Fiat punto 1.2 3dr (vs. corsa) (Fiat Punto 1.2 3dr)

Member Name: abbeylee

Product:	Fiat Punto 1.2 3dr
Date:	29/03/03 (1062 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lovely looks, easy drive, seat height!

Disadvantages: low steering column

I have recently read a few reviews of puntos and they have been somewhat negative- I have been spurred into action and feel the need to defend a fantastic car... I have a story to tell, which may prove my point, or may simply bore you to tears. Either way I am going to tell you... are you sitting comfortably?
Once upon a time I owned a battered old astra, which I loved and found comfortable to drive (like an old pair of slippers) when it finally bit the dust and I had come to know the breakdown guy's name, address and family history, i decided to get a newer, smaller car.
A couple of people I work with had puntos and I liked the shape, but though it may sound strange, thought I'd look silly buying the same car, so I had my eye on a newish corsa instead.
Whilst deciding, a friend suggested the punto, and feeling vindicated ( well, it wasn't my idea anymore...) went for a test drive. The price attracted me; £5,300 (after bargaining) for a 12 month old model with cd player and metallic paint ( no more patch fading problems).
Corsas i'd seen had been higher in price for older models.
Less money on the car meant more nights out as far as I was concerned (I am getting to the point eventually) anyway, I drove the car and it was love at the first bend.
Not a confident driver, I found it incredibly easy and comfortable to drive, and despite some adjusting to the closeness of the pedals compared to the astra it was a dream. I was hooked and never even test drove the corsa.

I hadn't looked back... I loved my car and felt great driving it (especially as I could look down on everyone else by adjusting my seat to the highest level possible!). I noticed that it is more comfortable to drive in heels (for some reason!!) but as a girl, this didn't bother me in the slightest. I also noticed that with the seat at it's highest position my left shin was quite close to the steering column (there's a point...) but I sti

ll loved it, the controls, the handling, the acceleration, the general shininess ( I am not a car expert, so don't expect technical details).
Then one day, not too long ago, I looked the wrong way at a roundabout, and BANG! no more radiator, bumper, or bonnet - BUT if you are thinking this is a terrible indictment of the punto- it is not!! considering the speed, etc, there was relatively little damage, and I and my passenger were completely unhurt (except for a slight bruise on my left shin - told you I'd get there in the end...) and I was carted off home in a tow truck.

Now to eventually get to my point, and sorry if I've bored you... The courtesy car I was provided with was none other than a corsa.
I was excited at the prospect.. that is until I opened the door, and was hit by the comparative tackiness of the interior. It was awful!
Some of the reviews I have read about the interior of the punto describe it as cheap looking, and I would like to challenge those writers to find a car in the same price range with a significantly better interior!
Then I drove said corsa: Apart from feeling like I was sitting on the floor (you get used to the height thing), it was noisy, rough and felt like driving a tank compared to my punto, much as my ten year old non-power steering astra had felt. The handbrake also seemed a bit weak, but that's not the point. The functions were very basic, and the interior drab (grey) An extremely disappointing drive, but to look on the bright side and finally make my intended point, I have been proved right about the punto - A gorgeous car, if you like the look of it (some don't - fair enough) then you will love owning it.

I would highly recommend this car and I missed it every day it wasn't here...

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