My Blue & Me - 90 HP at Home

Thanks Teky. I was wondering if we have a Chennai chapter of TeamFiat so we can all meet up, drive around, discuss car problems etc?

@ Enki - When will you stop being funny, please don't ever :clap
I drove half way home from the showroom on saturday and took my wife out shopping on Sunday. City traffic, U turns, signals, reverse, park, all went well.
Today was the first day that I drove to work and first time I drove at night. Night driving will take some getting used to. I am having more fun than I thought I would
A good long drive will happen probably this weekend and tomorrow morning I will go for a spin before work.
I am not paranoid about washing and cleaning, I am just worried about the dust and scratches. Will take it to 3M this weekend for the paint sealant so I can sleep better

 

Yep that how we 90-HPians are! That's what i wanted to hear about your 90 HP, Enjoying it more than you thought, i knew that & was desperate to listen it from you. Still i would say that there is ocean full of fun of waiting for you that you haven't expected but bound to arrive when you will start knowing it more & more. Doesn't it light up inside like some cockpit of Boeing. You must be awestruck during night drive.

Pls let us know the Mam's thought (your wife) too on the vehicle. I am sure you both are flattened in love with this Oceanic blue & me thing:mrgreen:. Since you have driven Swift diesel enough at driving school, what's the +ves & -ves you managed to spot so far, pls comment on this.
That's indeed nice to hear & relieving that you are driving it & gaining confidence everyday. Pls be careful slightly, it's these initial few days period when everyone is hesitated to drive all alone. Any scratch/dent at this stage will simply break the heart. Best suggestion is to have some friend along with by sparing 1-2 hrs at office hrs & drive it for 40-50 kms for a psychological boost. pls go through some tips below that i must tell you.

Manage least washing possible. Some gentle cleaning with Jupasu duster on daily basis should suffice.
Consider washing only if If there is some mud deposited due to off roading & dirt sticking on oil pan's like brake oil/steering oil etc. Don't forget to lift the bonnet up every 2nd -3 rd day & check coolant/all kind of oil levels at least for initial 1-2 months. Every morning before you sit inside, just bend & look below the engine bay if there are any coolant/oil drops. Don't panic in case it is simple water, That because of AC. It is to ensure if any manufacturing defect. Go through Owner's manual book at least once in detail. There are some useful tips there.
Keep Rocking Bro!! You with your 90HP make a perfect owner/vehicle pair:wow.
Blessings!

 

Congrats Bro on the Mighty Muscular Macho from Italy.
your 90 horses will make the others eat the dust, the chrome exhaust is matching perfectly with the color, Also planning to have one..
I feel proud when i see New Fiat being added up in the forum.

 

Thanks Enki, I would like to say that you have been very responsive and helpful through this entire journey of car selection, fuel selection, variant selection and everything.
My wife likes the car a lot, the color was her idea and it gradually grew on me and looking back I wouldn't buy any other color. She would like a Linea even better and I guess that will happen eventually.

Cleaning Bit - Received my courier for the Jopasu Duster today so I should be pretty set on that front now. Just a shampoo once a week and Jopasu everyday. I checked both the cleaning guys hired by my society at home and the people at work but did not hire any of them as they just clean with plain water and cloth

I am reading the manual as much as possible and trying to earn all kinds of warning signs on the display etc. Like I said, I am planning a long drive tomorrow so will start by pumping in lots of diesel and checking the air pressure. Will try to do at least 100 Km (I learnt driving a month ago - It is a LONG drive for me).
I manged to set the Trip meter today and figured out the Ac, USB, Windscreen wipers and the headlights as well. I am either driving at 20 in traffic or at 60 as soon as I slot the 3rd or 4th gear. It just takes off like a rocket! :mrgreen:


Now for the part I was hoping I wouldn't have to ask anything about for at least next 1 year. There is a weird sound coming from the steering wheel/tyres from outside the car when I fully turn the steering wheel in either direction. It's like turning an old lorry without power steering makes that screeching sound. Even when the car is parked and I turn the wheels, I can hear a metallic sound like bending a rod and it sounds/feels like if I continue turning, it will break. I don't want to go to TASS so soon so will ask a friend to drive and tell me if something is wrong. Also, the noise levels are quite high compared to a Swift. I can hear the engine all the time and on empty roads I can hear when I use the brake pedal or the wheels when they turn. Guess it should improve with time.

 

Yeah we can do that, may be next month.

I don't think it's a problem as I get the same sound during stationary. Stop looking into small things and start enjoying you drive.

Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk

 

Bro, Pls don't earn the warning lights on your car. That could be fatal for a new car.
I guess it would be better to learn them instead.

You are talking about the tyre noise@speeds. Since the rubber is new, they may produce some screech as well if the road is too smooth. Don't worry, that not an issue. It would settle a lot after you clock few kms.
Yes, the tyre noise is on higher side a little bit but these Good Year stocks (2012 90HP??) has very good grip.
That's too will settle to an extent. Don't worry, you are getting into the groves.
Just enjoy as much as you can & keep updating. It's really nice to see you so happy & satisfied for your Punto.
Have a through reading of your manual. It quite interesting too!

 

Thanks Enki. But the sound is not from the rubber, it's the steering column/rod whatever. And it is there even when the vehicle is stationary.
Like Teky has commented above, even he gets the same sound. So, I am hoping it's normal. Yes, the stock Tyres are Goodyear.

 

That's common in Punto. There is some noise like air passing & hissing through a hollow pipe. May be due the noise of pumping oil in & out during steering operations. A very small but audible clanking noise of rod is also there when you turn it extreme right or left. That is general hydraulic procedure noises & perfectly normal. This car is so well connected to it's steering that it can literally dance if you want it to. It's hardly heard if you have the music@volume 1-2 level.

 

I went for a 141 Km spin yesterday. Took the wife out of town and drove on the highway at 80-100. I gotta say that it feels sluggish but isn't. It is moving at 100 but doesn't feel like it is. Although, I did feel it needs another gear as the 5th gear is not enough for speeds above 80. The engine just roars like it needs a 6th gear. But it's an absolutely effortless ride, I was driving mostly with just one hand on the steering. Even got a taste of the ABS when my wife suddenly asked me to take a left and we were at a speed of almost 100. The car just stopped!
City driving in the evening bumper to bumper traffic was a pain on the other hand. I just can't understand the 1st and 2nd gear as they are Extremely short. The traffic stops and then I have to slot the 1st gear but when it starts moving, 1st and even 2nd feel very heavy and load to keep moving. But the moment I slot the 3rd gear, the traffic stops again. I don't know if I am doing something wrong or the first two gears are really really short. please advise on this as city driving is painful this way.

Now, for the pics:

 

Hey Relativity you took it to ECR road? looks like that...when i was there in chennai it was fun to drive through ECR to pondi...the car looks awesome