Best Punto - Sporting or HGT??

[britten_mark]

Totally skint at the mo and looking for a cheap backroads blaster for the missus after we had to sell her 147 :-(

The first shape Puntos are starting to get rare in good condition so was looking at 2nd generation ones. The HGTs seem to offer bags more performance for similar £££s, are there any drawbacks apart from obvious (fuel etc)???

[75_Steve]

Can't comment on the HGT, but I've driven a Sporting.

Great value cars, very well equipped but try and find one with aircon.

The 1.2 16v engine is a little screamer - loves being revved and has a fairly sweet 6 speed box.

A Sporting will be dirt cheap to insure and generally cost less to run.

All depends on how much money you want to save - the HGT is quicker, but expensive to insure, the Sporting offers 80% of the performance with largely the same handling and will cost peanuts to run.

Personally, I'd probably go for an HGT, but I wouldn't be unhappy with a Sporting.

[Pooh]

I think the HGT had the same 1.8 vvt engine as was in my barchetta, it was a very good engine, free revving and quick enough to be fun. The main issue with it is that the cam shaft variator can fail, it makes a diesel like sound but does not harm the engine and is not too bad to fix.

[britten_mark]

Oh cack not that variator thing again. Cost a packet to change on her indoors' 147. I have an old issue of Auto Italia somewhere with a comparison article, will try and dig it out.

[H2DaE]

HGT is faster but the Sporting is generally regarded as being more fun as the lighter engine makes it less understeery

[exgtt]

Hi i know you haven't mention it in the title, but have your considered a Punto GT? Probably not the best choice if your skint, but if you don't mind a tinker and dirty hands they can be very rewarding to own. Cheap tax (1.4 motor) cheapish insurance and quick when tuned. Plus lovely 8v turbo four pot exhaust note and plenty of torque.

[britten_mark]

Would consider one of those, but they were rare even back in the day and its getting hard to find any first-shape Punto in good nick anyway.