Well, yesterday and today was the first time I`ve driven my new Panda 1.2 Dynamic in the wet (we've had a drought for 2 months!)

I have to say I was very happy with the handling, compared to my old Seicento Sporting Abarth. It held the road and I didn't feel that it was going to slide like the Seicento did. Not that the Seicento did slide, it just felt like it was going to any moment.

The Panda felt as though I`d really have to push it before it would slide, it held the road well. For those that might ask and know about these things, the tyres are Continental 165/65/14.

Another thing I like, apart from the 3 speed wipers (intermittent, slow and fast wipe), when I put it in reverse, the rear wiper automatically comes on whilst in reverse gear - cool. Even cooler, if the front wipers are in slow or fast mode, when you stop (at the lights, eg), it automatically goes into intermittent mode then back to full when driving off - really cool

As you can see, I`m happy with my new car

Very interesting thing with the wipers. Do you know if this happens in the active. Collecting my panda 1.1 on wednesday and im trying to find out as much as i can before I get it

jmoore said:

Very interesting thing with the wipers. Do you know if this happens in the active.

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Yes it does.

BTW the Active has 155/80/13 tyres and I always found it less than sticky in the wet.

Geddes said:

Yes it does.

BTW the Active has 155/80/13 tyres and I always found it less than sticky in the wet.

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I have to agree,
our early 2004 Active ( on 135 / 80 / 13's) , isn't too inspiring in the wet,

our Cinq sporting feels a lot more "planted" - on similar tyres.

I haven't noticed any of the "boiling water" - floorpan rattling though.
.( in 6 years of ownership),
I think you will love your NEW panda,
we are looking for another , as my mum had an Eleganza and my wife REALLY liked it..,
Charlie

Wondered about this, my 07 Dynamic 1.2 has the 155/80/13 combo as well, could I fit 14" wheels and if so, what effect would it have on fuel consumption?

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Wondered about this, my 07 Dynamic 1.2 has the 155/80/13 combo as well, could I fit 14" wheels and if so, what effect would it have on fuel consumption?

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I've put 14" alloy wheels on my MJ with 185/60/14 Michelin Energy Saver tyres.

Compared to the old 155/80/13 Continental EcoContacts I do the exact same mileage, almost always 5L/100km, around 56mpg.

The major difference is that the car feels much more planted on the road and has heaps more grip now. And the Michelins are much much better in the wet.

Thanks for that, sorry to steal the OP's thread, but surely we all know about the wiper thing anyway - how about wider tyres on the existing 13" wheels, would that have a similar result? IE, same consumption, but better handling...On the original tyres I found it very hard to pull away on a slope without some slight slip and spin.

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Wondered about this, my 07 Dynamic 1.2 has the 155/80/13 combo as well, could I fit 14" wheels and if so, what effect would it have on fuel consumption?

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Check-out the new EU tyre labels.

It’s argued that by changing to a more fuel efficient tyre results in a 0.5mpg change for each category – e.g. going from a `E’ label to a `C’ label will give an extra 1mpg (for a 36mpg car).

Then it appears KozmoNaut’s Panda Mjet demonstrates you can go from Conti EC 155/80R13 (Ylw `C’) to Michelin ES 185/60R14 (Grn `A’) with no loss of fuel efficiency.

References

DeNieuweBanden
http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...den&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1024&bih=657&prmd=ivns

Hi-Q
http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/tyres/hiqGuideToTyreLabelling/

2011/07/09 12:39

Cool, but what about wider tyres on the original 13" wheels?

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Cool, but what about wider tyres on the original 13" wheels?

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If your on 5J?x13 rims, then I don’t think they’re `approved’ for 195mm wide tyres - so maybe 185/65R13 would be the way-to-go.

But personally I’ve only once (inadvertently) stepped outside the tyre sizes given in my OH. So what domino effect you may experience in engineering terms & insurance etc is outside my knowledge.

.

As ive pointed out a few times you have to notify your insurance company of any mods like tyre sizes etc. the first thing that the insurance company ask is have you modified anything because the first thing the police do in a RTA is check your tyres size etc....

Insurance? Domino effect? Jeez, all I asked was would wider tyres have an effect on fuel consumption and handling 195 seems a bit extreme anyway. Cheers guys, I'll ask down the depot.

Geddes said:

Yes it does.

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Does what?

Go from on constant to intermitant at the front when your stop??

Because sisters 2004 Active doesn't but dad's 2009 Eleganza does.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Does what?

Go from on constant to intermitant at the front when your stop??

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Yes that.

Mine was a 2009 Active so I don't know the date when they started doing that.

my 07 active does

Jerseywurzel said:

...when I put it in reverse, the rear wiper automatically comes on whilst in reverse gear - cool.

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The problem with the Panda is that the rear wiper then operates continuously, thus wiping an almost-dry rear screen. With the amount of reversing manoeuvres we do on lessons, I encourage my students to use the single wipe facility [pushing the stalk upwards]. This will then clear the front and rear screens simultaneously but only when necessary. My Mk6 Fiesta had the same feature but when selecting reverse gear, the rear wiper operated intermittently - far better.

I'm glad you are happy with your new car though!

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Insurance? Domino effect? Jeez ... I'll ask down the depot.

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YyeesS – do that. It’s termed FOFO – Foxtrot Off & Find Out!

My apologies for not taking things back enough … to your level of understanding.

I made the mistake of thinking you’d find it obvious that with like-for-like tyre models, a change in size would change the characteristics. A wider tyre brings more weight, more drag, changes the footprint, etc. - & consequently impacts on (as the tyre labels are designed to show) braking, fuel efficiency & noise.

But, as KozmoNaut has found, a change of brand &/or model of tyre can cancel out a negative effect. In that case, the fuel effect – but it might be argued at the expense of braking & noise.

What tyres & labels did you find at the depot?

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Caravadossi said:

YyeesS – do that. It’s termed FOFO – Foxtrot Off & Find Out!

My apologies for not taking things back enough … to your level of understanding. .........

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Nice.

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Insurance? Domino effect? Jeez, all I asked was would wider tyres have an effect on fuel consumption and handling 195 seems a bit extreme anyway. Cheers guys, I'll ask down the depot.

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Yes they will have an effect on fuel consumption, the car will (compared to identical tyres) be worse in the wet and will have slightly more grip in the corners.

Itsapandagetusedtoit said:

Nice.

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Always “nice” to see `members’ that fire in Q’s demanding A’s -all while sat on their arse & offering nothing by way of reciprocal input.

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