I think there can be a fair bit of difference in how a car performs. I have an 8v Punto from 2000, so the 60bhp engine. I can breeze past another 2000 Elx 8v out of corners, and it must be down to more than me. Mine started life as a hire car, and so was probably driven hard, but these days, I guess it's difficult to drive an unfamiliar car too hard on unfamiliar roads, so probably helps things. Definatly the torque makes a difference - I can (albeit slowly) accelerate from 20mph in 5th, and often give the engine a bit of low down work to do, as well as some good 2nd/3rd gear overtaking. To me, it's improving the engine - I've had it two years and it keeps getting faster (and it only runs on standard Shell, with no mod's) - so it would be very interesting to actually measure what power it can put out. Does anyone know how that calculate it?
If you can't find another 75 to drive (they don't make them anymore, just 60's, 80's and 1.8 HGT), then perhaps asking a dealer for a drive in a fairly new demonstartor will show the difference that some hire car treatment would give???
Punto Mk2 ELX