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Everything posted by Ian_Fearn
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This is one heck of a view to wake up to. Stelvio is definitely one of the best roads for both scenery and twisties. It’s really friendly up here too. Not many people stay at the top and those that do are rewarded with 1980s style hotel room and wonderful hospitality. My room still has a CRT tv. I’ve been told the Gavia Pass is well worth driving to so maybe next year.
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I saw this for sale but couldn’t get my arse in gear quick enough. So glad it’s ended up on here.
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Coffee break time. Living the dream! Stelvio Pass today. Never fails to bring a big smile 😃 Drove up Lake Come which is pretty spectacular. Pandas everywhere but no other old cars to be seen. No Unos, Regattas or even 126. Just shed loads of old Pandas. Overnight stay tonight at the very top. Car is running beautifully. Burnt no oil or coolant. Stays around 90 degrees on the gauge.
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More Panda 30 models than you could count. According to one owner, when the 30 was available it was the best selling model in Italy (because it was the cheapest). Also back in the day, a company was offering 4x4 conversions on new Panda 30 models. I cannot begin to imagine how slow they must have been🤣 Quite a few had the plastic van conversion kits although most seemed to be modified for camping or had been repurposed in some way. I lay down on the bed last night at about 8.30 and the next thing I knew it was 8am!
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Next stop the Stelvio Pass. I am back at the hotel now and absolutely exhausted. I got back from Pandino late last night and my neighbours in the hotel (panda people) invited me to party with them so I didn’t get to bed till gone 1am and then up at 7am. The show as always has been unbelievably fantastic. The people of Pandino are awesome and Panda people in general are so nice and friendly. There’s just no snobbery whatsoever. If you like Pandas, this is the place to come.
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Suffice to say it’s BONKERS here today. Must be 1000 cars already. Just wanted to post this. I know what you’re thinking….. Will it run on veg? Yes. Bosch pump!
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It’s getting busy here now! just a few taster shots from early this morning. It’s even hotter now! There’s a band on murdering some English language songs 🤣
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The car is still running sweet! I’ve just driven back to the hotel after the long run and it started and drove as if it had just done a run to Tesco’s.
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Well unbelievably I’ve made it to Pandino! The show doesn’t start till tomorrow and the town was pretty dead this evening so I headed to a local pizzeria which was classically Italian and great. Its been a really tough day today. Set off early from Briancon in baking heat. Drove over the border into Switzerland, got the usual rodding for a Vignette. I then proceeded to spend 2 hours stuck in traffic round Lausanne although the lake is bloody beautiful. The cars radiator fan has been running full tilt all day. I then drove the Great St Bernard pass over into Italy, which was both fun and spectacular. Something I’ve wanted to do for a few years.
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It certainly was for Japan but I do wonder if it was locally fitted. @PhilA re the fan…. Yep, I have one suckered onto the windscreen but all it’s doing it throwing hot air at me! It’s just like having a hair dryer blowing at you on heat.
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Yesterday’s hard motorway road run took its toll on the MPGEeeeeeees. 51.8 recorded. I’m driving from Reims to Besancon today and decided to get off the Peage roads. Lots of stop/start and diversions due to road works. Yesterday I paid nearly 30 euros to do about 160 miles. It’s mega hot here. 100% not used to this. I’m cowering in the shade after a top quality Aldi cold snack lunch. I really know how to live it up. France has really lost its edge when it comes to shite. Spots are few and far between. The odd mint 2cv and today’s highlight, a daily driver Talbot Solara. No picture sorry.
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1 hour from the next night stop in Reims. SHIT it’s hot! 30 degrees and no AC. Car doesn’t seem to care though! Got pulled by customs. Every question under the sun about the car and nothing to do with customs 🤣
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I’ve just done 226 miles on 3.99 gallons of fuel. That’s 56+mpg!!! I really didn’t hang about either. Is this the benefit of running on BP Ultimate? Surely not?
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Leg 1 complete: Staying in this stunning Kent countryside hotel. Absolutely bloody lovely. If my camera was better you’d see the French coastline in the picture. It was damn hot driving down and that’s only a taste of the temperatures to come. Car is running great though and keeping cool even in traffic after a 70+mph motorway way. Very happy with that.
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First fuel up complete: 208.9p for E5 at my local station. This is gonna be an expensive trip!
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Probably a maximum of 300. I’ve done it in 2 days before but I’m not looking to break any records this time.
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Good advice! It’s got a few successful miles under its belt this week so I’m 100%* confident in its ability to go the distance 😂. It had a good going over this last week, new clutch, rad, coolant, fluids etc. This car has done the trip twice before. For anyone that doesn’t know the back story to this event, back in 2017 an Italian lady posted on facebook that she was going to take her old Panda to a town 30 mins outside Milan called Pandino. Somewhat surprisingly ~100 cars turned up. This very sleepy little town was somewhat surprised but in the classic Italian way, embraced the whole thing and from 2018 it became a huge town party. Roll forward to 2018 and 365 cars turned up and Fiat used the event to launch their Waze Panda. The following year nearly 700 cars turned up. Covid has meant 20 and 21 was cancelled but this year I am entry number 1791 so having been in 18 and 19 I’m expecting big things this year!
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On Tuesday I set off for the big Panda event near Milan in my 94 Panda. I’m taking a relatively easy route this year stopping in Reims and Besancon before going over the St Bernard into Italy and then driving down Lake Como. The return trip will be over Stelvio but heading to Zurich (to look at a car for a relative) and then heading home via Luxembourg and Belgium. Wish me luck, flying solo this year. I have done less 500 miles in this car over the last few years. The radiator gave up last week and when I started it up today and smoke bellowed from under the bonnet when I tested the headlights. Turns out the old dim dip resistor has burnt out so I’ve bypassed it until I can get another. Great start.
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I would love to meet the person prepared to spend £10,950 on a 2003 V70. Nice car and all that but Shirley you’ve got to be kidding? https://www.rixmotors.co.uk/used-4135002?_cgvci=LO03DDL&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=cargurus_display_facebook&_cgid=SlQyZi05Mi40MC4yNDguNzIuMTU0OTgxODEzMjQ3Mg__&_cgpt=S&_cgx=eyJhZSI6Im0yMDQifQ__