Faults:

Nothing serious.

The comfort of the suspension sometimes if the road is bad.

Some noises from the interior plastics, but here in Greece we have very bad roads, so OK.

General Comments:

I think that is an underestimated sport hatch. The engine is very very good with plenty of power from the down to high revs... I have seen about three dyno tests from three normal HGTs with down to 1000km and the power was from 138 to 139 hp IN the engine (not at the wheels. The auto companies does not give the official power at wheels but in the engine) so it has more power than 130 that FIAT says. Maybe after 50000 km the power will be better at around 140 hp. So from the engine and generally from the car's acceleration, I am very satisfied.

The handling is good. Maybe the understeer is coming a little earlier than other sport hatches, but it is very friendly, the oversteer is rare and generally you know what car will do. I think an 106 GTi will turn a little faster but is not so friendly, it wants you to be a very good driver to do it. HGT can be turned fast by a typical driver.

The brakes in 2002 were very good, but now are just good because all the new cars have very good brakes. But from the sport hatches generation of 2002, it had the best brakes.

I have to say that it is very good for trips on the highway. It is stable in high-speed and with the engine power you can be traveling with 150 km/h easily on the highway. So it is a good car if you know why you buy it.

Faults:

Some brake problems (worn disks)

Some electrical problems (tail and front lights).

Some body noises (after 100000 km)

General Comments:

It's a cheap car.

Very good performance (85 hp, max speed: 180 km/h, 0-100 km/h: 10,9 sec)

The driving experience is very good.

Plenty of room for 4 or 5 passengers (little luggage space though).

It has room for improvement (engine)

It is in style even now.

Faults:

Nothing much I would say. The two exhaust mufflers after the catalytic converter were replaced (both 120euros) but that's something all Fiats are prone to go wrong with. It failed to start once and it turned out to be some dirt particles in the fuel regulator that blocked it and made it return the fuel back to the tank.The regulator needed some cleaning! Other than the above nothing. Just the usual oil changes filters and gas.

General Comments:

Very pleasant car to drive. Full of life. Very good engine, roomy interior, nicely designed. Not many rattles. Nice sound from exhaust and engine especially above 4500rpm. It's like it is talking to you and tempting you to step the gas pedal more and more!Handles as somebody would expect for a front wheel drive car (plain understeer rarely turned to progressive oversteer if the road is slippery).Very cheap to run (for instance brake pads cost 20euro only while the brake discs 35euro).Most services can be done without the need of a mechanic.

Sadly the new Punto isn't as fast as mine and that's the only reason I won't buy the new.

Faults:

We have encountered zero problems until this day, and the car worked great even during a 7 day snow storm with

-10C temperatures.

We never expected such a great performance from an Italian car.

But its true.

General Comments:

We drove the Fabia and Corsa, but none matches the pleasure the Punto cabin provides to its occupants.

The Punto is by far the car that makes a cloudy day shine.

Engine as you all know gives a true 81hp due to new settings, but its still one of the best compared to Clio 1.2 (16v) /Fabia 1.4 (8valves) and Opel Corsa 1.2 (16v).

The car has one and only set back and that's road noise when the surface is off poor quality. Yet on the motor way travelling at 140kms/hour speed the overall noise intruding inside the cabin is very low, so long journeys are no problem.

All controls inside cabin, compared with rivals are superior, seats have no match in anywhere, but the mid-size category.

Car schock absorbing level is almost at a "sport level" and with the right 185/60/13" set of tyres you have a winner on your hands.

We drove the new ibiza 1.2 and even challenged it on the road, Its no match for the 16V 1.2 Punto even the ELX.

The Italians have done a great work.