After the major fall out between the local FIAT dealer and me, change of plan and not buying a new car for a while, at least until the Jeep Renegade appears next year.

So since we'll be keeping the Panda for another year at least, thought I'll look over what annoys us about it and what we can do.

1) Harsh ride: Have my mechanic pricing a set of Koni's for me at the minute.

2) Ripped gear gaiter - What do you think of this - FIAT PANDA/169 (2003-2012) / Gear Gaiter / 100% Leather: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

3) Worn gear knob cap - Was going to fit a Momo but after seeing Grievezy's post, might just paint it instead.

4) Ripped driver’s seat - As you all know, seems to be a design fault because of the bar that goes behind the driver’s seat, so the guy I took it to was loath to fix it as he said it will just go again. Found these on eBay, they look good in pictures but are they crap looking in real life? - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PAND...id=100033&prg=9264&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=261419545186

5) Door Dents - About £50 per door to fix? So £100?

6) Kerbed Alloys - £30 each one? Might just leave them as they aren't that bad.

7) Broken Air Vent - £3 on eBay..

8) Crappy MPG – Have to drive slower

9) Might get the K&N filter for it, anyone got one?

So I'm guessing can get the car nice and shiney for less than £400? Which sounds a lot for a seven year old car but since we where thinking of buying a car at £200 a month I guess it's only 2 months payments really.

What do you guys think? Car is blue hence the blue stitching on the gear gaiter and car seats.

RE the seat covers, remember the 100HP has different shape seats to the other Pandas; the side bolsters are much bigger for a start.

Oh right, thanks for telling me. To be honest the ripped seat isn't such a big deal as I never really notice it as I'm sitting on it all the time

How about a nice new induction pipe? I can't guarantee it will help you with your mpg though...

Oh look! There's one for sale in the classifieds!!! https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=30916

Re the gear gaiter, just sent one back to Amazon for refund - first, it is VERY black... it looks total pants against the grey.. It WAS good quality though....
I did see a Grey one on ebay - again leather - and cheaper - that would be better me thinks. I ended up buying a complete gear change unit as there was slight play in the nylon cup locating the lever swivel... but that's another story .
I think you will find the seat covers are pants again - they are universal, meaning they dont fit anything at all properly .
Where is yours ripped ? I just had a 3 inch tear on the edge of the back bolster repaired (invisible mending)

I do happen to have gear knob, (well - the complete thing) that may be useful for experimenting - I tihnk the gaiter stitching has come undone - I dont think it is ripped - will need to check...
K&N I would personally give a miss, only thing it will do is make noise. wont make the slightest difference to performance. - depending on the unit, it may actually reduce filtration. Most induction modifications are simply not worth the trouble - and the noise is too 'boy racerish' for many - the (to some 'pleasing' to others, a joke) noise is the ONLY tangible benefit unless one has seriously modified the mill and all other areas. If it is a simple element change, you will gain absolutely nothing over the standard filter.
just MHO of course

edit - if yours is a 100hp its a different gear knob to mine I think ? - are the sauce bottle ones not 6 speed ? mine is a 5 speed. - sorry.

Rmdinho said:

How about a nice new induction pipe? I can't guarantee it will help you with your mpg though...

Oh look! There's one for sale in the classifieds!!! https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=30916

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Why what a coincidence

Thanks, captainslarty for you help, found this on EBay looks a lot better (and cheaper) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PAND...Car+Make:Fiat|Model:Panda&hash=item2589547ad5

My seat is ripped right in the centre of the seat where the bar is, I'll take a picture. The Car Trimmer I took it too said he would be happy to fix it, but reckoned it would only last 3 to 6 months and I'd be back again. He could have swopped the passenger/driver seats over which would have lasted longer but it would cost more obviously.

I never bought the K&N's for extra power, but we had two identical Stilo MW's in the family and mine (with K&N) was noticeably faster.
My daughter and son in law sold theirs and have mine now and they noticed the difference too.
So my 100HP gets a K&N too. If only to be able to clean and reuse instead of throwing away.
Always make sure it's dry before oiling and don't overoil.

gr J

Hi Jonathon, yeah, that one on scam bay looks much better, the other from Amazon was nothing like the picture, (in colour) it was REALLY black - I even asked if they did a gray one - nope.... mine was the same you were thinking of, with the blue stiching..
ps, love the list of cars you have played in
The Twingo and Samurai are the best me thinks - we did some serious off road in both in Malta and the Algarve when I was young(er) and (more) foolish - (hired of course !) - they were super cars... It is very strange as well that according to Mr Jeep hirer in Malta, all jeeps, bar none, are 'only six months old' lol - 2 Maltese quid a day we got it for (out of season) - I would hate to have paid the repair bills.......
The mk1 Twingo is still a thing of beauty, we have thousands here in Portugal - may are hippy style painted, some have some serious metal under the hood by the way they shift as well !! yikes !! -

StripeyMiata said:

Oh right, thanks for telling me. To be honest the ripped seat isn't such a big deal as I never really notice it as I'm sitting on it all the time

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Stick a patch on each seat - you can probably get Abarth ones I imagine and then advertise it as the rare Abarth edition.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Italy-Ita...ctables_Badges_Patches_MJ&hash=item23272f8e13



I'm surprised nobody's produced a nice cast metal gear cap, though they do paint up nicely it seems.

A3jeroen said:

I never bought the K&N's for extra power, but we had two identical Stilo MW's in the family and mine (with K&N) was noticeably faster.
My daughter and son in law sold theirs and have mine now and they noticed the difference too.
So my 100HP gets a K&N too. If only to be able to clean and reuse instead of throwing away.
Always make sure it's dry before oiling and don't overoil.

gr J

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I would only accept that as objective if you showed me a rolling road plot. I seriously think it is totally subjective and in the mind - often due to change in noise even if subtle. - or, one is, for instance, comparing a dirty standard to a clean k&n etc, It takes quite a reasonable change in performance to be noticeable to the normal driver - but,,,,,,, - the main thing is, if you are happy with it, it is worth it to you. that's all that matters at the end of the day.

I have a pipercross filter in mine and its way faster and much cooler.

Gavv8 said:

I have a pipercross filter in mine and its way faster and much cooler.

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I put a turbo badge on mine and it is way cooler than a cool thing and twice as fast as a fast thing.

A strut brace next week, just to hold onto when leaning over the engine - will do bugger all else on a bleeding panda lol ..:devil:
AND the red callipers, jeeez crize - they stop WAY better.... than a better stopper..