2000 Fiat Punto hgt from UK and Ireland - Comments

No faults so far as I haven't had the car that long.

This car is seriously quick!!! Blows away lots of cars from the lights. Pulls strongly all the way past 100mph!!

Kept on the tail of a bmw 330i the other day (from a standing start all the way to 80mph. The bloke didn't know what was going on!!

Also it handles like it is on rails

Excellent build quality and interior, loaded with toys. air conditioning, ABS, 5 cd auto changer, traction control etc...

Insurance is high though (group 15) and is heavy on petrol. But its FAST!!!

I own a saxo vts and had a few drag racees against my mates hgt and LOST on all occasions!!

They have plenty of low down torque and fly when the 1.8 16v vti engine lets loose..One seriously underatted hot hatch.

Beware people those HGT,s are very quick!!! Gonna get one soon.

They are fast cars!!!

I've been beaten by them on a number of occasions, and I drive Focus ST170.

I've owned a 2000 W reg HGT for 2 years now. It will move when pushed, It also doesn't like to be driven like a saloon which is good as I've got a lead foot. My husband has a chipped 172 clio sport and it can keep up with that, but not quite beat it! However being a 30 year old woman it is fun to burn off golf gtis, tdi reds and other boy racer cars at the lights, they really don't expect anything from a punto so you always pass them with a smile on your face. I bought mine for £5000 with 42k on the clock, new pirelli tires and brakes - bargain. I just added a K&N air filter and have regularly gold serviced. Such at a lot of power and kit for your money. Ps Has the best sub woofer sound system as standard on the market!

To get real power add a viper + a well placed cold air feed, it makes a huge difference!

You say you have got a k&n "that's fine" but don't forget that cold air feed, otherwise your filter will only draw in hot air.

Not that I usually get into the 'mines faster than yours' arguement, but I have an Astra GSI redtop and my brother has a Y reg HGT. We have raced and the Punto just can't live with it. Fact.

Considerd what you said, but I have owned a Saxo vts, astra gsi red top, pug 205 1.9 gti in the past and now a punto hgt and to be honest the Hgt when run in was very quick, quicker than all the above. Dynoed at 143bhp totally standard (no mods) with a LOAD of in gear torque. Weighs a lot less than the red top also.

I have had two Punto HGTs 1.8 and they have lots of common faults like gear box and engine mounting breaking down. They are fast, but not as quick as a Clio 172 which I now own. The Punto is very poor when driving into bends at high speed in wet weather. Insurance is far to high, The car does around 28 - 32 Mpg. Save your money and buy a different make.

I have owned a 2000 v reg punto hgt in broom yellow for nearly two years and it is a super motor, much better than the previous gt which I have aso owned. its loaded with goodies- traction, ABS, sat nav, you don't get that in no saxo vts/ 106 gti. the car can be thirsty when driven hard, but it does make you smile (after 3k revs it flies) mine averages 31mpg. make sure its well serviced and cam belts changed before 50k. I have fitted a peco full stainless exhaust and a kn57i with cold air feed and the next step is a unichip. reliability is super, it's an under estimated car and fiat don't have the gremlins they had in the 80's and early 90's. take my advice and buy one, be a bit different everybody has a plastic fantastic saxo.

To the people who have one of these cars - given the choice, would you have another?

The general opinion seems to be that yes, they are reasonably 'nippy' and fun to drive, but wouldn't buy another.

Comments?

They are a "DAMN" sight more than nippy. I own a 106gti and when racing a friends hgt there is nothing in it. His Hgt has also been dynoed at 143bhp, totally standard and sits in insurance group 15! So I'd call it FAST, like the "MAJORITY" of people who have owned or drivern them, have stated.

Don't confuse it with the Sporting model.

Big deal. Had mine rolling roaded at 153.6bhp with just a closed carbon filter. Plenty of in gear torque, bloody quick if you ask me, as it doesn't weigh much.

I don't own a HGT however I want one. I own an 8v which is pretty slow and am on the look out for a good priced HGT with low ish miles!

Just got to be careful of the gearbox linkage going and the variator as well - the variator is about £500 to get a new one fitted by fiat so if you start to hear the diesely sound then start saving lol.

I'm a member of a punto mk2 owners club an it is VERY informative on all models of the mk2 punto so any queries drop in and ask us - someone is bound to know the answer w w w dot puntomk2 dot co dot uk.

So to sum up - get one, there quick, reliable and nippy, booked at 130bhp standard although most are higher than this, whack a decent supersprint back box (or full system if you have the cash) and a BMC CDA or the GSR induction kit and you will get a lot more horse for your money lol.

Slower, same power, less torque and more weight than 1.4gt.

I have bought a HGT. I pick it up tomomorrow. I agree that they are very fast as I have driven one before! The only reason people don't rate them very high is because they haven't got one! They will probably have a Nova or a Saxo. There is nothing wrong with those cars, but come on, don't you think they're a bit COMMON!!!

I have a hgt and it is a good car, not very rewarding for the driver though as you don't feel totally involved like you did in the old hot Clio, s (RSI,16 valve, Williams).

The car is definitely better in life than on paper and mine more than kept up with a civic type r on the m40 all the way up to 130mph. I don't think this car can be beaten for value for money.

I am now after a 182 any opinions on the 182 when compared to the hgt would be appreciated.