Shitting in the shallow end. *Arse friends Electric*

[Jim Bell]

 

[Jim Bell]

Terrible skills, but I still pat myself on the back. 

[Arthur Foxhake]

Commendable repair work.

Action Bronson, his pals and their "cookery show" is some quality viewing.

I had to explain what exactly it was I was watching when Wuvvum came round with the LDV, in case he thought I was a gang banger.

[Jim Bell]

6 minutes ago, Arthur Foxhake said:

 

I had to explain what exactly it was I was watching when Wuvvum came round with the LDV, in case he thought I was a gang banger.

 

I'm sure Wuv has seen plenty of gang bangs. 

[garbaldy]

You should have just cut the patch the same size as the existing panel then done the rest the same until you ran out of jeans, two tone seats lush.

[Jim Bell]

2 minutes ago, garbaldy said:

You should have just cut the patch the same size as the existing panel then done the rest the same until you ran out of jeans, two tone seats lush.

You're right, but I'm not that clever. Something to consider for when this patch fails and falls off though. 

[Aston Martin]

Red 4x4 seats....

[Jim Bell]

50 minutes ago, Aston Martin said:

Red 4x4 seats....

That's a good point. Id completely forgotten about those man. 

[Aston Martin]

1 hour ago, Jim Bell said:

That's a good point. Id completely forgotten about those man. 

Featuring delivery via an Alessi... Probably.

[Fabergé Greggs]

I like a bit of action Bronson. 
 

I went to the place in London’s China town that he goes to for Pork buns in “Fuck that’s delicious”

[Jim Bell]

10 hours ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

I like a bit of action Bronson. 
 

Lamb over rice by him and Anchemist is not long out and 4 out of 5 good. 

 

As with all "lightly driven" multijets, the wastegate actuator on mine is crudded up and sticky. This creates a bit* of boost lag on occasion which ranges from levels of "I didn't notice at all" to "why is nothing hape...FUUUUUUU!!!".

It's a common ting and most just drive around it (see below)

HELPFULLY Fiat chose to build the entire car around the turbo so it's nice and inaccessible. 

With the air box and battery out, you can just about see it. 

https://youtu.be/WmeCtn7jGtk

 

Plan is at some point to blast it with some wd40 or non brand equivalent and lever it about a bit. This is reported to usually work wonders. 

[garbaldy]

Oh dear I fear when mine comes back it will be shit then as the fither in law is a proper Sunday driver, maybe I will give it a good thrashing next time he's over.

[Jim Bell]

22 minutes ago, garbaldy said:

Oh dear I fear when mine comes back it will be shit then as the fither in law is a proper Sunday driver, maybe I will give it a good thrashing next time he's over.

They do benefit from a touch of the old Italian (Polish) tuning. 

[garbaldy]

If there's one think im reasonably good at its ragging the gonads off a motor haha.

[Jim Bell]

First longish trip in the Poo-nda was up to Scotoshite for some grade A foods and chat. 

It's not that far in comfortable car but my not inconsiderable heft, folded into a panda leaves space rather cramped. Panda seats are also very not comfort. A bar thing pokes you in the arse and there's no support from anywhere. 

I prepped for the arduous journey by brimming the tank and resetting the trip meter. 

 

 

Early bird catches worms. 

 

 

 

I cheated by doing a half days work on the way up. 

[Aston Martin]

2 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

First longish trip in the Poo-nda was up to Scotoshite for some grade A foods and chat. 

It's not that far in comfortable car but my not inconsiderable heft, folded into a panda leaves space rather cramped. Panda seats are also very not comfort. A bar thing pokes you in the arse and there's no support from anywhere. I prepped for the arduous journey by brimming the tank and resetting the trip 

Early bird catches

 

 

 

I cheated by doing a half days work on the way up. 

 

 

Hyperspeed!!!!!

[Jim Bell]

Out on the open motorway the Panda isn't as shit as it really should be. There's loads of sound deadening so it's a reasonably quiet cruiser (if you compare it to a C1, Lupo or some other contemporary competition).

 

By Cumbria I was ready to increase the poo count so looked for somewhere appropriate to stop (by Autoshite standards)

 

 

 

 

I will NOT visit your Craft Shop. 

 

[Jim Bell]

The day was fucken rotten and there was snow on the top bits. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress was maintained right enough though. 

After a stop for some Handburger. 

[Jim Bell]

Made it to the digs and found a bonus free m&m in the underpant draw. 

You get a mint on the pillow in England. Scotland is odd. 

And the m&m tasted weird. 

 

[Jim Bell]

Meet was great with loads of sexy vehicles and top humans. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

The way home in the morning was grim, even by Scottish standards. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though I did spot a yellow panda in the wild on the way home. 

 

 

Just off in the distance there. I didn't want to spoil it by getting too close. 

[Jim Bell]

Stopped for a few snaps at The Sill in Northumberland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

At home did checked the COMPUTRON MPG O METER..

 

That many miles. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That many mpgs. 

 

 

Pen and paper maths suggest it's over reading slightly, but don't they all? Its not far off right though. 

 

 

Conclusion: Pandas are not great motorway cruisers. But then again, they're not b-road heros either. 

 

Still loving it. 

 

 

[Ian_Fearn]

I took ours up the motorway yesterday. I hear what you’re saying, they’ll do it but it’s not really the ideal domain.

I reset the trip on mine the other day and it’s turning in 46mpg so far which I think is great for a load of stop start city driving and certainly not driving for the Mpgeeeees.

[Jim Bell]

2 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said:

 

I reset the trip on mine the other day and it’s turning in 46mpg so far which I think is great for a load of stop start city driving and certainly not driving for the Mpgeeeees.

 

46 is pretty outstanding for a small petrol on local driving. I used to think 40mpg  in a 1.0 Yaris was mind-bogglingly great. 

[Broadsword]

Since I’m so keen on having one of these in the future, can you elaborate on the motorway cruising bit? Do the seats start to hurt your back, do they get battered too much in the wind? This is the bit I think the Lupo has over the Panda potentially as mine at least is brilliant on a long cruise for some reason.

[jaypee]

Have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed driving it around Armadale in the wet. 

Cracking wee motor ?

[Jim Bell]

6 hours ago, Broadsword said:

Since I’m so keen on having one of these in the future, can you elaborate on the motorway cruising bit? Do the seats start to hurt your back, do they get battered too much in the wind? This is the bit I think the Lupo has over the Panda potentially as mine at least is brilliant on a long cruise for some reason.

I don't think they suffer the wind badly compared to anything similar man. It's my opinion that the seats are uncomfortable but I'm 6ft 4 and 22 stone and it's a small car. 

I would say try one before you buy one really (there's plenty around for sale so a test drive shouldnt be too difficult to arrange). Some people seem to have no complaints at all. 

[Ian_Fearn]

10 hours ago, Broadsword said:

Since I’m so keen on having one of these in the future, can you elaborate on the motorway cruising bit? Do the seats start to hurt your back, do they get battered too much in the wind? This is the bit I think the Lupo has over the Panda potentially as mine at least is brilliant on a long cruise for some reason.

I’m 5ft 10 and find the seats really comfy but as with the earlier Pandas, the longer your legs the more uncomfortable they are to drive. 
The pedals are closer to your body relative to the steering wheel in my experience which can leave your leg at a slightly awkward angle until you adjust your sitting position accordingly but this then affects seating comfort after some time.

On a motorway I’d say it’s typical small car experience. They’re lightweight so affected by wind or larger vehicles in some instances.

Power is limited so hills make a difference to speed and you need to work it harder.

On balance, for round town upto 40mph, they are unbeatable, upto 60mph they are really good, one of the most fun superminis a limited budget can buy. On a motorway it’s a compromise so choose on that basis.

hope that helps....

 

 

[garbaldy]

The seats are okay in mine but they are a little  on the firm side, it's comfy enough though and the little dizzler pulls really well and doesn't loose speed in hills, mine even has a tow bar but it will never be used as I bet the legal tow weight is well low.