How many things are wrong with a punto?

SB118

SB118

SB118

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Don't ask me why, but the missus wants to get a punto after she's passed her test, she says she wants to get used to a small car before she moves on to something bigger. :confused:

So, can somebody tell me all the things that go wrong on puntos so i can rip any car she wants to look at to bits ;)

Appriciated :D
 
a freind had a diesel and it was constantly braking, head gasket, thermostat (they were linked lol). rear trailing arms wear aparently, theres a lot have been replaced by now and ones that havent, i think need it lol. fiat i think have a bad reputation for electrics. erm and stuff i dont like them so just trying to give you ammo to fight with lol

gd luck!
 
as much as I love my punto.....please tell her not to buy one. so many little niggling problems....it has never let me down, but it has dissapointed me hugely. I still enjoy driving it though and it saves me loads on fuel, road tax, insurance, etc.
cracked air con pipes
new thermostat
piston slap
airbag light repeatedly coming on and staying on
rusted exhaust after only 3 years
 
Oh Gnos. Not a FIAT!!! It'll explode and kill everyone you know if you so much as try to start it. Then it'll break. Then the FIAT badge will fall off and it'll all be ok 'cos it's not a FIAT any more.
 
Well, its a Fiat. Not many people know, but Fiat is actually an anagram:

Fix It Again Tony

And its a Punto, possibly the worst car made by them, asside from the little match box on wheels, sciento or something.
 
gobbo said:
Well, its a Fiat. Not many people know, but Fiat is actually an anagram:

Fix It Again Tony

And its a Punto, possibly the worst car made by them, asside from the little match box on wheels, sciento or something.
Click to expand...

The word your looking for is acronym :)
 
My punto has been fine for two + years now, got through two MOTS with just new brakes and needed so no complaints here.
There are a lot better cars though if she is spending a few k. Mine was just a cheapo runaround for £650.
 
In the last year, on mine:

The exhaust broke in two.
Clutch went and leaked its fluid everywhere.
Discs and pads needed replacing.
Fan stopped working.
Passenger arch rust got 10x worse.
Trailing arms just gone (common problem).

Nothing to major though (touches wood).

It's not too bad for a first car, passed its MOT easily but there are much, much nicer cars to be had. If I had my time over I'd of had a Clio.

The Punto has terrible handling and body roll too. Mine's getting treated to some GT3 alloys, 60mm drop and better shocks so will improve it a fair bit.
 
Shock said:
In the last year, on mine:

The exhaust broke in two.
Clutch went and leaked its fluid everywhere.
Discs and pads needed replacing.
Fan stopped working.
Passenger arch rust got 10x worse.
Trailing arms just gone (common problem).

Nothing to major though (touches wood).

It's not too bad for a first car, passed its MOT easily but there are much, much nicer cars to be had. If I had my time over I'd of had a Clio.

The Punto has terrible handling and body roll too. Mine's getting treated to some GT3 alloys, 60mm drop and better shocks so will improve it a fair bit.
Click to expand...

Which one have you got? Ive got a mk2 sporting and I really enjoy the handling, very tight body and the handling is fine, as long as the city mode is turned off. The suspension is v stiff though, but it has an aggressive turn in, and corners quite flat.
 
panthro said:
Which one have you got? Ive got a mk2 sporting and I really enjoy the handling, very tight body and the handling is fine, as long as the city mode is turned off. The suspension is v stiff though, but it has an aggressive turn in, and corners quite flat.
Click to expand...
Lower end of the scale mk1. Things must have been improved since. :p
 
thankfully the wifes punto has had no issues so far.... i really shouldnt say that should i :/
 
One of my mates has a punto and the head gasket has gone twice in about 7months. Apart from that I cant think of much else that has gone wrong on his.
 
I had a punto for several years as my first car and my missus has one now, never had any major problems or bills at all and was a great car the whole time i owned it. Only downside to them i would say is that they mark very easily on the doors and rear quarters (dents). Sure enough they wont light your performance world on fire, but as a daily driver they're great as far as im concerned.

Im sure a lot of people who say they're crap have never driven one (and lived with one) and are just jumping on the bandwagon.
 
Fiats are about as reliable as the Italian Postal Service. I would recomend a corsa or fiesta over a fiat and it pains me to do that. Anyone i know thats had one had had problems
 
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