[dj_turbo]

Guys, Yesterday I got the vehicle back from Om sai motors, Kandivali (E). This time the service experience was much better and I did not have any major issues. The quality of work done for dent-removal and repainting was satisfactory, only thing is, I got a new badge for my 90HP (see the pics in next post). Overall experience was nice and will open a new thread under dealership reviews.

Originally Posted by pinin

@quickdraw,

Rest assured, the plastics are just fine. I myself own a July'10 GP 90HP and after nearly 14000 Kilometers everything is fine. No rattles, nothing has fallen off and no discoloration (I have made sure that the Dealer/Service station does not apply that ghastly shiny varnishi thing).

Problem areas:

1. Interior - any place where the light grey meets the dark grey (read alignment issues) and the gap in the steering column.
2. Exterior - The black band in between the bonnet and the windscreen that houses the wind screen washer nozzles (do not know what it is called technically).

However, trust me; you will forget all these trivial things when you are behind that stupendous wheel.

Go for a test drive and experience it for yourself.

Regards,

Pinin

Pinin, is this polish on interiors bad? this time it was applied by TASS and I did not know if I should have asked them for not doing it.

I also have issues with the second thing you have mentioned, I will try to get that replaced next time under warranty in my next visit to TASS. But as you have mentioned, these all are trivial things.

Originally Posted by sarbashishb

For Wind noise at the highways you can go for 3M Anti-Corrosion Treatments which gives your car the following benefits:


For more power I would say it is better you upgrade to another vehicle which you like.

Thanks sarbashishb for your inputs but I am not too sure how this coating will help with wind noise at high speeds on highways. Btw I already have got done the underbody rust treatment during first service. Also, I have no plans for any performance upgrade as of now. I don't want to touch anything before 50K kms in this area.

Originally Posted by jesrani

@dj_turbo, really nice review. Have recently booked a 90HP for my dad in Tuscan Wine, awaiting the delivery eagerly.
Your review again confirms that the car is good, though there are negatives also.
Really liked the pics you have clicked, very well presented. Do you take pics with camera or mobile? Just asking out of curiosity.

Thanks jesrani, glad that you liked the pictures. I use my camera for the pics.

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Hi DJ,

Thanks for taking the time to write down your impressions of the car, we all appreciate it of-course. Now comes the niggling part of asking some questions

I'm in a similar dilemma as you, and have test driven the new Swift and even the Cruze. I however did not get the chance to drive the Punto 90 yes, but I struck it off my list because I had severe problems with interoir plastics quality of fiat cars I've come across, can you share some further information on this with your personal experience?

I remember I had gone for a test drive of a car where I managed to break the seat height adjuster and the front boot opener, the plastic quality was that bad.

Thanks quickdraw.
Regarding the plastic quality in Punto, all I can say that there has been so much discussions regarding it, you always tend to look for issues in FIAT cars and even small things look big, otherwise, I do not feel that plastics are too bad.
For choosing a car, if you are looking for a powerful hatch for highway use, go for Punto 90HP and if urban roads are something you travel more on, then go for i20 D (Jazz if you want a petrol one). In the sedans, you can choose Vento or Fiesta.

Originally Posted by djkher

hey, Nice review there i agree with you in the point that this is one awesome car. Just a query about the front co passenger seat as i am facing similar issues with my punto 90 HP. I have taken the car to TASS 2-3 times for this with no results.

Thanks djkher. The rattling and chhoo-chhooo sound from co-pilot seat is very irritating, this was resolved in my third visit to Gurgaon TASS, I really did not know what did they do, they just told me that they only did some greasing.

[dj_turbo]

Hi Guys

As per the requests from few comrades, here are few (I am sure there are more than few) pictures of Punto 90HP interiors. These are clicked in my building's parking lot, next time I will try to go to better place for taking pictures.

@Mods, Can you let us know where do you guys go for taking such beautiful pictures in your official reviews.

The national engine badge (nothing interior about it ) but important to start with.


The Dashboard:


The cockpit:


The captain seat:


I just love the Blue and Me feature which is a boon for a solo traveler like me.




And the other important feature, ACC, boon for controlling the inside temperature.


The cog selecting lever:


Power-windows and ORVM control:


Door handles:


Personally I am not a fan of chrome but this goes well with the T.Wine colored chariot:


Handbrake and cig-lighter, which is ergonomically placed to satisfy all your mobile charging needs:


Parking sensor's snap-on type IRVM, people are more interested in this high-tech looking device than ABS and Airbags:


Trip button for changing/resetting the options on the multi function screen:


The Right way of control, Wiper control on right side:


and the left side:


There are very less provisions for keeping the nick-necks safe, this is one of them at the right side of pilot:


Rear Seats:





(The pics shows the minimum leg space)

There is sufficient space to get in and out at the rear too:


Steering height adjustment:


High mounted rear indicators:



The branding on sear cover (got art leather AUTOFOAM branded seat covers):


The perforation in the covers:


Console in dark:


The macho looking tire:


The most fragile looking plastic part in the car, driver seat height adjustment lever:


During the process of dent-removal and repainting, I got a new badge at the back, wonder if I should change the signature here to "Packed with 90Horses' Motion


More to come in next post...

Dj

[dj_turbo]

Next lot of pictures:

The cabin lights, these are decently powered and works well, switch quality is nothing to complain about.


Front door, wish these were leather wrapped on this top-end atleast, also the space is not good enough to carry a 1 ltr water bottle:


Rear power window switch, I am never there on rear seat (except one kilometer so far) but looks good enough to last forever:


Same is true for this:


Height adjustable front seat belts:


The seat covers, Have I mentioned that I love them :




The Customized color combination:


Cockpit under dark conditions, love the color of light:


Dj

[C300]

Originally Posted by dj_turbo

The seat covers, Have I mentioned that I love them :


Dj

DJ - Lovely photographs. These pics show your attachment and passion for your drive.
Those seat covers look sporty. Is it stock or aftermarket?

[dj_turbo]

Originally Posted by C300

DJ - Lovely photographs. These pics show your attachment and passion for your drive.
Those seat covers look sporty. Is it stock or aftermarket?

These are aftermarket stuff, from an authorized shop of Autofoam India Autoform, Autoform India, Car Accessories, Car Accessory, Quality Car Covers, Quality Car Seat Covers, Car Upholstery, Designer Car Covers, Designer Covers, No.1 Seat Cover Manufacturer in INDIA. It made my pocket lighter by 6900.

Dj

[blueblooded]

congrats on taking the right decision of buying the best hatch available in India given the choice before us.
Your baby looks gorgeous in tuscon wine color.
happy driving .
praveen singh

[Schoudhury]

Originally Posted by dj_turbo

During the process of dent-removal and repainting, I got a new badge at the back, wonder if I should change the signature here to "Packed with 90Horses' Motion
Dj

Hey DJ lovely pictures yaar.
And those seat covers looks awesome .Did you put these on top of the existing ones ?

Regarding the badges. i guess you can remove all the of them and trust me it looks good .

Cheers

[dj_turbo]

Originally Posted by Schoudhury

Hey DJ lovely pictures yaar.
And those seat covers looks awesome .Did you put these on top of the existing ones ?

Regarding the badges. i guess you can remove all the of them and trust me it looks good .

Cheers

Thanks Schoudhury, Yes, the seat covers were put on top of the original ones.
A few days before I go back to TASS for getting a new EMOTION badge, I will try to convince myself to remove this one and will see the looks.

Originally Posted by blueblooded

congrats on taking the right decision of buying the best hatch available in India given the choice before us.
Your baby looks gorgeous in tuscon wine color.
happy driving .
praveen singh

Thanks Praveen.

Now I will go thru hemanth.anand's thread for fitting a central arm-rest.

Dj

[hemanth.anand]

Nice pictures of the beautiful Punto.

I see a lot of punto being sold in the last month.
Eagerly waiting for the sales figures this months to see the actual figures.

Wish you many more smiles on your car

-Hemanth

[h14]

Hi dj_turbo. Lovely pictures. Many congratulations on your beauty and wishing you loads of trouble free miles.

[neoonwheels]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Nice pictures of the beautiful Punto.

I see a lot of punto being sold in the last month.
Eagerly waiting for the sales figures this months to see the actual figures.

Wish you many more smiles on your car

-Hemanth

You are going to be disappointed. Somebody in the sales figure thread said FIAT has managed to sell only around 900 cars (BTW its total Linea + Punto + Palio)

[classicselva]

Congrats and a very nice feedback... when i purchased i20, punto was my other consideration but I let it go only becuase of the poor ***.

Have a safe and happy journey always.

[dj_turbo]

Thanks Guys.

Originally Posted by neoonwheels

You are going to be disappointed. Somebody in the sales figure thread said FIAT has managed to sell only around 900 cars (BTW its total Linea + Punto + Palio)

Yeah neoonwheels, we are disappointed. This time when I was waiting for my car to be delivered, one elderly guy was talking about which diesel car to buy in the range of 10L. I suggested him to go for a Linea but he said there are mechanical problems in Linea, when I ask what are the problems, he did not have anything to mention, its just that he had heard too many bad things about Linea and Fiat. That's precisely the problem with Fiat, the poor image and perception of being niggle-stuffed. Hope the nice cars achieve the number they really deserve.

Dj

[SwiftSD]

Originally Posted by dj_turbo

Parking sensor's snap-on type IRVM, people are more interested in this high-tech looking device than ABS and Airbags:

Dj - thanks for sharing the pictures. The interior attachments look great.

How much did the parking sensors cost (brand ?) and did it come with the special IRVM's ?

[sad:)]

Originally Posted by neoonwheels

You are going to be disappointed. Somebody in the sales figure thread said FIAT has managed to sell only around 900 cars (BTW its total Linea + Punto + Palio)

Yes, Very Sad. I believe it was 900+ for only Linea for the previous month ( not Palio, Punto and Linea combined).