new clio or new punto

[WILLIE]

well i took the grande punto for a test drive today and i hate to say this but it really seems like a nice car. theres loadsa room, feels great to drive and the 1.4 16v sporting is quite nippy to say the least. but.... a few days ago i took the new clio for a test drive aswell and my first impressions of that were quite good too. the steering as most would is say is over light and i can deffently agree. build quality seems much better tho, but on performace wise the 1.4 dynamique S didnt seem like it wasnt any quicker than my old 1.2 16v and comparng it to the 1.4 16v sporting it seemed like it needed alot more work to reach 60. so as things stand im sadly swaying to the fiat :quiet:

anyways does anyone here own the new clio and think different about them compared to me? ya comments wanted please :approve:

thanks

 

[DrR]

I'd buy the new corsa. New Clio is horrid, and hate to think what the build quality is like on a fiat.

 

[TomTom]

I'd go for the Clio, but don't get the 1.4, its a big car and that engine isn't upto the job. Get them to take you out in the Dynamique S 2.0 or the 106BHP DCI, plus the lack of FIAT dealerships can be worrying.

 

[clio_extreme_16v]

wait a wee while n buy the new corsa vxr. looks sooo nice :rasp:

 

[WILLIE]

I'd buy the new corsa. New Clio is horrid, and hate to think what the build quality is like on a fiat.

the new corsa's out of the question lol. for some reason it just looks like a car my nan would drive :quiet: and belive it or not the fiat seemed to have been built to a really good standard. much better than my old lil clio :dapprove:

 

[vavazoom]

id go for the punto,there selling like hot cakes at the mo,fiat put alot of work into it as it was there last real ditch at making a decent car,because they were going down the pan!but this car apprently has boosted there sales,so people must like it!

 

[sh33n]

The new Punto Sporting 1.9D looks a cracking buy, apparently has got quite a bit of go in it as well.

I think it looks better than the new clio, and the new corsa is just plain awful.

 

[speedynz]

The Grande Punto is a brilliant car, I've driven all of them.

Sporting 1.9D is quick but very agricultural (boy it's noisy) 1.3D is still a hoot but suffers from noticeable lag, 1.4 petrol Sporting is the pick right now, it's spirited, frugal, well equipped, well built and you can get really cracking deals.

I don't honestly think that you could get a better new car for the money.

EXCEPT!

You seem to be forgetting the new Panda 100HP, an absolute belter of a car, great looking, spunky engine, facelift interior, loads of standard kit, very lightweight (975kgs) and on the net for 8,900 pounds. Have a look at one in mettalic grey and tell me you don't like it.

I really, really want one!

 

[DrR]

Pics of this panda?

 

[speedynz]

Go to www.autocar.co.uk and go to 'road test archives' and Panda 100HP.

That one is red which isn't as nice.

www.evo.co.uk has a grey one and both mags love it, Autocar has an online write up which is good, Evo mag is still current so the write up is not online yet but it is even more glowing and talks about what a giant killer the little Panda is. It then pits it gainst the Mk1 Clio V6 (which it says is the slowest point to point hot hatch that there is).

Buy the mag, it's a good edition.

 

[DrR]

it's odd i actually like it!

 

[speedynz]

It's so innocent, yet carries just the right amount of sporting intent.

15 inch alloys, 195/45 Goodyear Eagle F1's, flared arches, wider track, brilliant, snicky, close ratio 6 speed 'box, dinky spotlights and tail spoiler, fake diffuser, single tailpipe, bucket seats, tinted rear windows, climate air, computer, Bluetooth, group 5 insurance and up to 50mpg!

Evo mag writes:

"I lost count of the number of drivers who felt the cold slap of humiliation as the Panda's bluff, blacked out tail rebuffed their lazy, assumptive overtaking efforts, even on dual carriageways. Be in no doubt this diminutive Italian hatchback is the fly you'll struggle to swat, no matter how fast you think your car is"

And:

"I doubt that many cars will be much more fun to drive, Fiat has a new hero on it's hands"

Get a copy of EVO mag and read the article, you'll be convinced.

 

[WILLIE]

The new Punto Sporting 1.9D looks a cracking buy, apparently has got quite a bit of go in it as well.

I think it looks better than the new clio, and the new corsa is just plain awful.

funny that ive just been browsing on the net looking at the 1.9d and its getting really good reviews. looks like a better buy to in perfomace wise. oo and being a diesel its gonna love getting chipped for more powerrr. yayy lol

 

[WILLIE]

You seem to be forgetting the new Panda 100HP, an absolute belter of a car, great looking, spunky engine, facelift interior, loads of standard kit, very lightweight (975kgs) and on the net for 8,900 pounds. Have a look at one in mettalic grey and tell me you don't like it.

I really, really want one!

a panda i hear you say? hmm it looks alot better than the old gen i have to admit but only being 18 i think im missing a few kids for the back. looks nice tho and seems a good deal too.

 

[speedynz]

The new Punto Sporting 1.9D looks a cracking buy, apparently has got quite a bit of go in it as well.

I think it looks better than the new clio, and the new corsa is just plain awful.

funny that ive just been browsing on the net looking at the 1.9d and its getting really good reviews. looks like a better buy to in perfomace wise. oo and being a diesel its gonna love getting chipped for more powerrr. yayy lol

Drive one first Willie, they really are fanatastic and feel like a quality item, but they are really, really noisy. I was so keen on one that I went to my dealer with a 2k deposit in my pocket and asked them to not warm the car up first. I simply couldn't believe the racket that it made on start up and it only got a little quieter when warm. Took my 2k home with me.

Drive the Punto and Panda back to back, I'd love to hear what you think as the Panda isn't out here yet.