Story of two Puntos : Third Free service update

nairrk · 24th November 2009, 11:17

Congratulations on your buy !
It seems more sales on punto and i20 now-a-days in the hatchback sector !
Does this mean that other car manufactures are getting a real challenge now?

Dante · 24th November 2009, 13:30

Congratulations!
I myself love this car. It looks beautiful.
Take care and drive safe!

MCR · 25th November 2009, 11:41

Thanks for the wishes nairrk and Dante.

The MID screen also displays the message "low fuel warning". This happens when the needle is almost touching the "E" symbol in the gauge. First indicator is that the orange lamp( just below "E") starts glowing once the needle touches the red zone in the gauge.

MCR · 5th December 2009, 17:59

Hello Mods,
Pls rename the thread as, EDIT :1500 Kms crunched.

Had been to Varadahalli, sringeri, Hornadu over the last weekend. Oh boy the car simply likes to crunch the miles. (Touchwood)I covered 1200 Kms with ease and without any fatigue. The car handled bad roads on Chickmagalur - Sagara sector and Sringeri- Hornadu belt and the most hopeless stretch of road on the Horanadu - Chickmagalur route with great ease. Amazing ride quality, I never slowed down when encountering small and medium sized potholes. Amazing streering, took the curves in Kudremukh at 80Kmph and the steering provided excellent feedback without any hint of understeer or oversteer. Excellent foglamps and headlamps. Good luggage space for carrying stuff. Excellent car Fiat.

.anshuman · 5th December 2009, 22:38

Good to know that you are satisfied with your Punto. Have you started pushing the car already? As its just done with the running in, i would suggest you to take it easy for another couple of kms on odo.

Amartya · 5th December 2009, 23:01

I am glad you are having fun with the car. The car is a long distance tourer like no other. A good A/C, comfortable seats and brilliant dynamics make the Punto one of the best highway cars in India.

Here's to many more miles of happiness.

Soumya_Ramesh · 5th December 2009, 23:49

Congratulations MCR on the landmark. Good that punto has kept you happy all along your journey. I am a great admirer of this car ever since it is launched. I feel FIAT has got everything right with this car and i bet it is going to go a long way. Happy puntoing

Aquarian20 · 8th December 2009, 14:32

Congratulations MCR. Yes, I too own a punto and have already clocked over 7K in the last 4 months. All Punto owners seem to want and travel as much as possible. Keep the miles crunching and happy punting.

MCR · 9th December 2009, 09:08

Thanks for the wishes .anshuman, Amartya, Soumya_Ramesh and Aquarian20.
Till date the max speed I have driven in my car is only 90KMPH. I have set the speed warning at 90KMPH. The rpm hovers around 2200 to 2400 in that speed in 5th gear. Only in 3rd and 4th gear does the rpm needle reach around 3500. I push the engine occassionally just to make it more free revving.

Dhar's · 9th December 2009, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amartya

The car is a long distance tourer like no other.

@MCR & tbhpians
Seems like GP is the only hatch with both highway poise and drivability in city. Other options are limited to Swift, i20, Jazz & Fabia.
Whats your opinion?

TC_aashay · 9th December 2009, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhar's

@MCR & tbhpians
Seems like GP is the only hatch with both highway poise and drivability in city. Other options are limited to Swift, i20, Jazz & Fabia.
Whats your opinion?

The following are my personal opinion & I'm not looking forward to create a debate:

1) swift: Safety issue in case of a accident. But the MJD tuned for better performance.

2) i20: weird steering feel; too artificial, instrument cluster setup not too appealing (dull), felt suspension ok for city only. petrol FE better.

3) jazz: way out of VFM factor expensive. Suspension not at par with punto, but felt better than i20. FE better. lots of space. Dont know how the highway ride will be. ABS kicks in too early on heavy braking compared to punto. No Auto AC in top end variant or a option.

4) Fabia: its a skoda!! been around too long. performance not enough on the highway.

5) punto: biggest stock wheel setup. best braking & suspension out of the rest above. 1.4 FE good when driven with a light foot. mumbai @ around 6.5 lacs, a fully loaded 1.4 FIRE.

If you plan to buy a car restricted to the city only, you can consider the i20 after the punto. If you got the extra cash, add the jazz to the list.

But what impressed me the most about the 1.4 GP was the engine note.

Rev a 1.4 FIRE to 5000 - 6000 rpm and tell me if that didn't "naturally bring" a smile to your face!!

shishir_bn · 9th December 2009, 11:39

Great to read that you have covered 1500kms and that too you had visited my home town VARADAHALLI. My whole previous generation is from this place. How was the weather and road condition.

MCR · 9th December 2009, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC_aashay

The following are my personal opinion & I'm not looking forward to create a debate:

1) swift: Safety issue in case of a accident. But the MJD tuned for better performance.

2) i20: weird steering feel; too artificial, instrument cluster setup not too appealing (dull), felt suspension ok for city only. petrol FE better.

3) jazz: way out of VFM factor expensive. Suspension not at par with punto, but felt better than i20. FE better. lots of space. Dont know how the highway ride will be. ABS kicks in too early on heavy braking compared to punto. No Auto AC in top end variant or a option.

4) Fabia: its a skoda!! been around too long. performance not enough on the highway.

5) punto: biggest stock wheel setup. best braking & suspension out of the rest above. 1.4 FE good when driven with a light foot. mumbai @ around 6.5 lacs, a fully loaded 1.4 FIRE.

If you plan to buy a car restricted to the city only, you can consider the i20 after the punto. If you got the extra cash, add the jazz to the list.

But what impressed me the most about the 1.4 GP was the engine note.

Rev a 1.4 FIRE to 5000 - 6000 rpm and tell me if that didn't "naturally bring" a smile to your face!!

+1 on that. Punto is an amazing city and highway car. In city traffic, I just engage the gear to 2nd and take my foot off the accelerator. The torque takes care of the rest.
@Shishir_bn, the weather was very good. Glad to know that you are from Varadahalli.The roads are good all the way except a few stretches near Lingadahalli and Tarikere. I Covered the distance from Mysore to Sagara in about 7 hours. This included Lunch, snack and 3 coffee breaks and the max speed of 90KMPH.

shishir_bn · 9th December 2009, 16:27

fantastic ride you have then. Good to know that you maintained the speed

sdp1975 · 9th December 2009, 17:54

So the 1.4 FIRE is more FTD than the 1.3 MJD ? Just interested to hear the viewpoints from those having driven both, I haven't driven the petrol variant.

24th November 2009, 11:17	#16
nairrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kannur Posts: 2,441 Thanked: 674 Times View My Garage	Congratulations on your buy ! It seems more sales on punto and i20 now-a-days in the hatchback sector ! Does this mean that other car manufactures are getting a real challenge now?
	() Thanks

24th November 2009, 13:30	#17
Dante BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nasik Posts: 393 Thanked: 86 Times	Congratulations! I myself love this car. It looks beautiful. Take care and drive safe!
	() Thanks

25th November 2009, 11:41	#18
MCR BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/MYS Posts: 882 Thanked: 637 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the wishes nairrk and Dante. The MID screen also displays the message "low fuel warning". This happens when the needle is almost touching the "E" symbol in the gauge. First indicator is that the orange lamp( just below "E") starts glowing once the needle touches the red zone in the gauge.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 17:59	#19
MCR BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/MYS Posts: 882 Thanked: 637 Times View My Garage	Hello Mods, Pls rename the thread as, EDIT :1500 Kms crunched. Had been to Varadahalli, sringeri, Hornadu over the last weekend. Oh boy the car simply likes to crunch the miles. (Touchwood)I covered 1200 Kms with ease and without any fatigue. The car handled bad roads on Chickmagalur - Sagara sector and Sringeri- Hornadu belt and the most hopeless stretch of road on the Horanadu - Chickmagalur route with great ease. Amazing ride quality, I never slowed down when encountering small and medium sized potholes. Amazing streering, took the curves in Kudremukh at 80Kmph and the steering provided excellent feedback without any hint of understeer or oversteer. Excellent foglamps and headlamps. Good luggage space for carrying stuff. Excellent car Fiat. Last edited by MCR : 5th December 2009 at 18:04.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 22:38	#20
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,064 Times View My Garage	Good to know that you are satisfied with your Punto. Have you started pushing the car already? As its just done with the running in, i would suggest you to take it easy for another couple of kms on odo.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 23:01	#21
Amartya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Evanston Posts: 1,748 Thanked: 736 Times	I am glad you are having fun with the car. The car is a long distance tourer like no other. A good A/C, comfortable seats and brilliant dynamics make the Punto one of the best highway cars in India. Here's to many more miles of happiness.
	() Thanks

5th December 2009, 23:49	#22
Soumya_Ramesh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 0 Times	Congratulations MCR on the landmark. Good that punto has kept you happy all along your journey. I am a great admirer of this car ever since it is launched. I feel FIAT has got everything right with this car and i bet it is going to go a long way. Happy puntoing
	() Thanks

8th December 2009, 14:32	#23
Aquarian20 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore, India. Posts: 73 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Congratulations MCR. Yes, I too own a punto and have already clocked over 7K in the last 4 months. All Punto owners seem to want and travel as much as possible. Keep the miles crunching and happy punting.
	() Thanks

9th December 2009, 09:08	#24
MCR BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BLR/MYS Posts: 882 Thanked: 637 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the wishes .anshuman, Amartya, Soumya_Ramesh and Aquarian20. Till date the max speed I have driven in my car is only 90KMPH. I have set the speed warning at 90KMPH. The rpm hovers around 2200 to 2400 in that speed in 5th gear. Only in 3rd and 4th gear does the rpm needle reach around 3500. I push the engine occassionally just to make it more free revving.
	() Thanks

9th December 2009, 11:39	#27
shishir_bn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,195 Thanked: 120 Times	Great to read that you have covered 1500kms and that too you had visited my home town VARADAHALLI. My whole previous generation is from this place. How was the weather and road condition.
	() Thanks

9th December 2009, 16:27	#29
shishir_bn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,195 Thanked: 120 Times	fantastic ride you have then. Good to know that you maintained the speed
	() Thanks

9th December 2009, 17:54	#30
sdp1975 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,700 Thanked: 1,273 Times View My Garage	So the 1.4 FIRE is more FTD than the 1.3 MJD ? Just interested to hear the viewpoints from those having driven both, I haven't driven the petrol variant.
	() Thanks