Owner PeachorLemon_Archive    Posted in Fiat Punto   Comments 0

Bought new for a good price from Warwickshire dealer. Cheaper than importing from Europe. Excellent fuel economy, nippy to drive. Suspension set up harsh over bumps but soft round corners. ABS and air-con and twin airbags good spec on a small car Problems started within months Weird knocking noise from brakes when starting to reverse, garage couldnt figure it out. Paint job is appalling, its just so soft. Everything makes tiny scratches in it and bird’s mess eats into it. FIAT garage told me that it is modern water based paint and is basically not very hard wearing. (Car was polished every 6 months) Very heavy (and juddery) clutch. FIAT garage says that that is just how the car is Loose rattling noise from engine when cold confused them for a while, then they decided it needed better quality pistons. Took the garage a year to actually get the car in and fix it after diagnosis. Came back leaking oil all over my drive. Then came back with new pistons, con-rods air con pump etc etc. Car still had loose rattle and also boomed between 3500 and 4000rpm. Garage not interested. Had a courtesy car for 6 weeks while all this went on Talked to garage about compensation and they werent interested. Have now given the car back to finance company and they have auctioned it off (saving me about £1500 because Fiats are worthless second hand). An apology to whomever has bought my old car Now enjoying greatly my new Mini Cooper (which still isnt faultless, but much, much better!)

PoL Comment: Hope you have sent in a comment on the Mini, PoL.