Re: The write-up
Well, been out for my first drive this morning
Took her upto the local holiday camp which our friends owns and took masses of pics. Most are in my gallery, but here are a few;
The car seems to drive fine. 4x4 enguages, and what a difference it makes even when driving just on grass! As you can see from the pic's she isn't in showroom conditon but for £468 (or £400 if you take away the 6 months tax worth £66) she's not a bad buy.
The gearbox feel sturdy, but grides into 3rd sometimes. This is they syncro I was told
Is this the start of gearbox problems which the 4x4's suffer with. As far as that goes is it going to become a bigger problem, or something that's ok if I don't mind living with it?
The doors look rust free at the bottom, but the driverside lock causes me concern (see pic).
I've decided that when the 4x4 is re-MOTed I'm going to get the Selecta Sorn and run the 4x4 for the time being. A change is as good as a rest in-all and I think I'm really going to have some fun with her when I go back to college. I've already had a friend with a Defender say we'll have to go to a local 4x4 place to try it out
.
Everyone at college seems more excited than I was about getting the 4x4. Can't think why
lol.
Come insurance renewal I'm then going to see what insurance want to sting me for covering the 4x4 and Selecta (I've still a soft spot for the auto, the 4x4 hasn't compleatly stolen the show
).
The 4x4 is going in for a timing belt change on Friday, as it's unknown when it was last done (better safe than sorry).
The 4x4 has had alot of work done. Including Clutch, Exhaust, Brakes etc which I have all the reciepts for, so it all backs up the fact that £468 was a bargin!
The only other down side is that the bonnet cable has gone (can't be seen hanging out in a few pics), so I'm to order a replacement from Fiat. How hard are these to fit? When there getting the bonnet cable, I'm also going to order a proper Panda 3rd brakelight (Urchin posted the part number a while back so need to do a quick search). Also there is a nasty chip in the corner of the windscreen which dosen't look repairable and will probably spread, but atleast being fully comp, I can always get a replacement screen for £50.
Now my biggest question is do I keep it stock?
As you know I'm not a boy racer, body kit and alloy's person, but should I fit an Alarm (well think I'm going to anyway) and central locking like I have to all the other Panda's. I'm also wondering if I'm going to miss the tacho meter I have fitted in my Selecta that much
Jon.
Ps, please comment on the pic's.