2002 Fiat Punto HGT from UK and Ireland - Comments

If you have had two, does that mean Fiestas are rubbish and unreliable?

I had a Punto HGT. It was a good car, but now I have a Fiat Coupe 20vT; wow it's fast. I got it last week, and today a 02 BMW M3 was sitting up behind me and went to go past, so I put my foot down and left it. I was amazed, the HGT would have been left for dead!!!

I have an HGT, and I find it to be a bad car to have because:

1. Wipers break

2. Door handles stick

3. The bottom engine cover broke

4. Tailpipe bangs and knocks

5. Passenger airbag light is on

I paid £4.000 for this car 1 1/2 years ago, and I feel let down. It is OK on performance; I've had about 130 mph out of it. Never timed 0-60, but I've beat a Starlet Turbo to about 100mph, but then it went past. I've beat a 325, an Escort RS Turbo, and a Golf GTI Turbo.

I don't rag my car all day, it's serviced every 6 months and I use 101 octane fuel from Tesco.

The radio is good and the handling is tight.

The seats are rubbish.

I think the gearbox is not very good, and should have bean a 6 speed.

All in, I think the car is OK, but only if you are 18 or 19. I am 22, and think it's too slow and needs a turbo.

Thanks!!!

If somebody had two of a car, it suggests they were impressed with the first one, not that it was so bad they went out and got another one?!?

I don't think the guy in the M3 would have been too bothered, as everyone knows the Fiat Coupe is a fast car at the total expense of even the slightest reliability.

The Coupe Turbo is a fair bit slower than an M3, so I doubt very much you'd have left one, seeing that they've got an extra 125 bhp, and are far superior in every way!

A Fiat Coupe has 125 less? So you think an 02 M3 has 345 bhp? LOL the M3 has 330 standard and the fiat is 220, but most Fiat Coupes are modified because they're an old car now, and in 97 they were the fastest front wheel drive car in the world. Many coupe's are running 500-600 bhp now..

LOL - No I think an 02 M3 has 343 bhp to be precise. The comment doesn't mention any modifications, so yes the M3 would easily whip the coupe!

And as for being the fastest front wheel drive car in 97, a JDM DC2 Integra is just as fast in a straight line, and a hell of a lot faster round a track,and it'll actually make it round a track without breaking down!

02 reg M3 has 343PS so about 338bhp, so the guy commenting saying the coupe has 125bhp less is pretty close on.

Punto HGT is well good. I have one and it is the best car for the money. All the toys for under 5 grand, and it's fast too. Not well fast, but fast enough for a 19 year old.

I have a 1992 Renault 19 16v Shamade phase II and I think I'm faster than HGT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lcEtdl_NWw

I run a hgt abarth how you ppl can even compair a saxo to this I pull the pants off them for fun also mine has leather sat nav air con traction control the saxo aint got any of these and as for the guy who siad that any fiat coupe is runnin 500 never mind 600 bhp is livin is a dream world.

Hmmm I used to beat these in my old J reg 1.8 16v Clio... nice cars, but come on they aren't that fast!

Yeah I agree nice cars these hgts but there not that fast but still look nice.

My missus is hoping to pick up a HGT this week as our poor 1.2 16v Sporting got hit by a Hyundai Accent on Monday just gone. Bloody good car, so next one in line now is the HGT. I tried one before the Sporting, drives well through the gears up to 80mph without knowing it. Not bad for a normally aspirated car 1742cc.

Previous car was a WRX import, and as to power to weight ratio, the Sporting was quite nippy for a 1.2.

Chris

South Wales.

This is a boring car. I have had the Punto HGT for 2 years now, and am bored of being left behind by cars like the 200SX, Focus ST, Integra Type R and Civic VTi.

I was beaten by a 106 GTi last week and the driver looked about 10, so I'm getting rid of my slow letdown, the HGT, and I am getting a Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. The best bit is it costs the same and is faster than all the above.

What cars have you been beet by or won aganst?

Dude, the HGT was good in its day, but the problem is it's a tourer not a hot hatch. It was never meant to be either, people just adopted it because there was nothing else at that time. Sure you could modify it to death, but that just ruined it.

I have had two, and loved them, they were quick small cars that sounded brilliant. But in all honesty, they were never that fast. But it was the best value car of its type in its time. The equipment you got as standard was very impressive compared to a Saxo, 206, and almost all of the other cars in ITS CLASS out at that time. The Punto HGT stood head and shoulders above any of those cars in terms of value that is.

I now own a diesel Astra pushing 210hp, and the performance is impressive for what it is. Small upgrade coming soon on; it should have 230 plus maybe. My point being things move on. So should we. Maybe that's why you think the HGT is boring, compared to modern cars not surprised really. Anyway enjoy the coupe, they're fast.