Fiat Grande Punto 90HP - Detailed Ownership Review

[jayadev]

someone did tell me once that they went to book Linea in Tata showroom and the SE was more inclined to sell him Manza. Its high time Fiat should open their own exclusive showrooms and service station.

One cannot Blame the dealer or SE regarding that. in present value driven market chances of selling competitive Manza is more than that of Linea . dealers run there shop for profit aka money.If they find a customer is more inclined towards linea they wont pester around with tata products ,this is my own observation.
If customer is bit doubtful and considering pocket friendly alternative then dealers voluntarily show them cheaper tata products so that these customers do not slip into other brands .
competition is hell tight around their neck and we are all aware of that fact.
nonetheless Fiat products are not of Bad quality nor provide bad Ass as we hear all around.yeah to an extend they have erred a lot compared to bigger monsters in Market.

Fiat is loaded to neck with advanced technology which sometimes is too immature for India to handle. Fiat launched Blue n me four years ago which ford and Suzuki has been able to launch just recently. i wonder if it pro activity in technology which is inhibiting Fiat from taking over the market or bad luck?

somewhat similar is about famous people around the globe I have seen lot of famous and well renowned personalities enjoying very good status in society but rarely do they deserve such status as they came upto that level with hook or crook on the other hand guys who truly deserve it go unnoticed just due to their very calm nature or dedication towards job only...this may not be surprising nor strange to many of us...similarly is fiat too.

 

[jayadev]

Second Impact on My beloved.


Thanks to Autorikshaw.The road is their ancestral property and anybody found using their road, then autowalah's have all right to punish us private car owners especially.

 

[point_city96]

That hurts!.I think thats not a major impact.Don't worry.Did your brother contact the service station and asked how much does it cost to paint?.I didn't understand what happened to the front,but the car looks excellent and its a nice pic,who shot it,your younger brother?

 

[jayadev]

My brother was driving..the autowallahs,obviously they cant see sideways properly, maneuvered suddenly brushing against the fender. he admitted his mistake and pleaded to forgive as the expenses for repair work would be too dear for his pocket. so my brother let him go.

Did your brother contact the service station and asked how much does it cost to paint?

no way I will take her to Tatafiat. they will blow hole in my pocket rather I decided to take her to Colour world ,near SN college. Thanks to Mr Romi Radhakrishnan, another punter from Kannur, whom suggested this Idea.

 

[point_city96]

Romi Radhakrishnan,is he the one with blue punto with custom headlights?
Even we have changed the place to repair such paint works of our swift and my parents say its cheaper.

 

[jayadev]

Yes, he is the one..!!!!

 

[jayadev]

16600km now.

She loves long journeys...why? Because she is made for it, by virtue of Rigid body and excellent suspensions helped by HVAC. Climatic Difference becomes unknown.Especially with her friends, New Punto(5k) and a Suzuki Alto-k10(3k)

Pic Shot at Wagmon, kerala.

1.15000 oil change; that is first true service brought about something of extra ordinary changes to her.engine has become True free revving diesel burner.

2.Rattle has started probably due to heavy abuse on Kerala roads.

3. She remains a slouch for initial 1st and 2nd gear only. (I can write a huge story on it-means it is worth,short first gear has always been helpful).

4.Adrenalin Rush in VFM package- Buy punto 90 HP .

PS: no Offense to other fiat owners- punto90HP with VGT is Light Years Ahead of FGT Punto on many qualities and Subjectively much Ahead of Linea MJD though with same engine.

I cant stop thinking how incredible punto tjet can be..HUH lucky those guys..!!!

Only one Glitch This Punto keeps Haunting me (for which I am much Happier too) is that it is not suited for slow driving. 60-70kmph regular drive means end of the day you will have shoulder aches,and ankle pain (from my own experience)
Reasons:-
Ultra Precise Steering wheel with great Feedback means one have to keep pushing and pulling steering spokes in case of slow pace ending up in aching arms.not for weak and faint heart. (I get my biceps workout while city driving)

Lack of thigh support -Ankle has to bear the weight of legs

Scariest part of driving punto is taking U-turn.
This car is not meant for U-turns.What else to say ..lol

Punto FGT is an excellent drive on Ghats and slopes but my Punto 90hp Drives Crazy either it gets too Fast or too slow means I had to Keep working with Gears (Again confirming not good for Slow driving)

Gears in Punto 1st (ready) ,2nd (steady),3rd (point), 4rth(and) 5th(shoot)

 

[cooldhaya]

Jayadev nice to see your ride again , i hope she is serving you good as always!


Sorry to hear about that minor accident , you can get a touch up done from the A.S.S. Such damages are easily noticeable in a white car!

 

[Torquer]

Hello Guys,
That my New Punto Active MJD and i call her B-40.
Isn"t she Gorgeous? An angel in a red devil disguise.
Guys i need a sincere advice,my ODO reads 394km. wanna Rev her badly. How fast can i take her? or should i wait for some more time may be after 3000km.And i need a tire change advice i am planning to go for 15" wheels and what specs do i go for? i drive in kerala Kannur. In a month i drive to palakkad and back once in a month.That would be around 400km up and down.
Kindly Advice.

 

[cooldhaya]

Hey bro you are hijacking Jayadev's thread!


Yes do wait till the running in period gets over , enjoy your car fully after that!

Go for the same specification tyres which comes in the 90HP variant , you won't be facing any problems.

 

[jayadev]

Hello Guys,
That my New Punto Active MJD and i call her B-40.
Isn"t she Gorgeous? An angel in a red devil disguise.

Sure she is the hottest looking hatch in India.

Guys i need a sincere advice,my ODO reads 394km. wanna Rev her badly. How fast can i take her? or should i wait for some more time may be after 3000km.

Wait until 3000km. (slow n steady wins the race here.)
at 394km on odo engine would sound very boomy and coarse and wouldnt be so exciting ..be cautious of Speed gun from highway police all the way .

And i need a tire change advice i am planning to go for 15" wheels and what specs do i go for? i drive in kerala Kannur. In a month i drive to palakkad and back once in a month.That would be around 400km up and down.
Kindly Advice.

I hope you have met Mr. Varun Laxman (Fiat service Manager) in KVR Kannur, he can give you best advice on any Mods on punto. He too drives a Red Punto with some unique touches.

 

[Torquer]

Hey bro you are hijacking Jayadev's thread!


Yes do wait till the running in period gets over , enjoy your car fully after that!

Go for the same specification tyres which comes in the 90HP variant , you won't be facing any problems.

Hi Dhaya,
Thanks Dhaya for the Reply.After living all my life in chennai roads and then when i moved to kannur with my little ol 10 year Zen,The roads in kannur was shock to me. It was time to shift. then Jayadev thread happened. Jayadev is my Guru. Only because of his great thread i was convinced to buy Punto. His writing, is class of its own,One day i hope to catch him on the road.

What exact is the running period in Kilo mters? Dhaya?
Take care.

Sure she is the hottest looking hatch in India.


Wait until 3000km. (slow n steady wins the race here.)
at 394km on odo engine would sound very boomy and coarse and wouldnt be so exciting ..be cautious of Speed gun from highway police all the way .


I hope you have met Mr. Varun Laxman (Fiat service Manager) in KVR Kannur, he can give you best advice on any Mods on punto. He too drives a Red Punto with some unique touches.

Hi Jayadev.
Thanks for the reply. What an amazing thread? its only because of you now i am inside a punto. Dad being a Automobile engineer. we were hard core Petrol Heads. I was about to finalize the 1.4 Petrol. Then i read your thread gave myself a lot of thought , somewhere behind i20 CRDI was groping my dreams but the Steering Rattle gave way to Punto. Thanks to you.

Yes i did meet Varun a classic Fiat freak and a thorough Gentleman. He did advice me for 14 to15" wheels and and a tire change after 10,000km. Will do that.
Speed gun .oops Thanks Jayadev. Hope to catch you one of these days.
Thanks.

 

[Torquer]

comments please

Check these Two cars for your Mods Jayadev.. Its simple and cool.

 

[TATAaventador]

Check these Two cars for your Mods Jayadev.. Its simple and cool.

abarth tuned, 180 hp mean machine with same 1.4l engine.
not available in India.

 

[nithin_v]

Hi Torquer,
I have similar feelings on Jayadev's thread. It was awesome to read. My wife and me had almost decided to buy Punto Petrol 1.4 (as her employer reimburses money for 80 ltrs of petrol every month), but were skeptical about our decision. After we had read his thread about the handling, suspension and all, we were convinced and now own a 1.4 Petrol Punto