Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a 2010 Panda with high milage. It's had the turbo replace and a few other things done.

How well do these cars do with high milage?
Are they cheap and easy to maintain DIY?

I've been driving an Alfa for the last 5 year. I've loved driving it but I can no longer afford to maintain it and think I could be happy driving a Panda.

I think I've found a really good price on a 2010 diesel but 112k miles. At this milage is sort of milage is there any essential maintenance that is recommended beyond ordinary servicing?

Mine is currently at 122K miles but there are a couple of Multijets on here with over 200K miles on the clock.

They seem to be a good robust wee engine.

I think that it is important to service regularly to keep things such as the timing chain in order.

Body-wise - mine has no issues with rust. The exhaust is still original (at least one layer has peeled off the outside but still going strong)

Check the back axle for wear around the cups. There have been issues with a few in this area.

Some find that tyre wear is an issue. Check the fronts for uneven wear on the inside. Proper alignment should stop that. I also tend to swap my wheels front to back a couple of times a year to evenly wear all my tyres at a similar rate.

As above, providing it has been maintained properly using the correct oil, regular changes, and has not been used for pottering around town it should be good for 200k plus.

It seems that lower mileage is not necessarily better with these engines.

Town-only driving on low mileage DPF-equipped versions can cause some issues, but the car has done 120k plus, so that points towards it having been used on longer journeys.

As long as it is in good shape now, it ought to be good for many more miles if it's maintained properly.

Most engines these days will outlast the electrical system. So a young car with high miles is a better option than and old car with low miles.

There have been issues with the timing chain and tensioner. DOnt assume the chain = zero maintenance. At 130K its probably ready for it's second timing chain and set of tensioner/guides etc.

Clutch takes some stick on the diesel. Floor it in 4th gear if it slips the clutch is likely to be worn.

quantumleaf said:

I think I've found a really good price on a 2010 diesel but 112k miles. At this milage is sort of milage is there any essential maintenance that is recommended beyond ordinary servicing?

Click to expand...

My 1.3 mjt had 118k miles when I got rid, the engine never missed a beat the whole time I owned it, it was usually something bolted to it that went wrong if it ever did have problems.

Remember they use these engines to start much bigger engines on heavy plant equipment.

It's a great little engine but remember 2010 is now getting on in years and the car it's self might soon start showing its age. Go over to the fiat 500 section which was first sold around 2007/8 and they are starting to show signs of rust and more serious mechanical problems as they get older.

Mine's a 2009, no dpf. No egr or silencer either, because I've eliminated these. It has also been mapped, so goes very well. It's on 90k miles, so not up to some high milers on here. No clutch slip so far.

It is used and abused as a workhorse, although carefully maintained. Farm and forest tracks and rough back lanes is where it usually prowls.

No issues yet, apart from replacing drop links and one duff glow plug. The only rust is on one front wing, and this is down to a pattern-part replacement which was poorly sprayed. Both front wings will be removed in the Spring for a decent respray (simple unbolt job).

Underside gets a twice yearly dose of Waxoil/old engine oil coating, and it's as good as new. It's a keeper because it's such an unbelievably cheap and cheerful little puddle jumper.

I didn't expect to actually like it when we bought it, but it grows on you!

Hi all,

Thanks for these post. In the end I felt somehow suspicious of the seller of the car and let it go. A 2010 1.3 turbo diesel for £1000 having had a new turbo just seemed to cheap, though I did have a couple of other concerns.

I think I'm still in the market for a panda and going to take some time looking for a good one. Does anyone have any advice on what I should be looking for, and where to buy one to get the best value? I only really want to spend about £1000 and would like something that's going to be cheap to maintain (diy) and have good fuel economy (Ie a turbo diesel). I don't care about appearance at all.

What sort of driving do you normally do? eg town/motorway/a-roads/rural?

What sort of mileage do you do?

Cheapest to maintain are the 1.2 petrol, and they are still pretty economical. Service parts are generally cheap as chips, so unless you do big mileage they may work out cheaper than a diesel.

1.1 is OK but sedate unless you are willing to sacrifice economy. Parts prices similar to 1.2. Less torque means plenty of gear changes.

Multijet is great at most things, but short journeys and too much town driving are not so good for them. Great at motorway/a-road/good b-road journeys and 75 mpg is easy. Service parts more expensive and can be expensive if problems arise. Avoid low mileage town cars if possible, and check service history to ensure correct oil was always used.

100hp is cool and quick (ish) but parts are more money. Sometimes driven by careful enthusiasts... sometimes not. Get a good one and it's a hoot.

Probably best to avoid the Dualogic - great but can get landed with showstopper bill for gearbox problems.

Also the 4x4 - unless you need it, the added complexity and weight can end up being a real pain. Of course if you need it then there's not much that'll beat it!

A 100HP engine with 4x4 transmission would be great fun.

Don't get a 100hp or a 2010 Multijet .The first will break your back and the second your heart with DPF etc .Get a good 2005 Multijet .It has less Eco nonsense and will do 160k easily ONCE front end i.e. radius arms and shocks are ok .These can last not much longer than tyres and neither may see two years if a bit unlucky .
68mpg no matter how I drove mine over 4 years ...