• Summary

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What does this car say about you?

    It says I like a nice looking car, but at a reasonable price. To me, its worth the sacrifice.

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

    It's turned one or two heads, and the mates always want me t drive, so it must be having some positive impact. The front looks a bit feminine, but the side profile isfantastic.

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    Yes, I narrowed down my list between this and a Civic type-S and decided to go for this - i'm still really pleased with it.

    What are you likely to buy next?

    I'd consider the AbarthPunto due to be released, or possibly an Audi A3.

  • Buying experience

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Type of dealer you bought from?

    Franchise

    Did you buy this car new?

    No

    What price did you pay?

    £9,000

    When did you buy the car?

    December 2007

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    I got the car more than £4,000 off the list price as it is only 18 months old - it was just such good value to ignore.

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    This car looks nice, and the 1.9 Diesel appealed to me.

    What was the dealer like?

    Friendly, although as with all dealers they "need" to sell you the car. The executive i had was brutally honest with most of the questions I asked, he didn't make things up so i would buy the car.

  • Driving it

    5 out of 5 5.0

    What's it like to drive?

    Quiet, comfortable and reliable. It hums along the road in any gear smoothly. The front end takes a little while to get used to as you can't really see it unless you put your head out of the window.

    What's it like to park?

    More difficult than it looks - the back window is shallow so you tend to rely on your side mirrors more. It also feels wider than you'd expect.

  • Living with it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    I've only had this 3 weeks, it needs to go back for a few small problems: Squeaky back brakes (especially when reversing) and the horn sometimes doesn't engage.

    What's most practical about your car?

    Space - i had an older style punto, and this one seems much bigger on the inside. The engine is certianly powerful enough to nip around town and also the good torque feels like the wheels are actually moving the world underneath your car.

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    The traction control is a handy tool, as is the bluetooth for your phone.