Shite of the week 2 - Fiat Punto

[Sloth in a bowl]

After last week's, Kia Sportage 4x4, what I wanted this week was something that was so common as muck that we don't really notice them disappearing from our roads.

It's an odd thing Autoshite, we like our little French and English hatchbacks but a Fiat? Only if it's a 127 or Panda do we seem to care, yet Italian cars are flair and joy and sunshine and stuff, what is it about the Punto that puts us off. Was Fiat having a bad day or just trying a little too hard to be sensible and German because that's what the public wanted?

 

The Punto is that oddest of things an uninteresting, unfashionable Italian small car, it's dull, it's cheap, it's not that unreliable and there are billions of them sitting about as parts supply.

So this week's £300 with MoT motor is simply going to be one of those cars that we ignore because it's too boring for autoshite, maybe even too sensible. 

There wasn't even a proper hot hatch version, I know about the HGT but nobody ever lusted after one, it was just a compromised warmed up thing.

 

But you are all wrong, the joy of the Punto is that as nobody else wants them, then you can grab one for a pittance.

And as there is plenty of choice you can afford to be fussy, however, numbers are dropping and in about 2 or 3 years time these things will be rare and you will be wondering why you missed the boat.

 

£250 gets you GREEN and 12 months MOT

Is this the perfect learner car?

 

 

 

Because I've been working late and ebay is pants then this weeks car comes from Scumtree again (other places to get cheap chod do exist)

https://www.gumtree.com/p/fiat/2000-fiat-punto-12-months-mot/1133998409

 

2000 fiat punto 1.2
12 months mot - just passed this week
105k miles
Starts and drives perfect with no issues at all
Bodywork in excellent condition
Perfect cheap car 
Any viewing welcome
£250

 

So give us your thumbs up or thumbs down for the least fashionable Italian shopping car of all time.

 

[barefoot]

I'm currently driving a Lancia, I'm getting a bit smitten with Italian shite, I'd run it for a bit.

[The Moog]

Ohhh that looks tempting, in pistachio green.

[Eddie Honda]

Is this the perfect learner car?

Aye, it's the perfect car for learning to spanner on.

[dollywobbler]

I've never particularly liked the Mk2 Punto. I still find the Mk1 a great design - they've suddenly become very rare though. In metallic red or that delicious burnt orange sort of a colour, I reckon they're one of the best looking superminis of ever.

[Barry Cade]

We've had loads, and love em. Currently got  a 2000 ELX with red seats which cost £150. Only done 46k and sweet as a nut. Last Mk1 55sx cost 60 quid from Perth auction, because water pump. 30 quid later it was mint and reliable for us for 2 years, before being passed on to family. You keep hatin, I'll keep buyin.

[Aston Martin]

My sister had the mk2 facelift, the joys of shouting to talk to each other on the motorway. Even then you couldn't hear each other. I don't have to shout in the 93 Panda...
They are terrible in every way, the mk1 cabrio is cool.

[oldcars]

I would have one, prefer the mk1 shape but its a small ish Fiat so whats not to like.

[J-Rod]

My dad had a Mk1 and a Mk2 straight after. The Mk1 struck me as a much better car (we went on a very long trip to Scotland in it when I was 15. Was a great little car). 

 

You're right about them becoming rare though - had a quick browse to see if I could find a decent one for the other half not so long back and there were a few but all were a bit of a state. 

[Stanky]

I had a mk1 ELX which meant electric everything and the 1.6 8v engine. It went like a rocket and was immensely comfortable. I was lambasted by TobyD of this very forum for driving it everywhere at 90 until I made him drive it down the M3 and he conceded that - as i had been telling him for a couple of months - its all it wanted to do. The spring on the accelerator pedal is interchangable with one from a ballpoint pen, it provides exactly the same resistance.

 

Unfortunately it suffered OMGHGF and I part exed it for a Mk3 golf which was an all-round worse car. Slower, thirstier, heavier and fewer toys.

 

It was a total hoot to drive though, firmly recommended.

[Cavcraft]

My daughter's is that colour. A reasonably charming little car, though the interior plastics rival a Corsa C. Not bad to drive, 'city' button is useful and it feels like if when it goes wrong, it should be quite simple to fix. Famous last words, etc.

[HH-R]

Just about all of my mates (and me) have had one or moar of these of almost every trim/engine level, so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. Properly shite, even when they were fairly new cars.

[brownnova]

I'm starting to warm to Mk1 Puntos, but its a thumbs down from me... Not my thing at all!! To me it's just the sort of crappy thing that you get when you're in the 6th Form because you know you'll trash it a bit, but it's a rubbish Fiat so it doesn't matter.

 

But then that's just my opinion ðŸ˜Â