Fiat Panda

[carlo]

This is heresy I know but I've gradually come to the conclusion that, due to a horrendous financial experience with Mrs Carlo's Peugeot 306 it might actually be cheaper to buy a new car with finance under the scrappage scheme. I don't think we're ever going to be able to buy a new car cheaper, what with scrappage running out and VAT going up so I was seriously considering chopping in the old 405 which is pretty worthless anyway. I've got a real fancy for the Fiat Panda 1.2 petrol - I hear James May has one, and having had a quick spin in one at the local Fiat dealer I was pretty impreesed. Seems to be a nice combination of practicality, comfort and economy. Apart from the obvious scrappage views on this board, does anyone think it's a sound idea, or have any opinion on these cars?

[r.welfare]

Calling Reallyloud and SirTainlyBarkin...I know nothing about these, apart from the fact they seem pretty well put together (a world away from the Cinq/Seicento), you should avoid the Dualogic automatic gearbox like the plague, and that the 100HP is a hot little number that, if I had £8k to throw around, I'd be straight on the phone to fiatsupasaver.com to order one in that nice metallic blue.

[Timewaster]

I had a long serious think about this, and the panda was the only feasable way to go with scrappage.I too had a borked 405 and was quite keen on the taxpayers giving me £2000 for it, but in the end I saved a few grand and bought a second hand octavia and the 405 lives on.

[carlo]

There's nothing else I can see that's small, cheap, comfortable, economical and has 4 doors, and I've been around every new car dealership in Plymouth.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Panda = future classic

[carlo]

I did look into buying a 100hp earlier this year. Great little car.There's a panda forum somewhere and a lot of browsing revealed a few friday night cars with a collection of minor issues but most seemed to be sound.When I enquired about scrappage I was told £2k of list £10250 i think) or a new 100hp at £8500 ish out the door.I don't know what your finances (and credit rating) are like but if you can fund the scrappage price outwith dealer finance it may be worth walking in and making the offer and keeping the 405.Don't dick about though, secure the funds (most likely at a better rate than dealer finance), walk in and tell them you will buy there and then at £xxx and then shut your mouth. First one to speak loses.Failing that, have you looked at panda prices on Fiat Supasava or Perry's?

Can't believe I'd get £2K discount without scrappage, and the old 405 isn't being used at the mo...

[Mr Lobster]

Do it. Panda is a cracking car and the base model is surprisingly ok - I'd recommend specifying a power socket as an extra though as its a bit annoying on the ones that don't have them. They seem to be a very durable car, built reasonably well and nice enough to drive.Maybe it's not 'the Autoshite way' but tbh it does make some sense.

[Mr Lobster]

I don't know what the margins are at the end of the market

Tiny. They will make more from the finance commision than the actual car.

[pompei]

I test drove a 100hp a couple of years ago but the ride/suspension were dreadful - hard as nails, as flagged up in all the reviews. Otherwise it's a cracking car and the long-term reviews are good too - no major reliability woes.I reckon they're pretty cool too, in the way the original mini was when first released.

[carlo]

Can't believe I'd get £2K discount without scrappage, and the old 405 isn't being used at the mo...

Manufacturers/dealers are already giving away £1k of the scrappage deal!I don't know what the margins are at the end of the market but if you walk in with money to spend no decent salesman should let you back out without signing on the dotted line.Which model are you looking at and at what kind of money? Any preferred options or colours? Anything you couldn't live without?

The one I think looks best is the 1.2 Dynamic Eco; 1.1 looks a bit puny and I don't the diesel's worth an extra grand, although I'm sure it would go well. I really want a white one 'cos it's the only colour you don't pay extra for - but no dealer has a white one for this year delivery. (VAT goes up Jan). I do object to paying £250 extra for a solid blue colour, but that's all I can find.

[Mr Lobster]

Personally, I'd avoid a white car like the plague. I know its 'trendy' at the moment but apart from the new Golf GTi which IMO looks ok in white, almost everything else I've seen just looks wrong.Plus, once it goes out of fashion I'd imagine come part exchange time, dealers really really really won't want to buy white cars and will bid accordingly.

[Timewaster]

I remember my dad being told to NEVER buy a green car. And that was by a man who had just sold him a white Renault.Mind you that was in the '70s!

[AlsoMike]

The Mrs has an '06 Panda 1.2 and it's a great little car, nice to drive, not too slow unless it's loaded up with crap and gets 50mpg on a run. Cabin space might be an issue if you are a larger person, but I'd still recommend giving them a try.

[dollywobbler]

Ok, I'll be the one to say 'don't do it' then! Old cars are the only way to go. Yes, they can throw up the odd expensive bill but finance is rarely that cheap (especially if interest rates go back up...) and servicing can be plenty expensive. I've heard some real horror stories.I also know of several examples where 'new' has definitely not proved 'reliable.'Plenty of sub-grand and good motors. Get rid of the 306 but don't buy new would be my recommendation.