Potential 100hp Owner

Good evening!!

I am considering buying a 100hp very soon. I am just wondering what peoples thoughts are of them. I have read loads of reviews of them (EVO mag) and they seem to love it!!

I am going from a Clio Williams and totally understand that it will not be anywhere near as quick as this but i need to get a "sensible car" which will cost me less to run and maintain (last service and MOT £730).

I have seen some of the options for these but have noticed one which was mentioned which was the "pandemonium package". What is this as I have not seen this? Also I have seen a few of these in white and think they look great. How is this as it is not available as on option colour in the book?

Lastly have any of you owners had any issues with your cars so far and how has the dealer been with sorting any issues out. Oh and how long did you wait for your cars? I am waiting for my local dealer to get a new demonstrator so I can try it out for the day.

Excuse the essay but just want as much info as poss.

Thanks in advance!!

hello lamby, welcome to the flock....no groans from the back of the class

i'll have a go at answering some of what you're asking, delivery times depend on the colour/spec/etc you choose, and can be up to about 3 months, for a personal build, or right away if it's in group stock.

not suprised you haven't seen the pandemonium pack, fiat uk thought it too aggressive for us islanders, and didn't bring it over. so you have to paint your own calipers, and add racing stripes to the bonnet

i liked the test drive i had, firmer ride, flatter cornering, a hoot round corners, the mrs liked it too, except for the suspension for which the comfort of the eleganza is far better.

as for fiat CS, well.....i leave you to a cursory trawl through this section in particular, and the forum in general, there is a wide spread of service, and the garages section is certainly one to check on.

Hi there and welcome.

With regards to the Pandamonium Pack, ownership experience, handling & performance and early problem issues.....these are well documented in this section of the Forum since the turn of the year so I would recommend an evening's trawl through the various 100HP threads to allow you to form an opinion.

For my tuppence worth. I've had mine since early January 2007 and find the car to be an absolute hoot to drive and to look at. For me the new Panda, which I have always liked has truely 'grown up'. I think that's mainly due to the more sombre, darker interior combined with the 'chunky', aggressive exterior styling.

I run the car as a weekday second car to my ALFA Romeo 3.0 V6 and yes, there is a performance difference, but it's all relative. The Panda's 100bhp in such a small, light car is more than adequate and combined with its' roadholding abilities never fails to bring a smile to your face.

Oh......and let's not forget the 'Sport' button......make sure you try it in the test drive. It really helps in those early days running in period. But soon you will find that even in normal mode the engine is eager and the 'Sport' button activation only comes into play for overtaking and twisty B Road fun.

The car is fantastic so you should definately get one.

I do believe that Fiat have stopped making white for the car as it used to appear on the website and it no longer does. I'm not 100% on this though but it would make sense for it to have gone if it is no longer mentioned anywhere.

Mind you, Fiat did say the cars should come with an mp3 cd player and it didn't so you never know what they might suprise you with... I'm not bitter lol.

Thanks for all of the replies!!

I am seriously thinking of getting one (ESP if i can get one in white).

Do you think if i spoke to the dealer they would provide one in white for me.

One more thing what did they dealers say to you as regards to a run in period?

Cheers again!!

They've stopped producing 100hps in white, although you might find some around, probably down to the introduction of the white abarth range.

Ive covered 9k miles now and no problems apart from camber was out and took a long time to get the mp3 stereo fitted, still loving it since the day I bought it

The abarth range?

hmmmmm

Is the Panda coming out within this range and if it is, would it be worth waiting??

What are the changes if any??

modern day 'Abarth' would probably mean a 1.4 turbo engine producing 150bhp, a bespoke paint job with bodykit and red stitching.

See Grande Punto Abarth pics to give you some idea.

I think you'll find that 100bhp in the Panda is more than adequate to have fun without the threat of losing your licence everytime you use the 'heavy foot'.

As far as I know FIAT have no plans for a Panda Abarth......and if they did it wouldn't be sub £10K.

Perhaps you should wait for the new 500 Abarth if that sort of thing floats your boat?

oh i see.

I think the 500 would be slightly too small for me due to being 6 ft plus.

its more reliabilty i am after and cheapness to run and i hope that the panda would be that. From what I have heard so far its all good but the car is still too new to tell but that is what the warenty is for!!

Sidwells in Exeter have a White one but at £10,700 It's way too expensive, mine was £8500 from Thames in Slough.Might be worth giving a few dealers a ring they might have one in stock.Excellent car unless you live somewhere surrounded by speed bumps then it's a bloomin' nightmare

Well i will probably go into the dealer at the weekend and see what sort of deal they can do for me.
I might ask if they can do me one in white (you never know they might).

What options are people putting on theirs. The only things i think may be any good is the sub and speaker upgrade. Not having ESP not worth it and the sunroof skydome thing looks cool but surely would add weight due to all that glass.

Are there any other options that may be worth a look?

Hi i have one and its brill i even use it for driving instruction the kids love it.
I like throwing it into bends this it exels at keeps the Panda happy and me too

Get one fast.When i was in your position i found this forum and its folk to have most of the answer's I also went through all the information i could find then took one out for a day and i was well and truly hooked. evr since.

Yeap that sounds about right. I was hoping to get a call from Fiat today but no luck gonna go and test drive it this weekend.

Think that it will be the last factor, oh and if they give me a good enough deal on the car.

Think the skydome would look odd on a White one it would look like it's got a Black roof

Andy_Panda, it looks brill