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-   -   Fiat Grande Punto : Test Drive & Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/60626-fiat-grande-punto-test-drive-review-312.html)

Quite an exhaustive, interesting read this article. Very detailed write up :thumbs up What is confusing, rather shocking is the fact that the same 1.3 MJD with 75 BHP powers the Punto there, but it helps it reach 100 in 13.6 seconds! While the 1.3 90 hp variant helps the Grande Punto rach 100 in 11.9 seconds! Who, a huge difference when compared to our Puntos :Shockked: What is the possible reason behind this? Indian fuel quality? Weather? I simply cant think of a factor that would affect performance so much.

One of the reasons for the inferior performance of the 90hp seems to be the fact that it seems to use a 6 speed gearbox abroad as mentioned in the article.

A link to something that Punto owners knew all along!!

BSM FTD Test - Honda Brio vs Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Fiat Punto 90 vs Skoda Fabia - Down the hatch

Also shows why I still consider BSM to be a true aficionado's mag. A drivers mag for sure.

My 90HP has run 2600kms in 19 days and is at Munnar now.

This drive from Trivandrum to munnar has been an experience in itself. From 33ft above sea level to 4760ft above sea level, 330 kms and it still returned an average mileage of 18.3 kmpl (MID). I'm particularly happy with the mileage returned since it was an uphill climb all along. Return figures will be even better, i guess.

Most of the run was done in 3rd and 4th gear, with 2nd used when caught behind heavy vehicles.

Likes (Noticed during this drive)-
1. Steering, handling & suspension - Could throw around corners with ease.
2. Grip - Heavy rain and fog, and the car felt so stable. New experience for me, graduating from a humble WagonR.
3. Pulling power in 3rd and 4th. Lower gears were not much needed.
4. Amazing mileage figure of 18.3 kmpl (MID) despite an uphill climb from 33ft to 4760ft.

Dislikes (As noticed during this drive) -
1. Rattle from the rear (Parcel tray, i believe).
2. Width! This is no small hatch when it comes to width. It really requires space. Need to put in extra concentration through those tight corners.
3. Foot pedal ergonomics - Had acute pain in the right ankle last night after the drive. Completely ok after a nights rest.

Only one pic clicked yesterday, that too under really low light. :(

True.

But, Swift with stock rubber is no swift. Most people go for tyre change and that really changes the car. And even after driving around in the 90HP, i find the Swift DDiS to be fast and fun.

Does the seat height adjustment lever touch the plastic cladding on lowering the front driver's seat?

If NO is the answer, -10/10 (ah yes, negative ten out of ten) for Marina Motors Calicut for damaging our height adjustment mechanism.

For the uninitiated, the front seat would lower down gradually as the time progresses. We had made Marina Motors replace the whole front seat under warranty once. But that didn't solve the issue. On escalating the matter, they replaced a part (seat adjustment mechanism as they say). Again, problem not solved. They made us wait endlessly giving the good old silly excuses like the part didn't arrive blah blah. As we're sure that they had NOT ordered the part, we called them up on phone and threatened them once again that either they'll fix the seat or we'll escalate the matter to higher-ups of FIAT or take legal actions. They phoned dad, asked to bring the car, kept the cars for 2 odd days, only to damage the seat mechanism to such an extent that we cannot lower the seat properly. They've even made it a point to break the hooks so that it makes irritating noise and applied some white glue/adhesive on the gaps near the lever so as to make it look very nasty.

The very first thing that we would be doing tomorrow is to escalate the matter to the higher ups and have a word the service adviser and highers ups in Marina Motors.

Shame on you Marina Motors! We're pissed off with your service a big time. *a big thumbs down*

^^ escalate buddy, Else for next 10 years also it will be status quo. if already done, has they budge and corrected it or not . Achieving a Consistent after sales & service across all the dealers in India is some thing that FIAT guys, still don;t know. wondering what kind of service improvements are being done in background , as claimed by their India Head, as Nothing is visible on ground.

No. It may feel like Swift is faster, may be 0-100, but once your 90HP is revved beyond 2500 RPM, it will be a different beast. I am telling this because, I have driven 90HP for 15k kms.

BTW, that was a Nice picture :).

Pic from "Adimali" ? Looks like the one close to there!

Well, you are right about the L & V. But Z rubber [185] suffices for most stunts upto 150 kmph!

Not sure why did you take it light till now! You are going to feel so bad about this incident for a long time, even if Fiat escalates & get things done properly. Be a task master when you need to be. It might affect your rapport a bit, but will get you better goodies!

The next problem [most probably] you are going to face is the "accusation" from the A$$ that you guys have screwed the height adjustment lever & NOT the A$$. Don't you have any other service centres there? If so escalate & tell Fiat that the repair be done in the other A$$.

Thats bad! Did you escalate? Any results?

Couple of really bad service stories in the last few pages. :Frustrati
Thanks.
Neriyamangalam bridge, I guess near adimali. I was going to Munnar.

Dedicated to all FIAT lovers here -

Thats one fantastic pic! The location matches the beauty of the car :)

The Punto never appears out of place whether the setting is an urban jungle or beautiful countryside. Wallpaper stuff :)

Guys, I lost the cap on my ORVM yesterday, the cap took a hit a couple days back and was loosely sticking to the ORVM till yesterday.

Now, will I be able to procure the cap alone from Tata or should I buy the entire ORVM set?

Lovely snaps, Punto looks good in all colors, but it looks the best in Exotica Red Hope your only hiccup till now was the loose "Link Rod" issue.

If I have understood you correct, its the painted portion on the ORVM. Yes it is available at TASS, if not you can order it. No need to buy the entire ORVM assembly.

Nice pics, Crazy Driver. I have a question for you, how are the sunfilms behaving? Since they were fitted by the dealer, I beleive they are from Weurth/Wurth, which is OE for Fiat.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's decision to delay the introduction of new products in volume segments is causing the Italian automaker to lose ground in Europe.

The Punto subcompact, launched seven years ago, won't have a successor until early 2014. Plans to replace the Bravo compact, which went on sale in 2007, are on hold and Fiat may even import the car's successor from China.




http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs...120329929/1193

Its around 150 rupees IIRC in Bengalooru, It must be less in Chennai.
You get only black unpainted covers. If you want a body coloured cover, Painting will cost extra.
Be prepared...Painting will be costlier than the cover itself.
But it still work out less than in some other cars' cases where in you are forced to buy the whole assembly.

Superb photos CrAzY dRiVeR. But then, I think you had it very easy. After all, its the Punto and Munnar. lol:

It is called the OVRM cowl. Good work by Fiat if they are selling the cowl separate.