Hi all,

My Panda Dynamic, happy motoring!!

Thought I would share my Panda with you guys as I'm particularly proud of it today!!

First off, a bit of history:

20/02/2007 – 9800 – Bought the Panda
09/06/2007 - 17816 - Full Service/wipers
07/12/2007 – 29282 – Full Service
21/12/2007 – New Windscreen
03/06/2008 – 2 new Hubcaps/rear wiper
15/11/2008 – 41596 – Full Service
11/03/2009 – 49000 – Oil Service
25/06/2009 - Tracking checked - OK.
15/07/2009 – 57700 – Full Service
07/12/2009 – 64639 – Full Service/Coolant change/HT Leads/Wipers
08/03/2010 – 67583 – Oil Service & Air Filter
06/05/2010 – 69610 – 4 x Continentals/Tracking adjusted
09/05/2010 – 69620 – Front Discs and Pads changed
16/12/2010 – 79900 – Full Service (engine flush treatment)
30/04/2011 – 86680 – NSF Suspension leg changed (due to blown shock absorber) - Tracking adjusted.
15/08/2011 – 91500 – Full Service/Cataclean treatment
13/11/2011 - Longitudinal roof rails fitted
28/11/2011 - 96246 - First Brake Fluid check - Still good!! Battery check - 57%

Since owning my Fiat Panda, I have saved over a thousand pounds in labour costs alone. It's on 96246 miles, 7 years old and I was shocked to find that the brake fluid is still perfectly clean and came back green on the traffic light brake test thing. It also still has the original battery, which I will change at some point next year.

It's not to say that my car has been driven carefully all it's life, its had some fun too!! I've had it racing down the M1 at ***mph (downhill with tailwind!) and I've also lifted the wheels off a gravel ramp in a car park that sadly wasn't caught on camera by Most Easterly Pandas!! It has been around the highlands, it has seen heavy snow and ice and gone many places that other cars couldn't (much helped by the ASR function). I've had the front end stuck in a beach... twice! no comments on my driving please lol

It's also the car that I've taken my son home from Hospital in, so it is very much a part of the family.

I love the Panda, even though it's small and a Fiat, it has never ever let me down given all the extremes I've put it through. Still drives like new and I hope there will be many more years of happy motoring ahead.

Erh...

0km - Bought the Panda
~70000km - Still driving the Panda

That's about it. Trouble-free motoring at its best.

It's because it's a 54 plate!! we also have a 54 plate dynamic, it's been serviced, mot'd, petrol put in and Tyres changed, I believe it also had the audacity to need front brake pads at some stage in it's career. Still scrubs up nice and starts every time (there thats jinxed it) just booked the 96k service and hoping to keep her a good while yet. I also had a 100hp, fautless for 60k miles:worship: but stupidly sold it to buy an Alfa (i know) had this one year , it's worth 1/2 what I paid and I've spent over 2k in that year,:bang:
Guess what, I've just bought a bright red Eleganza to restore my faith in motoring!!
John B

My 55 plate eleganza is coming up to 33k i think

Bought as it was the newest, highest spec i could afford. Was cheap too as garage offered the previous owner a crap amount, so i gave £200 more

Nice to see several Panda's at that mileage sounds high, but over 6 or 7 years is probably less than average tbh

james2609 said:

and I've also lifted the wheels off a gravel ramp in a car park that sadly wasn't caught on camera by Most Easterly Pandas!!

Click to expand...

I remember that, you borrowed my Jack

That was a fun day,

Trev

I bought Dez new in 2005. Had to wait a few months on him but it was worth it! For a small car the Panda has great flexibility. I ordered the sliding rear seat which is about the most useful thing ever. I've moved house in mine, only beaten by the bed settee! I even have a pic of mine in my wedding album lol. I managed to use it for a week's holiday complete with a load of baby stuff. I've been frowned on by the jumbo mummy car drivers for daring to keep it despite having two wee ones. I even managed to fit a full-size double pram in the boot when the second wee one came along.


Together we have done 58K miles and he's still looking good. I'm on my second set of summer and second set of winter tyres. I've enjoyed driving around the neighbours BMW in the snow, lol. I've had new brake pads and disks, new front suspension, new indicator stalk (warranty), new headlights (warranty), new EGR (part paid by Fiat) and sailed through the Northern Ireland MoT every year. I get an average 60mpg despite mainly driving in commuter traffic. I never lose it in the work car park lol.


And yes, I'd buy another (ideally a diesel 4x4 Cross (possibly in orange)), but I'll be driving Dez for a good few years to come. At 58K he's got a lot of life left in him...

I remember the air you got James. Still kicking myself that we didn't get that on camera because it really did need to be seen to be believed

Wee smurf is Dez a diesel?

Our story, 04 active purchased in Feb 09 with 42k on the clock for £1525, was a CAT C insurance write off as it was stolen recovered, but full road going when purchased :slayer: has had some tidying up but overall was a steal at that price and to date has only had a new battery, rad and MAP sensor mechanically.

Then got a 2009 Dualogic Eleganza at 6 months old with 447miles on the clock as dads daily runner. Great all round motors tbh

I bought my 100HP in Jan this year with 39k on the clock, as soon as I drove the car out of the dealer forecourt, I went to Halfords & bought a K&N Induction Kit which I fitted the same day.

April: Had the alloys resprayed & added Italian Flags (from the 500 range) on the side of the car.
May: The car had an £81 42k service from Kwik-Fit (20% saving through work) as the dealer wanted £250.
June: Drove to a couple of Theme Parks in Yorkshire & stayed the nights in Bradford, Scarborough n Birmingham.
July: Custom back box added
Aug: Changed the front disc's n pads
Nov - Dec: Changed the rear disc's n pads & added side door protectors / Rolling Road booked on the 12th Dec & £165 Road Tax due.

I've very pleased with the car & hope it can keep the smile on my face for years to come, when I drive the Panda it takes me back to my Saxo VTR / AX GT days of the 90's.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Wee smurf is Dez a diesel?

Click to expand...

Yes Jon, Dez is indeed a diesel.

Mines been more colourful

May 10 - Received the car brand new.
2000 miles - Clutch pedal started making a springing noise - repaired under warranty.
3500 miles - odd rattle from engine - exhaust manifold flexihose replaced under warranty fault discovered at service.
6000 miles - discovered dent on drivers side wing, somebody must have crashed into me when I was parked, going to cost £300 to fix next week

Other than that no issues I am hoping the first two warranty claims were just manufacturing issues.

Two Pandas.

First a 57 plate MJ I bought new in OAP Cumbia Beige.

Hateful thing, couldn't get on with the diesel engine. No issues with it, though.

It did go back to Fiat for a recall on the brake lines, but that was it.

Only had it 9 months and did 9000miles in it.

Bought it for around £8300 IIRC. Chopped in for £4600 9 months later(!).

Second: 58 Plate 100hp with subwoofer thingy. Again bought new.

After a month or so, the car went back to have the front bumper and headlights aligned as it had not been fitted properly at the factory.

6 months old, front strut top mount had play in it so that went back to be done under warranty.

A persistent rattle in the dashboard meant the car went back to the dealer 3 times IIRC. Eventually they found the problem (again poor assembly on the production line) where a bracket holding the heater matrix had not been fitted properly. The dealer cured this, but tbh, more rattles developed and I just gave up with trying to sort it out.

Other than that, not a bad car. Fun for a while until i tired of the limitations of the chassis. Spec was excellent though and loved the upgraded stereo as it had wikkid bass.

No issues with front tyre wear and got a very reasonable (I thought) 12K out of a set of front tyres.

Bought the 100hp for £8650 in Sept 2008. Sold it on in May 2011 for £4300 with 27K on the clock.

Don't think I'll buy new again!

09 1.3 Multijet. Blue, with only 8k on the clock was exactly what I was looking for.
Only had it a month and a half.
No issues.
Did the water dripping in the air filter fix.
Installed a 12v connector.
Installed a boot light.
(Both of which were conspicuous by their absence)

Really enjoying the car now I've got a feel for the 'power band' in the JTD.

Reason for purchase was clear, I'd had a Sedici previously, for it's great AWD system (very helpful this time last year in snowy weardale) but I did 21,000 last year alone and the diesel fuel price was killing. At last i seem to be keeping hold of some money, 64mpg is a real blessing, i've already done 1750 miles

Bought new in 2007.

Now covered 39k.

Problems: Only the climate control direction and bootlid sensor

Part History: 4 tyres at 28k, and just fitted new blades. (Thats it!!)

She has been to France, Belgium, Germany (inc ring for 1 lap!), Switzerland, Netherlands and Wales!!

Great car... only the ride lets it down.

Oh God, now im going to get emotional

Lucia was my first ever car (aged 26) when I bought her in March 2009, replacing a Piaggio scooter! Unfortunately she had dodgy strut mounts which were replaced partially paid for by the dealer a couple of months later. She has been looked after by Guisseppe the Panda over the past 2 years who intimidates drivers behind with his bulging eyes .

During her time with me she has had a new steering column under dealer warranty (as the knocking wasnt cured by the new strut mounts), a new rear bumper (courtesy of a 78mph blowout on the motorway) 2 sets of brake pads, 10 tyres (the crap cheepies got the boot), and had deadening applied to the doors with component speakers and an active subwoofer fitted. In the past year she has had a new exhaust backbox and centre section and a new timing belt.

Servicing has been courtesy of Kwik Fit and more lately myself. So, why the past tense? AS of tomorrow I will no longer be a Panda (or Fiat) driver. Not only have I "outgrown" the Panda, but issues are appearing with the gearbox and she has a few bodywork issues requiring respraying which I can't live with. I am spending more time on the motorways these days as well due to a change in circumstances and the tiny 13" wheels dont exactly inspire confidence. I will miss this wee car (and have already shed a few tears) but unfotunately the time has come to go our seperate ways as the money required to keep her over the next couple of years exceeds her market value.

So what have I replaced her with? My first instinct was to go back to Fiat, but I have never liked the Grande Punto to drive and whilst I liked the Bravo I drove its far too big and the insurance was double that of Lucia! I had a look and very nearly bought an 08 Corsa as well, but the quality inside was lacking and I wasn't keen on the "Lancelot" paintwork. So on the morning I was due to close the deal on the Corsa something made me check the Ford dealerships website and there I found "Lena" who had just been reduced in price that morning. She was over budget but some calculations taking her over 4 years instead of 3 revealed I could afford her and insurance was only a couple of hundred more. So what is she?

Lena is an ex demonstrator 2010 (first registered 31/12/10") 3 door Ford Fiesta with a grand total of 5,900 miles behind her and 15" steel wheels (I didnt want alloys anyways). The test drive proved what I already knew - this was the car for me. She is mint inside and only has a couple of stonechips and some light scratches (which will easily polish out) on the paint, and has 2 years manufacturer warranty remaining (and the dealer has included another additional 6 months to close the deal). I would much rather there was a Fiat badge on the bonnet but there was no Fiat available that I liked. So at 9am tomorrow morning I become a Ford driver! I will however still remain on the fiatforum of course - the sight sticker in the rear windscreen last night as I removed the last of the ICE equipment actually made me cry . Perhaps if the timing had been better I would have changed to the "new" Panda, but these things happen for a reason. I would still wholeheatedly recommend the Panda to anyone, especially those on a budget - but the only Pandas I could find in my price range locally where Active ECO's which would have been no improvement on Lucia. I was going to start a new thread, but this thread seemed more appropriate to telling Lucia's story. She will make someone very happy.

Bought mine in March 2009 (after ordering it in Jan) for £5,495 from Pewsham Garages (Supersaver)
Needed the panel with the hazards/city button etc replacing under warranty as they didn't work from new
After a few months had a little incident with a Passat
No problems after that until I chopped it in this May at 33k mile for £3,500 against a Chevy Spark

My old Panda is still on Autotrader for a silly £4,995

All in the Panda had been a good car. Maybe I'll think about the new one some day. The Twin Air turbo does look interesting.

Pandalino disliked this post ??

What did I say wrong

I started with a Black Cinquecinto I guess around 15-17yrs ago. The only thing I really remember is the red seat belts - they were cool and girls loved them lol.

Then I got a Seicento Sporting Abarth, which I had for 11yrs (see Members motors, Red Seicento to Red Panda). That was a great car, drove all over France in it Never let me down.

However, this May, I bought a new Panda Dynamic Eco5. The road holding is better on this than the Sei! It`s great fun to drive, slightly bigger all round but I really love the position of the gear stick, it just feels great there. Not been on a long run yet (stuck on an Island) but can`t wait to take it to France and go for a looooong drive

The Panda is the best car I`ve had