General What did you do with your Panda today?

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General What did you do with your Panda today?

Today it went in for its 3rd service & first MOT ( one day before the warranty runs out.)
Expecting a clean bill of health I was surprised with a phone call 6 hrs after dropping it off
"during the service we found a few issues that would fail a MOT"
fortunately for me still under warranty I will have new rear shocks, new lower front bushings and a oil leak around the cam chain housing fixed, apparently not uncommon and a 8hr job.
Not out of pocket but dissapointed that at 3 years old it needs this work, what will nex year reveal ? (Rhetorical)
Time for a new car me thinks, but what ?
I don't realy want to go bigger & I like the extra height of my trekking, I also like 45 mpg + & £20 road tax but I don't like the thought of paying for 8hr engine work if there's another fault when it's out of warranty
What engine is it? What's your total mileage?
 
It was 8 oclock Monday morning when I dropped the panda off and by close of business today (Tuesday) I'm still without the panda and no wiser as to the completed/planned work.
I'm not left compleatly out in the cold as I have the loan car for now.
 
I've heard about the issues with the uniair unit causing oil leaks. My brother had that with his 500 it was replaced under warranty. But this fault sounds different - and not one I've heard of before.

I'm not 100% on the oil leak position, it was a vague description fron the receptionist over the phone, she did say that it's a known issue and because of its location it would take 8 hrs to fix !
 
Twin air 20,000 miles :rolleyes:

Am I the only one who thinks it's shameful any new car should develop this amount of faults after such a low mileage?

None of the new cars I've bought in the past 30 years (including two Fiats) have needed anything beyond service parts in the first 50k.
 
Today I did nothing with my panda !
It's still at the dealers.
poor coms, I left it untill 4 pm before ringing only to be informed that the new shocks that were fitted yesterday caused a bang/clunk, the correct shocks were ordered and should have been deliverd today but didn't turn up.
I also asked what was happening with the oil leak but the receptionist I was speeking to knew nothing about it.
I don't think I want it back now, I'm looking for its replacement :rolleyes:

So it goes
 
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Am I the only one who thinks it's shameful any new car should develop this amount of faults after such a low mileage?

None of the new cars I've bought in the past 30 years (including two Fiats) have needed anything beyond service parts in the first 50k.
My last Panda (a 1.2 169) I had for 9 years and 90k. The engine never needed anything but oil and spark plugs in all that time. When I passed it to the next owner the engine was sweet, oil tight and giving the best economy I'd had in all the years I owned it. Alongside it my other half had a 1.1 which she kept for 10 years and sold with 100k on the clock. It was in similarly fabulous nick. I now own a TA - I think it's a fun engine but far too complicated for its own good.
 
Latest news,(1oclock Thursday)
The shocks that should have been fitted yesturday came today, too short !
More coming tomorrow but if they don't fit it's 10 days from Italy !!!!!!
The rest of the work is done inc the oil leak. Apparently the fitter worked an extra long day to get it all done, I'll bet he's P'd off.
 
Latest news,(1oclock Thursday)

The shocks that should have been fitted yesturday came today, too short !

More coming tomorrow but if they don't fit it's 10 days from Italy !!!!!!

The rest of the work is done inc the oil leak. Apparently the fitter worked an extra long day to get it all done, I'll bet he's P'd off.



Knock £20 off the bill for every day the mechanics poor work holds you back from getting your car again!
 
Knock £20 off the bill for every day the mechanics poor work holds you back from getting your car again!

It's not the mechanics fault the car had worn out parts in only 3 years, nor is it his fault the good new replacements are not readily available.
 
New shocks, that will be 10 days from Italy then !
I'm so down with fiat ATM, not the dealer just the brand.
My dealer also sells Suzuki's and I've got a test drive in an ignis tomorrow.
 
We went a motoring. Bombing along the Norwich by pass was amused to see Alfa Giulia QF parked in the near side lane and this coned off by several of Norfolk's finest and all theri machinery. I suspect they had blocked the road to stop him there as probably couldn't catch it any other way. It did make me smile. Pandas rule OK, suitably slower!!!.

It was interesting to find that running the TA at full chat had no adverse effect on the mpg. In fact it was doing 55mpg at true 75mph. I will never - I think- understand what makes this car tick. There is no discernable connection between fuel consumption and driving style that I can identify. I am going to ignore the economy and just drive the thing. Faster is not less economical so stuff it lets just go!
 
We went a motoring. Bombing along the Norwich by pass was amused to see Alfa Giulia QF parked in the near side lane and this coned off by several of Norfolk's finest and all theri machinery. I suspect they had blocked the road to stop him there as probably couldn't catch it any other way. It did make me smile. Pandas rule OK, suitably slower!!!.

It was interesting to find that running the TA at full chat had no adverse effect on the mpg. In fact it was doing 55mpg at true 75mph. I will never - I think- understand what makes this car tick. There is no discernable connection between fuel consumption and driving style that I can identify. I am going to ignore the economy and just drive the thing. Faster is not less economical so stuff it lets just go!
Yes I've found that. Longer trips on faster roads gives the best economy. We had 59mpg a while back on a 400 mile round trip. Can't get near that on shorter, local trips.
 

"I'm so down with fiat ATM, not the dealer just the brand"

Not another fiat thanks,

I know a lot of people go for years and years without a single problem but from my recent and on going issues, I'll switch brands for my next purchase.
My biggest concern is needing new shocks at only 3 years old.
taking 5 days to find thers none in the UK and need ordering from Italy with atleast another 10 days delivery for what is a afterall a common car.
When I do get my panda back the warranty will have run out.
I'll get somthing with 3 years warranty (or 7 if I get a Kia Rio)
 
Actually Carl I was impressed with the Kia Rio. This is the actual car I was lent while my last Panda was in. Lot quicker than you'd think. If it had done 40's mpg I might have seriously considered. http://www.chorleygroup.co.uk/used-cars/7961408-kia-rio-1.4-2-5dr-auto/


A test drive in the totaly ignis with its flat gutless engine has put me off Suzuki's.

AI D, I like your thinking.
Yesterday I went to the Kia dealer to look at the Rio, I didn't get past the "looking through the windows" stage to decide the Rio was just a bit pedestrian for me, the sort of car you could loose in a car park.
What I did see was the Picanto Gt-line, a test drive has been booked :)
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=p...UIESgB&biw=1024&bih=671#imgrc=ENU98ZlACCa9QM:
 
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A test drive in the totaly ignis with its flat gutless engine has put me off Suzuki's.

AI D, I like your thinking.
Yesterday I went to the Kia dealer to look at the Rio, I didn't get past the "looking through the windows" stage to decide the Rio was just a bit pedestrian for me, the sort of car you could loose in a car park.
What I did see was the Picanto Gt-line, a test drive has been booked :)
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=p...UIESgB&biw=1024&bih=671#imgrc=ENU98ZlACCa9QM:

There are KIA's i like, but the Picanto is not one of them.
KIA's i like are the Stonic and stinger, and this new KIA Proceed Concept.

Kia-Proceed-Concept-001.jpg
 
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