Jim Bell Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 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, jaypee, Dan_ZTT and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 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. Ian_Fearn and Shirley Knott 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadsword Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 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. yes oui si 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaypee Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed driving it around Armadale in the wet. Cracking wee motor ? Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 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. Broadsword 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 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.... Jim Bell and Broadsword 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbaldy Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 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. Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 14 minutes ago, garbaldy said: 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. If you ever need to pull the skin off a rice pudding, the panda will be ready with its tow bar. Ian_Fearn, CGSB and yes oui si 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbaldy Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jim Bell said: If you ever need to pull the skin off a rice pudding, the panda will be ready with its tow bar. That's the best bit though. Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) Like virtually everyone on here, I’ve spent years buying all sorts of cars more often than not being truly disappointed on about day 2. More recently an MX5, 5.7 Jeep and Defenders. Despite varying levels of luxury, performance and misery, the little Panda is delivering an overall ownership experience far superior to virtually anything i’ve ever owned before (except maybe a manky old 1.7 Puma). I’m not shitting myself over the next bill or having heart palpitations over the cost of a tyre. I know I can afford to maintain it in tip top condition if I choose to. A full timing belt kit incl water pump is like £60 for genuine parts off eBay and it’ll take me 2 hours. Even if I leave it and the belt breaks it’s a non interference motor. A basic oil and filter change is £20, and shock horror, if the rear axle decides to shed a spring seat i’ll need a ride home and £130 to fix one of the biggest problems they seem to suffer with. It’s just so simple, willing, practical and cheap whilst delivering far more smiles than it ought to. EDIT: would really like to try a 1.1 ? Edited January 31, 2020 by Ian_Fearn Aston Martin, Jim Bell and The Moog 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley Knott Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 46 minutes ago, Ian_Fearn said: Even if I leave it and the belt breaks it’s a non interference motor. Really? I'm pretty sure just about all diesels are interference. EDIT: to say I'm an idiot who has failed to keep track of who drives which type of Panda at present. Petrol variant I'd assume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 16 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? You can have a drive of the one here for £80 ? Seriously though they are fine on the motorway, I don't have a problem with the seats but you wouldn't want to sit behind me with the seat back. Broadsword 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 59 minutes ago, Shirley Knott said: Petrol variant I'd assume? Yes, good old fashioned 1.2 FIRE petrol. I’m not going to bash the diesel though, properly maintained they’re a good unit. The magazines used to say the diesel gave the Panda motorway legs. Jim Bell and Shirley Knott 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 Is there not a horizontal bar feeling thing in the bottom of everyone else's seat backs that pokes them in the upper arse? Or is it just mine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjehovahs Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 In 2005 my stepdad swapped a pretty knackered Rover 420 GSDi for one of these for his 134 mile a day commute. We all thought the swap was hilarious but he loved it. It was the car I learnt to drive in and it got my stepdad 6 points in one go on the M1. It was a 1.2 Eleganza Duologic with the most yellow seats I’ve ever seen. It was handed down to my mum and we shared it for a while. We were all really sad the day it was traded in for a diesel Fiesta after the climate control failed for the 4th time. Other than the complicated electronic bits it was a great car for 40,000 miles or so. Here’s an awful photo of it very badly parked. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Ian_Fearn, ProgRocker and Aston Martin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Not that i’ve noticed, but i’m a relative lightweight at 12 stone and significantly shorter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 minute ago, jumpingjehovahs said: It was a 1.2 Eleganza Duologic with the most yellow seats I’ve ever seen. It was handed down to my mum and we shared it for a while. We were all really sad the day it was traded in for a diesel Fiesta after the climate control failed for the 4th time. Eleganza AND dualogic...... remove all my previous comments about cheap to maintain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 Autos and flaptronics can get in all of the bin but I've have a stupid urge to buy an early FIRE or a Cross. Ian_Fearn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, Jim Bell said: Is there not a horizontal bar feeling thing in the bottom of everyone else's seat backs that pokes them in the upper arse? Or is it just mine? Copped a feel of the driver's seat earlier (ooh eer) and while I don't normally feel it, if you poke about I can feel a metal bit on the bottom three inches of the seat. Either we sit differently or the foam that pads the bar is buggered on yours. Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 2 hours ago, Jim Bell said: Autos and flaptronics can get in all of the bin but I've have a stupid urge to buy an early FIRE or a Cross. @Jim Bell grab a 141 Panda while they’re still cheap. A 1000fire with SPi is an absolute joy to thrash the living daylights out of. Mine is probably the best 1500quid i’ve ever spent. I can’t wait to get back out to Italy/Austria again this year. Six-cylinder, dome, ProgRocker and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 3 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said: @Jim Bell grab a 141 Panda while they’re still cheap. A 1000fire with SPi is an absolute joy to thrash the living daylights out of. Mine is probably the best 1500quid i’ve ever spent. I can’t wait to get back out to Italy/Austria again this year. They're not still cheap unfortunately. Not by my standards anyway. I remember when decent ones were £500 and those days are very much gone. I actually wanted a 141 but when I saw the values they were fetching, I spent £550 on the 169 Multijet instead! Ian_Fearn and yes oui si 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston Martin Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Have you all checked your duckbills? Check if your windscreen scuttle is like a pond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 3 hours ago, Aston Martin said: Have you all checked your duckbills? Check if your windscreen scuttle is like a pond. Mines dry but keeping an eye on it. Should there be a cover below the wiper spindle cover scuttle plastic? I've a gap there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston Martin Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Craig the Princess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, Aston Martin said: Yeah cheers fella that's what mines like. I thought there might have been a cover for that gap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Fearn Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 @Aston Martin thanks for the tip. All clear on mine ? Aston Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I had a shot of this last Wednesday and was more than a little impressed. Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley Knott Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I have a bit of an obsession growing with these. The Panda Multijet represents a far better spiritual successor to the likes of the 106 1.5D and the Lupo/Arosa SDI than the UP/C1 ever could I think. Jim Bell and cobblers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadsword Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Just now, Shirley Knott said: I have a bit of an obsession growing with these. The Panda Multijet represents a far better spiritual successor to the likes of the 106 1.5D and the Lupo/Arosa SDI than the UP/C1 ever could I think. We are in total agreement on this point. I had a Pug 106 1.5D once. It was remarkable in it’s ability to be even louder than the Lupo! Shirley Knott and yes oui si 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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