Features and Problems of a Punto 12
I purchased my Fiat Punto 6months ago from an auction in Nottingham, for just 1,000 + 200 auction charge. The car was in great condition (besides a flat tire which put bidders off), with only 41,000 miles of the clock! When I got the car home I discovered a few small problems which may or may not be common in most Punto's:- The doors were creaking loudly when opened and closed. This was something I knew WD40 couldn't fix as the clicks were vibrating the doors, making it clear the issue was past an oil deficiency.- I had several problems with the power steering (a common issue in Punto's). When leaving a car-park I put the steering wheel in full lock and the power steering failed. It came back however and remained in tact. Then later I noticed the steering begin to deteriorate and eventually I was forced to drive on the cars excellent 'city' steering mode, increasing its sensitivity.- About a month in I took the car to a local garage after I witnessed the engine producing strange vibrations on tick-over. It turned out the engine needed a new head-gasket (300 minimum). This problem is not common in punto's, but I thought I'd list all issues I've had in the last 6months nonetheless.Despite what I have written, you have to take into consideration the price I paid for my car and the age (8-years) it was, then determine whether the faults I witnessed were really that bad! - I don't think they were. Over the course of the last 6-months, up until present day, I have spent just over 1,600 on a car worth around 2,000. That's how I've weighed up the positives of my little red punto with the negatives.I'd also like to let you know about the Punto's features in general, so that you can decide whether this is the car for you or not. Here's a long list of the cars main specification points and features:- It has a great in-car heater with several intensity settings and a decent amount of vents for channeling the hot air. Sadly the car doesn't have air-conditioning or climate-control due to its age.- The car has a decent power-steering system (when working), and the 'city' steering button adds that extra boost of sensitivity when needed.- The car has an air-bag for the front passenger and drivers seat.- The interior design is of a grey colour-scheme (though others exist), and the seats are relatively comfortable - acceptable for long journeys of up to 3-hours.- Their are six speakers in the car, ranging from the front door positions to behind the heads of the back-seat passengers. They offer a great spectrum of sound and reach a decent volume if your in the mood for loud music.- The boot is large enough for your every-day needs, and the general air-space of the cars interior is greater than most small cars of the same class.- All I can say about the engine is that it is a 1.24L, 16-valver which is relatively cheap to repair and can be seen to at most, if not all garages.My overall opinion of this vehicle is that it is possibly the closest car to perfect you will find for the first-time buyer, or someone who is only interested in a small-car for every-day use. The engine could be seen as under-powered, but believe me the car is nippy in lower gears. Its cheap to run (at around 40-50 miles to the gallon), and the interior and exterior are of a high standard.
Summary: A great little car for every-day use.
