Faults:

As of yet, nothing.

General Comments:

After upgrading from my Uno, the Punto was very luxurious. I would advise anyone looking for a good first car or runaround to buy this car. The 55SX is fuel injected, therefore it is nippy, most models have foglights and colour coded bumpers, so it looks super. The interior is very luxurious and the seats are too.

Points to look out for however, are that this model's speaker layout is rather poor. You can get 7.5cm mid range in the front dashboard and 10cm speakers in the rear shelf. No door speakers so modification is neccesary to make this car get phat sounds!!

Faults:

Lambda probe on the injection system.

Leakage from the manifold into the turbo.

Stretching of the throttle cable which meant full turbo boost not achievable.

Front air dam paint lifted but repaired by the dealer.

Minute vibration in the gearbox, which had rubber bushes replaced.

General Comments:

A very quick car which is improved from the 1994 model.

Fit a set of SPAX springs which reduces the ride height and that cures slight handling failings.

Fiat dealers are not great but if you give them hassle they will treat you right.

Always ask for the best price when having a service, they will drop their price for regulars.

San Siro in Welling is a fair dealer.

Get an extended warrenty and use it if things go wrong.

Faults:

I bought the car secondhand in Oct 98.

Radio aerial had to be replaced as leaking - not covered by warranty; while being repaired at the dealers, CDs disappeared from the car.

Exhaust replaced, tracking off, so two new front tyres.

Front windscreen washers not working, rear brake light went.

Dents easily. Despite this, I really like the car and would buy another Fiat, but not from the same dealer.

General Comments:

Sort your dealers out, Fiat! They charge outrageous prices, are rude, unhelpful and untrustworthy.

Faults:

Everything - in 1st year of ownership, the engine, turbo & gearbox replaced. Loads of ECU problems causing the car to stall all the time!

General Comments:

Was a nightmare! - sold it as soon as I could possibly afford to! Dealers terrible: was in the garage more than out of it.

Having said that awesome performance in the dry (as long as you don't try to idle!)

Faults:

Electric window replaced; lamda sensor replaced; handbrake handle broke; glovebox lid broke; electric cooling fan replaced; rear wash wipe jet broke; overheating - possible cylinder head gasket blown; lights sometimes play up; what more can I say.

General Comments:

Dealer found to be unhelpful, don't seem to have much of a clue about overheating problem.

Suggest replacing head gasket approx £300; Fiat customer service can never get thru.