Fiat Grande Punto (2006 - 2010) 1.2 Dynamic 5d (2006/56) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Clean design and sharply styled - I like Italian design and I feel the car lives up to this. It's a simple design that hasn't aged. It is different from the boring brands (Vauxhall/Ford), and it shows I'm a good bargain hunter and not willing to pay 1000's more for a car built on the same platform (Corsa). I'm not embarrassed about it like I was my old Astra.

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

Very stylish, and much more solid looking compared to older Fiat's. Interior very good, youthful and bright.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes definitely, perhaps a diesel though or one of the T-Jet engines. I feel that Fiat has a lot to offer with their current range of cars (500, Panda, Punto, Bravo). I think they should consider getting an all new Punto out soon though, as their are a lot of cars now coming out that would probably be much more attractive to the buyer purchasing new (e.g new Clio), and run the risk of massively falling behind by focusing on the 500 too much. They need to realise that the Punto is one of their staple cars.

What are you likely to buy next?

Most likely something from Fiat again, provided the car doesn't cause me any problems!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,995

When did you buy the car?

February 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

I believe so. My car had only 23800 miles on the clock when I purchased it and came with a 3 month warranty with the cost. It was fully serviced and in immaculate condition. Looking at other Grande Punto's, I could afford possibly 08 plate one's, but not in the Dynamic trim that I really wanted and with at least double the mileage. The mileage was the most important thing to me, so I think it was a very good deal - especially compared to the competition.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I needed a more modern and reliable car than my previous one, as I rely on my car to get to work. Needed something affordable and stylish.

What was the dealer like?

Good independent dealer - a garage that we trust as they have been doing the repairs and maintenance on our family's cars for a number of years now.

What's it like to drive?

It is easy to drive in town. The steering is very light, yet the car isn't as small as you would expect (a good thing). The engine isn't hugely powerful, but it is fine for what I use it for. Once up to speed it cruises fine, but it never truly settles down fully at any speed, the ride is always slightly jiggly. This isn't a huge problem, but my old Astra did ride a lot smoother. At motorway speeds, my MK4 Astra would stick to the road too, whereas Punto's light steering means you have to grab on to the wheel and constantly make small corrections to keep it straight. Mostly the car is quiet, the engine is only vocal when stretched and the wing mirrors only whistle at motorway speeds. On rough surfaces though, the car kicks up a lot of road noise.

What's it like to park?

It is very simple to park. Pop the city button on and it's almost done it for you! The side windows do rise quite steeply and it has thick pillars at the back but I've not found this to be a problem. The nose is huge, which means you can't see the end from the driver's seat, making it hard to judge. I let it off with this though, as it looks so good from the outside. Huge wing mirrors which are electrically adjustable make it simple to see what's behind.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Not at all. I have now done 2000 miles since I bought the car and it just feels ultra solid - a world away from my first car which was a 2000 Punto.

What's most practical about your car?

Having 5 doors it is extremely practical and still looks almost as stylish as the 3 door model. The boot is a good size, and I like the way you can set the car to lock itself after 10mph which is handy in slow moving city/town traffic.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Too many to list. I love the trip computer, which helps me to try and reach higher fuel economy levels. I am currently getting around 47mpg on average which I am very pleased with. The city button is brilliant for ultra tight parking spaces, although the steering is light enough without it in most situations. The follow me home headlights are brilliant too. Above all I just like the style. It is a simple yet strong design; the alloys, although not huge, set it off perfectly.