2002 Fiat Punto HGT from UK and Ireland - Comments

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.

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.

Sorry, but I doubt you beat a civic type R from the lights! all you have to do is read the papers on both cars and you will see the civic is 2 seconds faster 0-60! so in my eyes the civic type R must of pulled off in second gear or something mate! sorry for me to ruin your fun!!!

Yes, but the papers don't always tell the truth, I had a punto 1.2 8 valve and on paper the top speed was recorede at 97mph, why did I do 110 mph then??

So maybe it did beat the Type-R.

I'm sorry I own a punto HGT and there is no way on earth it will beat a civic type r off the lights or in any department for that matter.

The HGT is quicker than what is stated on paper do...

You may have beaten a civic type R off the lights, but a granny just rolling off the lights doesn't count. there is no way a standard HGT is going to beat a civic typeR in a race...!

I've owned a HGT for the past 2 years and it has no problem beating the mk4 golf GTi's etc (even though they're more powerful!), I race mine a lot it eats saxo vtr's for breakfast and will quite happily kept up with the vts's and the vts is apparently 0.7 seconds quicker to 60 (that quite a lot in a standing 1/4mile).

Since then I've fitted an induction kit and a straight through racing exhaust (removing the cat). so now I've got about 140-145bhp :o)

I'm considering further tuning, either a chip and cam (about 160-170bhp), or a custom made 220bhp turbo conversion -which will beat civic typeR's...

First off, I own a punto HGT, and it has NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER taking on vts in a straight line.

"Don't EVEN COMPARE" it to a vtr as they are not even in the same league!! HGT would simply wipe the floor with one.

Fiat claim for the HGT was with the driver 2 passengers a full tank of fuel and a 20kg ballast in the boot!

The hgt also sits in insurence group 14/15, has been dynoed as standard to produce in excess of 140bhp, with far more torque than the vts also.

I have fitted a pipercross viperkit as well as a modified cold air feed set up to mine, and have timed 0-62mph of 7.01sec and 0-100 of 18.17sec. No its not a one off, it can be done every day of the week.

The vts will only beat a hgt around the twists..

I agree I've had my 00 punto hgt on a dyna pack recently and the only mod its has is an induction kit!

It hit 143 bhp at the flywheel and made 142 lb ft torque that's much higher than the factory claims!

And to anyone who claims the dyna pack was over reading the same session a red top gsi hit 138 bhp claimed to be 150 and an is200 with factory 153 claim made only 140 bhp!

Without being offensive to anyone, I can't see the purpose of tuning up a vehicle like a Fiat Punto. I was under the impression that this site was to enable people to evaluate whether the vehicle in question is worth purchasing. Not a place to argue which car is the fastest! I would rather have a Honda or a Citroen any time for reliability. I have an August '02 Fiat Punto 1.2 8V. It's been a blasted disaster since about 14 thousand miles, now has 46 thousand on the clock, had no end of problems with it and when looking at the reviews on this model and make I just wish I'd found this site in July 2002 and I'd never had bought a Punto or a Fiat. It's bad enough when the car that you buy new starts to play up, but when the dealer starts to mess you about too even when the car is under warranty, it's time to dump that car. As I am doing in 2 weeks time, I'm glad to say!

Would agree with the above post whats the point, I understand it is a cheap car for younger guys to mod, but at the end of the day it is exactly what it says on the box a cheap car, that you need to spend a few K modding to get it anywhere near a decent car why not just buy a decent car?

"Cheap car for younger guys to mod"? I think not! For starters I own one and find it far from cheap at insurance group 15. Also I'm 28yrs old.

I highly doubt a "Young guy" could get insurance for the HGT.

I suppose your 70+ by the sound of your comment.

Pathetic fool!

What a pity that a mature person of 28 feels the need to name call, over someones opinions. I'm the fella that made the comment about my wifes car being a blasted disaster. I'm certainly not 70, in fact I'm a 45 year old that has just recently finished restoring (except the final re-spray) a 1988 Porsche 911 3.2. I also race a Suzuki GSXR1000, that I fully prepare myself, although my results could be better! And have various road going Motorcycles, that I restore. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, that is what I was under the impression that this site was for? Not for people that own commuter cars to inform each other how to 'soop' them up. I will not lower myself to enter into a slagging match!

The Punto would never beat a Ctr off in a drag.

What planet are you on???

Planet 'my car is the fastest car ever' I think...

The Punto is fairly quick, but is simply a warm hatch, nothing more.

The goalposts have been moved dear boy and the Punto is not the daddy by a long way.

Owned an HGT myself from Feb 2002 - June 2003. Couldn't wait to get shot of it. It went fairly well, handling was tidy and it was quite fun to drive when it worked. Unfortunately it had numerous problems, the dealers were a disgrace and caused more problems than they 'tried' to fix, and I never had any confidence in the build quality or reliability. They are cheap rubbish. HGTs are now available for £8,500 from the car supermarkets - like the previous contributor said... cheap cars for young lads. Ditched mine and bought an Astra DTi and a Kawasaki ZX6R - that's proper performance for you! (the bike, not the car!)

I find it quite funny that all you people come on here saying that certain things aren't possible and that hgts are rubbish, etc. If so, why are you reading this? Now lets get to my opinnion:

HGT - one of the most under-rated cars around!

CTR - probably the most over-rated cars around!

I COULDNT AGREE MORE with the above comment.

I have owned a HGT for nearly two years, and in that time NOTHING has gone wrong with it!

I don't drive like an oap either..

The car is VERY quick, pulls very strongly through all gears. I have fitted a Pipercross VIPER with a modded cold air feed and have a timed quater mile of 15.13 sec.

0-60 was recorded in 7.01 sec 0-100 was dispatched in 18.21 sec. Not a "ONE OFF" either.

The HGT is VERY underrated!!

By the way, my friends "Focus ST 170" can keep up with me.

Made a typing error.

What I was supposed to say was "friends ST170 Can't keep up with me"