Hmm, now this new Fiat Grande Punto could look tempting replacement for the Fabia, anyone seen one in the flesh yet? Also I wonder what Fiat's diesels are like?

http://www.fiat.co.uk/grandepunto/

I've heard there are a couple available now for road tests, someone on fiatforum.com said they saw one. Remember if you do replace the fabia with a punto you've got less space and rather faster dereciation, on the other hand they will be a lot cheaper once they settle down. Meanwhile the old punto new prices will hit rock bottom while they try to get shot of them

About the diesels, you don't have to go far to find good reviews about the new 1.3 16v, they are apparently real good and very economical. They're putting them in Corsas and Astras and all sorts, if you want to find a review of them just look for reviews on the Idea or the Panda. The 1.9s are older and opinions on them are a little more mixed...

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/cars/fiat/06/multijet_award/0406.html

"International engine of the year" haha that sounds like a barrel of laughs

Interestingly the mpg of the 1.3 Multijet is 63, the same as the Toyota Prius is supposed to be, which as they mentioned on top gear it doesn't even do

I am not into Fiats at all but I do like the look of the new Punto

They do look quite nice in an unassuming sort of way, but the road tests of the early release models on the continent at the end of last summer said the build quality still wasn't up to scratch. The sporty diesels would make an interesting comparison to the Fabia vRS, I expect you would get a good deal on a pre-reg'd Punto Grande a few months after launch.

Saw one at a Hertz office in Germany over the weekend - just a regular model, not the vRS-type one - looked pretty nice but not as good as I'd expected from the photos.

Must say - I really quite like it!

Hats off to Fiat I must say.

Bring out a sporty diesel dammit! EDIT - notice the 1.9 8v 130 unit. Similar performance to the PD130? God it looks like a good car.

Must say - I really quite like it!

Hats off to Fiat I must say.

Bring out a sporty diesel dammit! EDIT - notice the 1.9 8v 130 unit. Similar performance to the PD130? God it looks like a good car.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/general-car-chat/37691-fiat-copying-skoda.html?highlight=fiat+copying has a lengthy discussion on the subject

I read a review somewhere that suggested the 1.3 90 bhp engine was better in many respects than the 1.9 130 bhp engine, less nose heavy, a lot lighter, and basically hardly any slower!

i like that..i wonder if they do a GT ...or HGT version

Joel

i like that..i wonder if they do a GT ...or HGT version

Joel

They do a HGT diesel in the current punto line up iirc, I used to have a 1.8HGT punto mk2 (well my mrs did but I drove it because I like small cars) and It was well screwed together, very well equiped and handled great.

Stilo's are another matter entirley :thumbdwn: but the Mrs has had 3 punto's previously all without a problem save for a variator for the vvt on the hgt, replaced without hassle under warranty.

fluff'

:eek: I wouldn't touch a Fiat with a bargepole.

Okay, some of them look okay (Stilo Abarth:) ) but build quality is atrocious and reliabilty isn't good. :thumbdwn:

I recently drove a new Punto as a courtesy car and I have to say that without doubt it was the worst handling, worst built car I have ever driven. The quality of the materials plastics and trim was awful.

Do yourself a favour - buy Skoda!

:eek: I wouldn't touch a Fiat with a bargepole.

Okay' date=' some of them look okay (Stilo Abarth:) ) but build quality is atrocious and reliabilty isn't good. :thumbdwn:

I recently drove a new Punto as a courtesy car and I have to say that without doubt it was the worst handling, worst built car I have ever driven. The quality of the materials plastics and trim was awful.

Do yourself a favour - buy Skoda![/quote']

Wasn't that an opinion echoed about skoda's a few years back?

Like I said, wifey, 3 punto's no problems, good service from caledonia fiat in warrington, the variator was changed as a the tech did not like the operation of the existing one and did not want it failing.

Stilo, horrid, had 2 replaced under not fit for purpose when she switched to them.

Punto Grande gets a thumbs up from me, going to test one at least

It's true - Italian cars are made from Pasta

i like that..i wonder if they do a GT ...or HGT version

Joel

I don't know when they're coming out but apparently the punto sporting will have a 95bhp 1.4 16v' date=' and the HGT will have a 220bhp 1.6 turbo to top the 130bhp diesel.

[url']http://motoring.independent.co.uk/road_tests/article312115.ece[/url]

http://cars.msn.co.uk/carreviewshome/fdfiatgrandepuntosep05/