[sidindica]

Living with the Eibachs.

Have driven a lot in various types of roads in and around Delhi city with these springs. Have to say, money well spent.
You are always aware of the road surface thanks to their stiffness. Ride has taken a hit but still remains pretty supple and not nerve jarring inspite of family members travelling in it.
The car has 20mm high shock absorbers (compared to 2009-11 Puntos) and 16" did increase the road clearence a bit, from what I noticed. The springs have a estimate drop of 30mm ride height and are progressive rate. Not encountered any underbody hit thankfully except just once wherein the slope was way too sharp and it was the engine shield that took a minor hit. Bumpers came out unscathed.
I probably feel that this investment can be done but again depends on the usage pattern of the owner. 16" made the car stand on its stilts and abnormally high. Handling has improved by leaps and bounds and the prominent body roll has vanished. Stability remains rock sturdy even at high triple digit speeds, the confidence inspiring steering and chassis balance being second to none. BUT, yes, the steering is actually a bit lighter compared to my red Punto.
I wish Fiat gave a rear anti roll bar, but for that the entire dead axle needs to be changed from that of the avventura. And for sure the part would have been costly. So, minor tradeoffs can be adjusted.
Besides the same, not such issues with the car as a whole. Just that the 1.6 has been driven 9000+ kms since I bought it in March. And the Evo, lol, is confined to a Garage queen. Need to drive more I guess now.

Signing off with a few pics clicked by my friend last week:

[Waspune]

@sidindica: You are correct that the 16' would have definitely increased the gc. Regarding the anti - roll bar, from what I know, even the abarth Punto comes with the rear anti roll bar. Would it still require the entire dead axle to be changed or would it be an easier copy paste kind of a job?

By default the post 2011 Puntos had a stiffer ride (specially the Evo sports) till speeds like 30-40 km/hr after it used to become flat and comfy. I understand that the Eibachs would be stiffer in the initial speeds but how is the ride after the car builds speed upto 50 km/hr?

The last pic looks fabulous

[sidindica]

One year of happy ownership!


Enjoy the wintery sunshine!

The car completed one year last week. And it has been an excellent ownership till date.



The car has been driven pretty less, 17,700 kms only to be precise. Been using my Palio also, hence the low running.

I love the way she handles on curves and twisties. Lowered ride height, stiff springs and precise steering remain a masterstroke. This is what the Punto should have been at first place. Too high settings just take the fun out of spirited cornering.



The ride surely has taken a beating. 16" rims too add to that factor. But, not something which is bone jarring. The seat comfort is very good, and softer cushions I found are more comfortable compared to hard seats in my previous Punto.



The interior is as good as new, with no unforseen rattles reported so far. Beige interior looks upmarket but is a pain to maintain.



Love the updated Daiichi touchscreen ICE. Got used to the tiny 5" laggy unit with daily usage, but with rainbow speakers, the output is excellent. Plus, an additional SD card slot, simple bluetooth connectivity, on screen dialling, and navigation with mapmyindia makes life easy.



The driveablity surely is of high order with the remap. Since the car has already had 2 services (5000 and 12500 kms), the engine is mature and third gear acceleration is a boon on highways. The turbo spins at 1500 rpm and a good amount of torque wave is felt. Seldom I feel the need to downshift even in the city.

Yet to digest the steering placement and cramped footwell, which is still weird. Other than that, rear seating legspace is not the best around.



The facelift is something i have come across to live with. But the front 3/4 angle is still not its best. The pointed nose of the previous car is gone, and i wished the car has projector lenses to complete the look.

The third service will be done at 20,000 kms, with all oils and filters change shortly.



I got the car detailed from Dazzle detailing with a maintenance checkup thereafter. As usual, he remains the best detailer in Delhi NCR. It wears a coat of max protect UNC-R nanocoat. Of course, routine maintenance is the key to maintain the shine. Besides, the paint quality of Fiat is also of high order with 120-130 microns in Factory paint. Many mass market manufacturers today offer thin paints in the range of 70-80 microns only.



But, as always, one question looms into my mind...with all resources poured in Jeep, does the Fiat nameplate have any future in India?

The question seems unanswerable, because, every mindset, has a different thinktank, built for a reason.

[saurabh041086]

Originally Posted by sidindica

I got the car detailed from Dazzle detailing with a maintenance checkup thereafter. As usual, he remains the best detailer in Delhi NCR. It wears a coat of max protect UNC-R nanocoat. Of course, routine maintenance is the key to maintain the shine. Besides, the paint quality of Fiat is also of high order with 120-130 microns in Factory paint. Many mass market manufacturers today offer thin paints in the range of 70-80 microns only.

Sid, car looks terrific post treatment. Can you share how much did the job cost you. Any idea about longevity of this?

[Sabrish]

Hello Sidindica!

Great drive, I just noticed how well the front armrest is placed, where did you get this installed? who is the manufacturer? I got an aftermarket armrest and all was well for 6 months post which the center console starter loosening up. Did you face it too?

Appreciate your inputs as I would love to get a similar installation done....its seamless!

[sidindica]

The Bonalume short throw shifter.

The Punto has a gearshift quality which not everyone is fan of. While the throws are rubbery, at times, the shift throw is also long. Though I am being used to these quirks (old engineering of course), I was tempted to give the short shifter a try since I have a habit of driving a bit aggressively on roads which permit. Its not cheap at 14.5K, but the temptations to try the same lead me to take the plunge. Got a call from Autopsyche to try and I gladly accepted it.



The installation was done in half an hour and was an easy bolt on job. I think my should be the first diesel Punto in the country to get this short shifter which Arush said also installed in few abarths.

It takes time to get adopted to the shifter as the shift quality isn't improved and remains rubbery per se. But the throws have became 30-35% shorter and play in the gear lever at idle has just about vanished. Since the car is my daily drive it has made driving easier and more fun. But, for a common man, used to the gearshift, there seems no point in spending this amount for shorter throw. Would have appreciated if the overall quality became smoother.

Besides, I got the car serviced at 20,000 kms (3rd free service) last year and changed the oil and filters at landmark, Moti Nagar Delhi. EGR cleaning was also done since the car runs an aggressive map.

The car stands at 21,300 kms and runs along as fine as it should be. Sharing a couple of pics taken 2 days back.

[Dr.Naren]

Originally Posted by sidindica

Besides, I got the car serviced at 20,000 kms (3rd free service) last year and changed the oil and filters at landmark, Moti Nagar Delhi. EGR cleaning was also done since the car runs an aggressive map.

Did you not get the EGR switched off in ECU map? Most of the tuners do it for 1.3 MJD.

[sidindica]

Originally Posted by Dr.Naren

Did you not get the EGR switched off in ECU map? Most of the tuners do it as default for 1.3 MJD.

Not in full. Akshay (GT Tunerz) recommended against it to prevent high intake cylinder temperature. He wanted reliability as well and designed the map from quantum accordingly.

[R-Six]

Hi Sid,

It is always a treat to look at your Punto. And as you mentioned multiple times on the thread, those 16" takes the car's looks into a new high.

Originally Posted by sidindica

short throw shifter

Would you mind sharing some internal pics after the short shifter was installed? Are there any visual differences there as well?

Most of the short shifter installation videos and posts on the internet also flaunt their meaty looking gear knob as well.

Drive Safe,
R-Six

[sidindica]

Further updates
20 months, 28,050 kms and counting



Vacation mode on.




It was fun driving on the himalayas with my wife for 10 days as we had planned a getaway vacation.
We took the following route:
Delhi-Chandigarh-Solan-Kasauli-Chail-Kufri-Narkanda-Rampur-Sarahan-Shimla-Chandigarh-Delhi.
We did a 1500 kms odd trip with luggage stuffed to the brim and inspite of hefty weight, remap and big tyres and wheels and coaxing across the himalayas, the cumulative FE was 16.2 kmpl for the whole course of the trip. The Small wide FCA platform continues to exhibit exemplary dynamics, and the eibachs only fortify it. Problem is though the ride is somewhat stiff. The long travel shock absorbers negate the stiffness to an extent but my wife did feel underlying firmness. Good thing though even on many deep potholes or bad roads, the car did not scrape its underbelly anywhere. Thinking whether Fiat actually went overboard by lifting the car with high GC at first place?
What I did understand is that the stock evo looks even more raised compared to the old GP and ride height drop springs is a must to retain its meaty stance.
Also, what I am happy about is a much higher improvement in overall quality levels in the car and no undue squaks and rattles from the trip, except the glovebox inside rotary owners manual retractable box knob which has this brittle plastic and continues to rattle. have adjusted the button and the problem has vanished atleast for now.



Another thing I am happy is the MC5s give outstanding wet grip and traction and it was raining at many places and was very much happy with the overall performance of the tyres. The momo revenge alloys, which are 3 years old now, too have proven to be extremely durable.

Sharing few select pics from the hills:









The car completed 25,000 kms and I got it serviced from Landmark workshop, Okhla, Delhi. Was a simple service with the usual selenia WR 5W-40 oil change, filters change, checking all the underbody, brakes cleaning and general checkup followed by wheel alignment and balancing at Pirelli, East of kailash.

The LED lighting all around:

Way back in May, I was tempted to try out the plug n play LED lights by Philips and Osram.
The Punto Evo has a pathetic lens spread design, and even after installing Osram Nightbreaker unlimited I was not much happy with the light spread, and I did consult many friends on whatsapp regarding going LED way. Since I dont want to compromise on OE quality, HID with ballast or any aftermarket projector was a strict no no.

I went to driven (audio and accessories shop) and got the Philips Ultinon H4 and H11 bulbs installed on the headlights and fogs, respectively. It took me time to get adjusted to the white beam and after lots of focus adjustments, the light has come right. While I didn't get much time to take photos with beam spread I am happy to say that the beam spread on the H4s is way better than the halogens. The cylindrical reflector design is another contributor. Do note that not many people recommend H4s since the beam has a tendency to scatter on non projector lenses but also, what is to be remembered is to first properly test, calibrate the light and then make a conclusion. The fogs also now give a better illumination of the road ahead and after driving on the hills in the night during rainy days, was happy. Once the winter comes and fog arrives, only then will conclude if at all LEDs are the actual lighting future or still some time away.
The parking and number plate T10 lights are having osram LEDs installed but the canbus system throws an error. Will plan on putting the error canceler shortly once time permits.
Good thing though is that the car also overall looks more premium and upscale. Will safely recommend the upgrade for Punto evo owners.

Just took few pics today to share.















The ubiquitous Multijet





The national engine continues to perform well, and VGT remains fun to pilot. For sure due to the large turbo size after the remap there is a bit of lag, but the mid range remains strong and its well spread ratios make driving in city a breeze. Top end needs to be better for sure considering the small displacement pulling a 1190 kg+ vehicle. But compare from today's contemporary diesels and the engine for sure begins to show its age. End of the day, its a 2005 engine after all. That the sound insulation is very good is a big plus though.

The insides:



A lot depends on how you keep and maintain your car. Fiat has made great strides in interior ambience, fit and finish and happy to report that the insides are holding well, except for a broken sunglass holder hinge inside above the middle AC vents. How it happened, is baffling and I have applied for a replacement under warranty. The part costing Rs. 7.8 k is not cheap either. The part is expected to arrive soon, and this makes the first warranty claim in my car. Whats more baffling is that all the latest lot of Fiats come without the closable lid of the sunglass holder. Pretty strange.





Few weeks back, I installed the reverse camera from Landmark which costs 4.7k for the Punto which is compatible with the Daiichi Touchscreen system. Just a typical resolution camera with average quality at best. Better resolution and clarity should have been more appreciable.



I made a minor upgrade to the audio setup also. While I was happy with front stage, I wanted to have better reception from the rear also. So I swapped my Rainbow dream line coaxials with Blam Audio Relax 165 series coaxials. Happy overall with the extra clarity and loudness (peak power of 165 watts continuous at 135 working in 2 ohms) and makes for much better acoustics.

I do feel that living with the car over the months has made me like the facelift which is more mature and grown up. With the right mods, the car surely can be a looker even though, globally, its as good as extinct.















Whats the bigger problem is, in reality, is the Punto is now almost extinct from the market. With 20-30 cars dispatched from the factory every month, its future is sealed. And with Jeep the new face of FCA, the time surely has come to focus on better selling products and retire the aging lineup of Fiat gracefully. Competition has become better, offers more features, and Punto lineup, is as good as redundant in the market place. Plus the brand name on the nose is too damaged to be even revived.

Till then, keep enjoying what you have and what you drive, because, you live only once, and you live for a reason.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by sidindica

I went to driven (audio and accessories shop) and got the Philips Ultinon H4 and H11 bulbs installed on the headlights and fogs, respectively.

How did you deal with the dust cap? I am planning to order H4 LEDs, but still not sure how the sealing / heat dissipation will work in the dust caps.

Originally Posted by sidindica

the time surely has come to focus on better selling products and retire the aging lineup of Fiat gracefully.

True. Time for graceful retirement is already over - or else they should have gone the VW way and kept updating the car continuously to keep pace with the competition. But we all know FCA operates at its own slow pace.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by sidindica

THE FROSTY REINDEER

Attachment 1590827

The evening sunset, the calmness of the break of dawn, the scintillating scenery behind, and a long winding road ahead.
Just one of the many excuses to go out on long drives, and its only then we begin to realise, "every drive has a reason".

Attachment 1589441

A human life is a continuous evolution of getting evolved with time.
Its only then you realise
"Everything happens for a reason."

We often go through a phase where we don't know who and where we are, don't know what to do, can't decide whom to talk, where to write and express our mixed feelings and undecided on the road ahead. When that phase is like a deep pothole determined to grind you down. But, when we cross that pothole intelligently and in a patient manner with a happy face, we begin to realise the true fact of our life, that "everything happens for a reason".

When you start shining in your life, you make progress.
You make progress, you evolve.
You evolve, you discover new things.
You discover new things, you begin to appreciate a phenomenon.
That phenomenon is called change.
That's when you begin to realise, "everything happens for a reason".

Attachment 1590816

Reflection comes in all shapes and sizes. When you dig deep into understanding the creativity and design, we begin to realise how creative a human mind is. Sketching all possible lines, curves and angles to culminate in one final artistic design, they guide the pathways for you in a dark, mystical night and light the way ahead for you to see the road ahead.
It's then you begin to realise "every creation has a reason".

Life is all about continuous evolution.
It's about, how to move up with modern times, while keeping our core traditional values intact.
Everything, that me, and all of us, loved about the red beluga, now in a new improved Avatar.
New looks, new interiors, with a new variable Geometry turbo, an up to date infotainment system, and more refinement, all with the same great taste, and with the same great soul underneath.
It's like asking Santa for a Christmas present, and getting much more than we have ever dreamt of.
The Christmas and new year celebrations have just began.
Presenting the story, of my Frosty Reindeer, the story of Fiat Punto Evo 1.3 VGT.

Attachment 1589442

Because, everything happens for a reason.

Amazing words to describe one of the most good looking hatch. Pure class even though is more than a decade old. Don't see FIAT bringing any of their newer Global launches to India. Me being from Mumbai and with only one dealer Landmark here, is it a wise choice to go for a Punto Diesel now? There are huge discounts but from my initial conversations with them, they are more interested to clear out their old stocks (as old as if 2016), which I am not keen on. They say FIAT is manufacturing in 2018 as well which is dubious. Looking at an ownership till 2025. Please suggest.

[sidindica]

2 years, 34,200 kms and one last goodbye.



It has been a wonderful journey with the silver hawk. With a more powerful VGT Multijet, first enjoyed in stock, then remapped, then lowered, and with a short shifter, it was a more complete car. Rather, what a Punto should have been at first place.
Every day I drove it for commuting, or on city or highway, it never failed to bring a smile on my face, just what the driving pleasure associated with Fiats are. Whats also impressive was its better all round quality, as throughout the ownership there was just unscheduled warranty replacement that too a broken plastic spectacle lid.

But, there has always been a desire, an itch to own a very powerful car. And since the gap between petrol and diesel down to a mere 6 rupees, and reduced running, and with the palio also doing its share of duties, keeping a diesel car made no sense.



With BS 6 kicking in, and with no future on multijet production, and just a 10 year fitness in Delhi, the future of the national engine has always been bleak. But what ended up the final nail in the coffin was the potential loss in resale value, say a few months down the line.
But, as they say, its these good things that evolve our love for machines, and the progression of evolution, fulfills our desires to aim for more.

I exchanged the car with landmark for a very good price and this marked the end of my association with multijets for 6 long years. There are now better cars around, and better diesels also around which are now more powerful, efficient and refined.



We do have to understand that we keep evolving ourselves with every passing second, minute, hour. day, week, month and year to strive to achieve for more. And it has been this want for more, that has continuously kept us evolved.

Evolution is a continuous step for change.



Because, in this world, every change happens for a reason.

--curtains--

[mikeautherton]

Hi Sid,
Nice write up on ownership of Punto Evo. I finally got my 1.3 Emotion last month after years of falling in love with Fiats(more than 10 years), this in spite of some negative cues with respect to sales numbers and emission standards. My heart however won over the brain.

Your last post with good bye is little cryptic, Can you give a loud confirmation that its the Abarth Punto that is the replacement. If yes link to new ownership?

[TurboKat]

Originally Posted by mikeautherton

Hi Sid,
Your last post with good bye is little cryptic, Can you give a loud confirmation that its the Abarth Punto that is the replacement. If yes link to new ownership?

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...l-stories.html (You live only once - The Fiat Abarth Punto! A story, beyond all stories)
Link to the Abarth ownership review.