Hi all, my better half has started driving and surprisingly appears to be doing well enough to go for her test.(Well it will be an auto so who can't drive one of those).
Anyway being a bit soft in the head I've decided to buy her a car. At 1st it was going to be a Smart car, I mean how much can these little things be? But after looking into it then every other model smaller than a family saloon and balking at the prices for the last few weeks I've decided to go for a Panda.
It's sort of "cute", gets decent reviews and prices aren't what I'd consider astronomical for such small things.
Anyway, having read a lot of adverts it seems that some of them don't have height adjustable seats, which leads me onto my question.
As she's a gnome and will need the seat raising, or a cushion (or both), which of the models have height adjusting seats and which don't?

Many thanks, Spud.

The top model, Eleganza, had height adjustable seat as standard. It was optional on the mid-range model, so a few might have it.

The Panda Auto is an automated manual. This uses a manual gearbox and clutch with 'clever' automated control. It can be very reliable, but occasionally troublesome. Although many manufacturers now use such systems, decent diagnosis and repair is often difficult to find. If you fine one, make sure you have a test drive, and if any doubt at all, walk away.

Hi, and welcome ,
yes the Fiat "auto's" are "different",
but nice enough,

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/420506-automatic-panda-first-car.html

my O.H. is 4ft 10 , = 1.5 metres, and the standard FIXED panda seat height is fine,

Charlie - Oxford

Thanks for the quick replies. She's adament she's 5' but I think nearer 4'11" so good news about the seat but what's the story with the auto? Can it not be in fully automatic so just press the thin pedal and go? ie gears up and down depending on speed?

Ok see what you mean about the box. I see no reason why they would complicate a bullet proof automatic box which have proved themselves for decades with an "electronically controlled" manual?

If it's an auto that you want, then it's unlikely that it'll have the so-called height adjustable seat. It really is a misnomer. I have one myself. The only movement is at the rear of the seat squab so not what I would term properly height adjustable. I am a short person too, but I never have the seat fully raised at the back. To the contrary I usually have it down a bit as it eases my bad back that way. To be honest, the view from the driver's seat is pretty good regardless. I can't see a problem if the only Panda you find is without this option.

Spud888 said:

Ok see what you mean about the box. I see no reason why they would complicate a bullet proof automatic box which have proved themselves for decades with an "electronically controlled" manual?

Click to expand...

fuel consumption,

the system is very similar to the Alfa "selespeed" ,
blips throttle on downchanges,etc,

drive a few and get a feel for them,
any FIAT after @ 2004 will be the same set-up ,
punto,
Bravo, panda / 500 ,

we briefly had a 55 reg 1.2 panda "auto" was a great drive.. hard to sell as limited market,
should be good haggling territory when you find a good one,


Charlie