I might be able to buy a Marbella for very little money, it's in pretty good nick, but I want to know, is it a Panda with an accent or a Spanish interloper?

I know my Panda is Polish, but would I be a turncoat for driving a Seat?

Yours, in turmoil,
Bigjawa

Essentially, a Marbella is the MkI Panda, right down to the cart-spring rear suspension and opening front quarterlights. But the rest of the people on here could tell you more.

Is it the 848cc or the 903cc you've been offered?

I don't know for certain, but I think it's a 903cc.

Traitor!!

Bigjawa said:

I don't know for certain, but I think it's a 903cc.

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If it is the 903 GLX or Special then it'll have a cat fitted that'll sap the 45bhp. I'm not sure where the cat is fitted (downpipe or underfloor) but no doubt it'll be expensive to replace...

The 848cc on the other hand as I recall was 4-star only and the use of unleaded wasn't recommended. You can probably get around that by using additives though.

Steve C said:

Traitor!!

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I've just found this quote from pandafan. He knows his stuff.

pandafan said:

Just as a matter of interest..........

The floorpan of the Seat Marbella is the same one as used on the 4x4 Panda. Change the doors, front wings, bonnet, boot and lights !

Plus! The Seat is properly rot-proofed.

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Thank you for remembering that quote. It may sound awful, but ... if you were to keep the Seat grill/bonnet/lights/bumper front assembly you would have a more fuel efficient/faster Panda. Sorry.

not as cute tho!

and surly having doors with opening quaterlights cant be secure!

The majority of the quarter-lights were sealed (non-opening) units ... and as for cute !!!!!! You should have seen my Marbella Black (and green) Abarth. Really, really cute ... honest.

pandafan, maybe you should change your username to marbellafan?

You go wash your mouth out !!!!!!!!

As the proud owner of a seat marbella, 94 version ie manual choke and cat. carberator and no distributer. I get as much fun out of the Seat as i did my 750
Panda from about 7 years back, and I use the Haynes Panda manual

My problem at the moment is finding the ZC 90 or equivelent for the gearbox
Oh and ive found a scrapyard with a panda in it. lol the panda,s doing a great job of
holding up two other cars much bigger than itself, But its nice to know where to get the part when you need them.

I live in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and have seen at least two pandas on the road around here

mrf94

mrf94 said:

My problem at the moment is finding the ZC 90 or equivelent for the gearbox

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Cut and pasted again. From thread 25663, this time:


The correct FIAT oil is their own "ZC 90"

There have been a number of discussions in the past about what (else) is suitable, as Haynes suggests you can use engine oil.

The FIAT stuff is GL1 (very early gear oil specification, with little in the way of additives, apart from something for "anti wear").

According to the site, here, there are different viscosity numbers for the same grades of oil depending on if it is rated as engine oil, or gear oil:
gear oil numbers are higher - 90 is around the 20(W50) mark as an engine oil, so one up for Haynes.

You don't want a gear oil which is designed for hypoid (back axles) use as the sulphur additives can eat bronze parts in some gearboxes...

IMHO, you don't want the latest specification (GL4 or 5) gear oil as the antislip additives will stop your synchromesh from working properly: it needs some friction to get the bits to run at the same speed and not get a crunch (especially into third - but if it's crunchy now, an oil change is unlikley to bring the synchro back to life).
There are many who use GL5, and say the results are wonderful...


So I suppose the short answer is:
FIAT stuff is the best for the job, but (relatively) expensive in the UK.
Some 20W50 engine oil would probably not do any harm - as per "Haynes" - but you don't have the "antiwear additive".
"Wilko" (Wilkinsons) sell Comma branded (GL4) at 2.09 UKP litre in 1 litre tubs - you'd need 3 for a complete change of oil, and still have some left over.
Or, you could go to one of the Countrywide Farmers shops here and get 4 litres of Q8 branded gear oil (GL5 though), and some engine oil too, for about 10 UKP a tub. The last basic, 15W 40, engine oil I got there (20-01-2005) was just over 6UKP for 4 litres.

Hi Mrf,
Do you need a REALLY good Marbella for spares ? VERY cheap and low mileage ?

Thanks for that info on the oil , Ive read just about every post in this forum,
but not seen the information all put together so well. The Seat had 43000 on the clock when i bought it and no rust, I use it every day for work . oh and im a wrinkley

mrf94

If i had somwhere to keep it i probably would , as i said before i started with a 750 panda moved up to a uno next was a cinq now the marbella , theres something about Fiats.
Thanks for the offer but i must decline .

mrf94

Bet you're not as wrinkley as Sandra and I !

LOL Anythings possible

mrf

*Steve goes to delete his post about old fogies*

Shame upon you Steve !! Stand by your principles. If you are anti 'old-fogies' stick with it. I LOVE a decent argument.