FIAT Grande Punto (2006 - 2009) - 1.2 - Anyone driven one?

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Tue 1 Apr 2008 00:28
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - wjh2
Just wondering if anyone's had a drive in this car? Thinking about one to replace my Fiesta 1.25. Is the 1.2 engine painfully slow or actually not too bad in the old rev-the-nuts-off-it Italian small car way?

Also had a look at the Mitsubishi Colt, £5k ish to spend. Any other ideas?

Edited by Pugugly on 01/04/2008 at 00:51

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Tue 1 Apr 2008 10:42
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - mustangman
I hired one of these in Ireland last year.

I remember it was reasonably quiet, but had a very bouncy ride on a rough roads.
Also as you said, performance around town ok, but struggles at higher speeds & hills.
Though I think the same would be true of almost any 1.2
Gearchange quality was somewhat rubbery.

Hope this helps a bit.
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Tue 1 Apr 2008 14:06
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - bintang
I rejected it after a short test drive on account of the very awkward left footrest, which it shares with the Panda. The rearward vision was poor. The ride was a bit too firm but so it was on another half dozen small cars I tried (worst, Seat Ibiza) and indeed is even on the family Colt, which is probably the best value for money in this class.
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Tue 1 Apr 2008 20:32
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - Halmer
My wife has the previous model 1.2 8v and this is surprisingly nippy around town. Have to say though that the Grande Punto 1.2 which the garage lent to us recently felt a whole lot heavier and slower in comparison.

May have been because it was a brand new car with no mileage on it but it did feel underpowered. I would expect your 1.25 Fiesta to be a lot quicker.

My wife's Punto, which she has had from new and is now 4 years old, has been a fantastic little motor.

H
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Tue 1 Apr 2008 19:30
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - dnc1781
Plenty of low miles 1yr old cars around £5k on autotrader.co.uk -
used car - national search:

C1 1.0 from £4995 - 07/56 6k miles
G. Punto 1.2 from £5195 - 07/07 2k miles
Panda 1.2 from £4893 - 07/07 4k miles
Fiesta 1.2 from £5499 - 07/07 8k miles
Getz 1.4 from £5295 - 07/56 6k miles
Picanto 1.1 from £4995 - 07/57 1k miles
Colt 1.1 from £5695 - 07/56 3k miles
Micra 1.2 from £5495 - 07/07 0k miles
Myvi (Sirion/Justy) 1.3 from £5499 - 07/07 2k miles
107 1.0 from £4995 - 07/56 7k miles
Fox 1.2 from £5295 - 07/07 7k miles

HTH
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Tue 1 Apr 2008 20:21
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - wjh2
Many thanks for this feedback. I will definitely go and have a test drive next week. Was just wondering if i'd feel any significant difference in power to my 2004 Fiesta 1.25? Theres a slight power advantage to the fiesta, but my car's also a little heavier.

Anyone driven both?
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Tue 1 Apr 2008 21:11
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - piggy
Go for the 1.4. According to What Car, they both cost about the same to run,and the 1.4 has more power. Remember,in common with most "mini-cars" these days,it`s quite large.
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Wed 2 Apr 2008 20:42
1.2 - Anyone driven one? - wjh2
1.4 would be better but i want to keep the budget as close to 5k as possible and 56/07 plate at the oldest. If the 1.2 is good on the test drive i may just go for that as I adhere to the small Italian car philosophy that you should rev the nuts off them then change gear. Although a 3 hour trip to University may command the 1.4. Tough descicion!

Also, is the Blaupunkt system in the Punto any good?
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