Good review of the new Punto Grande; http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/carreviews/review.aspx?model_id=1469&page=1

This car has already been mentioned on here, and is now going on general release, will be interesting to see if there will be any group test in magazines up against the Furby or it's close VAG cousins.

I think this car will cause a few defectors from here if there are any bargains to be had....

hhmmm 130 bhp 1.9 deisel sporting... does sound similar! will have to go for test drive

Looks good If they have improved their build quality and reliability it will be a treat.

Looks good If they have improved their build quality and reliability it will be a treat.

Apparently Fiat headhunted the VAG group quality control people - whether that means the Fiat's build quality and reliability has improved is up for debate

Chris

Not being a particular 'could care about badge' person but I've not been impressed with Fiats in the past. Some are better than others, and it may be good.

I would imagine that it will sell pretty well though, at the right price etc, and it may well be better than the Fabia vRS, as that's realistically getting on a bit now.

You must remember that the Fabia design is getting on a bit now. If VAG can pull another good card from it's pocket, the Fabia II will overtake.

I always thought that Fiat stood for "Fix it again tomorrow"

Just had a look at the review and they mention a 200bhp petrol version in 2007 :eek: :eek: That would be suicidal in a car so small

Definitely going to try out the 1.9 diesel then...

The exterior looks good but the interior looks tacky. The sporty seats are gross.

Wait for bits to start falling off on the first bumpy bit of road you drive along:)

Every time Fiat bring out a new model we hear that they've sorted out their build quality problems - best to be cautious. We'll know in a couple of years;)

Fiat/Alfa IMO have always made fantastic engines. Unfortunately build quality of the rest of their cars has never been up to par although it's a lot better these days. I wouldn't be concerned about the reliability of Fiat engines but unfortunately Fiat now use Vauxhall engines from what I can tell. That would put me right off.

The first word(s) that came into my mind looking at the interior was 'Ann Summers'. Maybe I'm just a dirty perv with sex on the brain, but those raised orange spots / light blue ridges (depending on what picture you're looking at) on the seats do seem to have an air of, er, marital aid about them! I'm sure they're just trying to produce something to appeal to da kidz, but it's not for me...

Also, I dont think matching the console surround and door cards to the seats was a good idea in any of the three interior combinations shown in the gallery. But seeing how they obviously decided they had to do it, they should at least have made the trim on the doors match up with line of colour going across the dash (i.e. colour coding the bit just below the bottom of the window, rather than the bit below the armrest :thumbdwn: (as per the lash-up job below)

[ATTACH]8010[/ATTACH]

Much better IMHO...

To be fair, at first glance I thought I liked the exterior, but then I realised that from behind it looks like the offspring of a Mk1 Focus and a Mk2 Corsa, so no points for originality from me.

+ =

Considering the seemingly favourable reports as regards build quality, I think my reaction would be (in schoolteacher mode!)

Interior: C- for attainment, but B+ for effort

Exterior: B+ for attainment, D for effort

Build quality: B(?) for attainment, B+(?) for effort.

Then again, I'm not so sure on the Fabia II either from what I've seen, so maybe the Punto Grande could be a 'grower'...?

I spotted a new Punto on the A19 the other day, it looks Ok but the front looks like it belongs on a bigger car. Headlights and grill look too big for the rest of the body. Looks very very Maserati.

drove an old fiat punto diesel. very bad interior. plastic similar to stuff that comes out of a kinda egg! The new punto grande will most likely depreciate as fast as it will fall off a cliff and will be soo unrelaible its untrue.

other than that im sure it will be quick in 1.9 diesel form and italian cars generally have taught suspension and grip the road well.

let see how this fairs. wouldn't buy one tho.

front of a maserati rear of a fiesta! what a combination. looks like a cut and shut!

I like it. Very nice looking car, and a return to form in a market where blandness and mini MPV's seem to reign these days.

drove an old fiat punto diesel. very bad interior. plastic similar to stuff that comes out of a kinda egg! The new punto grande will most likely depreciate as fast as it will fall off a cliff and will be soo unrelaible its untrue.

other than that im sure it will be quick in 1.9 diesel form and italian cars generally have taught suspension and grip the road well.

let see how this fairs. wouldn't buy one tho.

front of a maserati rear of a fiesta! what a combination. looks like a cut and shut!

Said it before ... and will say it again, Wife has had 3 punto's, 2 Mk2 1.2 16v sporting's and a mk2 1.8HGT, all three where superb little cars, nothing fell off, all handled well, finish was fine and the 1.2's felt like 1.6's and where a fantastic drive with the 6 speed box.

The HGT she got as an ex demo, paying

I like this statement "Fiat seems to be bucking the trend toward more soft-touch materials inside cars as a way of making them feel more upmarket". In other words, nice kinder egg plastic.

edit. Just realised, the review pics are of 2 different cars. One has black instruments and the other white.

Said it before ... and will say it again' date=' Wife has had 3 punto's, 2 Mk2 1.2 16v sporting's and a mk2 1.8HGT, all three where superb little cars, nothing fell off, all handled well, finish was fine and the 1.2's felt like 1.6's and where a fantastic drive with the 6 speed box.

[/quote']

I much preferred the Mk1 Sporting to the Mk2.... I've driven both. The Mk1 had an 86 bhp 1.2 16v engine, was very revvy, and was lighter. As such it was much more fun to fling around than the Mk2.... which was IMO very disappointing - mated to a heavier car, and detuned to 80 bhp, with its added level or refinement, it was a very disappointing drive IMO.

Which was a shame, because it looked a lot nicer than the Mk1.

IF

They can improve the dealer network

Improve the build quality and make it sound solid (even the outgoing Punto sounds like a tin can)

Stop over supplying cars to the UK so residuals improve

Then they've got a winner.

But

I have my doubts.

The new Panda round here is a fairly rare site - despite rave reviews. Doesn't bode well.