Faults:

I have just recently turned 19, and I have had my Punto since I was 17. And I loved it. But just recently I have had many things go wrong, costing a lot, and leaving me out of pocket.

Last month (baring in mind my car is 3-4 years old), my exhaust blew. So I forked out money for that.

My engine is making a squealing noise when I am in stuck in traffic or driving behind slow moving vehicles. Even when the engine is turned off the squealing persists. I have been to car garages and my dealer who have driven the car, but the noise doesn't happen with them. But I get the same thing everywhere I go "Don't worry".

Well...

Driving home from a friends house this evening, the airbag failure light came on, along side the amber engine light (flashing) only to realize that my car was jerking constantly and wouldn't go over 25 mph. After stopping the car and reading the manual, I realized it could possibly be a problem with the catalyst.

My car is going back to my dealer tomorrow (But surprisingly the guarantee has just run out) to get fixed. Oh how I hate the Punto!

General Comments:

What I would like to know if anyone else has had such similar problems with a car so young?

General Comments:

The Punto's sporty 16V engine makes it very quick off the lights.

The side skirts and spoiler which come as standard, make it look very cool.

The bucket seats and sports steering wheel give the interior a really nice finish.

Faults:

Door retainer has repeatedly come loose.

Braking problems incorrectly repaired twice.

General Comments:

Punto is a big big car inside with easily enough room for a 6' driver and room to spare in the back, too. It's wide and that along with deep windows makes it feel like a grown-up car.

It's noisy and a bit slow on the motorway, the engine is willing enough, but just doesn't have the horses. On the backroads though the car is good fun with responsive steering and excellent handling, although at the expense of a bobbly ride at times.

Our car is sparsely equipped with manual windows and no central locking, but it was cheap. It does have an airbag and Fiats excellent 'two speed' power steering system.

The car feels particularly well made and is easily the best made Fiat I have ever owned - and I have owned a few. Doors and hatch still close with a satisfying thunk and although some interior plastics look a bit low-rent it has all stayed put very well.

I would recommend the more powerful engines to our 60bhp unit, but otherwise go ahead, there are few other roomy small hatches this much fun to drive.

Faults:

The car has suffered no faults at all.

General Comments:

It is a fantastic car for a 1.2. It goes very fast for a capacity of this size.

However, if there is a hill it dies at low revs, but change down a gear and the car makes a rasp and it's up to speed and goes like a 1.6 litre engine.

Also it has features that you expect in larger cars.