2002 Fiat Punto HGT from UK and Ireland - Comments

It's very interesting reading all these comments. Over the years I've owned all sorts of cars. BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Saab. I even had an early 90s Maserati for a while. But, when I was 33, I did go out and buy an HGT. Owned it for about a year and a half and never once did it let me down. It may not have been the fastest car I've owned, but it was definitely the most fun and it still gripped like a leech, even if it was a little too stiff. It had minor mods done to it and was dyno'd to 135bhp at the wheels. I drive all over the country and it was the first car that NEVER gave me back problems. Ever!

Point to point on a B road nothing would touch it, but then I am mad and have fairly little fear. I sold it to a mate 3 years ago and it still hasn't broken down, but then it is well maintained. In fact, it is more reliable than any other car I owned, although the Alfa 156 I have now has also never let me down!

If anyone wants a cheap, fun and reliable car - get an HGT without a doubt! I would have another if it wasn't for the fact I need four doors.

This car is rubbish. Get a 106, you get more bang for your buck. The GTi is much better car.

Yep mate, you will get more bang for your buck as you put it, but that's all.

HGT goodies are what make it a great car. Sat nav., 6 disc CD changer, six airbags, 7 if you include the driver. Power steering with a girly button. You know what I mean if you have owned one.

AS FOR ITS HANDLING, you can lower it I did. A set of Konis.

The HGT is always been a good car, people compare it to the VTS and 106 GTI. But TO BE HONEST it's too heavy, 110 kilos to be precise, the VTS and GTi are a lot lighter and lower, and so have less drag factor. The HGT IS A GREAT LOOKING CAR, but has a drag factor of a house brick.

All that said, it's still a great looking motor.

I have owned a HGT for the past 6 1/2 years. I bought it with just 4 delivery miles.

There appears to be a lot of dreamers in the above comments. Yes a standard car will achieve a 0-60 time of 8secs, but you can't compare them with the current crop of hot-hatches.

I've carried out some modifications on my car which has made a big improvement, the biggest of all being the lightened and balanced flywheel having 40% of its mass removed!!

It's not a fast car, but it is quick. mine will hit 60 in around 7.5 seconds and handles well.

I've modified the airbox, fitted a supersprint exhaust with a custom race cat engineered to alter gas speeds to help torque and peak power, modified manifold, lightened flywheel, skimmed head, custom gearbox with Alfa internals, lowered suspension and front upper strut brace, and a few other little bits.

My car was dyno'd with 122bhp and 121lb-ft at the wheels. About 145-150bhp at the flywheel, I don't pay much attention to the flywheel figures as they are usually wrong because of the correction, hence all these optimistic figures in above posts.

Next on the list is better brakes, new suspension and I am planning a turbo conversion as the car is no longer quick enough for me...

What a load of complete *ock!

I have a Fiat Coupe 20VT and the mrs has a Barchetta ragtop (same motor as the HGT) Barchetta is a stage 1 tuned with a re-map, cold air feed and platinum plugs. It's nippy but no way will it stay with modern hot hatches driven quickly. Dyno recently gave 145Hp, which isn't even warm by modern standards.. its no performance car, just brisk and fun to drive.

The Coupe is tuned and running 300Hp with re-,map, fmic and various other mods. But it still won't catch-beat a BMW M3!

I have an HGT, and have had no problems with it. I love the fact people think it's a 1.2, coz they try and give it some, but have no chance. I think all round it's a good lil nippy car.