Hi
I'm new to this forum (and to Italian cars!).
I am interested in a Panda 100HP as a second car and wondered whether there was either a buying guide or tips on what to look out for.

The sorts of things I am looking for advice on are cambelt changes, common problems, general reliability, must-have options, do Fiats have a special key (like Hondas used to have a red master key).
Also, are there any specialists in the Midlands (Birmingham/Solihull) who are highly regarded?

Thanks in advance.

Evo did a buyers guide - I'll dig out the issue later to find out which one it was in. The best bit of advice I could give you having just been through the buying process, is make sure you get a GOOD test drive on a variety of roads, not just 10 mins on a dual carriageway. The ride is very bouncy and at first I thought I'd made a bad mistake after picking up the car, so make sure you can either live with the ride or budget for a minimum of £215 to change the rear shock absorbers.

I too am new to the forum but have been lurking and found the forum really useful before I bought my 100HP. I have had mine for a year or so and really would recommend one. I read loads of posts before buying on its hard ride but seeing as most of the time I am either going to and from work and in slow moving traffic I dont find it a problem though if speed bumps cant be avoided you do have to take them slowly. If your regular journey uses lots of poorly surfaced roads and high speeds it could be jarring and tiring every day. I love the driving position and all round visibility and its nippy for round town use but good on the motorway too and I get good mpg driving carefully. Although I have access to an Audi A4 I much prefer to drive the Panda - there aren't many 100HP's about and its a little bit different.

A quick search will reveal the common Panda faults but mine has been faultless so far and approaching two years old and has only been for its annual service.

I would agree that a thorough test drive is essential though. You'll soon realise whether you will be comfortable in it or not.

The only thing that annoys me is the parcel shelf which isn't connected to the boot like all the other Fiat's I've had. I'm always forgetting to put it back down but overall i'm so pleased I have it.

As above, a decent test drive needed. Where do you live, and how would you use the car?? Not sure it would suit some lifestyles or 100% town use. EVO review is good and worth a read.

Rear shocks are an issue and check wheel alignment. Nothing else has gone on my car. Cambelt is every 5 years or 72k miles (I think) - certainly wouldn't want to push this. Watch out for stone chips - poor paint quality. Tyres are a funny size and can be more expensive than expected.

Options. Do you need ESP? I'd rather have side airbags.

I commute c.100 miles a day on a mix of fast rural / A roads and average 39-41 mpg.

Have really enjoyed running mine for the last two years and no plans to change it. And yes, the rear parcel shelf is an annoyance!

The ePAS seems not to be to everyones taste/feel and is prone to go wrong though can be upgraded with superior parts to last much longer from BAA. But isn't cheap £700. Think most other bits have been covered, also cambelt was revised by fiat to 4 year and a lower mileage.

The misses manages circa 38/39mpg on town/combined driving. Yet to do any long distances will see how it goes when we visit family in Scotland.

1.8Stilo said:

The ePAS seems not to be to everyones taste/feel and is prone to go wrong though can be upgraded with superior parts to last much longer from BAA. But isn't cheap £700. Think most other bits have been covered, also cambelt was revised by fiat to 4 year and a lower mileage.

The misses manages circa 38/39mpg on town/combined driving. Yet to do any long distances will see how it goes when we visit family in Scotland.

Click to expand...

Tbh it's not that prone for the EPS to fail

Evo review:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/205659/fiat_panda_100hp.html

Search in Evo to find various other test for the 100hp.

Tis a good fun car and unbdoubtedly the most fun I could have in a new car for the money. The suspension is underdamped which does give a poor ride.

Handling wise it's fun to a point and set up to understeer. This is not car you can balance on the throttle, so it has it's limitations.

It has a good spec though, the subwoofer option is well worth having if you can get it.

The engine is great, loves to rev, tis a shame hydraulic tappets limit the revs, but it's a good and willing little unit.

Performance is in the cooking rather than hot hatch variety. Economy is okay at 35mpg.

Evo review:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/205659/fiat_panda_100hp.html

Search in Evo to find various other test for the 100hp.

Tis a good fun car and unbdoubtedly the most fun I could have in a new car for the money. The suspension is underdamped which does give a poor ride.

Handling wise it's fun to a point and set up to understeer. This is not car you can balance on the throttle, so it has it's limitations.

It has a good spec though, the subwoofer option is well worth having if you can get it.

The engine is great, loves to rev, tis a shame hydraulic tappets limit the revs, but it's a good and willing little unit.

Performance is in the cooking rather than hot hatch variety. Economy is okay at 35mpg.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I am a subscriber to evo so I may have missed the buyer's guide. My own car is a Clio 182 Trophy so I am not expecting Mercedes levels of ride quality and it would be used 90% around town with only a handful of longer jaunts.
I'm impressed by the fuel consumption figures.
It seems (I know they are not that old yet) that they are reasonably reliable, which was my biggest concern. I'm afraid I come to them and this forum with the usual "Italian car" scaremongering.
I had the same when I got the Clio and frankly it has been very good over the two years or so I have had it.

Thanks again.

If you PM me an email address I should be able to get you a copy of the buyers guide.

Dan Friel said:

If you PM me an email address I should be able to get you a copy of the buyers guide.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I am a subscriber to evo so will look out issue 151. If I have no luck, will get back to you. Thanks for the offer.

is1 said:

My own car is a Clio 182 Trophy

Click to expand...

Another Evo magazine favourite! I had an Inferno 182 with both Cup packs car before last (as well as three 172's over the previous 10 years). Quality wise the Fiat is no worse than the 172/182s, and with both the 172/182 and the 100hp, you're not buying them for their rock solid interiors!

Are you looking at getting a 100hp to keep the miles off the Trophy?

rturner said:

Another Evo magazine favourite! I had an Inferno 182 with both Cup packs car before last (as well as three 172's over the previous 10 years). Quality wise the Fiat is no worse than the 172/182s, and with both the 172/182 and the 100hp, you're not buying them for their rock solid interiors!

Are you looking at getting a 100hp to keep the miles off the Trophy?

Click to expand...

Renaultsport certainly know how to make a good hatch, especially the 1*2 series. The last of the lightweight, big N/A engined hatches.
The Trophy is certainly all it's cracked up to be. I bought it after two Mitsubishi Evo VI Tommi Makinen editions and I have to say, it is as focused as them and doesn't attract the unwanted attention I got with them.
The Panda's more for the other half and the kids as we don't use the Trophy as a family car, it takes me to work and back into the garage.
I only cover at most 5,000 miles in it per year as a commuter car (a very fun commute!) and it's on 23,000 at the moment so I'll not be putting too many miles on it at my current rate. I'm not too precious about the mileage as I don't actually plan to sell it.