Fiat Punto Hatchback (2003 - 2006) 1.2 Active 3d (2003/53) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
I find high speeds frightening and enjoy spending my weekends on ebay looking for parts.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Those over 30 think it is a bargain, those under 30 think it's a joke.
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes. I have had loads of Puntos and know that they are cheap in every way; fuel economy, insurance and build quality, fortunately the parts cost pennies and in most cases even the most amateur of amateur mechanics can replace them, perhaps with some help from Youtube. The engines will last up to 140,000ish if you change the oil and filters once in a while, but then everything will start to fail.
What are you likely to buy next?
Mercedes E Class, for the longer journeys.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Didn't buy from a dealer
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£750
When did you buy the car?
May 2015
Did you get a good deal and why?
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
1 lady owner and low mileage.
What was the dealer like?
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Good city or town car. Absolutely gutless, so no daring moves at junctions or roundabouts. Nowhere near comfortable enough for journeys over an hour. And it is a Fiat, so I wouldn't trust it at high speeds in case something crucial decided to fail or fall off.
What's it like to park?
Easy; it's so small and light and visibility is at a maximum due to there being very little car, most of which appears to be windows.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Had to have the clutch replaced after 6 months of ownership, turned out to be fluid on the spline though. Windscreen wiper linkage fell apart in torrential rain, simple fix if you have socket set and time. Tailgate gas strut popped on a particularly hot summer day.
What's most practical about your car?
It's fuel economy (when driven sensibly) and it's surprisingly spacious, I'm 6'2" and have no problems.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Electric windows as the car is about as basic as you can get in a modern vehicle. City button is a waste of time and a nightmare when it fails.