Fiat PUNTO (1994 - 1999)
MODELS COVERED: Punto - 1994-1999: (1.1 3and5dr Hatchback [55 S, 55 SX]/ 1.2 3 and 5dr Hatchback [60 SX Selecta, 75 SX, 75 ELX] / 1.2 16v [Sporting, 85SX, Cabriolet] / 1.4 3dr Hatchback [GT] / 1.6 3 and 5dr Hatchback, Cabriolet [90 ELX, Sporting] / 1.7 D 3dr Hatchback [DS] / 1.7 TD 3 and 5dr Hatchback [TD S, TD SX]
BY JONATHAN CROUCH
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Fiats Punto has been around for a while now and you can find a wide range of second-hand examples at many dealers. Sincethis is arguably the best small car the Italians have ever produced, that's good news for family buyers. Particularly since there's an exhaustive range of engines, bodystyles and trim levels.
A uniquely styled, cleverly designed range of superminis offering an almost unrivalled variety of choice. You can have your Punto with turbo diesel economy or barnstorming petrol-powered turbo performance. You can have it with that novel belt-driven Selecta automatic transmission or have fun swapping the cogs yourself with the six- (yes, six) speed gearbox. A three or five-door choice is standard with almost every model or, if thats not exciting enough, you can even have a cheeky-looking cabriolet version.
Add to that a choice of four different petrol engines for the mainstream models and no fewer than five levels of trim over a wide, affordable price span. Plenty of options? You could say that. The idea is to put over the message loud and clear that just because youre buying an affordable small car, you dont have to compromise on style or luxury. Even the basic 75 SX for example, includes electric windows, a sunroof and a 4-speaker stereo.
At first glance, the Punto looks like one of those design studies you get at motor shows which never quite make it to production. That Tardis-like, high-sided body, created for maximum roominess and versatility and minimum bulk. Those novel, high- mounted rear lights, raised and set either side of the tailgate glass where they can be more easily seen. Whether or not you like the overall effect, you have to hand it to
Fiat (or more accurately to designer Giorgetto Giugiaro) for daring to be different.
The Italian company has a long history of creating compact cars that others follow and the Punto continues it. In terms of practicality, this is the most effective small hatchback ever built. Why? Well, for a start, its got so much space inside that youd be forgiven for thinking that it competes against
Ford Escorts and
Vauxhall Astras rather than Vauxhall Corsas and
Renault Clios. It doesnt of course; at just twelve-and-a-half feet long, youll be able to slip in and out of supermarket spaces just as easily as you would in any other supermini.
What you wont be able to do in any other supermini (contrary to what the sales people will tell you) is sit three adults comfortably in the back; you can in a Punto. They wont lack for head or elbowroom either - six footers step this way. Theres even a huge boot. Even if you dont use the space, it all endows the cabin with a feeling of airiness thats quite unique in this class.
Prices start from just under £900 for the entry-level 1.1-litre 55 S three-door hatch on an L-plate. Allow another £300 or so for a more recent M-registered 1995 car and another hundred or so for five instead of three doors. The 1.
2-litre models start at around £1,100 with L-plates in popular 75 SX guise, while you'll need to allow just under £1,600 for the better equipped 75 ELX. Add £300 or so for M-registered examples or find another £700 for a 97P example. The 16V 1.2 engine is also found in cars on 97P plates onwards, at prices starting around the £1,800 mark and going up to about £2,700 on 99T.
Youll also find the odd 60SX Selecta (with CVT automatic transmission) priced from £1,250 on 94M plates to £2,900 on 99V. There are also 75 and 85 bhp 1.2-engined versions in a variety of trim levels in the same price range. Fancy a 1.
6? The five-door 1.6-litre 90 ELX starts at just under £1,750 on an M and goes up to about £2,200 on 97P plates. You'll also find the same engine in the three-door Sporting introduced in 1995 (if you can find one, you'll pay around £1,800-£2,500) and in the desirable Cabriolet (prices from £2,300 as a 90bhp 94-M 1.6; £3,500 as a 97-P 85bhp 1.2). Your search might also uncover the 1.
7-litre diesel three and five-door models (prices from £1,300 to £1,800) and the later light pressure turbo versions (from 97P priced from £2,000 to £3,000) that are generally easy to find.
Check for minor dents and signs of kerbing on the wheeltrims. Galvanised panels mean that rust shouldn't be too much of a problem, so any that you do find probably points to accident damage.
(approx based on an 75 SX) A clutch assembly will be around £100. An alternator is around £93 and front brake pads should be close to £30. Major and minor services will cost you in the region of £95 and £55 respectively.
Puntos drive with a certain brio, as small Italian cars should, but there isn't the eagerness of Latin models past. There's a simple reason for this. Fiat makes no secret about the fact that this is a heavy car - its safer that way. Which means of course, that it isnt the fastest in the supermini sector - though to its credit, the car doesnt feel particularly slow, such is the engines appetite for revs. The 75bhp 1.
2-litre unit thats used on the `SX` and `ELX` variants manages rest to sixty in 11.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 106mph. Cabriolet models are much prized, while the Punto six-speed is a super city car that doesnt need an open road or a thirsty engine to offer heaps of driving appeal. The GT, meanwhile, is a hot hatch from the old school; all the power arrives at once with a satisfying punch in the back.
In summary, arguably the best Fiat to ever hit the second-hand market. If you like the looks, youll love the car.
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