Grande Punto - what to look out for?

[SteBrown91]

My mrs (sadly) has taken a fancy to grande puntos. We will be looking at 1.4s of most flavours, but will probably be the likes of Active sport and Dynamic sport, and maybe a GP if we can find one. Budget is maybe 3500, 4k tops. (which brings us into the region of 06-58 cars)

Is there anything to look out for? I'm no mechanic but I know the basics, ie noises, how cars should behave etc etc.

How does the interior wear? I have seen some on AT looking ropey inside, is this common? I have also seen one that has lost all its paint on the bottom edge of the wing from stones etc. Is this common or a sign of abuse?

Also, generally how reliable are they?

I'd much rather she had a mk3 Clio but its not my choice.

Cheers

[jamesh764]

My dad bought 6 month old ex-rental Grande Punto in 2008. It's now got 65k on it. It failed its last MOT on a leaking front shock absorber, and the "leather" on steering wheel is actually a really thin layer of leather glued over plastic, which has mostly come off and looks awful, especially as he has repaired it himself with electrical tape.

Apart from those two issues, it has had no problems. It is a 1.2 which feels underpowered to me but the car keeps up with traffic OK. It does around 42mpg.

[GuinnessMK]

We bought an ex-rental 1.2 at 6 months old / 10,000 miles. Kept it for 5 years and another 20,000 miles.

Apart from tyres and brake friction, it needed 1 front spring, a replacement radiator and a breather hose.

Started everytime, never failed to get anywhere.

[Wacky Racer]

I have had two 1.4 Grande Puntos, brand new ones in 2006 and 2010.

The first one had to have a new steering rack under warranty after six months (Squeaking), plus the drivers side carpets were sopping wet, however, it turned out to be a loose grommet on the bulkhead, behind the pedals, again fixed under warranty.

The second one no problems at all....(now sold)

I would recommend them, a nice looking car, decent fuel consumption, I would certainly buy another one.

[Pooh]

I had a 1.9 diesel sporting and I liked it a lot, it was reliable, economical and pretty good fun to drive. The sporting is a much better drive than the standard car but the ride quality does suffer a bit.

[Mound Dawg]

We've got a 2010 1.4 Evo, now on 40k plus, needed front drop links and a set of tyres at about 32k, otherwise nothing. Servicing cheap, 46 Mpg and decent room. Reasonably thumping stereo too.

Recommended.

[SteBrown91]

Damn, they seem fairly reliable. I won't be able to talk her out of it

Cheers for the info guys

[TallTom]

Check the Fiatforum known issues.

Also check back left corner of the engine bay, as its a "known" rust point.

[SteBrown91]

TallTom said:

Check the Fiatforum known issues.

Also check back left corner of the engine bay, as its a "known" rust point.

Cheers I forgot about that, remember that issue from when I considered grande puntos a few years ago.

Going to hopefully look at a couple this weekend. First is a 59 1.4 active for 4k just a few miles away and the other is a 58 GP with panoramic roof for the same money

[Mr SFJ]

My Grande Punto T-Jet is on 50k miles and it needs new ARB drop links (known weakness) which aren't dear at £20 a set.

I've also had to replace 2 tail light bulbs. Frankly, nothing.

I would recommend the T-Jet though, I got mine on a 58 plate for 4k it's fast, quiet, refined and 40mpg is easily achievable.

If you want to know more about any Grande Puntos, pop a question on the fiat Forum.

If you wanna know anything about my T-Jet, pop me a message.

Cheers

SFJ

[Pralo]

My Mrs bought a new Punto 1.2 back in 2007. 105k later it's never failed to start, returns 47mpg on a cruise or 40mpg when thrashed. Only repair has been a gear linkage thing which cost a couple of hundred. Giugiaro styling too - much better than a Clio surely?

[SteBrown91]

Well After all that we looked at 2 puntos today and came back leaving a deposit on a Mazda 2!

[Gurbinder]

Sounds like you went to Rockingham Cars!!!!

[SteBrown91]

Gurbinder said:

Sounds like you went to Rockingham Cars!!!!

Nope deffo wasn't called that

First grande puntos was a 58 GP, however it was a bit dull and dirty, the stereo was broken and it had no history. Additionally I prodded the area round the master cylinder (or is it the servo) and nearly put my finger through the bulkhead.

2nd one sold 10 minutes before we got there, looked round anyway and they had a very tidy Mazda 2 with FSH and was in pretty good nick. Mrs loved it so bought it!