Noticed this since I've had the Sporting. The gear ratios seem rather short. I know its a 1.2 16v with 85hp so to make it feel "sporty" it needs to have short ratios but these seem excessive. More like the box has been swapped for a Punto 55/60 box.

I'm comparing it to a Bravo 80sx which I had a number of years ago which seemed to have quite long gearing. This was the same engine. I converted that to run on a Punto 60box (bravo box was dead when i got it) which shortened the ratios a fair bit.

Basically, 70mph cruising in 5th is 3900rpm. The car will also happily accelerate to and hit the red line limiter in 5th which kicks in at around 110mph.

Now to me, that seems very short, esspecially considering Cinquecentos, with a few modifications, will manage 120mph+ before they hit the limiter.

Is this a standard box or does it sound like a shorter ratio box or potentially a shorter 5th? The car is standard so not sure a previous owner would go to the effort of sticking in a shorter 5th but there is easily potential for a Punto 55/60 box to have been put in as a replacement for the original.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid and the sporting ratios really are that short? Just seems too short for an every day car.

You're not running on smaller wheels like 13" are you?

Nope. Standard 14s on 185/55 tyres iirc.

doesn't sound right to me.. don't know anything about what ratio's what boxes have in the range to be honest but certainly sounds like yours isn't right. Although if your not doing alot of motorway miles it should make for fun country thrashing hehe.

I thought the P85 had a 6 speed box but i might just be being mental.. Someone who's had more mk1 punto's maybe able to confirm whether i'm imagining things or not, quick search online didn't tell me the answer straight away

edit: ok scratch that, quick look for p85's for sale and they all seem to be 5 speed.

AFAIK the only 6 speeds fitted to Punto-era FIRE engines were the mk2/2A Sportings, not mk.1 Sportings and not ELXs either mk.1 or 2/2A.

If anyone can tell me of 6 speeders from other models that would fit a Punto mk.2/2A FIRE engine in
a) a mk.1 Punto
b) a Uno with 13" wheels (so I'm looking for higher geared (taller) diff than the Punto Sporting box)
I'd be grateful.

I think it is only the mk2 punto that ever got the 6 speed. I seem to recall the Stilo getting a 6speed too but not sure if it was fitted to the 1.2

It has the potential to be fit to an Uno. I've known of the conversion in Cinq/Seis before which is just a 1108cc 8v fire. You may need to swap bits from the Uno box (selecter & rods, diff cups etc) to get it to fit but otherwise, it should bolt up to any FIRE engine fine.

As for the gearing on the 6 speed, I have always been under the impression that the final ratio on both the 5 speed and the 6 speed are the same (or very close). Basically just tightening up the ratios and slotting one in to make it accelerate quicker across the range but ultimately ending up at the same ratio for the top gear.

I could be totally wrong but i'm pretty sure the 6 speed top gear is no longer than the 5 speed.

Yes - the 6sp top is if anything a little shorter than the 5sp. That seems to be the only reason why the Sporting has worse official mpg than the ELX - I don't think anticipated driving style comes into that. Will check out the Stilo one - thanks.

the 6 speed is actually a little shorter.. I do wonder what box you have on yours Chris! Seems very strange

Mmm it would be good to know but I'm overly fussed. I wouldn't want to loose any acceleration in the lower gear and the extra shove in 5th from the short ratio is handy on the motorway, just not ideal for cruising for both comfort and economy.

Actually, the early Puntos ('93, '94) were available as an "EL" model which was slightly sportier : 1100cc but 6-speed box and rear anti-roll bar.

A rare beast if you can find one...