Is there any difference in the performance between a 1.2 mk3 and a 1.2 mk4
I have a 2011 MyLife and it really struggles to go up the 2 big hills in have to up on the way to work and home. It seriously struggles but performs OK in town. Most my driving is out of town and I really miss the performance of my old Land Rover. After blowing it's engine it about the only thing I miss though

As far as I know the engine is identical so if anything the newer one may be a bit slower because it is heavier. Are you sure there is nothing wrong with yours?

The FIRE engine needs to be revved to get the best performance out of it, don't be afraid to drive the thing like a Ferrari My experience is people that complain about lack of performance of the FIRE usually change up gear far too soon.

JD82 said:

As far as I know the engine is identical so if anything the newer one may be a bit slower because it is heavier. Are you sure there is nothing wrong with yours?

The FIRE engine needs to be revved to get the best performance out of it, don't be afraid to drive the thing like a Ferrari My experience is people that complain about lack of performance of the FIRE usually change up gear far too soon.

Click to expand...

I am used to driving diesels most of the time.
My old land rover was a diesel
I usually am in3 rd gear around 30 and 4th by 40 unless I'm going up hill.
If I loose momentum I have to push it to 50 in 3rd
That usually happens when some idiot trundles around in front of me on the way home and on the way to work I have a 12% hill to climb
I can do it in 3rd unless I have one of said idiots in front and then it's down into 2nd gear which completely sucks

Big Uli said:

I am used to driving diesels most of the time.
My old land rover was a diesel
I usually am in3 rd gear around 30 and 4th by 40 unless I'm going up hill.
If I loose momentum I have to push it to 50 in 3rd
That usually happens when some idiot trundles around in front of me on the way home and on the way to work I have a 12% hill to climb
I can do it in 3rd unless I have one of said idiots in front and then it's down into 2nd gear which completely sucks

Click to expand...

Sounds normal.


You could either get a 100hp and pay more tax and petrol, get a Mk4 Twinair and pay less tax and more petrol or get a diesel Panda and pay less for fuel.


The 1.2 has little torque but loves to rev.

AB100 said:

The 1.2 has little torque but loves to rev.

Click to expand...

The 1.2 is at its best in 60HP Euro4 form - it has more torque below 3500rpm than the later 69HP engines and has better real-world driveability and hill peformance as a result.

There have been many posts on this forum about issues with the Euro6 1.2's, both in the Panda and in the 500; even after the latest software update, some have found them to be so undriveable that they have chosen to trade cars in early, sometimes taking significant losses.

A shame, because I really like the body shape on the current Panda, but the TA isn't an ecocar & the 1.2 seems fatally flawed, so I'll need to look elsewhere when my trusty Euro4 1.2 finally bites the dust.

Right now, the i10 & the Swift both look reasonable choices, but I've not looked at either in great detail.

My dad has an I10, it is face lift version of the MK1 (2012) and has the 1.2 16v Kappa engine developing around 86bhp. It is a lot faster than the Panda but the feel in the switch gear and clutch etc isn't the same. The brakes on the i10 feel rather one/off compared to the Panda and the steering feels very life less.

I think the newer i10 has improved these areas though. The i10 has been very reliable and the 5 year warranty is simply excellent. They do any work you ask them to do. Dealer prices are also much better.

As a car the Panda is probably better, but for the overall ownership experience I would happily have an i10 to replace my Panda.

Im just back from my local fiat dealer and I have traded the panda in for a 12 Fiat Punto GBT Multijet diesel
ThePanda is a fine car but I just didn't get on with it as well as I would have liked. The Punto is more my kind of car in all aspects

Big Uli said:

Im just back from my local fiat dealer and I have traded the panda in for a 12 Fiat Punto GBT Multijet diesel
ThePanda is a fine car but I just didn't get on with it as well as I would have liked. The Punto is more my kind of car in all aspects

Click to expand...

A car doesn't have to be right - it just has to be right for you.

We all make mistakes in our purchasing decisions once in a while, and sometimes it's best just to 'cut and run', and move on, even if it costs you a few pennies.

Enjoy you new car .