The mighty Fiat Panda

[Guest]

I am staying for three weeks in a rural location in central italy, and have been pleasantly surprised by how ubiquitous the Fiat Panda remains. As an example, yesterday I counted 21 different Pandas, moving or parked, during a 5 km trip to the shops. Many of them are the 4x4 version. These little sheds appear to go on for ever, and surely deserve a place in the shite Pantheon.

 

Has anyone ever driven one? Are they well shitey?

[Guest]

I am staying for three weeks in a rural location in central italy, and have been pleasantly surprised by how ubiquitous the Fiat Panda remains. As an example, yesterday I counted 21 different Pandas, moving or parked, during a 5 km trip to the shops. Many of them are the 4x4 version. These little sheds appear to go on for ever, and surely deserve a place in the shite Pantheon.

 

Has anyone ever driven one? Are they well shitey?

[Micrashed]

There has been links before to a thread on another forum where someone rescued a basic Mk1 and drove it all the way back from Italy.

I prefer the mk 1 to the later ones, but agree they are nice.

[Micrashed]

There has been links before to a thread on another forum where someone rescued a basic Mk1 and drove it all the way back from Italy.

I prefer the mk 1 to the later ones, but agree they are nice.

[Cavcraft]

-1.

Dad a Panda Comfort (contradicition-in-terms-on-wheels) and a 4x4. The Sisley was hopelessly underpowered and pretty damned Godawful all round sorry.

[Cavcraft]

-1.

Dad a Panda Comfort (contradicition-in-terms-on-wheels) and a 4x4. The Sisley was hopelessly underpowered and pretty damned Godawful all round sorry.

[Vin]

They were for sale on mainland Europe until 2003, when production changed to the new style, so I would expect that some of the ones that you spotted were maybe not too ancient in the grand scheme of things...

 

Me, I love em - simple, no real added extras or luxury, exactly as a car should be.

 

I would say they are the closest thing there is to an Italian 2CV.

 

I'll leave this 4x4 footage here....

 

[Vin]

They were for sale on mainland Europe until 2003, when production changed to the new style, so I would expect that some of the ones that you spotted were maybe not too ancient in the grand scheme of things...

 

Me, I love em - simple, no real added extras or luxury, exactly as a car should be.

 

I would say they are the closest thing there is to an Italian 2CV.

 

I'll leave this 4x4 footage here....

 

[dollywobbler]

I'm with Vin. They really do have a 2CV-esque vibe going on. Tinny and simple! Haven't actually driven one yet though. I must do something about this!

[dollywobbler]

I'm with Vin. They really do have a 2CV-esque vibe going on. Tinny and simple! Haven't actually driven one yet though. I must do something about this!

[AeroNautiCal]

Back in the day, when I was young(er) and stupid, I gave serious thought to building the Fiat Panda Amphibian, using the conversion kit sold by Mike Ryan.

 

I still have the information pack/parts list/price list for the conversion, in storage.

 

Like the 2CV, I've always had a soft spot for the Panda.

 

[AeroNautiCal]

Back in the day, when I was young(er) and stupid, I gave serious thought to building the Fiat Panda Amphibian, using the conversion kit sold by Mike Ryan.

 

I still have the information pack/parts list/price list for the conversion, in storage.

 

Like the 2CV, I've always had a soft spot for the Panda.

 

[CreepingJesus]

Had a 1L one on a G-plate a few years ago, and I loved it. No-one else did! Maybe 'cos I drove it like an Italian; flat out everywhere, and sod braking.

A neighbours wife had one she used as a van. Both were easy to fix, easy on fuel and needed a 5th gear.

I loved mine, I'd have another, if I could find a £100 bargain again.

[CreepingJesus]

Had a 1L one on a G-plate a few years ago, and I loved it. No-one else did! Maybe 'cos I drove it like an Italian; flat out everywhere, and sod braking.

A neighbours wife had one she used as a van. Both were easy to fix, easy on fuel and needed a 5th gear.

I loved mine, I'd have another, if I could find a £100 bargain again.

[Volksy]

They're grand little cars, Ma Volks had an '84 Panda 45 which she loved, I seem to remember it going through a lot of clutch cables though.

 

I had a Seat Marbella 850 ironically when I lived in Italy.

[Volksy]

They're grand little cars, Ma Volks had an '84 Panda 45 which she loved, I seem to remember it going through a lot of clutch cables though.

 

I had a Seat Marbella 850 ironically when I lived in Italy.

[Spiny Norman]

Cracking wee cars Pandas, an ex of mine had one and it was probably the best car for nipping about town I've ever driven. Fantastically easy to drive, great visibility, nippy in the way only an old lightweight, slightly rich mixtured, carburettored car can be, and big plastic bumpers to fend off attacks!

Truth be told I remember the car far more fondly than the girl, stuck up bitch that she was....

[Spiny Norman]

Cracking wee cars Pandas, an ex of mine had one and it was probably the best car for nipping about town I've ever driven. Fantastically easy to drive, great visibility, nippy in the way only an old lightweight, slightly rich mixtured, carburettored car can be, and big plastic bumpers to fend off attacks!

Truth be told I remember the car far more fondly than the girl, stuck up bitch that she was....

[Mash]

I like them, a teacher of mine had a beige one when they first came out, deckchair seats and everything.

 

I was also surprised when in Italy how many there were until I realised as Vin says that they were sold there until 2003!!!

[Mash]

I like them, a teacher of mine had a beige one when they first came out, deckchair seats and everything.

 

I was also surprised when in Italy how many there were until I realised as Vin says that they were sold there until 2003!!!

[pandarus]

I used to make a tidy sum buying and selling small Fiats...Cinqs, Seis, Unos but my favourite (as you can tell from my user name) was the Panda.

 

The cars are basic but reliable and if you look after the bodywork and mechanics, I think they would go on forever. However, like many cars at the cheaper end of the market they are generally used and abused to within an inch of their poor little lives.

 

I was also under the impression that the Panda 4x4 was a very capable car, but please feel free to correct me if this is not the case.

 

My first Panda was a carb'd 750 FIRE which absolutley loved being driven (fast) down country roads. I still regret selling this car to this day...

 

Like any car, they have a loyal following and the Classic Panda section on the fiat forum solved many a crisis during my ownership of three Pandas.

 

Despite my current ownership of a very tidy Eunos, I still hanker after another little Panda but I fear it may not be something that the wife is too happy about acquiring (ever)...

 

PANDAS ROCK!

[pandarus]

I used to make a tidy sum buying and selling small Fiats...Cinqs, Seis, Unos but my favourite (as you can tell from my user name) was the Panda.

 

The cars are basic but reliable and if you look after the bodywork and mechanics, I think they would go on forever. However, like many cars at the cheaper end of the market they are generally used and abused to within an inch of their poor little lives.

 

I was also under the impression that the Panda 4x4 was a very capable car, but please feel free to correct me if this is not the case.

 

My first Panda was a carb'd 750 FIRE which absolutley loved being driven (fast) down country roads. I still regret selling this car to this day...

 

Like any car, they have a loyal following and the Classic Panda section on the fiat forum solved many a crisis during my ownership of three Pandas.

 

Despite my current ownership of a very tidy Eunos, I still hanker after another little Panda but I fear it may not be something that the wife is too happy about acquiring (ever)...

 

PANDAS ROCK!

[pompei]

Anyone remember the Onyx Firefly, a Panda based kit car, first made in Grimsby!

 

[pompei]

Anyone remember the Onyx Firefly, a Panda based kit car, first made in Grimsby!

 

[Negative Creep]

edit - that's what happens when you have two AS tabs open

[Negative Creep]

edit - that's what happens when you have two AS tabs open

[skattrd]

B-I-L has a couple of Pandas over at the garage, a 750 carb and a 1l inj.

The 750 carb is definitely still on the road, I borrowed it the other week instead of the Renault Scenic. Its damn slow with shit brakes and no extras, not even a clock. I do enjoy driving it, and it was gr9 in the snow a couple of winters ago.

I'm not sure of the state of the other one, I don't think it's legal atm

 

I bought my first kei (Daihatsu Mira turbo 4wd) as I couldn't find a 4x4 Panda for reasonable money. They do seem to have come down a bit in price, but don't think they're worth £1k+ decent ones usually go for.

[skattrd]

B-I-L has a couple of Pandas over at the garage, a 750 carb and a 1l inj.

The 750 carb is definitely still on the road, I borrowed it the other week instead of the Renault Scenic. Its damn slow with shit brakes and no extras, not even a clock. I do enjoy driving it, and it was gr9 in the snow a couple of winters ago.

I'm not sure of the state of the other one, I don't think it's legal atm

 

I bought my first kei (Daihatsu Mira turbo 4wd) as I couldn't find a 4x4 Panda for reasonable money. They do seem to have come down a bit in price, but don't think they're worth £1k+ decent ones usually go for.

[hairnet]

that vid is ace

 

wouldnt try that with a new panda cross tho

[hairnet]

that vid is ace

 

wouldnt try that with a new panda cross tho