Hello everyone

I'm picking up my Panda sometime next week and cannot wait. I've test driven it and it drives amazing for a 7 year old car. As you might expect I can't contain my excitement!!!

I have a couple of questions for anyone familiar with Pandas in general.

How hard is it to fit an aftermarket head unit and do I need ISO adapters and so on?

What kind of fuel economy would you get driving it sensibly?

and How are you finding the ownership experience?

Thanks!

Yad

You can fit double din head units or single din with a trim adapter from a lower spec panda and connectors are easily available, fuel economy on the 100hp is much discussed and varies hugely, you can achieve high 40mpg's but due to the nature of the car and the way it begs you to drive it most owners get low to mid 30's and the onboard computer lies!!.
There are a lot of threads from long and short term 100hp owners on here and its worth reading them all but the main feeling is that if you can live with the hard ride (not everyone can) then you'll fall in love with it, it has such a huge personality for a little car and the good standard of equipment combined with excellent reliability and cool looks makes it a car that really gets under your skin..... I've owned mine for almost two years now and it still makes me smile every day.

You have an advantage with the 100HP being your first car - you'll have very little to compare it to!

I was disadvanataged when I went from a 1.2 to a 100hp. I found the bumpy back end, larger turning circle and the six speed box very hard to live with.

I had a double din sat nav/dvd/mp3 head unit fitted in my panda and it was great, just the right size and eye level even utilized the steering wheel controls.
I would have it fitted by pro's though (not halfords) as it is a very tight fit.

Good luck and enjoy your new car!

The Europeans could spec a proper Blaupunkt double din satnav unit in the 100hp but we didn't get it, you can buy them but they are bloody expensive.

Gavv8 said:

The Europeans could spec a proper Blaupunkt double din satnav unit in the 100hp but we didn't get it, you can buy them but they are bloody expensive.

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Interesting info Gavv8!

Is that the one?

http://www.seicane.com/fiat-panda-dvd-player-with-gps-navigation-radio-bluetooth-ipod-srd-8722

It's not too bad but I guess you have to add import duty + VAT on top.

Does anyone sell them in Europe?

fpan said:

Interesting info Gavv8!

Is that the one?

http://www.seicane.com/fiat-panda-dvd-player-with-gps-navigation-radio-bluetooth-ipod-srd-8722

It's not too bad but I guess you have to add import duty + VAT on top.

Does anyone sell them in Europe?

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That's the one but its probably pretty out of date now and you could buy a nicer newer one for that money.

panda panda said:

You have an advantage with the 100HP being your first car - you'll have very little to compare it to!

I was disadvanataged when I went from a 1.2 to a 100hp. I found the bumpy back end, larger turning circle and the six speed box very hard to live with.

I had a double din sat nav/dvd/mp3 head unit fitted in my panda and it was great, just the right size and eye level even utilized the steering wheel controls.
I would have it fitted by pro's though (not halfords) as it is a very tight fit.

Good luck and enjoy your new car!

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Hey, thanks, I've been driving a 1.2 lounge 63 plate panda for about half a year on and off now. I was meant to have it after passing my practical but mums done me the favour of taking it as "it looks cute".

Having been driven around in all manner of older "modified" cars, I didn't find the pandas suspension too bad actually. In fact I quite liked it, maybe that's the inner chav speaking but hopefully I don't come to regret it! Really love the way it grips and corners and the previous owners have taken brilliant care of it too!

The shift action is slightly notchy into 1st and 2nd. Is this normal or can this be solved by a gearbox oil change?

Sorry to bump my own thread but I'm a little worried about the box, could it have been that the system was cold so the box wasn't up to performing temp? I only test drove for about 15 minutes on a fairly cold day.

Yadash said:

Sorry to bump my own thread but I'm a little worried about the box, could it have been that the system was cold so the box wasn't up to performing temp? I only test drove for about 15 minutes on a fairly cold day.

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Did you mention the mileage?

Our 20000 mile 100hp shift is very slick, but I can imagine on higher-mile models the synchro getting worn for all those traffic light grand prix starts.

If it feels better when warm then there's no harm changing the gearbox oil - and it's not expensive to do.

AB100 said:

Did you mention the mileage?

Our 20000 mile 100hp shift is very slick, but I can imagine on higher-mile models the synchro getting worn for all those traffic light grand prix starts.

If it feels better when warm then there's no harm changing the gearbox oil - and it's not expensive to do.

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Hi AB, the car has done 44000 miles. By the looks of it the previous owners have kept it in great condition, all service history is there and water pump and timing belt have just been replaced as well as new goodyear eagle f1 tyres.

The shift action feels like the 1.2 from 2nd onwards, just going into first gear when I was driving that was the problem really.

No gearbox is made to put it in first (or reverse) while still rolling (see most manuals).
To ease your mind: Mine is rather stiff in first and second (when really col even in third), but (as we say in Holland) as a hot knife through butter when the gearboxoil is warm(er).

gr J

Most manual boxes can be a bit notchy when very cold so unless its crunchy and difficult when its warmed up a fluid change will smooth things out but i'm always very easy on the box on mine when its cold just to be on the safe side.
The gearchange on the 100hp is for me one of its best parts so you want it to be right.

Thanks Gav and A3Jerone, I've asked the dealers to have a look at it just in case. Getting more and more excited as the time comes closer! but it's distracting me from my dissertation

Regarding the standard radio system, I checked the headunit has support for AUX which it does, but I'm not sure which cable is the right one for the unit.

Could this be the correct one? [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grande-Punto-Aux-IN-Input-Adapter/dp/B00T04C7SK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424729841&sr=8-1&keywords=grande+punto+aux[/ame]

Stiff for me also when cold (gearbox first to second) but 5 minutes in and up to temp it is very slick. In fact I really enjoy the quick shirt shift if the gears, it really adds to the experience - unlike sport mode.

nobbles said:

Stiff for me also when cold (gearbox first to second) but 5 minutes in and up to temp it is very slick. In fact I really enjoy the quick shirt shift if the gears, it really adds to the experience - unlike sport mode.

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Thanks nobbles. What's the problem with sport mode?

The steering is great in sport mode but the throttle........basically it remaps the entire throttle travel into the first 25% without increasing any pedal resistance. So your favourite back road rally stage changes into a kangaroo jumping competition due to the over sensitive light throttle and bouncy back road.. They got the gearbox right, just get the steering and throttle right and dump the synthetic gimmicks. I never use mine now, but fully enjoy the car, especially it's size.

I'm assuming there's no way of setting the car up to have sport steering and normal throttle feel?

Also has anyone managed to fit an aux cable to the standard head unit?

I personally don't have a problem with the sharp throttle in sport mode.

I have more of a problem with how crazily light the steering is in normal mode. If there's a gimmick, its that! Way too light with zero feel/ weight to be taken seriously.

Punto MC said:

I personally don't have a problem with the sharp throttle in sport mode.

I have more of a problem with how crazily light the steering is in normal mode. If there's a gimmick, its that! Way too light with zero feel/ weight to be taken seriously.

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I've definitely noticed the lightness in my 1.2, what annoyed me about it was that the car has good handling but just no feedback due to the over assistance.