan said:

Economy isn't really the driving force in changing the Corsa - i've had smart cars overtake me :bang: and show it a slight hill and it just doesnt cope! It was the first newish car ive ever been able to buy and a few months in its disappointing.

Point 1
Is the 1.2 vauxhaull unit the same as the punto 1.2? maybe someone else will know what i mean if it is cause its probably as much of a dog in the punto as the corsa if it is! - i know they share tech like platform and engines n stuff = although i know they arent sharing the multiair or twinair units.

Point 2
I've considered everything from the 1.3 diesel standard 1.4multiair to the abarth (but think that would be a bit overkill coming from the 1.2 corsa!) and reckon the evo sporting is probably my best bet on paper.

Just need to find one n drive it - theres only like 10 on autotrader and some of the asking prices are a joke. Also if anyone has any advice on good dealers i used evans halshaw for the corsa and they were crap.

Click to expand...

Right, Point 1:
The vauxhall/GM engine in the corsa is a GM engine, hense its crap. The better engine was the Z16XEP/Z16XER and the Z16LER (Z series, 1.6, fancy terminology for emission regs. XEP was twinport, XER was twinport with VVT and the LER was the Corsa VXR engine). Unfortunately, I know more about a GM engine than a Fiat engine As for the 1.2 engines, the one in the corsa IIRC is a 1.2 16V producing 75 bhp, don't know torque figure and the fiat is a 1.2 8V producing 67 (Euro 4) or 69 (Euro 5). again, torque figure unknown. So based on the figures the punto will be MORE of a dog to drive but should be slightly more economical. Theres also the 1.4 8V producing 77 bhp, the 1.4 16V starjet producing 95, 1.4 M-Air producing 105 bhp and also the 1.4 T-M-Air producing 135.

Point 2:
1.3 Diesel isn't bad and is fitted to a wide range of fiat models; Punto, 500, Bravo?, Panda, Dolbo. Its also the corsa D, combo C, Agila and the Astra J. very good engine I believe.

As for price, since the Punto 199 (Grande, Evo and 2012) all share the chassis with the Corsa D so depending on what you want, a Corsa VXR would be my choice for power on this chassis but its still a vauxhall. I also test drove the Astra J GTC 1.4 turbo 140, all I have to say about that was: for a turbo, gutless and heavy, albeit VERY comfortable but was a 5 grand premium over the Punto (19,300 vs 14,500, brand new ofc).

Obviously you'll be no where near me, but I used Arnold Clark Fiat Kirkcaldy. I also had dealings with Arnold Clark Fiat Grangemouth/Falkirk but I wouldn't go there again.