Fiat Grande Punto (2006 - 2010) 1.2 Active 3d (2007/57) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Someone who puts style over practicallity. Someone who doesnt mind about poor reliablity reputations and can handle paying higher prices for parts than some other mainstream cars!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Stylish looking car. Someone who wants to be different.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No not at less it was offered to me very cheap.

What are you likely to buy next?

Ford Focus

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

December 2008

Did you get a good deal and why?

I didnt buy this car but I had it hired to me as a courtesy car for 4 days. In that time I covered over 250 miles in different weather conditions, road conditions and types both day and night on A,B roads, country lanes and motorways.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

What was the dealer like?

OK

What's it like to drive?

The car feels safe, secure and solid. The cabin plastics are low rent compared to Vauxhall and Ford though. The handing is good and the engine is very refined and quiet. Sadly in a car of this weight the engine is gutless and you have to rev it to get any form of pace and its slow. The dashbord is ok but the speedo dials are only shown in 20mph segmants i.e 20-40-60 etc so key speeds of 30, 50 and 70mph are not shown other than with a line so it's easy to exceed the limits as not obvious to read.

What's it like to park?

Very easy. Good visiability all round. Good door mirrors. Unusally you get front quarter windows which you can see out out under the pillar.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing but as usual with Fiat the plastics do not look durable and seem easy to break.

What's most practical about your car?

Not a lot. The worst thing I found is that if you fit a rear facing child seat on the back seats the sliding front seats cannot lock propely without hitting the child seat and pushing it back which would injur the baby. Being a 3 door you would have to put the baby down on the back seat, crash the front seat into the baby seat and then fit the baby to it!. This also dents in the fabric of the front chair and leaves a mark bad design fault. Also seat belt holders are shaped into the side of the front seats and are hard to put the seat belt into as they have to be so flush. Design over practially I think. Cant understand why the bottom of the range car has no air conditioning but does have electric door mirrors. Would of preferred air con instead of elec mirrors if cost was an issue.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Best things are the city mode power steering which makes the steering light below 20mph and auto switches off at higher speeds. Loud alarm and flashing display on dash if you pull away with no seat belt on. The key folds into the fob too.