New runaround - Punto Evo?

[Mattt]

Been shopping today for a new car for the OH. She's changing from a Company Car to just an allowance, so needs to buy something - but with no trade in and minimal deposit.

Her criteria are: air con, smallish, boot big enough and easy access to fit in a Labrador, cheap to run, cheap to tax etc.

I added that the car must not me vomit when I see or sit in it, which ruled out Kia.

Looked first at Seat Ibiza, had a good deal on their SE Ecomotive model - £1k deposit, £235/mo for 42 months PCP - good spec, everything except Nav and Leather really.

Next Kia - see above, made me nearly ill when I saw the 1990 spec interior.

Next Alfa Romeo - liked the MiTo, but budget would have only got a poverty spec one, and the interior wasn't as nice as I expected of an Alfa.

Vauxhall had the Corsas, but suprisingly expensive for such a crap spec - also Salesman wasn't listening to anything we said and wanted to talk about some ste special edition which included nothing I would call special.

Ford had the Fiesta, but again suprisingly expensive for the spec - at least list, and the salesman didn't want to talk exact deal figures.

Nissan had a line up for pensioners, GTR aside.

On the off chance, popped into Fiat. They had a deal on the Punto Evo 'Mylife' - has a good spec, well decent level for a shopping car. Economy figures etc looked ok (not amazing) but the best deal was the PCP - they want £169 deposit, then 41 months of £169 - plus a GMFV baloon.

Originally was sold on the Ibiza, but the Punto blew it away on the finance. Neither car will set the world alight for looks or performance, but they meet all the criteria, and I probably won't drive it anyway.

Does anyone run one of these, or have any other thoughts?



As a side note - I'm suprised at how st most car salesman really are. Treat your customers like morons, don't listen to what they say, and you're suprised when the Motor industry is struggling?

[YoungOne]

Thought about having a look at the swift?
In budget and ticks most of your boxes, go for the sport and you will use it just as much as her

[Deluded]

Girl across the road from me has a Grande Punto (earlier one, not EVO, although the same body). The boot doesn't look too dog friendly from here. The top of the rear seats looks quite close to the rear screen.

[Caulkhead]

Can't imagine how on earth you'd get a labrador in any of those unless you mean with the rear seats folded.

[Targarama]

The Punto is a cracking car. Small Fiats are solid little things, should be a reliable car to punt around in. Plus they have a bit of character missing from the overpriced Ford and Vauxhall equivalents. Go for it.

[YoungOne]

Caulkhead said:

Can't imagine how on earth you'd get a labrador in any of those unless you mean with the rear seats folded.

I can get a greyhound in the passenger footwell of my swift, just have to stop it drooling on the gearstick.

[Olivera]

Mattt said:

Looked first at Seat Ibiza, had a good deal on their SE Ecomotive model - £1k deposit, £235/mo for 42 months PCP - good spec, everything except Nav and Leather really.

That's a good deal? I make that £10,870 over 4 years for a crappy ecobox. For comparison a friend was offered a brand new Renaultsport Clio Cup for £1000 and £199/mo on a 2 year PCP!

[Caulkhead]

YoungOne said:

Caulkhead said:

Can't imagine how on earth you'd get a labrador in any of those unless you mean with the rear seats folded.

I can get a greyhound in the passenger footwell of my swift, just have to stop it drooling on the gearstick.

Aye, but the OP says in the boot!

[SSBB]

Targarama said:

The Punto is a cracking car. Small Fiats are solid little things, should be a reliable car to punt around in. Plus they have a bit of character missing from the overpriced Ford and Vauxhall equivalents. Go for it.

Hmm. The Punto is basically the same car as the Corsa. I don't see it having any "character" at all to be honest. Perfectly capable car though.

I did run a new Corsa for a year or so. Absolutely miniscule boot space if it matters to you. Also, don't buy anything with "sports" suspension if it doesn't need it. I learned the hard way. Diesels were properly agricultural. 1.6 turbo was pick of the range. Mine had dire brakes and a rough gearbox. If you can't tell, I hated mine. Should have bought a Mazda 3 IMO.

[Targarama]

A Punto is bigger than a Corsa. Try one. Nice cars for the money. Remember we're talking the £10k bracket here, not £15k

[243]

I have a 07 grande punto 1.2 active, and its a lovely car, very well put together for a fiat (compared to the mk2 punto anyway)
the only thing that puts me off it is the fact you have to rag it to get it anywhere, eg. pulling out of a junction really is not safe unless you thrash it, thus loosing the MPG.

I would still look at one but the 1.3 diesel. this is quicker and will return better economy even if thrashed.

[Targarama]

243 said:

I have a 07 grande punto 1.2 active, and its a lovely car, very well put together for a fiat (compared to the mk2 punto anyway)
the only thing that puts me off it is the fact you have to rag it to get it anywhere, eg. pulling out of a junction really is not safe unless you thrash it, thus loosing the MPG.

I would still look at one but the 1.3 diesel. this is quicker and will return better economy even if thrashed.

Unless you're doing motorway miles then a diesel isnt necessarily the best option. The petrol MultiAir is the best engine. I have the previous gen non MultiAir 1.4 in my Panda 100hp and it is much torquier than the 1.2. Enables me to get 40mpg around town (hilly).

[SSBB]

Targarama said:

A Punto is bigger than a Corsa. Try one. Nice cars for the money. Remember we're talking the £10k bracket here, not £15k

I did. Bought a Corsa because I was getting a good deal. A mistake in hindsight. Not slating the Punto. Its a decent motor. Mate has one and is happy with it.

Clio is a good suggestion. I ran one for six months (but not the latest model). Ropey interiors and a vague gear change but by god you could chuck it down a B road at some speed and the engine response was great. Nice little 4 pot grunt. Quite relaxed when you just wanted to potter around too.

[Mattt]

Olivera said:

That's a good deal? I make that £10,870 over 4 years for a crappy ecobox. For comparison a friend was offered a brand new Renaultsport Clio Cup for £1000 and £199/mo on a 2 year PCP!

Well, good compared to others. Spec wise for price that was, not outright finance. To get the same spec in Ford meant another 3k on the price for Titanium.

Rates at the moment seem to be in region of 8%, but Fiat are doing 2.5%.

Dog journeys would be short in the boot, which looks tight but ok, but for anything longer the seats down - so flat folding seats were important to her.

Remember this is car shopping for a woman, so logic isn't the critical factor.

[HBFS]

Olivera said:

That's a good deal? I make that £10,870 over 4 years for a crappy ecobox. For comparison a friend was offered a brand new Renaultsport Clio Cup for £1000 and £199/mo on a 2 year PCP!

Where? I'm interested.