Punto Sport to launch

GreenmachinE · 29th June 2010, 13:02

Here is the link : Review / Road Test of the 2010 FIAT Grande Punto 90HP for India

no_boundaries · 29th June 2010, 13:41

90 HP. wow !! .. now that's as impressive as it looks .... But again with a machine like punto, TATA needs to buckle up to be able to provide support on A.S.S for such wonderful machines.
IMO, as tempting as the machine might look and ride I would give it a second thought purchasing this vehicle as I would buy it with the intention of running the car to 5 digit + KMs and with the TATA's assurance on the vehicle's "long lasting life" I'd let it pass.

Hope Fiat stops the piggy back deal with TATA and imply a service that gets to be as reputed as the product.

sdp1975 · 29th June 2010, 13:45

Nice detailed review there by motoroids. Fiat should remove the 90HP logo, looks odd.

I was hoping a change in gearbox, but that's not in place.

I do agree with the author when he says that he would rather wait for a more rev happy 1.4 T-jet.

raj.barcode · 29th June 2010, 13:54

nice and clean review; but i have noticed all these reviews give 0 to 100 timing and not 100 to 0 (timing or distance); I guess braking is as important as accelerating

pawan_pullarwar · 29th June 2010, 13:59

They should have launched with improved gear box as well the sport sticker job, looks good.

mjothi · 29th June 2010, 14:08

Yes. Good review. Btw, how many enthus will go bye for with this power or output? I doubt.

The most important thing to be done in my view is marketing + marketing + marketing. And ofcourse, marketing on the A.S.S too.

My 2 cents.

extreme_torque · 29th June 2010, 14:16

Nice. The photographs in the review are simply breathtaking. Keeping in mind that Fiat engines open up after few thousand kilometers, I see even better and smoother performance down the line.

CliffHanger · 29th June 2010, 14:28

This is the Punto that Fiat should have launched initially. This could end up being too little too late. People didn't buy the Punto not because it has a 75bhp engine but because of the following main reasons -

1. The first 2 gears being very short had played a big spoilsport.
Because, when people move the car in the first gear, they think that they would have to change gear at around 15-20kmph, but Punto's 1st gear doesn't go beyond 10kmph and the engine becomes very harsh if it is pushed further. This continues with the 2nd gear. So the general opinion people get is - the engine is noisy and the car is a dud with no pick-up at all.

2. Fit and finish - The last time I saw falling plastic bits was in our Amby in the 90s. When i saw them in the Punto, Imaginge how surprised one would have been.

3. A.S.S - Though some have got some good experiences with TASS recently. The majority is still having issues. Down south, the situation is very poor and shows no signs for improvement.

Though all the above 3 have been discussed to death, I feel Fiat should have concentrated on these things rather than just a '90hp' badge.

Sorry Fiat, you're getting the game All Wrong!!

krish3 · 29th June 2010, 14:29

Raj, rest assured the Punto has superb braking so it wouldn't lag in that department. I know such apprehensions have started after you've seen or heard about the rocket hatch.. right?

MihirC · 29th June 2010, 14:35

This is a much better review than that of ACI. I hope FIAT has not scrapped off the Punto sports edition plans with the meaty wheels and alloys along with the sunroof and moonroof. If FIAT launches the 90hp model with only a 50k premium over the existing model then this would sell in decent numbers.

download2live · 29th June 2010, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffHanger

This is the Punto that Fiat should have launched initially. This could end up being too little too late. People didn't buy the Punto not because it has a 75bhp engine but because of the following main reasons

I feel otherwise. The Palio was a very good machine. but 1.6 led to a fuel guzzler image. No matter which version of Palio was under discussion, it was labelled a fuel guzzler.

This is what I used to hear a lot.

"Which car is that?"
"Its a Palio"
"Nice car but mileage is low"

This time they are doing it right. Make a good name for the car among the AAM JUNTA. Then start off by introducing high end versions.

We have to remember that not all car users/buyers are team-bhp'ians.

sanjaymugur · 29th June 2010, 15:21

a big mistake by FIAT to not launch 90HP in other variants(only in EM PK)... 90HP VGT gives better mileage than the 75HP FGT..... so they should have given the option of this engine in all their low end variants starting from ACTIVE versions...

29th June 2010, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_boundaries

90 HP. wow !! .. now that's as impressive as it looks .... But again with a machine like punto, TATA needs to buckle up to be able to provide support on A.S.S for such wonderful machines.
IMO, as tempting as the machine might look and ride I would give it a second thought purchasing this vehicle as I would buy it with the intention of running the car to 5 digit + KMs and with the TATA's assurance on the vehicle's "long lasting life" I'd let it pass.

Hope Fiat stops the piggy back deal with TATA and imply a service that gets to be as reputed as the product.

Hey buddy, There isnt any tata assurance on the Puntos long life. The punto is designed, manufactured and assembled in India by FIAT INDIA. And the vehicle is just serviced in India by TML. Even warranty, vendors and service procedures are laid down by FIAT INDIA. So there is no point in bad mouthing TML.

The only similarity is that maybe the same person who services a TML vehicle would also service a FIAT vehicle in the service centre.
But mostly in all TATA-FIAT JV A.S.S there is a fiat team to handle fiat vehicles. And they are trained also by FIAT INDIA at Ranjangaon Training Facility.

If you are going to buy a punto then dont let your misconception stop you. But please dont bad mouth Indian Manufacturers. Oh and one more bit of information FIAT service was second from Last; in the last JD POWER CSI survey, While TML was 5th, above GM, FORD and HYUNDAI.

extreme_torque · 29th June 2010, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjaymugur

a big mistake by FIAT to not launch 90HP in other variants(only in EM PK)... 90HP VGT gives better mileage than the 75HP FGT..... so they should have given the option of this engine in all their low end variants starting from ACTIVE versions...

What happens to the pricing then?

deepakhon · 29th June 2010, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MihirC

This is a much better review than that of ACI.

Aren't ACI and Motoroids saying the same thing? They both say that 90 hp Punto is about a second and a half faster than the 75 bhp one. So, it is still in 16 secs for 0-100kph.

Motoroids has a more detailed review as compared to ACI.

29th June 2010, 13:02	#106
GreenmachinE BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Salem Posts: 89 Thanked: 35 Times	90 BHP Punto VGT Short Review Link Here is the link : Review / Road Test of the 2010 FIAT Grande Punto 90HP for India Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 13:41	#107
no_boundaries BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 221 Thanked: 201 Times	90 HP. wow !! .. now that's as impressive as it looks .... But again with a machine like punto, TATA needs to buckle up to be able to provide support on A.S.S for such wonderful machines. IMO, as tempting as the machine might look and ride I would give it a second thought purchasing this vehicle as I would buy it with the intention of running the car to 5 digit + KMs and with the TATA's assurance on the vehicle's "long lasting life" I'd let it pass. Hope Fiat stops the piggy back deal with TATA and imply a service that gets to be as reputed as the product. Last edited by no_boundaries : 29th June 2010 at 13:56.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 13:45	#108
sdp1975 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,700 Thanked: 1,273 Times View My Garage	Nice detailed review there by motoroids. Fiat should remove the 90HP logo, looks odd. I was hoping a change in gearbox, but that's not in place. I do agree with the author when he says that he would rather wait for a more rev happy 1.4 T-jet. Last edited by sdp1975 : 29th June 2010 at 13:57.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 13:54	#109
raj.barcode BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 706 Thanked: 273 Times View My Garage	nice and clean review; but i have noticed all these reviews give 0 to 100 timing and not 100 to 0 (timing or distance); I guess braking is as important as accelerating
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 13:59	#110
pawan_pullarwar BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pune - Now in Munich, Germany Posts: 778 Thanked: 129 Times	They should have launched with improved gear box as well the sport sticker job, looks good.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 14:08	#111
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	Yes. Good review. Btw, how many enthus will go bye for with this power or output? I doubt. The most important thing to be done in my view is marketing + marketing + marketing. And ofcourse, marketing on the A.S.S too. My 2 cents.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 14:16	#112
extreme_torque Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,376 Thanked: 5,105 Times	Nice. The photographs in the review are simply breathtaking. Keeping in mind that Fiat engines open up after few thousand kilometers, I see even better and smoother performance down the line.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 14:28	#113
CliffHanger BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 756 Thanked: 1,597 Times	This is the Punto that Fiat should have launched initially. This could end up being too little too late. People didn't buy the Punto not because it has a 75bhp engine but because of the following main reasons - 1. The first 2 gears being very short had played a big spoilsport. Because, when people move the car in the first gear, they think that they would have to change gear at around 15-20kmph, but Punto's 1st gear doesn't go beyond 10kmph and the engine becomes very harsh if it is pushed further. This continues with the 2nd gear. So the general opinion people get is - the engine is noisy and the car is a dud with no pick-up at all. 2. Fit and finish - The last time I saw falling plastic bits was in our Amby in the 90s. When i saw them in the Punto, Imaginge how surprised one would have been. 3. A.S.S - Though some have got some good experiences with TASS recently. The majority is still having issues. Down south, the situation is very poor and shows no signs for improvement. Though all the above 3 have been discussed to death, I feel Fiat should have concentrated on these things rather than just a '90hp' badge. Sorry Fiat, you're getting the game All Wrong!!
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 14:29	#114
krish3 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cochin/Bangalore Posts: 758 Thanked: 191 Times	Raj, rest assured the Punto has superb braking so it wouldn't lag in that department. I know such apprehensions have started after you've seen or heard about the rocket hatch.. right?
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 14:35	#115
MihirC BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 534 Thanked: 71 Times	This is a much better review than that of ACI. I hope FIAT has not scrapped off the Punto sports edition plans with the meaty wheels and alloys along with the sunroof and moonroof. If FIAT launches the 90hp model with only a 50k premium over the existing model then this would sell in decent numbers.
	() Thanks

29th June 2010, 15:21	#117
sanjaymugur BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 262 Thanked: 57 Times	a big mistake by FIAT to not launch 90HP in other variants(only in EM PK)... 90HP VGT gives better mileage than the 75HP FGT..... so they should have given the option of this engine in all their low end variants starting from ACTIVE versions...
	() Thanks