Over 2000 miles, 10 days, 45bhp (when new)

[Ian_Fearn]

On Tuesday I set off for the big Panda event near Milan in my 94 Panda. I’m taking a relatively easy route this year stopping in Reims and Besancon before going over the St Bernard into Italy and then driving down Lake Como. The return trip will be over Stelvio but heading to Zurich (to look at a car for a relative) and then heading home via Luxembourg and Belgium. Wish me luck, flying solo this year.

I have done less 500 miles in this car over the last few years. The radiator gave up last week and when I started it up today and smoke bellowed from under the bonnet when I tested the headlights. Turns out the old dim dip resistor has burnt out so I’ve bypassed it until I can get another. Great start.

[tooSavvy]

I'll bet you you have the same look as Ben Hur, just at the start of the chariot race...

"Do, or Die!"

*he only had 4horses

B O L m8 👍

[jamescarruthers]

Legend. Love to see an old car on a proper trip!

[brownnova]

Oh… this looks like a thread worth following!

 The very best of luck to you! 

[Grumblespeed]

Love to do this one day. Got to fix Grumbleweed first. Best of luck with the trip👍

[wesacosa]

sounds like a great adventure. good luck 

[artdjones]

I should take it for a good hard 100 mile drive tonight.

[AxWomble]

Seconded - a good hard 200 miles over the next few days will show up any faults. Don’t forget to do some slow stop-start city driving too, as that will give the cooling system a proper challenge which it won’t get when you’re going 50mph

[Ian_Fearn]

Good advice! It’s got a few successful miles under its belt this week so I’m 100%* confident in its ability to go the distance 😂. It had a good going over this last week, new clutch, rad, coolant, fluids etc. This car has done the trip twice before.

For anyone that doesn’t know the back story to this event, back in 2017 an Italian lady posted on facebook that she was going to take her old Panda to a town 30 mins outside Milan called Pandino. Somewhat surprisingly ~100 cars turned up. This very sleepy little town was somewhat surprised but in the classic Italian way, embraced the whole thing and from 2018 it became a huge town party.

Roll forward to 2018 and 365 cars turned up and Fiat used the event to launch their Waze Panda.

The following year nearly 700 cars turned up.

Covid has meant 20 and 21 was cancelled but this year I am entry number 1791 so having been in 18 and 19 I’m expecting big things this year!

[Matty]

Tell you what @Ian_Fearn having cut my teeth on pandas, unos and pantos, I'd have complete faith in this for the trip. Have a top adventure bud 👍

[grogee]

What a lovely Panda.

Bon voyage!

(Dibs if you sell.)

[yes oui si]

Amaze. 

Looking forward to the updates. 

[anonymous user]

A big thumbs up to you. I wouldn't mind having a go at that.

[hairnet]

cant say crayzee mofo at this cos youve done it before

buone vacanze!!!

the last time you posted about this i was thinking diesel panda and blazzing down - not done northern italy in a car before

 

[mat_the_cat]

I love this kind of daft stuff! What's your daily sort of mileage? Solo will give you freedom, so I find it enjoyable in a different kind of way.

[Ian_Fearn]

32 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

I love this kind of daft stuff! What's your daily sort of mileage? Solo will give you freedom, so I find it enjoyable in a different kind of way.

Probably a maximum of 300. I’ve done it in 2 days before but I’m not looking to break any records this time.

[artdjones]

My brother did Berlin and Prague in 1990 and Budapest in 1991 with his 903cc Panda, and it didn't look as good as this one.

[Ian_Fearn]

First fuel up complete: 208.9p for E5 at my local station.

This is gonna be an expensive trip!

[Ian_Fearn]

Leg 1 complete:

Staying in this stunning Kent countryside hotel. Absolutely bloody lovely. If my camera was better you’d see the French coastline in the picture.

It was damn hot driving down and that’s only a taste of the temperatures to come. Car is running great though and keeping cool even in traffic after a 70+mph motorway way. Very happy with that.

[Ian_Fearn]

I’ve just done 226 miles on 3.99 gallons of fuel. That’s 56+mpg!!! 

I really didn’t hang about either. Is this the benefit of running on BP Ultimate? Surely not?

[timolloyd]

Was there a tailwind?

[hairnet]

you nicked a freewheel off a saab

 

[wesacosa]

similar route to that I took on the way to Monaco in the Favorit pre Covid. The St Bernard pass is spectacular but bloody steep (my pen pic is the Fav at the top of the pass). I ended up foot flat to the floor and taking the racing line around the hairpins for the last mile because I knew if I lifted off I would stop and not get moving again!

[richardmorris]

Twenty years ago I did 2000 miles in a fortnight my 2cv down to grasse near nice and back with our club. Saw the ag2r cycling team too I think near Saint Paul du Vence.

[Dan_ZTT]

5 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said:

I’ve just done 226 miles on 3.99 gallons of fuel. That’s 56+mpg!!! 

I really didn’t hang about either. Is this the benefit of running on BP Ultimate? Surely not?

All downhill if you're going to the seaside

[Ian_Fearn]

1 hour from the next night stop in Reims. SHIT it’s hot! 30 degrees and no AC. Car doesn’t seem to care though!

Got pulled by customs. Every question under the sun about the car and nothing to do with customs 🤣

 

 

[Macscrooge]

Great stuff!  By coincidence there was an even older Panda next to us in the passport queue at Rotterdam Europoort last week, clearly in daily use by a lady rather younger than her car.

[Ian_Fearn]

Yesterday’s hard motorway road run took its toll on the MPGEeeeeeees. 51.8 recorded. I’m driving from Reims to Besancon today and decided to get off the Peage roads. Lots of stop/start and diversions due to road works. Yesterday I paid nearly 30 euros to do about 160 miles. 
It’s mega hot here. 100% not used to this. I’m cowering in the shade after a top quality Aldi cold snack lunch. I really know how to live it up.

France has really lost its edge when it comes to shite. Spots are few and far between. The odd mint 2cv and today’s highlight, a daily driver Talbot Solara. No picture sorry.

[PhilA]

Nice! Should be a pleasant drive on the back roads. Hint: get a fan that plugs into the lighter socket, suction cup on the window.

Stuck in traffic it hammers the battery/alternator much less than the cabin fan.

 

Looking forward to updates. You need a GoPro!

 

Phil

[mat_the_cat]

On 6/15/2022 at 1:37 PM, Ian_Fearn said:

1 hour from the next night stop in Reims. SHIT it’s hot! 30 degrees and no AC.

I'm sure that a man of your calibre could fit a system I wonder if it was ever a factory option?