Faults:

Air Conditioning wasnt working when I bought the car. The main dealer looked at it, said it just needed re-gassed and would cost £110 so I told them not to bother. When I went to pick the car up they tried to charge me £38 for looking at it, but the car is under warranty.

I spoke to the manager and they didn't charge me, but the original assistant was very abrupt and refused to give me the keys back until I paid.

General Comments:

Car is faster than a previous HGT I have owned. I am impressed with the performance, have regularly beaten a Civic Type-R from the lights on the way home from work!

I am not 100% sure about the handling of the car, seems to be a bit light at the rear... especially in the wet!!!

I would have another HGT without a doubt.

Considering modifying the engine, induction kit and exhaust, maybe a chip. Fancy taking it to about 180BHP.

Faults:

The wiper blades never cleaned the window properly from new. I suspect someone replaced them with used ones, before I took delivery.

No other problems.

General Comments:

For a 1.2 litre engine, this car is quite nippy, especially in town. On the open road,it cruises quite happily in 5th gear even with two people in it.

A stylish car and great value for money.

Faults:

Headlights kept steaming up.

Car kept 'cutting out'

Radio was faulty.

Trim was badly fitted in roof.

Wing mirror fell off.

Electricals on dashboard went faulty.

Headlights just 'cut out'

General Comments:

This is the second Fiat car I have owned, both from brand new. Although I have always like the style of Fiat cars, I am totally fed up with Fiat and believe they really need to get their act together. This car has been a non stop hassle of faults since the day I had it.

Firstly, the trim which held the roof at the rear in place was not fitted properly and kept coming away. The plastic clips kept dropping out and it took Fiat six months to get some new ones fitted and almost a year for the dealer to get the fault put right.

Then I was driving along and the left wing mirror simply came away from the wing when I adjusted it and had to be replaced.

Then the radio went faulty and the ariel had to be totally rewired.

Then the car kept cutting out sporadically for no reason.

Now just within the last week the dashboard electrics have gone faulty, giving out incorrect readings and with different indicator lights staying on, even when the care is switched off and has no key in the ignition.

Now to top it all, the headlights have gone faulty without any evident faulty bulb causing the problem.

Faults:

The Brakes Warped at 6000 miles.

The Airbag Light remains on, even after seven attempts by the dealer to repair it.

The drivers seat bolsters collapsed.

General Comments:

The car is generally quick and good fun.

It is let down by some serious electrical design faults and dodgy electronics.

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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.