2 registered members (Edinburgh, montydog),
179
guests, and 1
spider. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums69
Topics113,609
Posts1,341,218
Members1,802
|
Most Online731 Jan 14th, 2020
|
|
|
Punto 1.2 8v 2013
#1600683
17/05/2017 07:17
17/05/2017 07:17
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
OP
Enjoying the ride
|
OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
|
Hi there,
I'm wondering if a 2013 Punto would be a reasonable purchase as a town car for the kids. Are there any major weak points to look out for? I'm afraid I don't know much about there and the Punto lineage over the last 10 years or so seems rather confusing - starting from the Punto, going through the Grande Punto, via the Punto Evo back to the Punto. There seems to have been big overlaps when the Grande Punto and the Punto Evo models were simultaneously available.
Any help gratefully received. Thanks, Neil
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600684
17/05/2017 07:26
17/05/2017 07:26
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
Forum veteran
|
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
|
Decent enough little car. 8v is a bit underpowered for the latest Punto bodyshell, but its OK round town
Other than the obvious stuff like service history and damage, the only thing to watch out for is signs of neglect (bearing in mind they are often first cars for people with no money or mechanical sympathy)
The only longstanding 1.2 8v malady is failing headgaskets, so do the usual check for water in the oil and oil in the water
Also, the latest shape suffers from a failure of the wiring loom into the hatch (right where the cables run from the body into the hatch itself - top left corner). Check that the wiper, rear washer and high level brake light all work properly
Otherwise, if its clean and straight and everything works, its a good, stylish first car.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600695
17/05/2017 08:39
17/05/2017 08:39
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600696
17/05/2017 08:39
17/05/2017 08:39
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
|
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416
Lightwater, Surrey
|
My son has a 1.2 8v Punto Evo "My Life" 3 door (stop/start) and is already complaining that it's underpowered, but then he's been in my modified Coupe around Spa, Snetteron and Assen It's modern enough to have Bluetooth, USB/MP3 and all that stuff. Insurance is cheap compared to say a Fiesta. Good first car I reckon, much better than the Fiat 850 Saloon that was my first car (843cc, 34hp)
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600697
17/05/2017 08:43
17/05/2017 08:43
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
Yes, the 1.2 8v may be a bit underpowered for motorway but will be OK for around town.
I had a 1.2 16v Mk2 Punto and now have a 1.4 8v Grande Punto, both similarly powered but you needed to rev the 1.2 16v to get the best out of it, whereas on the 1.4 8v there's really no point in taking it over about 4K rpm.
I'd say the 1.4 8v is about the minimum that's "ok" for motorway driving + overtaking, with just the driver on board.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600704
17/05/2017 11:28
17/05/2017 11:28
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
|
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416
Lightwater, Surrey
|
I'm afraid I don't know much about there and the Punto lineage over the last 10 years or so seems rather confusing - starting from the Punto, going through the Grande Punto, via the Punto Evo back to the Punto. There seems to have been big overlaps when the Grande Punto and the Punto Evo models were simultaneously available. The original Punto spawned a larger version called the "Grande Punto" and this then "evolved" into the Punto Evo, but in the final few years was just called Punto.
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600707
17/05/2017 11:39
17/05/2017 11:39
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
OP
Enjoying the ride
|
OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
|
Thanks guys for the pointers - I'm learning slowly.
I have found a 10/2013 model with 33000kms for about 6000€. The problem is a preregistered one (04/2016) with a nominal 20 kms on the clock, ESP and a Euro6 engine costs 8000€. Both would have about 12 months warranty.
Funnily enough, a similarly basic Panda costs a a bit more even though the list price is much lower. Demand I guess.
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: DaveG]
#1600708
17/05/2017 11:43
17/05/2017 11:43
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,723 Brisbane, Australia
Possum
My life on the forum
|
My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,723
Brisbane, Australia
|
Good first car I reckon, much better than the Fiat 850 Saloon that was my first car (843cc, 34hp) My elder daughter's first car was the 843cc Coupe which was had a bit more grunt than yours as it came standard with a dual throat 30 DIC Weber. She bought that 23 years ago and still has it (now on Historic plates). Up until 6 months ago, we had a 1.4 8v Grande Punto and it was a great city car. As mentioned earlier the 1.2 may lack the grunt for long distance highway driving. Ours gave no trouble in the 8 years and 100,000km of ownership; traded it on a 500X with a 1.4 turbo (103kw).
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600713
17/05/2017 13:49
17/05/2017 13:49
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,517 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
|
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,517
Aldershot
|
Avoid the 1.2 engine as it's way underpowered out of town.
I have now had my 1.4 diesel Grande Punto for almost 10 years now. Apart from a faulty clutch release bearing lunching itself at 40000 miles it has been trouble free.
Just routine service parts have been needed apart from that. Even the clutch issue took less than 2 hours to fix.
Mine lives outside and there is no sign of the rust at the brake servo to which GrahamL alluded.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600717
17/05/2017 14:15
17/05/2017 14:15
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
GrahamL
Unregistered
|
Another weak point is front suspension springs... both of mine snapped within a month of each other at under 30K miles. From similar comments on the Fiat forum it's not that unusual.
Also replaced front droplinks (twice) and wishbones to fix knocking noises at around 30K-35K miles, but other than that nothing else that you wouldn't expect from wear and tear on a now 10 year old car. Just passed MOT with no advisories a few weeks ago so will hopefully be good for a few more years yet.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600718
17/05/2017 14:26
17/05/2017 14:26
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
OP
Enjoying the ride
|
OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
|
Is the 1.2 so bad? The 1.4 only has 77PS vs. the 69PS of the 1.2. I don't think either are going to be exciting but a lot better than the 1982 series 1 Panda I had as a first car I will get a drive in one in the next few days. Btw, I always liked those 850 Coupes. I still remember them flying past us on our first continental trip in my dad's Austin 1100!!!
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600720
17/05/2017 14:58
17/05/2017 14:58
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,517 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
|
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,517
Aldershot
|
Yes. The local dealership had one as a courtesy car, and if it was the only one available when mine went in for a service, they used to apologise to me for giving me the slug.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600721
17/05/2017 15:15
17/05/2017 15:15
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416 Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG
Club Treasurer Member 311
|
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,416
Lightwater, Surrey
|
I'm wondering if a 2013 Punto would be a reasonable purchase as a town car for the kids. If you can, test drive a few for yourself before making a decision between 1.2 and 1.4. As you say, it's a "town car for the kids" presumably to be driven by the kids rather than being used as a vessel to transport the kids driven by you?
1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus 1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600723
17/05/2017 16:46
17/05/2017 16:46
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
Forum veteran
|
Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
|
The 1242cc lump started out more than 20 years ago in the Punto Mk1 with 60bhp. It had about 820kg to lug around, so it wasn't quick - "adequate" is probably as good as it gets
It was then used in the Mk2 and Mk2B, where it remained at 60bhp, despite the weight creeping up by 50kg or so. The chassis was nicer than the Mk1, so the lack of speed was slightly made up for by neater handling
For the Grande Punto and Punto Evo, the same 1242cc lump was "tuned" to a whopping 65bhp, but by now, the addition of a bigger shell, loads of squishy safety equipment and plusher trim etc had bloated the car to over 1,000kg, so the power to weight ratio suffered badly
The 0-60 time is reputed to be about 14 seconds, but it feels an awful lot slower.
The 1.4 is definitely a better engine, but commands a higher price
1.2 is obviously cheaper to insure
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: whatmoretyres]
#1600763
18/05/2017 07:26
18/05/2017 07:26
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
OP
Enjoying the ride
|
OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
|
"Slow is good" was actually my first thought as son has already damaged the Impreza enough to have to have it collected in a skip.
We seem to get the 1.2 8V and the 1.4 8V here. There seems to be 1 second difference in the 0-60 time, 6 mph top speed but 2000€ if one buys a new or nearly one. 2000€ for going from really slow to almost really slow seems poor value for money. I expect at the price point of the 1.4, I could start to consider more modern products.
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: Nigel]
#1600787
18/05/2017 12:07
18/05/2017 12:07
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609 S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped
Club member 1924
|
Club member 1924
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
|
The 1242cc lump started out more than 20 years ago in the Punto Mk1 with 60bhp. It had about 820kg to lug around, so it wasn't quick - "adequate" is probably as good as it gets
It was then used in the Mk2 and Mk2B, where it remained at 60bhp, despite the weight creeping up by 50kg or so. The chassis was nicer than the Mk1, so the lack of speed was slightly made up for by neater handling
For the Grande Punto and Punto Evo, the same 1242cc lump was "tuned" to a whopping 65bhp, but by now, the addition of a bigger shell, loads of squishy safety equipment and plusher trim etc had bloated the car to over 1,000kg, so the power to weight ratio suffered badly
The 0-60 time is reputed to be about 14 seconds, but it feels an awful lot slower.
The 1.4 is definitely a better engine, but commands a higher price
1.2 is obviously cheaper to insure Nerd alert ! Cue Mr Bean nerd voice Actually I'll think you'll find, in the Mk1 Punto, the 1242 came with 60, 75 and 85bhp (in the 16v sporting.) The base model had a 1.1 with 55bhp. I had the 1.2 SX with 75bhp, and it had quite good performance so long as you didn't have too many passengers. I hankered after the 1.4 GT turbo, which then became a 1.8NA in the later Punto. Both had 130bhp.
Last edited by Gripped; 18/05/2017 12:13.
|
|
|
Re: Punto 1.2 8v 2013
[Re: neil_r]
#1600855
19/05/2017 07:39
19/05/2017 07:39
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869 Germany
neil_r
OP
Enjoying the ride
|
OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
|
Thinking a bit deeper about it, there are really much more up-to-date cars for not much more money, so buying a new or nearly new Punto does not really make sense when very little more than the price of the 1.4 Punto buys for example a Hyundai i20 or a Kia Rio with 100+ h.p. which are both modern and well equiped.
Thanks everyone for the help in understanding a bit more about the Punto though. Very much appreciated.
Last edited by neil_r; 19/05/2017 07:40.
1997 20V 2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR 2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD 2018 Mazda2 GT
|
|
|
|