2002 Fiat Punto Active Sport review from UK and Ireland

Picked up the car from dealer to find hose clips not attached to cooling pipes to engine, glove box hanging from dashboard and no space saver wheel in boot, to be told the car had been checked against a 120 point delivery check.

Stereo shows error message on cold days asking to reload CD changer when no changer has been fitted.

Interior lights e.g. dashboard, heater knobs, radio screen go out at random, this has happened 5 times, dealer says they cannot find the fault.

For £7,500 this car is great value. I have had mine for two years and it still drives like new.

I know the 1.2 8v engine can be weak on the motorway, but in town it is great fun.

I had the previous Punto model before this (S Reg, 5 Door) and it was great encouraging me to buy from Fiat again.

A small problem with the "Active Sport" is that Fiat keep changing the standard specification, and trying to convince your insurance company you've got the "1.2 8v without alloy wheels" instead of the newer "1.3 16v with alloy wheels" can be a bit of a pain.

My advice would be to find a dealer with good reviews from someone you know personally, as owning an Active Sport can mean a life spent in the dealership garage.