Test Drive Fiat Punto 5 doors since 2003 Hatchback
Stilgy and Puntovik
Paying attention to novelties and premieres of the automotive market, we sometimes repent, we simply have no physical opportunity, that is, free newspaper space in order to introduce our readers with interesting versions of long-known and popular models. As a rule, only those modifications that are first crossed by the Border of the Republic of Belarus, and we are trying to most promptly acquaint our readers with all the innovations of the automotive industry, experiencing the first, often sold, instances on tests. With the rest of the same, it is not always possible to get acquainted: the competitors do not dreamed, representing new items, so to tell about some particular version of the car you like it is often not possible. However, there are exceptions. As happened everywhere, in the automotive business, too, there are their glacial periods, when all the new items sold in Minsk we have already managed to roll back, and there is a gap between the appearance of two new models. Approximately as now: Motor showers, the latest models are presented, work on their soon delivery to the territory of the Republic of Belarus, but there is nothing like that now. It is at such moments that we have the opportunity to test new versions of familiar cars.And today we have three representatives of the Nice Fiat family on our test - the Stilo model in the new basic version, which has long been familiar Punto 1.2 with an unusual transmission and red-cue for our expanses Fiat Seicento 1.1 - sports version of the budget hatchback ...
Let's start, perhaps, with Stilo - he is the most recently in this company, because its sales in our market began literally this spring when the first arrived in the republic came to the test. Then the basic, but completely different stilo - with a 1,2-liter 16-valve motor, borrowed from a smaller Punto, visited the test. Of course, the rich basic equipment and the gorgeous interior decoration then made a proper impression, but agree, such a small motor on cars of a small middle class, and even worth ten thousand dollars, this is a paradox, error of marketers. Apparently, they did not consider not only us, because literally six months later, a new Fiat Stilo appeared in the base lists - now with a 1.6-liter motor. This is another matter: 103 horses of this motor make Stilo simultaneously and quite dynamic, and economical. And this is exactly the same case when the form corresponds to the content: stylish appearance corresponding to the image of this Italian dynamics, stunning handling. Do not forget, it is just a basic version. While most competitors in the database have only a 1.4-liter motor and a poor list of additional equipment, Stilo has a minimal price and a powerful motor, and a good complete set.
Fiat Punto, one of the most beautiful compact hatchbacks of his time, today is experiencing not the best of times: the parent feces, constantly lacks funds, besides it is still unknown than it will end. Although this does not prevent the models to be sold as well as at the time of their debut - look at how many different Punto rides through the streets of our city. And among them there are both sports three-door, and five-door versions, including with diesel engines. There are among them the most beloved by our excellent driver versions - with a machine gun. That's just not all even the owners of such cars know that Punto does not automatically ... produced. The gamma simply does not have such a version that would be equipped with an automatic transmission. But there is a version of Punto 1.2 16V Speedgear - a small hatchback with a small engine, which is equipped with a clinoremable variator, which is for most motorists and there is a complete analogue of an ordinary machine: the principle of control is the same, although it is constructive two of these devices have nothing to do. Let's start with the fact that there are no gears, leading or slave shafts, synchronizers in the design of the variator, etc. - In essence, these are just two sliding pulleys, the slave and the presenter, which is stretched by a special belt, withstanding serious loads. By changing the diameter of the leading and slave pulleys, you can achieve a different gear ratio, as in a conventional gearbox. But, unlike all known types of gearbox in the variator, the change in the transfer ratio is smoothly, and not stepwise. Two pulleys simultaneously change their diameter, thus varying the range of speeds that the car can develop in one or another position of the variator. When the leading pulley has a maximum diameter, and the slave, on the contrary, is minimal, the car has a small speed, but a huge reserve of torque and high trap. If you change everything, and the leading pulley will have a minimum diameter, and the slave is the maximum, then a large maximum speed and weak possibilities will appear in terms of elasticity. Simply, like all ingenious ...
Among the shortcomings of small cars with automata are mediocre overclocking dynamics and low smoothness. In an effort to improve the dynamics, the transmissions are doing shorter, and the switching process itself makes sharp and fast. In Fiat Punto, there is no second drawback with the variator, and even more so - it is impossible in principle. Since the programs themselves in the variator are not - changes in the ratio of the leading and slave pulleys occur smoothly, without interrupting the feed torque. And this, in turn, means that there cannot be any jerks or shudders when switching.
In general, the process of overclocking the car with the variator is a bit strange: the engine is roaring almost at the maximum turnover, and the car smoothly accelerates. At the same time, you can accelerate at least to maximum speed, nothing will change - the variator never interrupts the feed of the torque from the engine to the drive wheels. Although, honestly, it will not like this far from all because the process of overclocking is accompanied by a rarized tedious sound of a roaring motor, and the dynamics is normal, so the driving begins to appear that something is not so, the car is faulty. After all, when the machine with the same engine is equipped with an automatic machine, the dynamics is also not an outstanding, but the driver at least feel the process of overclocking: one transmission is replaced by another, at the time of switching the machine shudders slightly, jumps forward. Again, any engine has a weak and strong zone of revolutions - respectively, even on the machine when determined by the engine turns, the car starts to ride a little faster than before. In the variator there is no, and uniform, the tedious voice of the motor is so waved to check if the clutch does not raise - the symptoms are very similar.
But Punto can be forced to go differently: with normal jerks when shifting gears, with splashes and dips on acceleration, etc. You just need to translate the gearbox lever into manual mode, simulating the operation of an ordinary machine, the variator fixes one gear ratio, then replaces it with another, third. In this mode, the difference between the usual automatic transmission and the variator feel even harder, especially with such a low-power motor. Is that an experienced driver will be able to calculate the number of transmissions: in manual mode there are six (!) Fixed steps, which is still unattainable for cars with automatic machines for which the five-speed automatic transmission is rare. Naturally, in such a movement mode, the driver himself can choose or change transfers, because The speakers do not add, but makes the car more elastic. For example, rebuilding in the next row, you can and do not have time to accelerate to the desired speed on the variator: it works too smoothly, which is not always needed in the city. In manual mode, it is much easier: I pushed the lever, I chose the desired transfer and, twisting the engine well, fit where you needed. Another advantage of the variator before ordinary machine - compactness and smaller weight, which makes it possible to achieve decent dynamics, only 12.6 seconds you need a variatorial Punto to overclock up to hundreds. And this, by the way, is much less than the usual 1,2-liter (not 16-valve) version with a manual gearbox!
And under the curtain, the representative of the dealer proposed to ride on one fiat - the most affordable, most popular, most compact. Remember the humpback zaporozhets? Here in the range of the Italian manufacturer there is something similar ...
Fiat Sypento. Do you know, with what feeling you go to test such cars, cheap and minimally equipped? As if in a dentist - I do not want, but it is necessary. You sit behind the wheel, trying not to pay attention to all sorts of nuances, you go and think that you can write this about this car, so that the reader is interested. But Seicento, despite the fact that we have long we know this car (we visited 0.9-liter on our test (as it sounds!) Version), unexpectedly pleased and surprised. The car herself, painted with some interesting shade of silver metallic, has many inserts of another kolacher - bumpers, rear door and some other elements are painted in the blue metallic! I barely sat down by the steering wheel, appreciating the ascetic furnishings of the interior, my attention attracted the two-color seat upholstery - black, in the sports elastic chairs had bright blue inserts in the center, to the tone of what was scattered throughout the car. The second unusual detail is the trimming of the doors. Do not believe, but a simple and thin inner door panel was made ... under carbon. Hmm, this is a serious application - just so pseudocarbonic panels in small chairs, the more Italian, do not put. Well, let's see what effect is the extra 200 cubes of the working volume. Now at Seicento is set at least a 1.1-liter engine, and its stuck 0,9-cubic fellow and is excluded at all from the gamma. It must be assumed for bad behavior ...
Ride the way Fiat Seicento 0.9 traveled, the Italian car should not: this motor, if there are three saddles in the cabin, was enough only to make the car move. Acceleration, acceleration - all this was given with such difficulty that it was easier to transfer to a taxi than to force this car to go at least at the level of the VAZ seven. And it is not necessary to navigate the difference in the volume of the engine: by the ratio of mass and power, a small Fiat is not the most sick car. Nevertheless, the basic motor did not suit the indicators, it seems not only me, so from this year the 0.9-liter version was removed from production, and only Fiat Seicento 1.1 remained on the conveyor. And he is really able to show everyone, even more powerful cars, that the number of horsepower under the hood is not the main thing. Although not superfluous, because A gain of 15 horses achieved by increasing the working volume of the engine from 0.9 to 1.1-liters, as well as a significant increase in torque indicators led to the fact that Seicento 1.1 is absolutely not similar to his sickly fellow. Start from the place - the attraction is cleaner of Hali Gali. First, because noise isolation in such a cheap car, and the motor even without a tachometer, the driver and passengers on the mode of operation correctly informs their sipple roar. And secondly, because when equipped with 730 kilograms, even 54 horses are rams - the car chases like karting.
It all starts with the fact that the car is easily palpped from the place at idle, let go of the clutch a little more tender, and the baby is easily rolling in a slide. In the second and third gear, such a focus is also obtained, only not from the place, and from the go - without touching the gas pedal, but simply turning over the transmission, you can even get to the highest, fifth transmission. Although it is better to go like: gas in the floor, throw the clutch, and under the rustling of the buxing front wheels, the machine breaks down so that some bimmers will envy. But this is just the beginning, and instantly twisting the short first, immediately turn on the ride second - it is very long and allows you to ride in the speed range of 20-80 km / h! What does not prevent her from being traction, Seicento accelerates very cheerfully, especially if you don't feel much and how to twist the motor. No tachometer, but approximately after 3000 rpm, the motor seems to explode - from now on it goes much more sweeper than on small revs. You will not believe, but on a wet road, the protrusion of the leading wheels can be called simply an energetic game with a gas pedal: what is on the first that Seicento 1.1 goes on the second gear. Yes, I got a little salty agents, who at the start demanded the jewelry game a gas pedal!
At the same time, the driver's sensations are similar to what the driver is experiencing some Ferrari - the motor roars on the entire salon, the net steering control without any amplifiers allows you to control each movement of the car, and the brakes are generally the highest class! Naturally, ABS in such a car can not be, except by order, therefore the brake pedal has excellent sensitivity and informativeness, therefore, even on his bare ice, it is not difficult to slowly slow down on the verge, preventing wheel blocking. On a more suitable for dynamic coating movement, they are at all are a standard - a little heavy, but it is extremely convenient and predictable. And they are suitable for such a motor as it is impossible - with such temperament, the owner will still never ride calmly, so that an excellent braking system is probably useful for him. The rest of the Fiat Seicento fully corresponds to its price - medium noise insulation, cheap plastic, minimum of additional equipment. Although, I must say that the minimum price of the Italians is not at all perceived as a reason to drive the hack of the example of Russian automobile plants - nothing rattles, not falling off and works like a clock. Savings are manifested only in the number of finishing materials - in the cabin, as in the Zhiguli, there are non-naked metal panels, painted in the color of the body ...
Text: Pavel Kozlovsky and Sergey Mitskevich
