Panda Rescue with added twist -

[Jim Bell]

Remove doors when warm. Refit when cold. No need to fix climate control at all.

[Lacquer Peel]

"That's too shit to bother with" doesn't normally stop people on here.

[Cavcraft]

Coincidence?

 

Haha, probably! That said, if ever a FIAT was going to stop him driving, it was the 1989-ish Panda 4x4 he had. What an absolute pile of sparrow's knackers that was.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Despite what I said above,I loved driving 'em, the 05 Dynamic I had in red with roof bars was my fave of the two. I drove a euro 5 spec 1.1 and it's the only thing I've driven that I'd describe as dangerously slow. The accelerator wasn't even a volume control, it just did nowt. The earlier euro 4 spec might not be so bad, though the 1.2 is out of breath over 40 mph - they just don't rev.

 

You need to release the handbrake- my 1.2 was a proper little raver, it was as comfortable at 80 on the motorway as it was buzzing around the lanes, was ideal as an everyday hack.

[Pillock]

I had a great time test driving a 100HP, but it was just too small for all the shit I carry around for work. If it can't take two standard tote boxes in the boot, I can't use it. Still, I made the salesman at AvailableCar whimper a little bit and that's a right result.

 

I need to go back there and test drive something fun.

[stephen01]

WGPGW? been parked up for 4 years, and the front tyre has literally perished in the hot British climate! Dread to think what the belts are like.. apart from I dont have the room/time it's to far away* I I just dont like seeing cars not fulfilling their potential.

 

*it's actually a mile from where I live..

[chaseracer]

I have the stupid model which should be avoided. (100HP)

 

They are delightful.

 

They are, if somewhat lacking in meaningful suspension travel.  Domestic Management ran one for a year, 2009-10.  This very one, in fact...

 

http://www.evo.co.uk/renault/twingo/2376/fiat-panda-v-ford-fiesta-v-abarth-500-v-mazda-2-v-suzuki-swift-sport-v#13

[danthecapriman]

WGPGW? been parked up for 4 years, and the front tyre has literally perished in the hot British climate! Dread to think what the belts are like.. apart from I dont have the room/time it's to far away* I I just dont like seeing cars not fulfilling their potential.

 

*it's actually a mile from where I live..

That thing fulfilling its potential would involve being turned into razor blades! Best thing for it. It's just another boring modern car that's broken.

If someone wanted to pay me to take it away I'd still tell them FRO!

 

Sorry, I just have no love for stuff like that. The original, proper panda however...

[Inspector Morose]

SWMBO has had a 1.3 multi jet from new. Seven years on and it's hardly put a foot wrong. One FTP when the alternator belt shat itself but even then she drove it home (only about a mile) no bother.

Come MoT time it's the usual front anti roll bar links and two front tyres and that's it.

After several cinquecento sand a bloody awful sinquecento bought from a dealer (when will I ever learn) she said no more FIATs. She loves this one and is constantly filled to the brim of allotment shite and previously weight watchers shite (didn't work on me - have you seen the size of my tum?)

80 on the motorway, pooling around town, it seems it can do all that's chucked at it. It was even my wedding car at Camborne registry office!

[HH-R]

You need to release the handbrake- my 1.2 was a proper little raver, it was as comfortable at 80 on the motorway as it was buzzing around the lanes, was ideal as an everyday hack.

Might have been that it never ran right tbh. i used to do between 40 and 70 miles a day in the hateful thing and you could beat anything this side of a Veyron to 40 MPH ish then going above 3000 RPM needed a calendar.

[stephen01]

the mot checker states this baby was last mot'd in 2010, with only 4k miles, one wonders why was it taken off the road.

 

What would be a fair offer for such a beauty?

 

 

[Pillock]

You'd need to find out why it's there to answer that. Perhaps because Sid and Doris have given up driving, nothing wrong with it, offer just below book price and febreeze the seats. Or maybe the gearbox is toast, in which case have they heard scrap is on its arse?

[Parky]

On the Bay at present is a red one sitting at £160 and an attractive looking yellow active model at £373. Sure the auctions aren't over but a runner isn't expensive. If is has been sitting for a while it will need a few hundred thrown at it (thinking tyres, brake fluid, oils and possibly a bush or two for the MOT) and that's before breaking out the machine polisher and T-cut

 

The associated thread will be an entertaining read with occasional deviations into marital rows, and hospital visits because of arc eye/grinder slipped through leg/too much tea consumed. There will also be an inevitable vital broken part which will be one Fiat only used for ten minutes for LHD models which will eventually be found on Spanish eBay for one euro (and fifty euro postage).

 

You will then complete the work, get a shiny new MOT on a now tip top Fiat before realising it is too small/red/modern for you and you need to get rid. Whereupon one of us will win it in a Roffle.

 

Verdict - get a note through the door, keep phone and bank card handy and let the madness begin!

[carlo]

SWMBO has had a 1.3 multi jet from new. Seven years on and it's hardly put a foot wrong. One FTP when the alternator belt shat itself but even then she drove it home (only about a mile) no bother.

Come MoT time it's the usual front anti roll bar links and two front tyres and that's it.

After several cinquecento sand a bloody awful sinquecento bought from a dealer (when will I ever learn) she said no more FIATs. She loves this one and is constantly filled to the brim of allotment shite and previously weight watchers shite (didn't work on me - have you seen the size of my tum?)

80 on the motorway, pooling around town, it seems it can do all that's chucked at it. It was even my wedding car at Camborne registry office!

 

We had a multijet one from 2009 to this year, again never put a foot wrong.  Mrs_Carlo still misses it.

[scruff]

We've got one, a 54 plate 1.2 we bought from BCA after renting one on holiday and really liking them. Been a great little motor, dead easy to service and good fun.

[Barry Cade]

I still say they are the best cars on the road. .Still looking for one at a decent price to replace our Punto...which never gives us any reason to replace it.

[Timewaster]

Sounds like when they are good, they're great.

When they are crap they are utter crap.

 

 

I still fancy a 100hp one day but I've been saying that about Chinqecento Sportings for about 15 years.

[mrbenn]

This'd make a great rescue. I'd be looking at no more than about £300 unless there is something wrong with it that caused it to go off the road. Sounds a bit mean but, as folk have noted, it'll need a service, tyres, brakes, belts etc etc.

 

My folks had an 06 1.2 for 6 years and it was bloody brilliant.

 

Some friends of mine recently sold a 1.1 active on a 56 plate, 64k miles for 900 quid. I'd have been all over it but for the lack of a/c (I sweat like a bastard in the summer). It sold quickly to a trader who then moved it on for a tidy profit.

 

My next car will likely be a Panda 100hp. Nearly pulled the trigger on one recently but can't really justify the cost atm.

[Ghosty]

What are the 4x4s like? They seem to hold value a bit more than the cooking ones.

[Barry Cade]

What are the 4x4s like? They seem to hold value a bit more than the cooking ones.

I got a mate one a couple of years back- a 2005 "Climbing" edition. I stuck a towbar on it and use it when needed for pulling my bike trailer. It's ace, never needed anything in the time he's had it and still looks and drives the way it came out the factory. Still probably worth what he paid for it too.

 

The only fault it has,and has ever had was the knob fell off the radio.

[twosmoke300]

Do the newer 4x4 ones have silly low gearing like the old ones?

[strangeangel]

I still say they are the best cars on the road. .Still looking for one at a decent price to replace our Punto...which never gives us any reason to replace it.

 

Ours has survived 135000 miles of Our Lass' leaden right foot & failure to hear noises of imminent demise (grinding brakes etc.) with no FTPs whatsoever. I can't say I like driving it, but it has earned my grudging respect.

[stephen01]

I'm going to knock the door tomorrow, If they do want to sell hopefully I can keep it on his drive for a few months while I arrange storage..

[Barry Cade]

Do the newer 4x4 ones have silly low gearing like the old ones?

No, they are quite refined and happy on the motorway. I think 1st and 2nd are a little lower though. Proper little mountain goats.

[HH-R]

I want another Panda now, you're all BAD INFLUENCES.

 

3rd time is gotta be the lucky time.

[HH-R]

Hadn't appreciated just how good the factory fit Blaupunkt sound setup is too - in comparison the audio in my current car is crap.

[Barry Cade]

I want another Panda now, you're all BAD INFLUENCES.

 

3rd time is gotta be the lucky time.

PANDA PANDA PANDA PANDA.

 

When your luck with small Fiats carries on, I'll buy it off ya.

 

This is the one I want  the one you should buy.

 

[HH-R]

I wish you'd said that 6 months ago when I was trying to offload a 2 owner from new, genuine 50,000 mile example with FSH and a starting issue and struggling to get £1100 for it

[HH-R]

PANDA PANDA PANDA PANDA.

 

When your luck with small Fiats carries on, I'll buy it off ya.

 

This is the one I want  the one you should buy.

 

 

 

That is pretty fit, early, roof bars, at least Dynamic spec. Phwoar!

[For Fiats Sake]

Mk3 1,2 of that vintage are the better runners, each tweak fiat has done for m ishuns has been worser and worserer, leading too 1.2 500's been featured on watchdog for their hill climbing ability*.

 

Fiat killing off it's own legendgary FIRE engine FFS