Punto (Mk1) Cabrio owner - second attempt

[martinitaly]

I have just bought a new Cabrio - well, with only 44,000 on the clock and garaged all its life it feels almost new - though a little bit whiny, which makes me feel I should check the gearbox.

My previous cabrio four years back was bought with a similar mileage and gave excellent service to over 100,000 miles, until it encountered a motorway barrier at high speed while being driven by my wife. They are said to be strong cars, due to all the strengthening, and I have to say the Punto had bits hanging off it after the accident, but it stayed in one piece and she and my young son in the back were unharmed. So I have been tempted to buy another.

I couldn't find a very low mileage on a 1.2 engine, so it's the 1.6, which is a little thirsty. But I will be taking the car to Italy this summer, and I may invest in an lpg conversion. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who had had lpg done.

- martinitaly

 

[varesecrazy]

Hello, and welcome, Most Easterly Pandas has good service knowledge of LPG on FIAT's,

Charlie

 

[Liquid Knight]

I was getting 50mph out of my 1.6 Sporting. I prefer the 1.6 to the 1.2 changing from 30 to 40, 50, 60 or 70 is a dab of right foot instead of playing the downshift dance to get anything resembling torque. I never had to use a crawler lane in my 1.6 either.

My top tip for daily town and commuting use is feather the throttle and launch in second then short shift straight to fifth when you reach 30mph.

 

[martinitaly]

Hello, and welcome, Most Easterly Pandas has good service knowledge of LPG on FIAT's,

Charlie

Thank you, I will investigate that.

 

[martinitaly]

I was getting 50mph out of my 1.6 Sporting. I prefer the 1.6 to the 1.2 changing from 30 to 40, 50, 60 or 70 is a dab of right foot instead of playing the downshift dance to get anything resembling torque. I never had to use a crawler lane in my 1.6 either.

My top tip for daily town and commuting use is feather the throttle and launch in second then short shift straight to fifth when you reach 30mph.

Thank you for those detailed suggestions, I will be trying all that out. My previous cabrio cost me as much per mile as a Saab diesel I was running at the time. I currently run a Saab with an lpg conversion, and the amazing cost savings have made me a convert, pardon the pun.