My Italian Horse in Bossa Nova White - Fiat Punto 90HP

[mastersquall]

Guys, I am planning to do this in my punto -

View attachment 39220

Its a lame MS Paint job but you get the idea... Number plate will either be in the stock location or a smaller (bike size) number plate will be on the left hand side of bumper (evo style). Any opinions?

i would say go ahead it will look more mean looking punto with evolution style plate

 

[maximas007]

So you also mean I should avoid this?

Here is one pic with reg. plate -

Not like this the number plate should be in EVO style .

 

[raj_5004]

Pics courtesy a friend -

 

[raj_5004]

Did a long journey in my Punto (mumbai-pune) yesterday, some 400 kms both ways. As soon as I hit the express highway, I was at a constant 120-130 kmph.

+ Stability at high speeds is fantastic.
+ Ride at high speeds is superb.
+ Performance of 90hp is adequate, though a little more power would have been nice.

- NVH is just average at that speed. It needs a 6th gear.
- PUNTO'S FRONT SEATS LACK UNDER THIGH SUPPORT. My legs were aching by the time I reached home.

FE as showed by the MID was 17.5 kmpl. This is with AC with 90% highway & 10% city driving.

 

[cooldhaya]

These European cars are made for the highways! But FE seems to be slightly on the lower side , due to the speeds i guess. Since we are used to the comfort of an SUV anything less than that will be tiring.

 

[raj_5004]

You are right about SUVs, they are so damn comfortable... I miss my Scorpio.

FE is low maybe because of the speed. I dint slow down anywhere except in the ghats where I was revving Pintu in 3rd or 4th gear. So that explains the FE.

 

[Thetraveller]

Same pinch. Did a Pune-Bandra-Pune trip yesterday, with small stoppages for nature's calls and filling up stomach! I did not push her beyond 2.5K rev, so hovered around 100 or so. FE - 19.5 (AC-90%)

High speed stability is something to be amazed about! It was as graceful and manoeverable as some of the best.

I have one more problem, the seats are too hard for me. To top it I have Autoform seat covers, which are pretty basic. I felt my bottoms straightened out after the 7 hrs drive

 

[raj_5004]

Same pinch. Did a Pune-Bandra-Pune trip yesterday, with small stoppages for nature's calls and filling up stomach! I did not push her beyond 2.5K rev, so hovered around 100 or so. FE - 19.5 (AC-90%)

High speed stability is something to be amazed about! It was as graceful and manoeverable as some of the best.

I have one more problem, the seats are too hard for me. To top it I have Autoform seat covers, which are pretty basic. I felt my bottoms straightened out after the 7 hrs drive

Ohhh, do you think we would have crossed each other?

Well, i had no issue with the firmness of the seats but I guess I had a minor back pain and by the end of the day, my legs were aching.

I have re-adjusted my seat now. The height adjust is at max top position and I am trying to adjust to drive like this. I am hoping this will improve the under thigh support.

 

[jayadev]

I have re-adjusted my seat now. The height adjust is at max top position and I am trying to adjust to drive like this. I am hoping this will improve the under thigh support.

I have tried all the position yet it hurts. lack of thigh support is too bad for long drives.
I added a home made cushion, it helps to an extend but not much.

 

[Thetraveller]

Ohhh, do you think we would have crossed each other?

Well, i had no issue with the firmness of the seats but I guess I had a minor back pain and by the end of the day, my legs were aching.

I have re-adjusted my seat now. The height adjust is at max top position and I am trying to adjust to drive like this. I am hoping this will improve the under thigh support.

Could have! These days I see soo many puntos around.

Anyway I am also trying to put some pillows to see if I can get some under thigh support.

 

[raj_5004]

YIPPEEEE... FIRST ISSUE :

After the second free (15k kms) service, I suddenly felt my 90 hp has become very noisy.

I hear a constant drone as it crosses 60 kmph. Its not kind of a diesel engine noise but its a constant booming noise. If I remember, my car was very silent till 110 kmph earlier.

To check whether its an engine noise or some other issue, I took it to an empty stretch. The road is not being used by public as it leads to a dead end & then at 80 kmph, switched OFF the engine & yes, the noise persists even after the engine is OFF. Its kind of a thrumming/booming noise which gradually decreases as the speed decreases (even with engine OFF).

The noise is irrespective of the engine rpm or which gear the car is in. It starts at 60 kmph & then increases with speed. So I guess, it must be the wheel bearings.

By the way, discovered a new feature in the Punto. SURPRISINGLY, the brakes were working even after the engine was switched OFF. I mean I needed absolutely no pressure, the brakes were just like before.

I have read that in SOME cars, even after the engine is switched OFF, the brake booster does work, atleast for 2-3 times. I can confirm that in Punto, it does.

 

[cooldhaya]

Sad to hear that you are facing your first issue in Punto. Dropped the car at A.S.S?


Now will you have face any warranty issues since you have changed your tyres?

 

[TSIVipul]

Well,I don't know if I must congrat you or must feel sad on hearing that you got first issue,but since your words have 'yipeee' in them so accept my congrats,this will bring you even closer to the machine and will result in an even stronger bond between you two.

 

[type-r]

yup i know what u went through. even my civic faced it some time ago. wheel bearings were changed but my civic is out of warranty already. :(

 

[Thetraveller]

First issue after almost 15K not bad eh!

Ok, jokes aside. The booming issue could be because of wheel bearings. I had the similar issue in Swift. The sound is prominent if front bearings are gone. It comes only after you cross certain speed and increases after that. Please get them checked, if not done already.

And btw, my 1K post