Autocar - First for car news and reviews

pabs July 17, 2009 2:37 PM

 TOSSER

Zeddy July 17, 2009 2:42 PM

James, a very poor attempt at a blog this week with generalisations that go back to nineteen-canteen.

Maybe Fiat has more than there fair share of duffers but I can think of plenty other makes that get a good press in spite of the real life reliability of their products.

If you don't like the marque, fair enough. No need to rubbish it with tales of yore. Why do you worry about the current Punto exactly?

Zeddy July 17, 2009 2:43 PM

Elle could be doing with a service too!

Lee23404 July 17, 2009 2:48 PM

Zeddy I agree. James I'm surpised that you would put up such a blog. What next, don't touch an Alfa, they rust you know.

trocadero July 17, 2009 2:51 PM

me thinks it is time James Ruppert got a life.......... ;-)

Mr. Chuck July 17, 2009 3:12 PM

I’ve had a number of Fiats as company cars and actually have found them amongst the most pleasant to run. Most recent was a Stilo 1.9 jtd for a year and a half- I did over 100,000 km in it. It was a 3-door with nice alloys. Looked great, was comfortable, had a punchy engine and good economy. The steering was a bit light but you got used to it. The only problem I had was with the boot handle button which was replaced under warranty. The interior was a bit cheap but the current range seems much better on that front. My sister in law has had a Panda for the last 5 or so years which has also done a lot of miles and been faultless. I think the current range looks great. I rented a Bravo recently and found it in most  ways nicer than the Focus I’ve got at the moment. Fiat have really come back in the last few years after a period in the wilderness. They seem to be having success- I wish them all the best.

rbrown89 July 17, 2009 3:40 PM

I've had a Fiat Punto like the one in the picture for nearly two years now and not had a single problem with it. I love it, and none of my friends have had any problems with their Fiats either. All of them in our group are 2004 models onwards, but I think the concept of "ALL Fiats are crap and unreliable" is outdated these days. Fair enough to James, the ones he has had experience of through friends or family have had problems, but that doesn't mean all are hideously unreliable. By the same token, that doesn't mean that all Fiat owners have had such a great experience as I have. But there's always two sides to these kinds of things.

Agree with you about the Lancia Trevi dash though, that is brilliant...

Dan McNeil July 17, 2009 3:50 PM

Apparently Skodas are crap as well.  I'm told the heated rear window on them is purely to keep your hands warm when you have to bump-start the thing in winter.

TegTypeR July 17, 2009 3:55 PM

I know what you mean in some ways James, but I have to disagree with the generalisation.

Having run two Doblo's now for the best part of four years and not one problem between them, I have to say I am impressed.  The van has just clocked up 130,000 miles and it has had nothing more than a new set of dampers and some tyres in its life.

My sister and her other half both run 1.2 16v Punto's (his & hers - sad isn't it).  Both are neglectful of their cars, yet despite this both are still running sweet as a nut.

In both situations, the cars are quite basic and uncomplicated.  My experience with bigger more complex Fiats has not been so positive, so may be the moral of the story is keep it simple.

Andy_Cowe July 17, 2009 4:10 PM

I agree with the comments about reliability not matching their press.

I bought a second-hand Ford Focus. 6 months later I noticed rust around a rear wheel arch. Had to travel over an hour to a dealer as the one in my city doesn't have a bodyshop, and got obnoxious service. They claimed it must have had accident repairs as Fords don't rust.

Went to a bodyshop for a quote. Hasn't even reached the car before he knew what had happened as he has seen it several times on the Focus. The wheel arch liner is a carpet type material the gets soaked on a wet day and holds the moisture against the bodywork and finds any weaknesses.

A friend bought a 3 year old Focus then later found the whole underside riddled with rust.

I'm stuck with a car that has no value and thinking Fiat cannot be any worse.

Corbs July 17, 2009 4:15 PM

James, I've run a facelift edMultipla as a company 'Van' since 2004, virtually no problems at all. (only a duff  flywheel sensor). Super useful, quite quick (if you know how) and very econimical in all the normal costs. It's a JTD of course though, why anybody would buy the petrol engine is beyond me.

marktobin July 17, 2009 4:20 PM

wow, no wonder i don't buy the magazine anymore. You must know a very small group of people as i'm now on my 8th Fiat group car & not one of them has ever caused me any problems.

What point is this article, just to slag off Fiat's??  Are Autocar struggling to fill their website that much that this is the sort of rubbish being produced.

pdmc July 17, 2009 4:21 PM

I bought a 2003 Stilo in 2006, traded in what I 'thought' was a nightmare Seat Leon for it. Talk about "Out of the Frying pan..."

I bought the Stilo because it was so attractive and well equipped, fast and comfortable and it seemed like an ideal car for me at the time. Plus, after 3 years of savage depreciation, it was a bargain. I ignored all of the negative comments and advice and pleading that I was subjected to by people who thought this was a bad idea. "That was in the 70's and 80's I told them. Don't be ridiculous.

However, I soon learned that FIAT had this reputation for a reason and that sometimes, it still rings true. If you want to know specifically how I learned my lesson, just go to the "Worst Car You've Ever Owned" thread. The Stilo was probably the second worst I've owned, but they're both in there. Actually... I'm just realising, I should've probably put the Stilo first because it was more dangerous and less fun to drive than the 405. Dammit.

kdwilcox July 17, 2009 4:45 PM

James,thats a bit over the top mate!.

You do not like Fiats no problem,but come on, every make out there has the odd bad one.

marktobin July 17, 2009 4:46 PM

Oh & just to give an example of how good Fiat cars now are, i owned a 2001 Punto & did 40k miles a year in it,  nothing went wrong, & apart from routine services it never saw the inside of a garage!

Obiously some people do get lemons, as you would with VW, Opel/Vauxhall, Ford etc... & i don't see Autocar producing blogs making sweeping remarks about them!

Dan McNeil July 17, 2009 4:52 PM

Andy_Cowe:  "A friend bought a 3 year old Focus then later found the whole underside riddled with rust.

I'm stuck with a car that has no value and thinking Fiat cannot be any worse."

-------------

It won't.  fiat's don't rust anymore - the entire body is galvanised.

sportwagon July 17, 2009 5:39 PM

I'm sure that there are good Fiats and bad Fiats, and we all have different views on the percentages of each. I just can't understand the point of the story though. If a top architect or designer gave it their seal of approval then this should be a boost for Fiat, but if some human clothes peg or other likes it, then who cares? If it is just a cynical marketing ploy by the company then this puts me off the car more than any potential reliability issues.

theop July 17, 2009 5:47 PM

the Fiat 500 is the coolest car in the market today bar none - discuss

not! July 17, 2009 6:42 PM

How obnoxious can a so-called journalist be?

Winston July 17, 2009 6:45 PM

This article smacks of "got to get my friday blog in to pay the bills, doesn't matter if it is worthless drivel".

Come on Mr Ruppert, you are capable of far better.

North July 17, 2009 8:21 PM

James....I think that is about the worst piece of journalism I have seen with the exception of only one other that was on the BBC....(it was not a motoring piece).

James Ruppet....James Muppet......it comes across like you are just upset at Fiat for something?.......did the Fiat group mug Autocar off for something?

It just comes across like you have an issue with Fiat...the 500 is cool....way cooler than the mini.....there is no doubt of that.....or you trying to get in with BM or VW?? is that what all the articles have been about this week?

It comes across like a proper attack on Fiat.....what's next are you going to write that you found a horses head in your bed....get a grip fella...wake up...

Ps; Elle has an image as well and she will be careful what she appears with....stuffs your implication.....I hope she sues you....

BriMarsh July 17, 2009 8:32 PM

Mmm...

BMW launch the "budget" MINI First, Autocar duly run the story and the same day we are treated to an anti-FIAT 500 blog.

Now Mr Rupert may well not be in receipt of a cheque from BMW, but I can't believe Autocar allowed these two stories to run the same day; it just looks like blatant dirty-tricks...

Simonsays July 17, 2009 8:34 PM

Unbelievable!! I have always previously enjoyed Rupperts columns and articles largely for his openess to experiencing different marques in the quest for bangernomics. So this is just shocking - have Fiat's PR dept. pi55ed you off or something? How can you possibly say what you say, its all tired old cliches. Amateurish and lazy journolism and as Winston says it looks like you wrote it to pay the bills.

For the record - since you asked - I have run 3 fiat group cars, a '97 Fiat Bravo HLX, a '94 Alfa 155 and a 2000 Alfa 156 TS. All excellent cars - never rusted due to being galvanised unlike the hugely overrated (IMHO) Fords of that period, were reliable, never had electrical gremlins and the Fiat had the most comfortable seats of a family car I've ever sat in  - due in part to research at Loughborough Uni I seem to remember (car geek alert!) - pity they didn't go in the Alfa as leg support on long journeys was the one minor quibble I'd have with them.

Compared to their equivalent Fords (just for example) they were better looking, better handling (Bravo was pre-focus remember), better equipped well priced and sounded more characterful. Hand on heart I would not have a problem recommending one to anyone.

Uncle Mellow July 17, 2009 8:49 PM

Very unusual for an Autocar writer to call a spade a spade. Yes Fiat build quality fails to do justice to Fiat design.Yes Fiats are hard to recommend as a good ownership proposition , but I would say the same about several other marques held in high esteem by Autocar. Thing is , when I drive a Fiat I am often struck by the passion they seem to have - as if there's a tiny bit of Ferrari in each one.

40summat July 17, 2009 8:55 PM

I just knew that Teggy would have posted..

Fix It Again Tomorrow; in my experience from Unos to Puntos.  My Brother in Law had a 132 with all the bits, especially the rust on the roof after 18 months.  

You can't blame Russian steel for melting plastic, or..

stewa July 17, 2009 9:07 PM

Mr Muppet clearly doesn't have a clue, why on earth is this idiot working for a top motoring magazine?? Surely this isn't the view of autocar magazine.

This guys boss needs to have a word with him for writing such utter rubbish or even sack him and give Elle a job instead as she clearly knows a lot more about cars than this guy and she has much better taste.

She is obviously clever, sexy and cool for driving a Fiat 500, people like you just would't understand.  

I bet your one of those people that would rather have a mini and thinks it's cool and a better car.  Well it's not the Fiat is way better and this story just confirmed that.

Also BMW's mini's were on BBC watchdog because of serious problems with power steering pumps..going on fire I think!!

Fiats are great, better economy, better styling, better for the environment, better reliability, cooler, better, end of.  Get used to it.

40summat July 17, 2009 9:35 PM

Fiats are great, better economy, better styling, better for the environment, better reliability, cooler, better,

Cheaper?  to justify ones' paupernisity?

sandys July 17, 2009 9:37 PM

Hmm a nice advert for the cheap Mini and a bash at Fiat as a brand.

Did Fiat not pay advertising for the mag this month?

The Don July 17, 2009 9:59 PM

Another piece of absolute rubbish, yes in past Fiats were not the most reliable.... that has changed. New Fiats are cool, reliable, good value for money and are probably one of very few car makers that are doing well in this difficult period.

On this occasion James keep your stupid, pointless 'old' opinon to yourself. run a new Fiat then comment.

keeforelli July 17, 2009 10:05 PM

james- how can we take anything you say seriously when you believe its ok to take such puerile pot shots at a brand clearly not deserving of it.  If PR stunts annoy you perhaps you shouldnt work in the media..its a new car launch for christs sake!!..of course they will promote it!!

i think you should explain yourself- i have a brand new 500 built just as well as my partners new audi.  With the influence autocar has i think its shameful to print such mindless drivel..and def not funny, if thts the angle you were going for... you have your answer about the readers view of fiats...not what you were expecting eh?

FatDog July 17, 2009 10:27 PM

I am very disappointed with the sweeping statements in this article.

I am no FIAT owners club nut - its been probably 5 years since I have had one of the groups cars.

But I have had many cars from the FIAT group of companies and they have been no worse than anything else...and in some cases much better.

My mother ran a 1988 Fiat Uno from one end of its life to another and it was used and abused by me & my sister as a first car along with daily use as her car and despite this it was always dependable...it was someone elses bad driving that killed that car, not rust, mechanical issues or dodgy electrics.

Compare this to the first new car I ever owned in 97...a premium mass market german hatchback GTi that spat out 3 gearboxes in 9 months.

Your articles are normally so well written and intersting that I am amazed this has been published with your name at the top of the page...its the kind of lazy ill informed opinion you would expect to hear from a local rag journalist. Or a "bloke down the pub".

I think that most people share the same opinion...I have never seen comments like this after any of your articles before - please dont let us down again!

montgomery July 17, 2009 10:29 PM

This is pathetic. No wonder Autocar is referred to as "Autocrap" on various Italian car forums. The journalists are so biased and detached from reality(outside their little island with its failed motor industry) it's just laughable. Is Richardd Bremner still willing to work with such a pack of clowns and ignoramuses? I hope not. He used to be in good company in CAR with Setright, Green, etc. Autocar is a joke. Sutcliffe should write for Max Power and Ruppert should be on the dole judging by the stream of diarrhoea posted at the top here.

Fiat's recent success is really getting under the skin of some people. I really don't know why. It's almost as if some people in the U.K. think: "how dare the Italians be so successful, how dare they expand?". You had no problem with the Germans buying your entire motor industry and making caricatures from it. Not to mention Bugatti, Lambo etc.

In the rest of Europe Fiat has overtaken Renault, then G.M., next will be Ford...  How????? Simply through smart management and developing great products that people love. Panda, Grande Punto, 500. Brilliant cars. And I have a feeling the 149/Milano will be really special(even if the looks are controversial). It'll still get a rubbish review from Autocrap though.

BriMarsh July 17, 2009 10:53 PM

Supplemental point, can I point James to this thread:

www.autocar.co.uk/.../7419.aspx

No FIAT I've ever owned has been faced with a repair bill of £1800.

Richard H July 18, 2009 7:14 AM

That is an awful article, I'd sue if I was FIAT!

You have made a whole raft of sweeping second or third hand statements with no substance at all!

Mmm, I had a 1976 Mini,. it was a pile of rubbish, known as "That Bl00dy car"

Because of this, I cannot see how I can recomend the new MINI. It must be a rubbish too.

The more sensible will,say that I can't say that, but you did and you get paid for it!!

FIAT group cars have come on in leaps and bounds and are near the top of the pile in terms of build quality.

The dealer net work is improved and still improving

There is nothing wrong with product placing

Go get a life, James.

You're an idiot

gibster70 July 18, 2009 9:23 AM

What an ill thought-out and generalising piece, you obviously have a personal dislike of fiat and have allowed that to cloud your judgement and end up slating everything the company has ever done. anyone with half a brain knows that modern fiats are certainly no worse than other brands in terms of build quality and reliability, and in my experience they're extremely good. yes the dealers can be a pain on occasion, but the cars themselves are solid.

i owned a fiat seicento for seven years with only routine parts, servicing and a clutch for my troubles. my ex has owned a panda for nearly 4 years and didnt even have to use the warranty. and i replaced my seicento with an abarth 500 in march and it has been faultless.

try visiting the forums of the mini's that you love so much and see how few of those make it through even a year without regular visits for usually serious faults!

i have to concur, you've come across as a bit of a shouty idiot.

glorfindel July 18, 2009 10:33 AM

What a stupid common-place article!

And what's the point of talking  about models from 10 years ago?

PS: in my family we drove Opels, Nissans, Renaults and Lancias.

But the only one with no problems was a new Panda. No sorry, two new Pandas, both with no problems. My mother want to change her Micra for a third Panda.

PPS: the Panda is the only A-segment car in the European Top10 market.

Shocknoawe July 18, 2009 11:34 AM

What a shockingly unprofessional piece of journalism.  

It read like the resentment of somebody who hates Fiat and cannot accept the fact that they are now the car maker holding up best to the downturn in European sales: due to  great product.

I could point Mr Ruppert in the direction of Mercs and VWs, new ones, with the most appalling reliability, but I'd bet he would cover his ears and whistle.

I won't suggest he was influenced to write such biased and hostle copy, but it certainly reads like it.

Will86 July 18, 2009 1:06 PM

My brother has run a 2003 Punto for the last 3 years, and apart from an ignition coil issue it has been reliable and cheap to run. Fiat's are at their best as small and basic.

Whilst the article is a little OTT, Fiat's reputation is not one bourne out of fantasy. They do seem to be taking steps to improve (5 year warranty) but they have some way to go, especially the dealers.

icsunonove July 18, 2009 2:53 PM

Come on James,

don't be such a bitter old fart.

Life's too short to drive anything else than an Italian car.

Life's all about about sex and reproduction. Driving an Italian car is like having sex with someone like Elle McP.

It's unpredictable and FUN.

North July 18, 2009 2:55 PM

Will86; i do not agree with you (is that okay for you?); you expressed the opinion "when they small and basic" what a load of rubbish......you are talking about your experience based upon one car.....as I said before in the "budget mini" article "I pity you fool"......

Okay maybe a little harsh, but understand that times change and understand Fiat are flying along, going to strength to strength......manufacuturers are developing all the time....and the secret to understanding the market is understanding that "order" changes (always will always has)....Fiat are getting to the top and they are equal or better then other manufacturers.....sure nothing is perfet (you would be a fool for saying things were).....so things will always advance (which they will)....face...Fiat are rocking and are continuing to rock.....deal with it and take your "sample of one" and listen to the above......hope that helps.....Fiat rock and the 500 is SUPER COOL.....read the above.

glorfindel July 18, 2009 2:59 PM

Some other thoughts...

I'd been in Turin 2 months ago and I visited the Automobile's National Museum, with a lot italian glories of the past (Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ferrari, Isotta Fraschini...) and among these cars there was a panel celebrating the first world's car magazine. Yes. I'm talking about Autocar. And no other magazine was mentioned. I even took a picture of that old cover.

Now it's sad to see how much Autocar has lost credit, even though in Italy still has the reputation of "the first car magazine in the world".

So sad...

North July 18, 2009 4:03 PM

J.Muppet soiled himself with this article and soiled Autocar....

Griffin911 July 18, 2009 4:10 PM

This is the kind of garbage I'd expect to see in The dirt rags, not Autocar. Way to kill the magazines journalistic values with a stinging and unsubstantiated attack on a frankly brilliant car company.

Will86 July 18, 2009 4:23 PM

North, you seem to think I dislike Fiat? Quite the contrary, as I said, our Punto has been a good little car.

I stand by my comment about them being at the their best as small basic cars, they are easy to run, fun to drive in their own way and if they go wrong they are easy to fix (the ignition coil cost 20 pounds, and my brother fitted it himself with help from the Haynes manual).

alfa bob July 18, 2009 7:04 PM

if they are that bad why are Fiat selling cars across Europe, out selling the big boys

We have our first Fiat, a 500, wonderful car, well made, sips fuel, looks just fab, we luv it.

I am on 4th Alfa, superb so its pasta for us

you can stick you mindless comments where the sun shines.  

bol July 18, 2009 8:41 PM

This guy's usually full of sh1t. Most of the stuff he comes out with in the magazine is lazy old truisms and trite self righteousness. The day he joined Autocar the line between it and Autoexpress blurred a lot more in my opinion.

ambs123 July 18, 2009 11:40 PM

James Ruppert - this man is a biased £$£E£r. I mean this person is working for Autocar, which is another of the most biased magazine in this country, I wish Fiat sues the magazine for writing such direct and reputation-bashing comments about a brand that just evokes passion.. I have a Stilo 3 door and its just great and still looks stunning, never faced a single problem from last 3 years I had it since. what a load of crap this person has written....I feel sorry for Autocar for such a cheap journalism and yes a way of licking German Feet......Utterly ridiculous piece of article...Mr Ruppert!!! Shame on you...You deserve a place in a Jobcentre Plus...Of course as a JOBSEEKER..!!

Fiat has ruled, is ruling and will rule our hearts......

Tom Philpott July 19, 2009 12:26 AM

james, maybe you should take a look at "the big end" in this weeks mag. Apparently you write it, but the picture on the front page, where it says 1000's of quality used cars, is a fiat 500. At least pretend you write it by being a bit more consistent. Just sloppy.

230SL July 19, 2009 11:38 AM

This article is lazy.

Product endorsement is naff, but works for the masses, for example Amarni and the Beckhams, Man U and Audi, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha(AKA Windsor) and Audi, and for a final example Elle Macpherson (I did n't know who she was before you pointed her out to me andvery pretty she is I admit :o) ) and Jaguar XJ. All subjects which you could take a fair pop at as guilty of having produced and publicising alot of overpriced tat, but you pick on this??? Mind boggling.

adam2853 July 19, 2009 1:00 PM

Utter load of ***.

Fiat may have deserved a bad reputation for reliability in the past, but this crass and biased sort of journalism perpetuates the myth as if it applies today.

My Grande Punto Sporting has carried me over 24000 miles accross europe this year and has performed above resonable expectation.  A swiss winter parked outside in snow and ice resulted in a blown windscreen wiper motor.  THATS IT and it mas my fault for using the wipers to clear snow rather than a scraper.  My car is fantastic and does everything as well as looking sexier than Fiesta/Polo/Clio and co.

My previous car was a 98 Polo, great little car too, but the Fiat is interesting and sporting, cornering flatly with grip, no roll and cruising quietly and quickly from Milan to Preston via Geneva, Bern, Stuttgart, Munich......

Autocar: GET A GRIP.  I want journalism not hearsay from what is a good site and decent mag.  Bad luck is one thing, but I know people who hate their Audis and Mercs for real expensive reasons, and content Fiat owners who, like me, enjoy their cars for what they are:  fun, good value and capable of putting up with a thrash.  

20 million itlaians can`t be wrong.

Paul J July 19, 2009 2:00 PM

We did put our hard earned cash into two new cars in March this year - a Boxster S and an Abarth 500.  The Boxster has been almost perfect, the only annoyance being an untraceable intermittent rattle from behind the drivers shoulder.  The 500, on the other hand has been absolutely perfect, always makes us smile and invariably attracts more favorable comment than the Porsche.

FrankAlfa July 19, 2009 3:01 PM

Great to see two things!  

1) So many people have VERY possitive things to say about Fiat Group Cars.  I owned an Alfa Romeo 164 year ago and sold it (fully functioning) @ 165, 000 miles on it!  I loved the car like no other and I only had small things (door locks) give some trouble after 120,000 miles!  I was the greatest car I ever owned.  I had the best times in my life with my then girlfrienhd Erica!  She was a 5'-8" tall, 115 lb. stunningly long laged girl!  SUPER HOT!  Great to see I am not alone in wonderful times Fiat Group cars have brought so many other people out there.

2) It is great that Autocar / Haymarket publication would print these possitive responses to one of their articles / writers.  As bad and hurtful that article was against Fiat the blog puts a very good spin on it!  

It is wonderful to see Fiat Group cars doing much better!  I hope they rise in Quality and Stature as the Hyundai Car have done in the past 10 years!  Diversity is the greatest way to find enjoyment!  We NEED Fiat Group cars here in America!  

drivenfromtherearplease July 19, 2009 8:29 PM

Must add here that James I do believe you have gone too far. Our

Alfa ran superbly for 20,000+ miles - no problems at all and the dealer was good too.

Fiat used to supply electrics to Audi you know.

Spice_Rj July 19, 2009 10:38 PM

Well so long with the disguise... It's not James to blame you know it's AUTOCAR the same story is repeated in every review of a FIAT group car just more disguised. It appears that the italians will never get it right no matter what generalisations and subjective opinions blah blah blah...

I agree with "trocadero" get a life James and then get a ford....

mimmo July 20, 2009 9:33 AM

james get a life!!!!!!!!!

the italians can teach you a thing or two.

as a writer you are crap!!!!!!!!!!

theonlydt July 20, 2009 10:01 AM

Wow - I'm actually quite shocked at the comments on here. Half the time people are cosying up to him, the other half they're slagging him off.

theonlydt July 20, 2009 10:06 AM

Sorry, I posted the previous by accident before I had finished.

I experienced Fiat cars right from 1996 cars until 2004 cars. They were, without fail, awful. The Marea and the Stilo fight it out for bottom place, both being utter rubbish. The last-gen Punto was poor.

However, I would contest James' opinion that modern Fiats should not be bought. I think the 500 is a cracking car and is based on the reasonably reliable Panda. Fiat can make their cars more reliable, but they're now more than bearable as opposed to 10 years ago when they were dreadful.

For those that immediately leapt to Fiat's defence - are you looking through rose-tinted glasses? Fiat have made some right duffers, right into the 2000s. Their reliability was appalling, always being placed near the bottom of the league tables (keeping PSA company).

Richard H July 20, 2009 10:09 AM

I can only say that my 2 Alfas have been reliable, no problems (Hope I haven't jinxed it!)

Alfa were second in the latest JD Power survey in Germany, so they must be doing something right

Zeddy July 20, 2009 11:53 AM

@theonlydt:

I think it is more the generalising by James that annoyed a lot of people. He worries about the current Punto because he remembers someone he "worked with got a Supermiafiori - and he quickly renamed it a Crappymiafiori." He may not have meant it this way but it sure reads as such.

James you normally reply to these blogs. Why not this one so far?

Honestly, most of us just want to hear your side of things.  

pdmc July 20, 2009 1:22 PM

After all my ranting about the Stilo above... to give my comment more balance I probably should've added that - after I sold the Stilo (it really was awful) ... I wasn't put off any FIAT brands or products ... I still went straight out and bought myself an Alfa 156.

The best car I've ever owned by a considerable margin in a list consisting of Peugeot, Nissan, Mazda, Seat & FIAT.

Cherrington July 20, 2009 1:53 PM

What a load of generalised rubbish, have you ever actually owned a Fiat car for any period of time? I ran a Seicento for four years and 60,000 miles, and apart from a snapped clutch cable it performed faultlessly on all roads and all weathers. I considered nothing but a new Fiat to replace it in December last year and chose a Grande Punto which also has yet to let me down. Rubbish, will not read another James Ruppert blog, he could not be further from the truth.