Found this so I HAD to park next to it on my lunch break.

Panda 4x4!!! I also saw a Red Cross model of the type 169 months ago. They're always registered in the Republic of Ireland too!

So jealous!

By comparison - I look at mine, covered in everyday smut, and look at my bonnet where the paint is bubbling badly, and I feel ashamed!

Still, the week after next I am going to devote to respraying the bonnet and one wing with an aerosol in an effort to smarten it up.

If it works I will post pics. If it doesn't, I will hide!

Lol I know what you mean about your bonnet. Mine is actually cracking up! Need to get a respray so badly.

The cracks are getting longer. Need a full strip of the bonnet.

Mine is suffering form 10 years of UV. The bonnet and roof are peeling and seriously faded. Sadly, whole car has faded progressively from top down, so gently darkening as it goes down. So a respray of roof and bonnet will look silly. End of August, whole respray. About the value of the car, but means a lot more looking right, and won't fix itself.

Anyone not suffering, get some good polish on it now! Car sunscreen.

The main problem I've found with having such a light yellow is that when it fades, there's just not enough pigment in the paint to bring it back and no amount of polishing will help. If I can get the money together, then I'd be getting a full respray too.

On the bright side, I've got a glass roof.

my flat pale blue 2004 active, is still pretty good,

I got a FIAT paint stick.., and it indicated there has been some fading..
14 years parked outside - hard to believe..

apart from where our gate post moved into the panda's path:bang:
and a few stone chips it's still VERY bright

even the "water-mark" pale blue seats have done O.K.



it'll be back in the bigger alloys soon...

Wee Smurf said:

The main problem I've found with having such a light yellow is that when it fades, there's just not enough pigment in the paint to bring it back and no amount of polishing will help. If I can get the money together, then I'd be getting a full respray too.

On the bright side, I've got a glass roof.

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I think the main problem is that these are lacquered. The paint fades below the lacquer, so the old method of T-Cut or abrasive polish has no effect, as you're just polishing the lacquer.

Regularly polishing the car will protect it against some UV, so prolonging the life of it.
Mine's likely to be painted in a solid paint, no lacquer, apparently a better finish and longer lasting. Whatever the sprayer decides, he's the expert, and his previous work is brilliant.

portland_bill said:

Mine is suffering form 10 years of UV. The bonnet and roof are peeling and seriously faded. Sadly, whole car has faded progressively from top down, so gently darkening as it goes down. So a respray of roof and bonnet will look silly. End of August, whole respray. About the value of the car, but means a lot more looking right, and won't fix itself.

Anyone not suffering, get some good polish on it now! Car sunscreen.

Click to expand...

Wee Smurf said:

The main problem I've found with having such a light yellow is that when it fades, there's just not enough pigment in the paint to bring it back and no amount of polishing will help. If I can get the money together, then I'd be getting a full respray too.

On the bright side, I've got a glass roof.

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Full respray?!

I would love a full respray of mine, but "that's a silly idea, you'll have a new car by then" they all tell me!

If either of you get one.. that's all the justification I need...

Especially you @WeeSmurf, if you find a good place in N. Ireland do share!!!

However, does a respray involve patching up any minor rust problems?! If it would I'd seriously consider it because my Panda runs like a clock and I absolutely love the way it is and would preserve it given the chance.

I can see that portland_bill your Allessi is a collectors item, and I saw at the NIIMC show WeeSmurf your Panda is a stunning example with that sunroof, bespoke seat covers etc I can see why you guys might consider a respray!

Lol you flatter my Panda. I just think he's looking a bit tired now. He's well on his way to 116K miles and with a run up your way SB1500 scheduled for Monday, he'll reach that sooner rather than later!

Irish reg. plates really are unbelievably crap aren't they? So many Euro countries have a simple, clear format so why try so hard to be different? They have white plates at the back too don't they? That would seem weird on a UK car, but not as weird as the dutchies yellow plates front and back..

OK, rant over..

Wee Smurf said:

Lol you flatter my Panda. I just think he's looking a bit tired now. He's well on his way to 116K miles and with a run up your way SB1500 scheduled for Monday, he'll reach that sooner rather than later!

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Saw a yellow Panda today come off one of the bridges from a distance. Same shade / pigment as your Dez is but wasn't close enough to see any other detail.

I'm always fascinated when I spot another Panda, as I'm sure you all know since coming across this thread! Lol

bluejohn125 said:

Irish reg. plates really are unbelievably crap aren't they? So many Euro countries have a simple, clear format so why try so hard to be different? They have white plates at the back too don't they? That would seem weird on a UK car, but not as weird as the dutchies yellow plates front and back..



OK, rant over..

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I think the UK system is spot on, very logical and to be honest I don't see why all countries use the same technology / styling.

Perhaps each government body who made them all are pondering the same question thinking their own way is best?!

I do find the Irish ones a bit funny looking but then again I can't pin point exactly how personally

SB1500 said:

Saw a yellow Panda today come off one of the bridges from a distance. Same shade / pigment as your Dez is but wasn't close enough to see any other detail.

I'm always fascinated when I spot another Panda, as I'm sure you all know since coming across this thread! Lol

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That definitely wasn't me, but if you see another on Monday, that'll maybe be me looking lost then.

bluejohn125 said:

Irish reg. plates really are unbelievably crap aren't they? So many Euro countries have a simple, clear format so why try so hard to be different? They have white plates at the back too don't they? That would seem weird on a UK car, but not as weird as the dutchies yellow plates front and back..

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Yes they're dreadful. We used the same reg system as NI until 1987, but as with many things simple and effective in this world, someone decided to "improve" it.

In Malta, where I have lived (off and on) for many years, number plates - all in embossed aluminium with a hologram - are issued by the government at the time of first registration. They have the annual renewal date built in, which can be read by any policeman.

When you go for the annual road test, called a Vrt, you buy your road tax and pay your insurance at the same time, through the testing station.

So any vehicle on the road is automatically taxed and insured. If you don't comply, the plates are removed and you can't use the car. Police also have the power to remove your plates.

Good, simple, fail-safe system.

Sweetsixteen said:

In Malta, where I have lived (off and on) for many years, number plates - all in embossed aluminium with a hologram - are issued by the government at the time of first registration. They have the annual renewal date built in, which can be read by any policeman.

When you go for the annual road test, called a Vrt, you buy your road tax and pay your insurance at the same time, through the testing station.

So any vehicle on the road is automatically taxed and insured. If you don't comply, the plates are removed and you can't use the car. Police also have the power to remove your plates.

Good, simple, fail-safe system.

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I wish we had that system. I'm surprised governments around the world haven't looked at all of the others systems, identified the strengths and weaknesses and even 'copy' it to make the system better. I'm sure one government wouldn't sue another over something like that?! Who knows but!

Still, that would be great here. Ridiculous how many people I know with license bans, no insurance, no tax and they're driving around freely seemingly unaffected! And I'm here paying £1,450 for insurance, road tax, etc!

SB1500 said:

Saw a yellow Panda today come off one of the bridges from a distance. Same shade / pigment as your Dez is but wasn't close enough to see any other detail.

I'm always fascinated when I spot another Panda, as I'm sure you all know since coming across this thread! Lol

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Lol I was the lost looking yellow panda today. But I did see quite a good looking dark red panda when I was leaving stroke city. I ended up exiting via the Foyle bridge as I was a bit out of lane (well a lot in reality).

Wee Smurf said:

Lol I was the lost looking yellow panda today. But I did see quite a good looking dark red panda when I was leaving stroke city. I ended up exiting via the Foyle bridge as I was a bit out of lane (well a lot in reality).

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I was down the other direction at work today (Strabane - the most bombed town in Europe at one point..haha). Otherwise I'd have offered to meet up or something! There was an Abarth down at our Fiat dealership too, 595, facelift model!

And there's quite a few more than Thought around here. A blue Active is for sale out the road to me, 2004, £950. Cant help but feel it overpriced.. is it?! Looks rusty as hell on the underside of the rear too!

SB1500 said:

I was down the other direction at work today (Strabane - the most bombed town in Europe at one point..haha). Otherwise I'd have offered to meet up or something! There was an Abarth down at our Fiat dealership too, 595, facelift model!

And there's quite a few more than Thought around here. A blue Active is for sale out the road to me, 2004, £950. Cant help but feel it overpriced.. is it?! Looks rusty as hell on the underside of the rear too!

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I probably wouldn't have had much time anyway. It took somewhat longer than I expected to drive up with the morning traffic. And I got stuck behind a slow lorry on a long section without any passing points which didn't help.