Panda Multijet diesel 2005 .Not far from work today at end of hour long commute there was a lady who had driven her nearly new Skoda Octavia estate into a ditch .The area floods badly and there was no way of telling road from ditch /verge .Anyway her drivers side rear wheel was cocked in the air and the front of the car nosed down in the grassy bank .I have a tow rope with me and jumped out to offer it to the jeep (Pajero)driver in front .He declined ,so I gave it a go .On the other side of road a new Octavia hatchback driver looked on disbelievingly .First attempt , not a budge , second ,lots of wheel spin on wet road , ( I was more worried about clutch than tyres although I have towed my wife's Octavia UPHILL with Panda MJ !) third attempt and she's out !!!!
I think I may open a bottle of champagne when this tough little warrior reaches 150k miles next month ! This is definitely the longest I've owned any car now in twenty years driving , it had under 100k when I bought it .

Nice to know there are still some kind people out there. Mr Pajero should be ashamed of himself.

Winter tyres on at the time?

Sweetsixteen said:

Winter tyres on at the time?

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doubt it, as described as nearly new

probably Hankooks

In fairness the Pajero driver said he had to drop a child to school and would return .He did but it was too late!Tyres on front not in great condition semi cheap brand/model called Kormoran (?), wearing unevenly towards the centre .Not Winter tyres .It seems impossible to keep Pandas tracked right for more than a month or two .

Latest instalment of Panda heroics !Found a young couple with baby on side of motorway ( here in Rep of Ireland , not quite as hectic / dangerous as in England where I wouldn't attempt this ) around 4pm .The male driver was thumbing a lift .Audi A3 early noughties , fuel gauge just starting to go into the red but nowhere near absolute bottom .After a search , had to remove part of bumper grille ( and not just a little square of plastic ) found their tow hook . Was able to maintain 40mph at 2000rpm in fourth gear on hard shoulder with short periods of 50mph in fifth once or twice (at 50-55mpg!) .Arrived at station where he got fuel and gratefully continued on his journey under his own steam .WHAT an amazing little warrior the Panda Multijet is !I keep on expecting the clutch to completely give up the ghost in a cloud of foul smelling smoke .It gets 'slippy' for a week or two but will then be fine again for a month just as you're thinking it's finally on its way out . 156k miles up now .Definitely my most reliable and toughest car ever !
No reason to change as long as it keeps passing road worthiness test . All work ever done has been more or less solely for that purpose ( apart from maybe tyres) Even when I think it had a front shock leaking or completely degassed it was perfectly mannerly on the road .
It's like a machine that makes 50 euro notes ! Even compared with a small petrol you save that with my (82 mile total) commute every 2/3 weeks or less .Compared with a 100hp you'd probably save 100 or more a month on fuel ...68mpg like clockwork .

varesecrazy said:

doubt it, as described as nearly new

probably Hankooks

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Sorry , never answered this at time.Standard tyres not Winter .Only ever had them on an old Renault Scenic .Screeched like heck at pedestrian speed on dry bends but uncannily grippy when accelerating in first gear on bad compacted icy snow that year .Im on a new pair of Rikens up front now but back then had Federals .I think lower mid range are a fair compromise .

You both make a great duo!

Lots of flooding in Ireland this last month .Since involved in rescue of another lady who drove her car into ditch in deep flood water ( her early noughties Punto was missing it's tow hook so she was relieved when I arrived and fitted my Panda one ,barefoot with my trousers up round knees !) A jeep pulled her out this time with my tow rope .( although I don't doubt my trusty four wheeled companion of well over four years could have done the trick )
Was out again earlier today and in some floods Noah would have thought twice about going through .


Panda Multijets are AWESOME at driving through floods ! ( non 4wd version anyway )( Had a look after and under bonnet soaked - there must be a big drain hole in air intake .Might check if air filter is damp but probably won't bother - only the National Car Test - Ireland's MOT can take this little warrior off the road - 200k miles or bust ! (

Astonishing to hear these stories!

Interestingly enough you both don't have the 4x4 so that's actually more impressive!

Take it the 4x4 would also share this ability or is it more down to the Multijet?