Hi.
Well it is just over 6 months that I have been living with my Panda.
So far I have enjoyed the experience overall.
There has been some niggles but most of these I can put down to poor servicing by the dealer and their lack of support.
I'd say that the majority of my driving is local. This is mostly due to my ongoing health issues (Heart, Spinal stenosis & worn knee).
I do though like to do jobs on the car when I feel able and the Panda is a nice car to work on with good access and nothing so far that has needed special tools.
The problems have been few, the Discs and Pads were badly worn on purchase but the dealer refused to change them as the car passed it's first MOT with no advisories!!! I fitted good quality aftermarket Discs & Pads myself. There was no evidence that the 18,000 mile service had been done, the oil filter was a non Fiat type, no doubt the one fitted by an independent a few thousand miles before, the oil was dirty and the air filter had a 2013 date on it. So yet again I had to do the work myself. I had some running issues after fitting Denso Iridium plugs and also had a Lambda probe fail. Once though I replaced the Lambda probe and discovered oil on the MAP sensor and due to this fitted an oil catch tank the car has just got better and better.
The smoothness and running is uncanny, so quiet but the throttle response is now much sharper, pulls better at low revs than before I replaced these parts with no hesitation or jerking just runs now how any modern car should.
What I did do early on that made a big difference was to the remove the little clutch sensor switch from the pedal assembly.
This makes the car bog down when moving off, a really irritating effect, it also can make the engine rev excessively on occasions.
The removal does not put on the MIL light so long as the lever is left on its "clutch up" position, it does though leave a code in the ECU but this is not a code that effects running nor a high level code to put the light on.
Like I say my running mostly is local so the fuel consumption of the mid forties reflects that, to me it's brilliant considering I returned under 20mpg in my previous Rover 75 V6.
On a recent run to Cramlington the Panda did nearly 60mpg so again no complaints.
I have done my own little mods and spent time with Waxoyl and regular checks.
The car is very versatile, plenty of load space to take things to the tip, pick up items for the grown up kids and pick up a couple of vintage TV's which is my hobby.
So for me I think the Panda is very much under rated, it is an ideal little car, it does have some foibles but has character that other Euro boxes don't have. I intend all being well to keep hold of this one for many years, look after it and enjoy what I have so far.
One happy Panda owner
Well it is just over 6 months that I have been living with my Panda.
So far I have enjoyed the experience overall.
There has been some niggles but most of these I can put down to poor servicing by the dealer and their lack of support.
I'd say that the majority of my driving is local. This is mostly due to my ongoing health issues (Heart, Spinal stenosis & worn knee).
I do though like to do jobs on the car when I feel able and the Panda is a nice car to work on with good access and nothing so far that has needed special tools.
The problems have been few, the Discs and Pads were badly worn on purchase but the dealer refused to change them as the car passed it's first MOT with no advisories!!! I fitted good quality aftermarket Discs & Pads myself. There was no evidence that the 18,000 mile service had been done, the oil filter was a non Fiat type, no doubt the one fitted by an independent a few thousand miles before, the oil was dirty and the air filter had a 2013 date on it. So yet again I had to do the work myself. I had some running issues after fitting Denso Iridium plugs and also had a Lambda probe fail. Once though I replaced the Lambda probe and discovered oil on the MAP sensor and due to this fitted an oil catch tank the car has just got better and better.
The smoothness and running is uncanny, so quiet but the throttle response is now much sharper, pulls better at low revs than before I replaced these parts with no hesitation or jerking just runs now how any modern car should.
What I did do early on that made a big difference was to the remove the little clutch sensor switch from the pedal assembly.
This makes the car bog down when moving off, a really irritating effect, it also can make the engine rev excessively on occasions.
The removal does not put on the MIL light so long as the lever is left on its "clutch up" position, it does though leave a code in the ECU but this is not a code that effects running nor a high level code to put the light on.
Like I say my running mostly is local so the fuel consumption of the mid forties reflects that, to me it's brilliant considering I returned under 20mpg in my previous Rover 75 V6.
On a recent run to Cramlington the Panda did nearly 60mpg so again no complaints.
I have done my own little mods and spent time with Waxoyl and regular checks.
The car is very versatile, plenty of load space to take things to the tip, pick up items for the grown up kids and pick up a couple of vintage TV's which is my hobby.
So for me I think the Panda is very much under rated, it is an ideal little car, it does have some foibles but has character that other Euro boxes don't have. I intend all being well to keep hold of this one for many years, look after it and enjoy what I have so far.
One happy Panda owner
