What do I feel after 8000 kms? (Grand Punto 1.3 Emotion)

Actually it is more than 8500 km now. After driving Indica V2 LSi for more than 5 years, it was time for me to look out for a new car for myself. I started looking out for options and with keeping Punto as my first priorityJ. After lot of research and reviews I could not get off Punto on my mind and gifted myself the Red Italian head turner on August 6^th 2009 and till date as on 29^th Oct 09, I have completed around 8500+ KMs on it.

Here I’m sharing my experience so far on it with all of you.

Driving Comfort: On completing 3700 Km (Navi Mumbai > A’bad > Jaipur > Agra > Delhi > Jaipur > A’bad and back to Navi Mumbai) in a stretch on Punto, I think I can justify my comments towards driving comfort on Punto.

I’m 5’11” and after driving Indica for almost 6 years, I could for sure right away feel the driving comfort on Punto. I was more confident and very relax throughout my journey. I was really impressed and happy to adjust my sitting posture as per my comfort in between my journey, which is really required when you drive a vehicle for longer duration. Although neck support is not that effective, but I guess that’s the case with all cars. I used pillow as per my comfort.

On Road Performance: After completing 8500 KM and after driven it on Expressway, Highways, city roads and even on deep interiors of Rajasthan where there is no roads at all, the ride quality and handling on higher speed and on sluggish bumpy roads is balanced and brilliant.

I have taken it till 145 Km/Hr and I was not losing my confidence until my wife asked me slow downJ. I don’t deny about it’s the initial lag, but that’s fine with me. I was here to drive it on Indian roads, not in drag race. Cross 2500 RPM and you’ll feel your back pushing towards seat, there you’ll feel the actual power of engine.

The engine can be heard in the cabin on higher speed, but only when your music system is off. Well, I take it this way, when I speed up and hear the engine sound it feels to me like my car is saying …yes I can do it, I can run well and faster. ;) LoL

ABS is a boon to such car, which tempts you not to take off your feet from accelerator especially on Express/Highways like NH8. Fortunately I got to experience it only once when a street dog came on road from nowhere and I had to hit the brakes, the car didn’t lose its grip on road and came to halt very softly.

Fuel Consumption: 3550KMs / 175 Ltrs = 20.2 KMPL (Approx). I guess quite an impressive figure, with an average speed of 110-120 km/hr. I guess, I need not to write on it.

PART ONE ENDS

PART TWO

Interior: Queen size leg room for rear but King size in front. But can be managed if front seats are positioned wisely (not in super comfort position for front sitters). Dashboard is pretty clean and straight, you need to move much your hand all around to have access to control systems. I really miss the ARMREST in Punto.

AC is really quick and effective, tested in my recent trip to Rajasthan when I drove usually in day and had to park in open sky under sun while my lunch intervals at Dhabhas for 1-2 hrs.

Boot space is quite sufficient; I carried one computer monitor (CRT), CPU, two bags and many other small packets in it. (Computer was for my parents at Rajasthan).

Visibility from back view mirror is ok; I wish it should have more. But once you get used to it, it won’t bother you.

I like:

• Looks and Style.
• Extremely comfortable for long drives and so as for city drive as well.
• The steering is awesome.
• Mileage. Gives me around 17-18 in city (Navi Mumbai), and 20-21-odd on highways on around 2000-2500 rpm.

I Wish:

• Little tuned up engine to avoid that initial lag, but I can live with it.
• Armrest
• Music control on steering in Emotion variant.
• A little higher ground clearance.
• And a better music system and speakers. (Currently it comes with Blaupunkt FIAT 199CD SBO5 NEW STYLE CD RADIO)

I’ll totally recommend to those who wants refreshingly new and a car with good build quality, better road handling and for pure driving pleasure.

Friends, this is my first review on car so help me to point out the important things I have missed out. J

Really nice review Sandeep. I enjoyed reading it. I presume you have gotten 1 service done. Can you elaborate on that and also regarding any rattles / niggles that you have faced in this period?

Cheers,
Naveen

Thanks Naveen, yeah I missed that . Well, the engine is more smoother now. Its not only me, but my collegue who comes along with me everyday to office, also felt the same. 

That is a very good review indeed, regarding the armrest do check this out and let me know if this design can fit near the cup holder, If you want I can get it ordered.

Thanks Adam, I'll take a look at it and see if it can be fitted. I was in Delhi on 19th of this month and that too in Karol Baugh (the hub of car accessores), but damn my luck whole market was closed .

Just a thought:

Adam, my friend. THANK YOU SO MUCH... thanks for ur efforts for helping me out. I'll be surely checking the images on URL you sent. I have taken it on my cell phone and will figure out if it can be fitted.

The website seems of UK and the cost will be in between 3-4k. What do you advice, is it worth? Once again thanks a lot, buddy.

It is in your wishlist i suppose ;). Although I got bored of it when I installed it in my Swift. Also it did affect the "roominess" inside the cabin