Fiat Punto

Punto is one spicy meatball!!! – I have a Fiat Grande Punto T-jet 1.4 turbo and it is so much fun. I have had it for three years and whilst there have been some issues (I'll get to that) overall it is cheap and cheerful and has lots of great options. I wanted to buy the cheapest turbo charged car for a bit of fun and landed a beautiful red punto with 70k on the clock that was… Read more

well looked after. About a year into ownership the dreaded electric steering column failed, FIAT want in excess of 2K for a replacement and that wasn't even with fitting it. A quick look on ebay sees a refurbished one can be bought for 300 bucks including postage from Italy,I followed some instructions in a forum and changed it myself in 2 hours. Ah Fiat Australia will happily rip off schmucks who don't do their homework...think about it, Punto is one of the best selling cars in Italy, Luigi in Napoli isn't going to pay 2k for a steering column so why should we. Just order it from overseas and you'll save $$$.

Since then I have modified it, exhaust, sports cat and a larger turbo from an abarth is a straight forward conversion along with a remap, coilover springs were cheap and made a real difference, droplinks and strengthening bars make it handle like it is on rails!!! This thing whips around twisties with ease and leaves other cars for dead, I had someone in an xr6 tailgating me in Kangaroo valley once, it wasn't hard to lose him. Insurance is cheap and the car is roomy, I'm 6'2 and fit really well, I get all my gear in this thing too like inflatable kayaks and all my camping gear. I have cruise control (on a manual) which is essential in Australia. Electric everything that all still works and I get about 6-7 L per 100kms. So cheap to run.

What was supposed to be a crappy second car has now ignited my love for all Italian automobiles, there really is that something about them that separates them from all those boring cars...(I'm looking at you Golf!!)

I do all my own maintenance, it's not hard, lot's of forums with great people that help you along too if you get stuck (Search for FB pages).

I never really kept second cars longer that 3 years but here we are and I have no intention of parting with it.

Little red Fiat – Got the little fiat with dualogic AMT gearbox for a learner driver. very good overall with fuel consumption under 4.5 litres per 100 km with spirited driving. Would recommend if you don’t need to go through hilly terrain often. Niggles: Dualogic transmission is an acquired taste. Very low powered specially if you are in the hills… Read more

surrounded by hoons.

Blue & me accessories and satnav difficult to find in Australia.

If you find a good turbo, go for it

Great & Fun to drive car but EXPENSIVE dealer servicing – I owned a 2008 Fiat Punto Dynamc 1.2 Diesel since new until I decided to trade in the car for another diesel car a few months ago. For my 8 years ownership, the Punto built quality felt Ok and has generally been reliable, very economical diesel consumption (averaging 5.8l/100km mostly city driving) and not much major mechanical issue other than… Read more

failed battery and a few minor issues replaced/fixed under warranty in the first 2 years of ownership. HOWEVER, servicing was VERY expensive, each annual/15k km service usually costed anywhere between $650-1000 plus any additional repair parts/labour.. brakes wear out quickly too (this was typical of many european cars). Each pair would last only between 30-35k kms. Front brake pads and rotors costed upwards of $1500 (front two wheels only) including labour. So you can imagine a major service plus brakes would cost close to $3000 every $30-35k kms. This was however, done at Fiat dealer servicing, independent servicers would be significantly less. Prior to me selling my Punto, I asked KMart auto who quoted me between $400-600 for each annual/15k kms service While I was quoted front brake pads/rotors costing around $500+. So I think servicing at third party would cost roughly half the cost at a Fiat Dealer servicing. Also note that parts may not be readily available, I serviced my car at Fiat dealer however, they have to order in the brake pads and disc rotor, and I have to rebooked another week to fit the brakes.

I have been lucky that my car has generally been reliable but for the last 3 years or so, the gearbox has been playing up, ie. difficult to engage first gear and particularly the reverse gear. This problem has been gradually getting worse overtime and after reading many reviews from other owners with their gearboxes failing, I came to a conclusion my gearbox was probably failing and would not last much longer (apprpx $4k cost), so i decided to trade in my Punto while the gearbox was still operational. I think being a manual gearbox, it lasted me 8+years which was not bad but I read many reviews with the auto/dualogic gears failing much earlier than mine. Other than this the car has been fun to drive. Only selling due to potential cost of servicing $800-$1000 plus brakes $1500+ plus rego/greenslip another $1000+ Plus $500+ insurance, not to mention the potentially failing gearbox repair $4k. All up I was facing $4k-$8k bill just to keep the Punto running for another year (while private sale value was approx $5k) . So I decided to trade in the Punto for another brand's new diesel car. Only giving a four stars rating due to the gearbox issue and poor attitude and arrogance of the servicing Fiat dealer, whose service I was not happy with.

In summary :

Pros:

Nice, punchy and reliable Diesel engine.

Fun drive feel.

Nice external Italian styling and engine sound.

Very economical diesel consumption.

Stock Continental tyres very grippy in the wets.

Good braking performance in all weather.

Cons:

Expensive servicing costs.

Poor Gearbox long term reliability.

No ESC (not a problem these days as now this is mandatory on all new cars).

Poor mileage for Brake pads and rotors.

Plenty of hard plastics internally

The design and location speedometer making it hard to see due to glare from morning/afternoon sunlight.

Lack of storage places.

Poor standard of service by a Fiat dealer.

Dualogic.... More like no logic!! – I have owned my punto for about 7 years now with no issues except for the constant dualogic problems. I have taken the car to several different mechanics where I have had to leave the car for extended periods of time with no fix. Nobody seems to know how to fix it or know where to fix these transmissions in Melbourne? I have have experienced gear… Read more

changing issues (crunching sounds), the car not being able to select any gears when starting, stopping at traffic lights and then being stuck in a turning lane at peak hour traffic time....... The list goes on!!

Terrible, terrible gearbox.

By the way a friend of mine had to trade their Punto in because of the same thing!

Stay clear of these cars!!!

Dualogic nightmare – I actually like my fiat punto grande. The one thing that I can't fathom about the car is that rubbish dualogic gear box. Fuel economy is great and the driving experience is great. The gear box has a mind of its own. It fails without warning. What's worse is the cost to have the actuator relplaced. It will cost you more than the car is worth. I… Read more

have always worked on Fiats and liked them. If you do buy one go for a traditional manual or auto. Stay clear of the electronic rubbish gearbox.

Decent Car. Worst Company!! – I picked up my 2006 Punto from a dealer. Was decent. Good thing I bought extended warranty. The alternator failed within the first two years. Was out of pocket $600 to get the car back on the road. Was standing for a year as I had a work car. Tried to get the car back running again. Sent it to my usual mechanic. He had everything fixed. Until… Read more

a warning started to pop up saying the alignment was out.

Was recommended to take it to a Fiat dealership. Organised with Fiat Essendon for them to have a look. The head mechanic diagnosed it. Said there was a crack in the steering column. The car had never been in an accident. Said it would cost around $8000 - $10,000 to get it fixed and I would have to source the parts myself. I told him they were selling a new car for $15K why would I pay that much to get it fixed.

He was completely unhelpful and could not be less bothered if he tried. Then after he confirmed that it was a free diagnosis, I arranged a tow for the next day but was told he was not there the car would not be released until I paid a $300 fee. Which I had to pay to get my car released from them.

So basically they lied, couldn't care and were indifferent to anything and everything I suggested. I paid someone $500 to get the problem fixed. The car is now up and running. Would not buy another Fiat if they paid me. Reasonable car but nothing special at all and worst ever customer service I have ever had the displeasure of in the whole of Australia from each and every member of their staff. Basically they could not give two shits about their customers.

Oh and I just learnt that the engine only has two valves per cylinder and has an output of 57KW.

One of the worst ever. Useless.

Transmission dramas – Fiat Australia have said that they do not regard the systemic transmission problems reported off shore are a factor for their consideration! Fiat say the part to repair the transmission in our 2009 transmission (just the part) is $5,000. Car is valued at the same price. Fiat Customer Care dept. will not accept our email or snail mail evidence of the service history to support our position. What a terrible company to deal with.  Show details

Great reliable car – I purchased my Punto new in 2008. The 1.3 ltr diesel is a great economical engine. A great car with no problems.  Show details

great car – I have recently sold my Punto Sport turbo diesel. It was a great car but I needed 4 doors. Now have a Ritmo turbo petrol 2009 model which has also been fantastic so far. The Punto was reliable, economical and quite sporty, especially for a diesel. It was the orange colour-the best for this model. reliable, inexpensive, good performance, distictive  Show details

Now good value – What a shame when Fiat released these in 2006 that the pricing at that time wasn't where it is now. They are a good car, with reliability & durability beyond any doubt. The Diesel was the pick of the engines, but because of the initial pricing only sold in small numbers. Just hope Fiat might reconsider adding the diesel back to the range at a more… Read more

affordable price. Reliable, durable & safe for a small vehicle. Great diesel in previous model. Some minor quality issues.

Absolute dog!!! – I unfortunately own a 2008 Fiat Punto with automatic gearbox. Nothing but trouble with the gearbox actuator. This is the electronics that send a message when to go into the next gear. It turns out on enquiry that it is a very common problem globally. I now have to spend $3k to get it fixed and no parts in Australia. Do your own internet research… Read more

before buying an automatic. Also difficult to get competent people to service and also resell. Cannot even get parts from a wrecker. Steer clear of this Italian rubbish and buy a Corolla. Apparently the manuals are a lot more reliable but have no experience with the manual version.

Automatic gearbox actuator - common global problem and expensive to fix!

Great Car – I bought a Fiat Punto in 2008. In 4 years, no problems at all. A Great car that looks good, drives fantastic and isn't just another boring dot on the road. The panoramic sunroof is great. The 1.4 litre "T-Jet" turbo motor is a gem, giving you plenty of sprinting power. Highly Recommended. Fiat make great cars. Style, Performance and Reliability.  Show details

Love hate relationship – I purchased a 1.9 turbo diesel Sport in early 2007 new. I like its drivability, looks and economy. It does have its problems however. The car shakes when I turn the air con on. I have taken it back to the dealers on a number of occasions but they have been unable to fix it. The front seats stitching came apart within the first 2 years of owning… Read more

it. The leather steering wheel is not quite leather as it has peeled and looks rank. I have had a rubber turbo hose puncture. The 20 cm long replacement cost $400 and took 3 weeks to arrive from Italy. Parts/service are charged excessively eg. $1200 for front brakes at Fiat (disk/pad). I replaced them at a local mechanic (bosch/pbr parts) for $350 and they work a treat. Overall the car is enjoyable to drive with good looks however the package is by no means perfect.

Fiat Punto: 5 years on still lovin' it! – This car rewards you with a responsive diesel engine (1.3), great grip and handling, and excellent economy. European engine of the year, sporty, SCCS chassis/fuel management work with GM in the 1990s, donates its mechanicals with 17 other cars (see Wikipedia) and $10k-$13k less than a Prius with the same economy. It looks fabulous, the Italians… Read more

can style a car: I love the metallic orange paint and matching interior. It's the first car I've owned where other drivers commented about how good it looked in the middle of traffic! One day after shopping all 4 windows had nose prints on them.

Reliability has been on par/better than previous cars: 2xSuzuki 4wds, Jackeroo wagon, Ford Laser. Parts compare to Mazda2 prices, servicing at premium dealer is dear which is to be expected. Had 3 warranty items, broken door lock, check a steering column bolt (mine okay), ECU software updated during servicing, all done on same day: excellent. Last 4 years have been super reliable.

Would I buy another one: you betcha! Engine is sweet/powerful, tight chassis, powerful brakes, sexy styling, bright interior, easy sub 6l/100 economy Several parts fixed under warranty, turbo lag if you're lazy, few storage spots, dear accessories

Good – In more than 3 years of ownership its has been trouble free, except for a stiff door handle fixed under warranty. It is overall fun to drive and in diesel form is very economical. I would buy another or would also consider the new 2011 VW Polo. Great styling, value and safety. Plenty of features in the base Dynamic model including cruise control,… Read more ·  1

ABS, 6 Airbags, 5 adjustable headrests and three point seatbelts. Comfortable driving position with great forward vision. Full size spare wheel. 6 speed manual offers moonshot top gear for very quiet and relaxed freeway running (under 2,000rpm at 100km/h). Simple no fuss driver focussed dash layout. Great trip computer standard. Great fun to drive on highway or rural areas. Toyota Prius like economy for 15k less purchase price! Factory alloy wheels and iPod controller where extra cost items on base model (in 2007). The 1248 cc diesel (1.2 Litre) is slow in first and second gear. There is no torque under 1400rpm which effects slow speed city driving... but from 1600-2500+ rpm this thing is a rocket. Has a large blind spot in thick "C" pillar but this is common to most modern hatchbacks and the good mirrors help. Fuel tank is only 45 litres so it might not get from Sydney to Melbourne on a tank.

Excellent – Full of options and very comfortable, road assistance for three years and very good support, the 1.4lit is very economical, computer gives you plenty informations VERY HAPPY. Beautiful driving very smooth and very economical, high quality low price. Couldn't get Mp3 stereo and armrest. Show reply

Disaster from the beginning - completely unroadworth – We would never recommend a Fiat Punto to anyone - completely unroadworthy. We purchased our Fiat in 2007 and since the outset this vehicle has stalled intermittently (last towed away just this week). Mechanics have been unable to resolve the issue and we are stuck with a lemon. Be warned - do not purchase. Competely unreliable Stalls intermittently sinch purchase - hence unroadworthy