2000 Fiat Punto ELX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Front windscreen wipers failed.

Intermittent problem with engine failing to start. The Engine Control Unit was replaced in the hope that this would cure the problem, then the ignition keys, as it was thought that the engine immobiliser was the fault. None of these actually effected a cure, and the car still sometimes fails to start, though if left for 5 minutes, then tried again it will!

Engine misfire developed early on in ownership and the Lambda Probe (which I think controls the catalyst) was replaced. This cured the misfire, though the progress of the car in slow moving traffic with the throttle only lightly depressed is very jerky, as if the fuel cut-off device is too abrupt. It has to be said though that every other 8 valve Punto of the same age we've driven has been affected that way too, but it does sadly make them impossible to drive consistently smoothly.

Electric power steering system failed at 4 months. ECU replaced and has been fine since.

Badly vibrating brakes were reported to our dealer at the car's first service, but on collecting the car my wife was told there was nothing wrong with them, the service receptionist condescendingly suggesting she shouldn't be wasting their time! I took the car back the following week insisting the chief mechanic drive the car, and he agreed that there was indeed a quite obvious problem. The front discs (which were warped) were then replaced.

Less than 9 months later the brakes were again vibrating badly. As our Fiat dealer had by this time closed (having been open for less than 3 years), we took the Punto to a local mechanic who again replaced the front discs.

The clutch is now juddering and will shortly need to be replaced, and the engine is suddenly using masses of oil, both of which have been the catalyst in getting me to write this report.

This Punto has been one of 6 Fiats we've owned and has been by far the worst.

Like our used Marea Weekend 2.0 litre HLX and a new Alfa Romeo it was bought from Rowcliffe Continental in Taunton, who are now no longer in business. Their ability to fix faults was abysmal, though our subsequent experience with Olds of Dorchester has been little better, leading one to assume that Fiat's UK dealers are probably all mediocre at best.

The reliability of the Punto has certainly spoiled our enjoyment of it, though there are quite a number of inherent design faults that do this too.

The gearing is absurdly high, which is great for relaxed (and quiet) motorway cruising, but gives the car no traditional Fiat brio whatsoever. You might question our judgement in this, saying that we would feel that way coming from a 150bhp Marea; but the reality is that the little Cinquecento S that we also owned at the start of our time with the Punto always had so much more brio, despite being inherently slower.

Other criticisms are the lack of a clutch foot rest, an indicator warning system that you can't hear, soft interior plastics which have a propensity to get scratched, and awful rear three-quarter visibility due to fat 'C' pillars.

I want us to sell this car, but my wife still likes it, which would seem to indicate that the car actually has some redeeming qualities. Due to the problems though, I find them increasingly hard to find.

Fiat have lost their way. When they produced cars that were fun to drive it was much easier to forgive their faults. Now though, with cars as mundane as the Punto, it is less easy.

I bought a pre-reg 2001 car with delivery miles earlier this year (review is in the 2001 section). Although I wrote the review after only a few weeks of ownership and should perhaps have given the car a fair chance, I am now 5 months down the line and if anything, my review was far too complimentary to the car. I said that I looked forward to the warranty expiring as an excuse to ditch it and get something else instead. I am still having endless problems with the car and dealers (the latest being the paint on the bonnet pitting and bubbling) and now think I will bin the car next summer and a proper car instead. Absolute garbage!

Well, I agree with you about the (lost) traditional brio of FIATs. It seems FIAT does not understand that if people wanted a VW they'd probably buy one in the first place. Few companies can make better VWs than...VW itself. Instead, producing 1,2 lt engines pumping out 60 bhp in 2002 just kills the perceived image of FIAT as a sporty brand, without necessarily adding much in the way of perceived quality or reliability. That's why LANCIA is suffering too. Let's hope they'll wake up soon.

For the progress in slow moving traffic: my Tipo is affected too. However changing from FIAT spark-plugs (Champion actually) to BOSCH (WR6DC for the Tipo) and setting the gap between the electrodes to the lower permissible value seems to improve things. It also leads to better pick-up from low revs. Hope that helps.

Can you please explain what the trip button does on the right hand side of the dash.

2 months ago I bought 2000/Punto/1,9JTD at 60k km. Nice looking, well designed and good fuel consumption. Other option was Opel Corsa, and I start to regret not taking it. Punto, Fiat mostly has a strong personality and usualy tends not to function... Les expensive then others, but what you get is what you pay for, and if it's a second hand, small-moderate problems will accure often, service will be expensive and spear parts not of best quality. Not to mention the inconvenience of not being able to use it for some day, while in service, and those days could be many in number.

Anyway, Punto's all I could afford, not having more money, but if you can spend more for a better car, reliable mostly, don't hesitate! It's better then paying for service and constant problems. Punto-diesel is not as bed as some say, but life isn't easy with it. Petrol engines are much simpler, not so many problems, but even close to diesel in fuel economy.

Problems had were mostly with sensors and poor diesel quality in romania, resulting in start problems and engine stops while driving. Also vacum and clutch (expensive and to early)... sensors are not to expensive, but they are many and with time more & more fail. Commercial OBD scanners are not to good so still have to visit fiat's expensive service. In Bucharest it takes almost a week to get an appointment...etc.

Conclusion: Don't recommend a second hand Fiat, but if you feel lucky, like I felt, try it...

If you press the trip button the display changes from showing total miles travelled to showing how many miles travlled in a particular journey (provided you depress the button for a second or two to set the journey counter to zero) to showing fuel consumption in mpg.