Grande Punto New Fiat owner just saying hello!

[james44422]

Hi Guys/Gals!

Really glad I found this forum, been browsing it for a few weeks now and love the community, thought it was time to jump in!

I bought my car two weeks ago, a 58 plate Grande Punto 1.4 8v. I would have loved to have gone for the 1.6 or 1.9 diesel but still love my car!

Its easily the best car i've bought compared to my 2 old corsas and hyundai i10 *groan*.

But anyway, hello! See you on the boards!

 

[ianal09]

Welcome to teh forumz

 

[SJB1985]

Hello mate and welcome to Fiat Forum and welcome to the Grande Punto family.

 

[djindiano]

welcome

 

[jameshobiecat]

I'm sure you will find the punto a big step up over an i10. My local fiat dealership is also a Hyundai franchise so I have been given an i10 courtesy car in the past. It had a great engine but looked awfull, had an interior from the 90s, the driving position of a bus and a steering system that felt like it used custard as a torque carrying component. You have done the right thing.

 

[james44422]

It had a great engine but looked awfull

This is actually very true, I would go as far to say that my i10 was quicker off the mark than my GP, but maybe thats only because i'm still getting used to driving it. My GP seems to have no power to start with and then its like it suddenly wakes up and off it goes

had an interior from the 90s,

True but I hear newer models have a much better interior compared to older models

the driving position of a bus

So true, i think my back is damaged for life! :bang:

and a steering system that felt like it used custard as a torque carrying component.

Here I have to disagree, the steering was very good in my car at least, always very tight and extremely responsive, although that did mean a couple of times I thought I was going to tip it over :s

You have done the right thing.

Haha thanks! I love it! Actually makes me want to go to work in the morning just so I can get in the car, working from home today and trying to find any excuse to take the car out later

Over the weekend I was thinking of what to do next, here's my initial list...

- 5 spoke alloy wheels
- Paint brake calipers
- Tint rear windows
- Rear badge needs replacing because it seems to have condensation in it
- Sport pedals
- Maybe add this stripe (in white obviously)
http://www.fiat-accessories.com/Fiat-Punto-Low-Chequered-Stickers-5-Door

No point getting the traditional punto stripe because of the sky dome

I also want to replace the leather gaiter with metal instead, i've seen it in the michael schumacher edition cinquecento but cant seem to find one for a GP

Any feedback or ideas would be great

 

[DAV1D]

Welcome to the Forum! Hope to see you and your car at some of the FF events next year.

 

[Matthewr1990]

Thought I'd check your thread out as you did so with mine. Lovely and clean looking car. all the little things like painting calipers and drums etc all make the biggest difference, with it being 5 door though my opinion on that decal is that it wouldn't match the flow of the car with the doors if that makes sense? Something simpler like this guys GP might flow nicer if applied parallel along the skirts? https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/118582-gp-sporting-stripes.html

Just my opinion like. alloys would be very nice obviously. I like compact multiple spoke options myself (obviously) but some people like big gaps so there's barely a wheel there. It's all personal obviously but alloys are a mind **** if you get the election wrong. So really think about em

I'd also experiment with wind deflectors, tinting etc. just bare insurance costs in mind obviously. Don't go too mad

Good luck.

 

[james44422]

Thought I'd check your thread out as you did so with mine. Lovely and clean looking car. all the little things like painting calipers and drums etc all make the biggest difference, with it being 5 door though my opinion on that decal is that it wouldn't match the flow of the car with the doors if that makes sense? Something simpler like this guys GP might flow nicer if applied parallel along the skirts? https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/118582-gp-sporting-stripes.html

Just my opinion like. alloys would be very nice obviously. I like compact multiple spoke options myself (obviously) but some people like big gaps so there's barely a wheel there. It's all personal obviously but alloys are a mind **** if you get the election wrong. So really think about em

I'd also experiment with wind deflectors, tinting etc. just bare insurance costs in mind obviously. Don't go too mad

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice about the stripe, its a shame they dont have an image of it on the 5 door, i'm not a big fan of the stripe you posted, looks a little bland, but again personal opinions

good point about the alloys too, I was walking down the street looking at all sorts of alloy wheels on cars, I think regardless of what I go for I will always see something else which i think I would like to have, sort of a no win situation. I wont be able to afford the alloys until next year anyway so have a while to think about it

also good point about insurance, i've been driving for 5 years now and have a clean license so insurance shouldn't be earth shattering. When i moved my insurance from my old car to this one it was only an extra £70 a year