I've just bought a 1997 Punto 55SX, with 100,000km on the clock and no PAS. The steering is really heavy at parking speed, and vague and wandering at motorway speed. Surely thats not how it they designed it!? Its spoiling an otherwise fun commuting car.

Is this a problem of wear in the rack and pinion or steering column, or maybe clapped-out shocks?

It has 165/65 R14s all round with new looking but no-brand tyres. I noticed in the manual that 55 and 60 SX Puntos should have 165/65 R13s- this doesn't explain the heavy steering but are the larger wheels standard, or could they screw up the handling.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

larger wheels will make the steering a bit heavier.i would be more inclined to look at balljoints and bushes but 1st obvious i know but make sure the tyres are at the right pressure and the tracking is correct

A Dog Is Not Just For Christmas
Sliced Thinly It Can Last Till Easter

sometimes the racks do wear like that on old puntos
(get a replacment and some rod ends, it should be much better), as for heavy steering they can be quite heavy sometings.
make sure theres plenty of air in the front tyres also lots of later puntos have 14in wheels, i wouldnt worry about that if i were you.

uno 1.0ie RAAAWW!

My 55SX has the 13-inch 165/65's; the steering is quite heavy when parking, and my tyres have exactly 30psi in each. But it's fine at driving speeds. I'm putting alloys on soon though, which have 185/55 tyres, so I'll get a full bicep workout every time I park it!

hehe should feel the steering on a mk2 punto sooo lite .