Fiat are getting good at this reliability thing! (Fiat Punto 1.2 16v ELX 5dr)

Member Name: SEAT IBIZA CUPRA

Product:	Fiat Punto 1.2 16v ELX 5dr
Date:	14/10/01 (2514 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: affordable, reliable, spacious and airy cabin

Disadvantages: Sluggish on the m'way, not enough security kit, lack of optional eqipment

The Punto makes an ideal city car as it is very easy to drive in town as the power steering makes the most of the cars handling,the Punto is also great in twn as the fuel consumption is also good.As i am a arriva car rental manager i get to drive all the new makes and models.
The new Punto is an exceptionally good city car as it is relaxing to drive and quiet even at speed.The airy interior of the Punto make it a joy to do a long distance journey.The Punto is suprisingly roomier than all the other rivals in its class.


~~~~~~~~~~~Equipment~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Punto we have is the 5 door ELX 16v which is the middle range model.Standard equipment is enough for short town journeys.Satndard equipment is as followed.


.Power steering
.Central locking
.Engine Immobilizer
.Drivers and Passengers airbag
.Electric sunrrof
.ABS brakes
.Front electric windows
.RDS radio cassette.

~~~~~~~~~~Optional~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.Metallic paint £249
.Air conditioning £700
.Remote locking £95
.Side airbags £195

Running costs

As the Punto is a 1200cc engine it qualifys for cheaper road tax.The Punto 1.2ELX is insurance group 8 which is higher than rivals of a 1200cc engine.
Economy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Punto does around 50.0mpg in combined enviroment.The Punto 1.2 has a official urban figure of 38.7mpg (From Fiat).

Peformance

You would not buy a Fiat Punto 1.2 for peformace reasons.The punto has a 0-60mph of around 14 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.
The Punto keeps up with city traffic nicley but is best kept away from m'ways as the Punto 1200cc is not a joy to drive at speeds of over 85mph.At around 85mph the engine really does sound starined and out of breath.

On the Road~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Fiat Punto is a very nice
car to drive as it is quiet at sencible speeds.The Punto is a good cornerer as it is low and wide which gives it maximum grip around tight round corners.

Reliability

The Reliability of the new Punto is vastly improved in the old one.We have had our punto for 3 months in which it has covered just under 4,000 miles.We have had no problems what so ever.

Security~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new punto is not very thief proof as there is no optional or standard deadlocks or no optional or standard manufacter alarm.

Recommendations

I would recommend the Punto to anyone who planned to stay in town.It would be ideal forsomeone who was looking for a relabile affordable supermini.If i could choose any car out of the Punt range i would proberly go for the 1.9JTD HLX.

For more infomation visit Fiats home page.

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