Fiat Grande Punto (2006 - 2010) 1.9 Multijet Sporting 3d (2006/56) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

A reasonably stylish choice for a supermini? I've had quite a few admiring comments, which surprised me a little.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Looks very nice in the flesh; quite different from cars even a few years ago. I don't think anyone's been unimpressed - inside or out.

Would you buy this car again and why?

We downsized to one "sensible" shared car and this seemed like an ideal choice - not a compromise too far for a car lover, but very practical.

What are you likely to buy next?

An Alfa Romeo or other Italian car. Just possibly a high spec Golf if I'm feeling flush; the Grande Punto was too cheap in comparison to resist this time.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£12,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

Reasonable deal: paid a little less than RRP, but it was a new model and in demand - so no giant discount for me. Considering that I was looking at paying upwards of £18k for a Golf GT TDi 2.0, suddenly a few hundred pounds didn't seem like so much!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

One of not many warm-hatch diesels on the market

What was the dealer like?

Excellent - Simonstone of Bristol.

What's it like to drive?

This is my first diesel, after a string of classic hot hatches and a couple of big-power turbo petrol cars. It's respectably quick in a straight line - at its best when accelerating in short bursts or relying on flexibility (you seldom have to change gear to access the poke) - i.e. as you'd expect from a fairly powerful diesel. Lots of people think that modern TDs are outright quick, but I'm a bit more realistic! The best suprise is that it's a blast down tight B-roads. Having owned cars like a Clio Williams and 172, the handling stands comparison and the diesel pull makes it very potent through a series of bends.

What's it like to park?

Quite difficult at first, due to the high rear waistline and rear window. I've got used to it though - it's still a small car.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing as yet. My car was recalled to have a small safety bar fitted - prompt service from the dealer.

What's most practical about your car?

It's pretty big in size and uses the space thoughtfully. The rake of the windscreen means that the cabin feels like it's from a much bigger car from the front seats.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

This model comes with Bluetooth; very handy for totally hands-free phone calls. The polished-edge wheels look fabulous when clean, but are a pain to keep clean.