I have to say that I think the new Panda is seriously ugly. Everytime I look at it it screams out " Peugeot ". I for one will not be changing my 59 plate 1.1 Active eco for that poor effort from Fiat. I'll have to change models all together which I'm a bit gutted about as I adore my present Panda.

Give it time and the looks will probably grow on you, that's the way it is when new models come out, you need time to aclimatise to them.

To be fair the existing model is hardly a thing of beauty, so we have to keep it in perspective!

I'm with ginoespo - bruttissima - the more I see images of the new model the less I like them. Apart from the more bulbous look, I think it's the size of the wheelarches, which are much too big. I'm sure we'll see plenty in the metal in April when we return to Italy; it's possible it will appeal more then. I hope so, as it has very little appeal for me at the moment.

I think the new one is ok. As TDQ says, the current one is more utility than beauty anyway.

I like the new 2012 Panda. At the front there's a clamshell bonnet and round headlights. The slightly larger dimensions will be useful. The more rounded style is nice.
I'm a bit upset that the Italians will build it but the polish guys are becoming complacent, my Cross was not as well built as the Climbing had been 3 years previously.
A good effort, let's hope we get a basic spec 4x4 in the UK (we won't!).

Van Diemen said:

I think the new one is ok. As TDQ says, the current one is more utility than beauty anyway.

Click to expand...

I'm fine with utility, it's blobbiness and bloat that I don't like and the new one appears to have both.

I'm sorry but the pope will move in next door to me before that new model grows on me. It's just awful. It could almost pass for one of those sprinter vans that plumbers use.

At least the current Panda does not look like everything else.

Never thought I'd say this but I'll probably wait to see if a 4 door 500 comes to the UK.

I've just realised ! It's a remodelled Fiat Doblo. Have a look and see for yourself.

ginoespo said:

I'm sorry but the pope will move in next door to me before that new model grows on me. It's just awful. It could almost pass for one of those sprinter vans that plumbers use.

At least the current Panda does not look like everything else.

Click to expand...

Except for the Ford Transit Connect

Well, on the face of it, I'm not keen on the exterior, but like TDQ says, best wait to see in the flesh - I recall doing that for the Seicento years back and liked it it after seeing it.

The interior looks a bit messy on the new Panda though. I do like the current Panda fascia. Good and practical and not unattractive.The 500 was nice, but had no glovebox of any use (forget the passenger seat thing).

Now - as for colours. Did you see the colour chart? Seriously? What a poor choice. Why won't SEAT let them borrow some proper yellow paint?

current model 1.2litre 69bhp is best in class in most respects and would be a great upgrade path for an owner of a 1.1 litre eco which is compromised by it's lack of pace.

Nitrogen said:

a 1.1 litre eco which is compromised by it's lack of pace.

Click to expand...

In your opinion. It's pace is more than ample for most. We don't all need to being going around like bats out of hell

Nitrogen said:

current model 1.2litre 69bhp is best in class in most respects and would be a great upgrade path for an owner of a 1.1 litre eco which is compromised by it's lack of pace.

Click to expand...

Perhaps back in 2003. Not anymore, not by a long shot

Nitrogen said:

current model 1.2litre 69bhp is best in class in most respects and would be a great upgrade path for an owner of a 1.1 litre eco which is compromised by it's lack of pace.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

306maxi said:

Perhaps back in 2003. Not anymore, not by a long shot

Click to expand...

Show me a better car you can buy new for less than £6k.

I didn't say it was bad value for money, I said it wasn't the best car in class in most respects

Are they still seriously using the ancient underpowered 8v engine in the new car?

trackdayqueen said:

Are they still seriously using the ancient underpowered 8v engine in the new car?

Click to expand...

You better believe it!

306maxi said:

You better believe it!

Click to expand...

I'm stunned tbh. I had hoped that with the advent of the new car, that at last the ancient 8v would be no longer. Even my 27 year old car has a 16 valve engine!

Unfortunately the 1.2 is pretty underpowered compared to other engines in it's class.

It may be ancient but the old FIRE engine really is very good.
My Spark has a clever 16v engine with port deactivation and 69bhp but it still manages to be both slower and thirstier than my old 1.1 Panda...

Can't see why the number of valves in itself is of any importance - it could be a side-valve as far as I'm concerned so long as it delivers in terms of power/weight/economy. There have been 4-valve per cylinder engines since just after the First World War, and like all engines (and most other things) there are good, bad and indifferent among them - a good 2-valve is better than a bad 4-valve. Having said that, the 1.2 FIRE engine barely does deliver these days in terms of economy/emissions and, to some extent, weight, though its power would be adequate if it wasn't being asked to lug increasingly heavy cars around.

If the 100 HP VW Lupo had been available I'd probably have bought that instead of the Panda just over three years ago; despite its awful name, I'm looking forward to a GTi version of the VW up as a potential replacement for the 100HP.