1.4 8V 77hp Gbt 5dr

Good Value Fiesta competitor

Needed a cheap small family car and I wasnt specifically looking at Fiat Puntos but one came up from a private seller with only 37000 miles on it that was owned by their late father. Considering the car was over 12 years old thankfully it had been serviced regularly, cam belt changed etc..

We paid £2600 and its been close to faultless with only a corroded alloy having to be replaced (used from ebay £85) which was causing a deflation in the front tire. It flew past its last MOT with no advisories (now on 42000) and its been a great little run around city car.

The main pro's after 15 months of ownership:-

-Suprisingly reliable from a Fiat brand with mixed reputation
-GBT version we have has subtle sporty syling. Leather wheel/gear stick, sporty alloys, looks fresh for its age due to not as common on the road (everybody has fiestas!)
-Cheap purchase price compared to rivals, value for money, cheap parts (from what I have seen so far)
-Decent space, we have squeezed an Isofix car seat in and enough boot space for a day out with family + shopping
-City mode makes low speed maneuvers easy
-Good visibility, feels just as small as my Skoda Citigo when in carpark despite being more spacious + practical
- Does everything a fiesta can do for half the price in many cases.

Cons

- Biggest downside to me is that it isnt comfortable on long drives, my parents live over 5 hours away and even with regular breaks your back will feel it. For me any trips over an hour my back will start to ache! I used to have a 2016 fiesta as a company car and it was a lot more comfortable (although still not ideal). If you do a lot of long distance driving I would look elsewhere.
-Economy is ok for the time period but modern ICE cars will do better and have more power. I drive 25 miles a day with about 30% motorway 70% city driving and average around 41 MPG. My Citigo averages 57 MPG on the same journey.
-It is not dynamic to drive, it feels a bit like a playstation in terms of feedback. It reminded me of my brothers 2012 Corsa in that you dont feel connected to the road. It is safe and more than adequate but you wont be throwing it around B roads.
-Theres only 5 gears (which is fine) but when driving it feels like it is most comfortable tootling at 60mph as the revs are low and its pleasantly quiet. Its still fine at 70+ but revs are higher and you know you arent getting the best economy or the smoothest ride on the motorway.

Ideal for:-

-First time drivers, run around 2nd car, practical city car
-Short trips under 1hr, easy parking, get full shop and have car seat with little one with you, GBT models look sporty and more unique as not as common
-Good value, appears to be reliable and cheap to fix, does everything the fiesta does apart from comfort and dynamics but for a lot less
-Cheap to insure (£350 for both myself and wife), Tax is just under £200

Dont get for:-

-Any long driving, I am 35 and wife is 29 and both of us suffer if we are driving over an hour
-Enjoy driving 70+ on motorway

Report as offensive