Saving the Panda (TLC for the road warrior)

[Ian_Fearn]

Drivers side inner sill is all finished now in zinc primer. I’ve got a guy at a panel supplier in Sheffield looking for sill options but short of that the Poland option is looking best.

[Burnside]

16 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said:

There are 2 options for sills. A complete sill that includes the lower section of the pillars or just the lower part.

The lower part is £25 each but out of stock where I’ve tried in the UK. The full sill is over £50 each plus £25 postage.

A place in Poland has the lower sills at £65 a pair posted but with VAT and customs/courier charges I’ll probably be looking at over £100 and who knows when delivery……

My next option is to look at fabricating my own. I won’t be able to get the exact profile but you can hardly see it under there and this is supposed to be a budget project.

The only company I could think of as I've used them a few times in the past, don't appear to list the newer Panda on their website.

Although it could be worth a try still, as I've always found them really helpful.

There based over in Malvern and will also post too.

https://www.carz2.co.uk/

The other suggestion I thought of, is perhaps trying to salvage the sills from a scrap car instead? Although that would require alot more hassle admittedly. 

[Ian_Fearn]

Super impressed with the tyres. The PO clearly liked to make his tyres go the distance.

I lost patience and ordered some sills from the firm in Poland that @St.Jude is getting his RAV4 panels from. Easyparts online they go by.

Panda sills have little arrows pressed into them for the jacking point locations and I noticed that the Polish sills have these so that made my mind up. 

£86 for the pair with postage and UK VAT paid so will see if I get a nasty bill from customs and excise.

[St.Jude]

1 hour ago, Ian_Fearn said:

Super impressed with the tyres. The PO clearly liked to make his tyres go the distance.

I lost patience and ordered some sills from the firm in Poland that @St.Jude is getting his RAV4 panels from. Easyparts online they go by.

Panda sills have little arrows pressed into them for the jacking point locations and I noticed that the Polish sills have these so that made my mind up. 

£86 for the pair with postage and UK VAT paid so will see if I get a nasty bill from customs and excise.

Slick racing tyres yo.

Hope the panels live up to expectations, no pressure on me 😂😂

[Ian_Fearn]

@St.Jude 😂absolutely all your fault when it goes wrong 😂 

[Ian_Fearn]

The sills from Poland did arrive after a couple of week and seem to fit really well.

I’ve finished the drivers side now and it’s painted using colour coded Raptor.

I’ve had to raise the stone chip line but I think it worked out better than trying to blend normal paint into the rest of the sill.

[Ian_Fearn]

And finally the passenger side is finished!

 

[Ian_Fearn]

I’ve nearly finished this now. It really is looking great. The repairs aren’t all ‘factory’ but I think it’s all very satisfactory without bodgery and will make somebody a great car. Anybody want it?

All the seat and interior plastics came out for a thorough clean and a ‘cost effective’ repair on the drivers seat with some black webbing fabric. It’s really nice inside now.

I sourced and fitted some OE plastic side trims from the scrap yard. I think the Pandas really suit these.

I then gave it an oil and filter, fuel and air filter change with genuine Fiat parts. Basic servicing is really easy on these things. Also stripped and rebuilt the brakes. Nothing new needed there.

I investigated the rear axle next. It looked a real mess but actually after a load of work it really wasn’t too bad. For a bit of added security I welded some gussets on where they normally break, doused it in Bilhamber Deox, Bilthamber Hydrate 80 and then splashed some Dinitrol over it. I think it’ll realistically outlast the car now.

Finally, new tyres going on tomorrow. As on my other Panda, Vredestein Quatrac 5 all seasons. IMO these are the best tyres money can buy in this size.

 

 

[bangernomics]

Looks great that you should be really proud of your work.

[Alessi P]

These are really amazing little cars. Fun, practical, cheap, and far I say - handsome. 
 

well with the money and will no doubt serve you well. Keep at it mate 👍

[Ian_Fearn]

The whole reason for buying this was that I’d always wanted to try a diesel. So I swapped over the tyres from the other Panda, insured and taxed it and went for a spin.

It didn’t exactly go to plan. After a few miles it lost all power and I found myself on a dual carriage way flat out at 40mph. I pulled into a lay-by, it was idling absolutely fine. Switched it off and back on and pulled off. Exactly the same, still no power.

I pulled over again, disconnected the MAF and set back off. No warning lights and the power was back although it wasn’t overly happy.

Pulled over, reconnected the MAF and all absolutely fine again. I’m wondering if the connector pins were a bit grotty? Has been fine since.

Anyway, which is better diesel or petrol?

In 18 months of petrol Panda ownership, the engine hasn’t put a foot wrong. So on that basis, the reality is that there’s MUCH more to go wrong with the diesel.

Theres no doubt, the torque of that little diesel is fantastic, it pulls strong where the petrol needs absolutely rinsing to move that quickly. It’s actually really addictive!

On a motorway, the diesel is a country mile better. Put your foot down at 70mph and it goes. The petrol needs dropping down the gears and thrashing. At motorway speeds, the diesel is less thrashy but it’s still a noisy car at 60+mph.

The petrol suits the character of the car much better IMO. It doesn’t sound like a tractor and is more enjoyable to drive despite being slower. The laggy throttle response on the diesel makes slower speed driving less pleasant.

I think looking at today’s figures, the diesel is consistently 10mpg better in any given condition.

Really, for what I use the car for, shorter journeys predominately, rare motorway trips and when I do a long journey, typically Switzerland for family duty, I value the reliability/simplicity more than the performance so the petrol is probably the better choice for me.

If I were doing a long commute or regular motorway trips then the diesel is leagues ahead.

I really need to sell one of the Pandas. The diesel is in far better condition despite having 30k more miles but I really trust the petrol one, it’s utterly worthless where the diesel still has some value.

[Ian_Fearn]

Apart from a set of glow plugs later in the week, this is finished and driving great!

Any interest in a roffle? 

[TheOtherStu]

I didn't realise this was a local car 🤣

Wasn't a Perry's of Aylesbury by any chance?

[St.Jude]

It looks really good, you'd never know the sills were rotten. 

Top job!

[Justwatching]

No. 57 please. 

[UltraWomble]

I'd love to try a Panda at some point - I'd tap some randoms

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Mmm. I've always fancied trying a diesel one of these.  I think they suit my style.

Would be ideal for my now 2/3 times a year dash to Italy and back for the fuel price of a Ryan air ticket.

Here in UK what road tax are these.

IS that correct, has all new vredestein all seasons !

What price would you be after for a straight sale.

Go on , tempt me.

 

[BeEP]

8 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

Here in UK what road tax are these.

Tax is £30 per year for these.  Have you bought it yet?🙂

[Ian_Fearn]

8 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

Mmm. I've always fancied trying a diesel one of these.  I think they suit my style.

Would be ideal for my now 2/3 times a year dash to Italy and back for the fuel price of a Ryan air ticket.

Here in UK what road tax are these.

IS that correct, has all new vredestein all seasons !

What price would you be after for a straight sale.

Go on , tempt me.

 

I’ve got a massive problem with this. I’ve hugely overspent, the car really isn’t in shitter state now, it’s not perfect by any means but it’s better than any sub £2k retail car I’ve ever viewed.

Yes, Vredestein Quatrac 5 tyres.

I spent over £250 on paint alone! £250 on tyres, £100 of consumables inc Bilthamber stuff, £130 on service items etc.

Therefore, I’m in a quandary. Having spent probably a hundred hours on it and more money than it’s worth to a shitter, I can’t justify a straight bargain sale to a shitter.

Its £30/year to tax, 60+mpg whilst I’ve been driving it and after I’ve done the glow plugs, problem free.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

3 minutes ago, Ian_Fearn said:

I’ve got a massive problem with this. I’ve hugely overspent, the car really isn’t in shitter state now, it’s not perfect by any means but it’s better than any sub £2k retail car I’ve ever viewed.

Yes, Vredestein Quatrac 5 tyres.

I spent over £250 on paint alone! £250 on tyres, £100 of consumables inc Bilthamber stuff, £130 on service items etc.

Therefore, I’m in a quandary. Having spent probably a hundred hours on it and more money than it’s worth to a shitter, I can’t justify a straight bargain sale to a shitter.

Its £30/year to tax, 60+mpg whilst I’ve been driving it and after I’ve done the glow plugs, problem free.

Still possibly interested, having seen your standard of work ( in a good way ) . No harm in stating your price, I may still go for it. Let me know or private message.

[Ian_Fearn]

Full disclosure:

My wife won’t let me sell it cheap. I’d give it away 

[motorpunk]

Ian, this is a lovely car, no-one is going to bleat when you state a realistic selling price, it’s clearly better than “shite”. Stick a number on it! £ 😁👍

[Ian_Fearn]

Sorry, I don’t mean to give the run around, I’m just embarrassed.

After much discussion: read me saying £1000

My wife will not let me ask less than £1750. But it feels very high to me.

[Kiltox]

It’ll probably sell for that in the current used car market to be fair. £30 tax small diesel that looks really clean and tidy. 

[Ian_Fearn]

In the relatively recent past, this thing also had springs and Monroe shocks all round, top mounts and drop links.

[BertiePuntoCabrio]

Roffle please! Not had a diesel version yet and it could be useful on my looooooong commute!

[MJK 24]

You’ve done a grand job on that little Panda.  The little diesels are super smooth and refined.  It’ll make someone a great little car.

Price may feel steep, but what would it cost to get a £1,200 Panda up to that standard with 4 new tyres, no rot and rust proofed etc?  Seems sensible enough to me!

[Bear]

While I don't want it, I do think that's worth £1750 with that work done and the work done to ensure it lasts ages. That effort on the subframe - you could find a £1K Panda really to collapse and no warnings on the MOT history if someone had just slathered it in schutz.

Also that welding and bodywork is EXACTLY the standard I'd like doing on my Mazda 323. You can get repair panels for the arches, but I simply don't trust any garage to do the work honestly or to this sort of standard. Same goes for the BMW. How much would you have to charge for all that work - prep, welding, bodywork finishing, paint? Now tell me the Panda isn't worth £750 for a banger Panda and £500 a side for welding, bodywork prep and paint...

[Ian_Fearn]

Thanks for all the kind and reassuring comments.

I’ve just taken it back to see it’s previous owner and done about 80 miles in it. 65 mpg showing now.

He’s just bought a year newer otherwise identical model in white with air con (not working) in worse condition for £1950 and he missed out on quite a few before he dropped onto his new one. So maybe £1750 isn’t as ridiculous as I first thought. 

[Ian_Fearn]

I’m now sat in A+E……

Turns out I got a piece of metal embedded in my cornea repairing the rear axle. Apparently got to have my cornea scraped.

Shit.