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

[SteBrown91]

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

Cheers for the info guys

[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

[SteBrown91]

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

[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!