I'm currently considering either a Punto MK2 or a Peugeot 206 as my next car... are there any good reasons why I should go for the Punto over the 206?

I've heard some horror stories from Punto owners on the internet, even on this forum. Having to take the Punto back 3-4 times just to get a condesation problem fixed on the headlights, clutches going after very few thousand miles, wiper problems etc etc. I like the look of the Punto, and generally I like Fiat, I loved the Panda's I used to own.

My budget is about £3000, the last thing I want is to be paying hundreds more in repairs after buying it. Some honest advice and comments on ownership of the MK2 Punto's would be most helpful

I take it the Peugeot is better then?

if you are buying a Punto MK2 all the teething problems will be sorted by now, at least they dont catch fire like the Peugeot

dave said:

if you are buying a Punto MK2 all the teething problems will be sorted by now, at least they dont catch fire like the Peugeot

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which are the best models to go for? i've noticed there are two different styles of bumpers on them, not sure which I like best..

What engine are you looking for? As I have a Mk2 that is going up for sale within the next month Not had one problem since it was bought

Oh, and putting the Abarth to one side, there are 2 different bumper styles:
1) The 5 door one
2) The 3 door one

Apologies for the images, they were the first ones i could find I'm sure you'll agree the 3 door looks much meaner

3 and 5 door mk2 has diffrent rear bumper, the hgt and sportings have the nicest standard bumpers, the mk2b has diffrent bumpers again as it has totaly diffrent front with bigger headlights,
my personal favorite is a mk2 with abarth bumpers,

thanks for that, had no idea it was different for 3 and 5 door versions. Probably going to look for a 1.2, decent spec 3 door model whith body coloured bumpers

there is a 1.2 8v and a 1.2 16v go for the 16v for a better kick
you should be able to get a sporting for your budget

Weeeeell, with the 1.2 you have 2 engine versions: the 8v or the 16v. 8v is 60bhp and the 16v is (I think) 80bhp. Not sure about the torque figures for either.

Here's a good place to look for more technical info on the different models. You can also get info on what's included as standard on each trim level

Dave, you beat me to it Insurance also comes into it aswell. The 8v is IG 3-4 where the 16v is 6-7

I'd go for a sporting, loads more kick than the 8v engine i had in mine.

But the 3 door is one of the best looking cars on the road with plenty of mods available if thats your thing

Dan

which models have ABS?

Think it was a option on the 1.2 8v's, and standard on all the other engines

H2DaE said:

Think it was a option on the 1.2 8v's, and standard on all the other engines

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:yeahthat: mine was an 8v without ABS.

Am I right in thinking that all cars have to have ABS by law now

dan-the-man said:

:yeahthat: mine was an 8v without ABS.

Am I right in thinking that all cars have to have ABS by law now

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my dads active mk2b has no abs

My Sporting has ABS, nice bumpers insurance group 7 Nothing in the history to say it has had anything wrong with it, the only thing I've had to buy so far is a new battery and a new aerial as I had a topper on mine which ripped off the whole aerial on the motorway and hit some Mondeo behind me

HardBoiledEgg said:

a new aerial as I had a topper on mine which ripped off the whole aerial on the motorway and hit some Mondeo behind me

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But it wouldn't be a Fiat if things like that didn't happen all part of the fun of owning an Italian car

ha ha, the fun was the Mondeo drivers face hehehe as he had a slyvester the cat aerial topper plus and aerial and base flying at this grill

206's are prone to cutting out and not starting again...bad news if your on the motorway...i know of three 206's that do this. Something to do with the fuel cut off i think but dealers refuse to recognise the problem. Also know of two 206's that have had dash/electrical fires.

Coming onto a Fiat forum to ask this question will give you bias advise.

However I truely believe you will find a better mk2 punto for your money than a pug.

Most common punto problems are diy at home fixable jobs. 3k will get you a good mk2 punto sporting and dare i say an early HGT.....

I can't find my Mk2 specification guide that is on here somewhere...

However, for that budget you are looking at a Mk2 rather than the Mk2b (otherwise known as 'guppy').

The specs for 1.2 models are:

1.2 8v 60bhp 5 speed manual
'basic' 3/5dr
Active 3/5dr
Go 3dr
Active Sport 3dr
ELX 3/5dr
Dynamic 3/5dr

1.2 16v 80bhp 5 speed manual
ELX 3/5dr
Dynamic 3/5dr
HLX 5dr
Eleganza 5dr

1.2 16v 80bhp speedgear (CVT automatic with 6 pre-selected gears)
ELX 5dr
Dymanic 5dr

1.2 16v 6 speed manual
Sporting 3dr

1.2 16v 80bhp speedgear (CVT automatic with 7 pre-selected gears)
Sporting 3dr

As for which is what on the spec front...

The basic has twin airbags (passengers only on models built after June 2000), Central locking (post June 2000) electric front windows (post June 2000), Power steering, Height and reach adjustable wheel, Height adjustable drivers seat, 4 speaker stereo radio cassette.

The basic was replaced by the Active in May 2002 - you can easily afford an Active. This adds body colour bumpers, trip computer, rev counter to the above spec.

The Go and Active Sport were based on the basic/ Active and added sports interior trim, silver centre console, 60/40 split rear seat always had the rev counter, body colour bumpers and trip computer. Later Active Sport models got 14" alloys too.

ELX was the next model from the basic and had electric windows, central locking, Electric sunroof (16v only), rear headrests, 60/40 split rear seat, rev counter, body colour bumpers and trip computer. From June 2000 they also got ABS and a passengers airbag.

Like the basic, the ELX was replaced in May 2002, this time by the Dynamic. The Dynamic gets all the ELX spec plus a 3-point centre rear seatbelt (later deleted from the 3dr model), C.d. player, remote locking and front fog lamps.

Top of the 5dr tree was the HLX. This added Air Conditioning (but no sunroof), Remote locking, 14" alloy wheels, front fog lamps, velour trim, variable intermittent wipers and a centre rear seatbelt to the ELX spec. Like the ELX it gained ABS and a passengers airbag in June 2000.

Like the others, the HLX was replaced in May 2002 with the Eleganza; this added Side and curtain airbags and a C.d. player.

The Sporting had all the guff from the ELX 16v plus 15" alloys, body kit, firmer damper and spring rates, Remote locking, front fog lamps, sports trim, sports seats. Like the ELX it got ABS and a passengers airbag from June 2000. The Sporting gained a C.d. player in May 2002.

There were various options on the models, which is why spec varies slightly (the most common was replacing the sunroof on Sporting and ELX 16v models with Air Conditioning) but this is generally how they are.

I won't explain how the Mk2b Dynamic 8v lost ABS but gained air con today

Your budget will get a 2001/ early 2002 Sporting or a 2003 Dynamic 16v. If you can find the Eleganza, they are well worth a few hundred extra

As for the Pug 206, drive them both and see what you think. The 206 is fine but the 1.1 engine has little go (like the 8v Punto) and the 1.4 is a bit of a slogger. The main problem with the 206 is the worst ever Right Hand Drive Conversion - not only are the wipers the wrong way round, but the driving position is a disgrace...