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Panda Mum's had a Panda

Introduction

Chopped in the MGF which was bound to fail it's MOT and was getting to be a PITA for my Dad to keep running for her.

Funny how British built motors can't stand our weather, while mine and my brother's Polish built Cinqs are still usually ok :p



She's already got dirt on it, and a lovely big bunch of keys to scratch the paint with :rolleyes:


I had a go in it - observations of a Cinquecento Sporting owner.

New! Shiny! Mild steel exhaust looks like stainless (still only 432 miles on it).


Quite nippy, even loaded up with four people.

£30 tax PA :eek:

Black keys - when did Fiat switch back from blue ones? :confused:
Also no CODE light, though the keys do have the circles on the blade, and a 2 (indicating the newer system).

The doors open to seemingly crazy angles :p


Crumple zones, airbags, ABS, oooh how posh ;)

The speedo in the non-rev counter models is TINY, barely visible to the human eye *cough*


Mysterious hole in the boot carpet on the nearside, for a light?

Even though they use the same bulbs the Panda's interior light lets you see things. The Cinq one is like a mouse rubbing two sticks together.

Rust on the check strap bolts already :(
Fortunately that seems to be the only place so far. Waxoyl ready for the next bit of good weather anyway (and one for the Freelander)...


Larger engine bay should be easier to work in (for comparison - Cinq Sporting engine is an 1108 CC version of the same engine I think - the 1242 are just a longer stroke, and in this case probably MPI?

Makes me wonder if a 1.9 MJ would fit in a 1.3 MJ Panda, bit of Fabia VRS-style fun... :chin::devil:

CD Player doesn't play MP3s, I know it's a base model but it still seems a bit stingy. The Cinq did come with a tape deck, though :p


Questions for other owners:
I keep feeling the steering column turning around next to my left foot, is this an issue for anyone else or just how I'm driving?


Are the 8v engines still non-interference (like my Cinq), meaning if the belt goes the valves won't be bent?

And have the dealers put the screws in the right place on the tailgate, I've heard horror stories of some putting self-tapping screws in where they like :eek:


I'm more tempted to draw out of an ISA and get a 100HP now :bang:
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As you point out. The whole in the boot carpet is for the boot light. The wire is currently under the carpet. There is a guide in the guides section to install light... But you also need to make sure the boot handle has the switch fitted, given that you haven't got a rev counter or the MP3 CD you may not have this switch either.

Re - number plate, the garage I bought mine from has done that too. Ah,well.

Hope your Mum enjoys it. (y)
 
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Nice Panda.

The panda engine is indeed in priciple the same engine as in your cinq. Only with added electronics and features (vvt, MPI, electronic throttle body, etc.) to make it cleaner.

btw do you have any idea what that transparant jar is on the left (drivers) side of the engine bay? I've never seen one on a LHD Panda.
 
Nice Panda.

The panda engine is indeed in priciple the same engine as in your cinq. Only with added electronics and features (vvt, MPI, electronic throttle body, etc.) to make it cleaner.

btw do you have any idea what that transparant jar is on the left (drivers) side of the engine bay? I've never seen one on a LHD Panda.

strange its on that side but it is the fluid res for the hydraulic clutch, with my M-jet its on the passenger side hidden by the wiring abit

yes should be a non-interference engine still

Ash
 
Steering column prob is the same on all mk3 pandas (Rhd at least..) you learn to adjust :p

And no, look behind the number plate and there are four square locating holes for mounting plugs in each corner, mine's also done the same way :(

Been meaning to get new plates, plug the holes and just stick new ones on with mounting adhesive/pads.
 
Nice Panda. It from Desira on the quay?

Boot might is an easyish mod once you've got the parts (y)

Out of interest if it was from Desira is it the one they had in the showroom for a few months? I noticed the parcel shelf on it didn't have the rubbers on the two rear support arms that clip into the plastic retainers in the boot. Might be worth checking if they're there or not as it'll cause the parcel shelf to not support itself when getting stuff out of the boot and it'll fall on your head :(
 
Number plate fitment - bah, annoying. Is there any way to get the garage to rectify that now? Would it have voided the anti-corrosion warranty?

The panda engine is indeed in priciple the same engine as in your cinq. Only with added electronics and features (vvt, MPI, electronic throttle body, etc.) to make it cleaner.

Neato, I thought it was just a different top cover so it would have a standard screw-off oil cap instead of the older pull off type, and would otherwise have been like a Punto 75 (1242 8v MPI). Weren't expecting VVT. An ECU governed throttle is a given nowadays.

The small reservoir is indeed for the clutch, so 1+ to the Panda, no clutch cable :slayer:

Re steering columns the Seicento used to literally rub my foot iv not noticed it on the panda yet....

Absolutley no problem for me in a few Cinquecentos though, and I thought they were the same as a Sei underneath. The steering column exits to the rack further towards the centre of the car than the Panda.

Nice Panda. It from Desira on the quay?

Boot might is an easyish mod once you've got the parts (y)

Out of interest if it was from Desira is it the one they had in the showroom for a few months? I noticed the parcel shelf on it didn't have the rubbers on the two rear support arms that clip into the plastic retainers in the boot. Might be worth checking if they're there or not as it'll cause the parcel shelf to not support itself when getting stuff out of the boot and it'll fall on your head :(

Nope, they (B.S. Marson) are in Staffordshire, Meir I think, I'm out in GY, I do drive past Desira on the way to and from work though. The parcel shelf is something else I noticed, no string to make it open with the boot :p Hopefully those rubber parts don't wear out with age, causing the shelf to drop on its own.

Also, 61 reg is September just gone until March next year and she has had it for a month or so now, too new for it to have been hanging around and had people wear it out :D

Boot light, it's not alarmed and the CL doesn't extend to the boot either, so I doubt it already has the switch there. So perhaps not such an easy mod after all (it could still just be fitting parts though, if the wiring it in already).
 
Mrs. Beard always wanted a boy, still, a Panda would have done :p

My MJ looks like it has the same back box, it's still on after 91,000 miles, oddly enough though, the outer skin flakes and bangs on the heat shield above. Every few months I just peel a bit off and it's fine again, whereas there are no issues with the bottom of it.

Every so often if I'm wearing my work boots I can feel the column rubbing on my foot but I just move it by a fraction and it's not a problem anymore. Mrs. Beard with her size 5s doesn't have the problem so unless your Mum wears size 9 boots it shouldn't affect her either.
 
Mrs. Beard always wanted a boy, still, a Panda would have done :p

My MJ looks like it has the same back box, it's still on after 91,000 miles, oddly enough though, the outer skin flakes and bangs on the heat shield above. Every few months I just peel a bit off and it's fine again, whereas there are no issues with the bottom of it.

Every so often if I'm wearing my work boots I can feel the column rubbing on my foot but I just move it by a fraction and it's not a problem anymore. Mrs. Beard with her size 5s doesn't have the problem so unless your Mum wears size 9 boots it shouldn't affect her either.

Mr Beardy, you're so funny!

Our Pandas seem to be running similarly. I'm beating yours by 2k miles now.

My exhaust too is the original one, only mine peels a bit from the bottom. I don't bother picking bits off it though.
 
Am I aloud to miss my TF on this thread....... She was blue and always seemed to be in bits. But a least I went to a 500 so that Mrs W could drive. She doesn't drive MY panda....
 
Mr Beardy, you're so funny!

Our Pandas seem to be running similarly. I'm beating yours by 2k miles now.

My exhaust too is the original one, only mine peels a bit from the bottom. I don't bother picking bits off it though.
One tries one's best madam.

Considering I live on a bigger island I'll have to try harder and overtake your mileage, unless you're cheating and crossing the border.

I have to pick bits off because it bangs on the heat shield above. If yours is banging on something I suspect the local council will be round to ask for contributions to re-surfacing the streets.

Hang on, my bottom's ok and your top's pretty good. But my top's getting a bit ropey and your bottom's falling out. Must be an age thing. :eek:
 
One tries one's best madam.

Considering I live on a bigger island I'll have to try harder and overtake your mileage, unless you're cheating and crossing the border.

I have to pick bits off because it bangs on the heat shield above. If yours is banging on something I suspect the local council will be round to ask for contributions to re-surfacing the streets.

Hang on, my bottom's ok and your top's pretty good. But my top's getting a bit ropey and your bottom's falling out. Must be an age thing. :eek:

Aging is a terrible thing!

Me cheat? I can't believe you would think that! I was young and free when I first got my Panda in 2005. I got married the next year and my Panda was the main family car until 2009 when we got the Honda for that role as it's that bit more difficult to fit everything in around two small people. Dez had a few holiday runs south of the border in his early years but he's been retired from that role now. Most of my miles have been racked up within a 30 mile radius of Belfast! And I wouldn't even blame the run to work as it's only about 13 miles each way 5 days a week. Sometimes I have to think on seeing another empty tank (480+ miles) within just over a week of its last fill, where was I? Lol. Maybe it's my preference to drive a few miles rather than going into the city centre that's partly to blame or the weekly trips to the zoo or a soft play place that's about 20 miles away cause that's what the kids want to do.

You'll have to get going to catch me I'll say! Or borrow some kids with expectations for a while.
 
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