FIAT PUNTO 1.2 16V Active Sport 3dr (2003)

Company car, did the job

I only had this for a year from new (part of a company scheme) so I don't really know about reliability issues on the Fiat Punto, just the way it drives and handles. It did have a clutch issue that the dealer sorted out begrudgingly under the warranty, but apart from that it was fine (apart from some minor squeaking in the back).

I picked the 16V as it seemed nice and sporty and fast when I tested it. I only rarely drive clients around, and then it's only ever one at a time, so i picked the 3 door as I reckon it looks better and saved me a few hundred I think on the ticket price.

Fiat Punto was a good laugh round corners and on the straight, very powerful, excellent power to weight ratio, that sort of thing. The only trouble there was that it's quite tall and slim so it can blow about in the wind, and there's some body roll otherwise. Having said that, the height makes visibility really good, which makes driving at speed and generally messing about a bit safer and easier. You need to work it though, get it up to 4k revs, but it's really alive once you get there.

It's not too noisy either, quite sedate, easy to creep up over the speed limit... officer.

The sport seats, they're the bucket style, and they're really comfy. They also keep you in place if and when you decide to rag the car about a bit for a laugh. That's the idea really.

Nice big boot in the Fiat Punto as well as the spacious seating. Always useful for work purposes (another reason I got it).

Bit odd that there were no rear head rests, maybe one of the last cars not to have them. Not really an issue for me as I seldom had rear passengers, and it helped with rear visibility.

But I have heard bad things about the Punto and Fiats in general when they get over a year old, which isn't that long. Parts should be cheap as they're common, but I don't suppose that's the point really.