Don't you want me baby? (Fiat Punto JTD ELX 5dr)

Name: josarah

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Product:	Fiat Punto JTD ELX 5dr
Date:	16/10/04 (2035 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap , Small, Nippy

Disadvantages: Small

I was forced into buying a new car when my old car, a Citroen ZX, finally died, after I had owned it for a couple of years. Personally I think it was the previous owner (my mother) who ran it into the ground. As such I needed to go and find a new motor. After turning down the thought of getting a Vauxhall Corsa after the salesman said to me “All girls like Corsa’s” (good way to sell cars) I found my way to our local Fiat dealer, there on the forecourt was a 1.9JTD Eleganza. To cut a long story short, I went, I saw, I drove, my dad haggled, I bought!

Cost

I bought this car in April 2003, it was sat on the forecourt, already with a number plate and tax disc. The milometer read 12 miles when I first saw it and 22 when I bought it after a little test drive. The cost was £8995, which we whittled down to £8750. I believe that these cars retail at over £10,000 normally.

Reliability

I have never had any reliability problems with my Punto, it starts every time I have asked it to, it goes where I tell it to, and it stops when I tell it to. Even though it’s an Italian car, nothing has gone wrong with it after a year of ownership and 16,000 miles

Safety

For short journeys and town driving this car feels safe. It has numerous air bags (all around the front and back) in the car and thank goodness I haven’t had the need for them. My car has ABS as standard also. In terms of restraints, the back has 3 headrests and a 3-point middle seatbelt, which is handy.

Spaciousness

A small car like a Punto is not renowned for it’s spaciousness, lets be fair, I bought it because it was cheap, not because I could use the space. The front is good enough, however my other half does not sit that comfortably in it for long journeys. The back functions as it should, although I wouldn’t like to fit 3 adults in, unless they were very good friends!

The boot always has a polybox in it full of junk, a kit bag, couple of netballs and an archive box full my portable office, there is also just about enough room for some ASDA carriers as well. I won’t lie to you it’s not massive, but it is good enough for me.

Comfort

The Fiat Punto is nothing special in terms of comfort. The furthest I have driven in it without a break was to Taunton (about 160 miles), and when I got out I was a little stiff. I quite often find that I have to lean forward when driving to stretch my back out, even with a lumber support, height adjustable drivers seat and steering wheel, which is not something I have needed to do in other cars. All in all this car is most comfortable in short ish journeys.

Handling

My Fiat Punto is a nippy little thing, It quite often surprises me when I burn things off at the lights that I shouldn’t be able to. Because it has relatively steep sides it gets a bit buffeted by strong winds, and I get a bit scared going round corners at higher speeds as it sometimes feels as if it won’t quite make it. I haven’t spun it though, or even slid the wheels out so it can’t be that bad.

The city (or girly as I like to call it) button is a handy little device for use when parking, or maneuvering in town. It makes the steering so light that you can’t use the lack of power steering as an excuse for crappy parking……..doh!

Customer Service

As I was out test driving this car the man at the garage was furiously working out numbers, when I got back all I had to do was tell him I wanted to buy the car, sign a few forms and ta da!!! It was mine.
My car has returned to the garage once since I bought it, that was for a stuck lock that kept blowing a fuse. They changed it there and then, then took the car in a bit later for a check. When I phoned to arrange a service I was astounded by the price (well over £150) but the man in the service department did let me know that I could have the car serviced at any VAT registered garage without affecting the warranty, as long As they used Fiat registered parts.

Security

My Punto apparently has an alarm and an immobiliser, I haven’t had need for them yet and hopefully I won’t, the way you tell if someone has broken into your car is a flashing light in the dash. A certain number of blinks corresponds to an area of the car, I can’t comment on this however as nobody has wanted to pinch it!

Looks

I like the looks of the 5 door Punto, the 3 door doesn’t look as stylish but still looks ok. The inside is cute, I have a blue velour seat covering, with yellow bits (not as grim as it sounds), although if you have furry pets with clingy fur, the fur gets stuck to the seat.

Features

The model I have comes with a wealth of stuff, I have a CD player, little tweeter speakers by the windows, a sub-woofer in the boot, electric windows, air-con, aforementioned girly button, front fog lights and 14” alloy wheels.

Fuel Consumption

As this review is of a diesel car the fuel consumption is fandabidozy! I get between 46 and 52 mpg from my journeys (20 minutes on the motorway at around 85mph) followed by 10 minutes sat in traffic at lights most days, along with some town driving. On longer journeys the car is more economical. I tend to get between 430 and 450 miles from a tank of diesel (about 30 quid)

Overall Impression

This was my first real car that I bought (although still paying for). Thus it will always hold a special place in my heart. Sadly I am probably going to have to change this car as it is not really suitable for the amount of business miles I am going to have to do in the future, also my other half wants me to have more metal round me when driving through the country lanes in the middle of winter.
This is why the car only gets 4 stars.
The Punto will survive the summer, before probably moving on to pastures new in the autumn :-( This car is a great first car, and has been used as a learning car (for a friend) as it is so forgiving.

All in all…..Yes I do want you baby, I do want you whoa whoa whoa whoa!!

Summary: