Hi, I'm new to this forum and also new to car driving. I've had motorbikes for years and never bothered with cars, but my wife doesn't like me using the bike to get to work any more and said i needed to pass my test (it's next month) and buy myself a car that doesn't cost a fortune to get to work in, but can get us to the coast two or three times a year.

Anyway i've looked through autotrader and almost come to the conclusion that a Panda is for me. What i want though is to spend around £5k and get a 1.2 Panda with Air conditioning. Is air con that important ?

Also i'm not sure what colour i like best. I like the red ones, blue ones and black ones, but I spotted an orange one that looks very nice.

Should i be looking for anything that could be a bit dodgy when i go looking at cars ? In other words what are usually the first things to start going wrong ?

Aircon is worth having as the interior of a Panda can get quite hot even in a British summer and it takes away the need to drive with the windows open. Aircon also helps the windscreen to demist all year round.
Pandas are tough and reliable. Common faults are misaligned front wheels leading to abnormal tyre wear, failure of the electric powered steering, relatively early wear of front brake discs and pads. That's all I can recall just now, someone else will be along soon to extend the list.
Problems that are common to all used cars are a lack of service history, not fundamentally bad but suggests an uncared for car, badly repaired accident damage, worn tyres, brakes and clutch.
I've never seen a Panda with any corrosion, if you find any at all walk away as the car has been damaged or very badly neglected.
Colours, well reds, blues, blacks, greys and silvers, if muted shades, will be easier to sell on later. The very bright colours may make it easier to buy at a discount. However, treat yourself and buy the colour you fancy. My first Panda was a very pale baby blue known as Dry Turquoise. I loved it, my son named the car "The Gaymobile" and forever took the Mick out of it.
Interesting thing is that, if your bikes have been in any way sporting, you will probably find all the running costs of a Panda much lower than those of your bike.
Good hunting!

As Chris says,

But one other thing to watch for - on all bar the active spec the electronic boot lock can play up.

Try to negotiate (if a Fiat dealer) for locking fuel cap, boot light and a full sized spare.

If you want the roof bars negotiate for them too, otherwise the wallet will be in intensive care !

Trev

Thanks. My wife has just read what you said and insists we should buy a Panda. Back for another look on autotrader now.

I'd give perrys a try....theve got/had really great deals on new pandas.

I recently bought a 1.1 eco active for less than £6k brand new - so got three years worry free motoring ahead of me.

They arent close to me, but delivered for less than it would have cost me to collect...They were excellent to deal with - and I'm by no means easy to please, but the purchase was so easy and straightforward with no BS.

PS I ride a bike and dont miss winters on 2 wheels at all!
PPS - I dont work for them either!

here's a link

http://www.perrys.co.uk/fiat-panda-1.1-active-eco-5-door/new-and-delivery-mileage/offer-183823

Pandas are a great little car no more or less reliable than cars costing double.Infact after 35 years in the motortrade i think pound for pound fiats are the best.Fiats have a great dealership network in britain not like some other small cars like KIA etc.I drive a 05Plate panda 1.2 Dynamic with auto box.(takes a bit of getting used to the auto).

I've just had a look at Perrys. Not bad and worth thinking about, but i think i'm going for a two year old 1.2 Panda or might even go for a 1.3 Diesel.

I'll push for a few extras when i go to the car showrooms. Looks like i might have to go to Leeds. I hate the roads in Leeds.

Thanks for the advice.

udtrev said:

Try to negotiate (if a Fiat dealer) for locking fuel cap, boot light and a full sized spare.

Click to expand...

My 100HP came with a boot light, I think it's a bit hit and miss with the boot light. I don't see the need for a full size spare. Space savers a good enough. I've only used a spare wheel onece in about 8 years of motoring.

I just bought myself a Fiat Panda Mamy and as long as you can get over the fact it was designed for young mothers its a fantastic well kitted out car. Positives are that aircon and a bluetooth phone system came as standard and they sell around the same price as the Dynamic model. They also have orange interior seats (not sure thats as standard) and orange coated vent housings.
Ill be looking to repaint that myself as its a bit too visually loud for my taste but asides that theyre a great model to look out for.

I dont think theyre in production any more either so they really are limited editions.

Good luck with whatever you find and keep us updated!


w w w.bit.ly/erDjeK just to give you an idea of price and kit youd expect on them

hi, i'm in Pontefract and can recommend Picadilly as a chain of Fiat dealers. Knaresborough and Wakefield iirc. Not sure on the car prices but have had good service from them in the past.

Panda residuals seem strong at the moment, I guess as they are cheap to run as very good at what they do. I do think sales may not be quite as good as the dealers are making out especially on small cars since the scrappage scheme has ended so you might be able to negotiate a bit.

If you can find a car with Dynamic ECO spec then you will have £35 road tax and slightly better economy. i am sure the residuals will be higher on these car as the tax alone saves £100 a year. obviously balance this against the purchase price.

ivantate said:

If you can find a car with Dynamic ECO spec then you will have £35 road tax and slightly better economy.

Click to expand...

The 1.2 Dynamic Eco is the one to go for unless you have an insurance problem. The engine is much more flexible than the 1.1 & recent Dynamic models have aircon as standard too.

When negotiating prices on a used example, remember these cars were heavily discounted when new & that feeds into residuals - £5k should get you a pristine '59 plate 1.2 Dynamic Eco.

I bought a new one for Ladykitching last September & we are both delighted with it. The Panda is easy to drive, cheap to run and a much underrated car.

HOT NEWS UPDATE:

Have just noticed on Perrys website that they're selling the brand new 1.2 Active Panda for £5995.

Check this link:

http://www.perrys.co.uk/fiat-panda-1.2-[69]-active-5-door/new-and-delivery-mileage/offer-184251

At that price I wouldn't take the risk of buying a 2 yr old car when you can have a brand new one with a 3yr warranty for just £1k more.

jrkitching said:

Have just noticed on Perrys website that they're selling the brand new 1.2 Active Panda for £5995.

Click to expand...

That's not just any old 1.2 though. It's the new, slightly more powerful, and slightly more economical euro 5 engine! Should be better than any second hand 1.2 Panda, and pretty good for that money. The biggest drawback is that you don't get much with it. There's no air-con, so it depends whether you can live without the air con.

jrkitching said:

At that price I wouldn't take the risk of buying a 2 yr old car when you can have a brand new one with a 3yr warranty for just £1k more.

Click to expand...

We do have a bit more in the bank. I wonder if my wife will let me blow the extra thousand. Nice find mate.

You will actually save money buying brand new, because in three years time it will be worth a hell of a lot more than the two year old one. It also won't need any money spending it on other than servicing. No MOT's next year to worry about etc.

JD82 said:

You will actually save money buying brand new, because in three years time it will be worth a hell of a lot more than the two year old one. It also won't need any money spending it on other than servicing. No MOT's next year to worry about etc.

Click to expand...

Good point, 1 MOT less to go through is another £40 in your pocket.

With a new Eco, the first years tax is free as well.

I paid 5000 for my 1.2 Dynamic two years ago from Perry's Portsmouth. I have just had it valued for trade in. 4900. So I agree. Buy new if you can and it will cost you less in the long run. Great little car.

steve101 said:

I paid 5000 for my 1.2 Dynamic two years ago from Perry's Portsmouth. I have just had it valued for trade in. 4900.

Click to expand...

My 100HP was just under two years old and I only got £5000 for it

Advanced Driver said:

My 100HP was just under two years old and I only got £5000 for it

Click to expand...

What can I say? Hard luck.