Hi guys n girls!

I'm new to this, an am looking to get a panda in the next couple of weeks, I would just like to know what are the things to look out for when I go get one, I'll be getting one with around 80/90k milage if that's any help.

Kind Regards

Mehr

Hi . Rusty/worn suspension.and broken aircon/heater are the big money items

varesecrazy said:

Hi . Rusty/worn suspension.and broken aircon/heater are the big money items

Click to expand...

Also corrosion on the rear beam. Check particularly the area around the bottom spring cups.

varesecrazy said:

Hi . Rusty/worn suspension.and broken aircon/heater are the big money items

Click to expand...

rusty rear suspension, ,
it can become weakened and physically break..


I stripped , inspected and repainted mine.



the Climate control is complex, and the small gears used to move the motorised flaps can fail

Charlie - Oxford

As above and it really needs to have a good service history with evidence of cambelt/water pump changes, make sure the gearbox isn't crunchy and check for signs of the front tyres wearing on the inner edge which is a common issue, they are tough little cars when looked after.

Cheers for the advice appreciate it!��

I've also heard that the steering racks can be another problem with these cars?

Ps I'm just trying to get my posts to 5 so I can post a link for you guys to help me out

Also is there any nice mods you can do to the panda, I understand they're na so you won't get too much power out of them but something like a custom exhaust and a k&n air filter would do it some good would it not?

Do you guys have any pictures of your pandas?

Hi guys, cheers for the advice, wohooo finally got to my main question I've wanted to ask. I have seen a fair few of them on sale on auto trader just some of them only have part service history and some don't have no evidence of when the water pump and timing belt was done.

I have seen this one for a fairly cheap price and was considering it, I know the water pump and timing belt hasn't been done but I work for a parts company and could get the parts cheap and fitted as well, just wouldn't mind if someone could enlighten me further whether it's worth it or if?
I'll post the link below

Cheers


url]https://www.gumtree.com/p/fiat/57-fiat-panda-100hp.-may-take-cheap-p-x./1210375166[/url]


Mehr

Mehr said:

Hi guys, cheers for the advice, wohooo finally got to my main question I've wanted to ask. I have seen a fair few of them on sale on auto trader just some of them only have part service history and some don't have no evidence of when the water pump and timing belt was done.

I have seen this one for a fairly cheap price and was considering it, I know the water pump and timing belt hasn't been done but I work for a parts company and could get the parts cheap and fitted as well, just wouldn't mind if someone could enlighten me further whether it's worth it or if?
I'll post the link below

Cheers


url]https://www.gumtree.com/p/fiat/57-fiat-panda-100hp.-may-take-cheap-p-x./1210375166[/url]


Mehr

Click to expand...

The apparently cheap price is down to it being a Cat D written off repaired car.

Personally I don't think it's any great bargain & would struggle to make that price even if not Cat D; it's a 10yr old/100,000 mile car that could have been bought new for around £8000. Can't be worth much more than 10% of that now.

IMO as it stands it's worth about £500, if that. Certainly not something I'd consider buying.

Quite possibly a trader masquerading as a private seller.

Be careful out there - a lot of early 100HP's are basically just junk now. Get a good one, look after it and you may well have a future classic that'll soon start appreciating in value, but with a recorded car you haven't got a chance.

I see it has an advisory for the suspension rubber bushes. On its last MOT

Been wearing tyres out on the edge also comes up on the MOT


Cat D right off might cause problems with your insurance. I bought a stolen recovered with panels missing no damage and still some insurance companies would not touch it. Other were fine though.


Cat D could well be nothing more than a parking bump on an old car. Really need to find out what it was and has it been repaired safely.

Cat C/D are normally 50-75% of the book value.

There are plenty of reasonably priced 100hp's around so I wouldn't bother with a cat d, the steering issue does pop up from time to time but isn't all that common.
It's also worth checking/replacing the battery as the canbus system on the cars does seem sensitive to little electrical gremlins when the battery gets old and weak.

koalar said:

Cat C/D are normally 50-75% of the book value.

Click to expand...

WBAC would offer £530 for that car if unrecorded, just £260 as a Cat D, and there's a £50 admin fee to come off that.

But cheap buy twice. I did that with a Punto HGT. It wasn't a Cat D, but clearly needed major service items. I drove it home and the cam belt failed at a traffic light. It also needed a new clutch so was far from cheap in the end.

Keep looking and walk away until you find a good one. If there is ANY doubt about the age/miles on the cam belt budget for new one.

BTW, the clutch should be light and smooth. Anything else is likely to mean the clutch is failing. But at least the parts are cheap.

Radiators on old cars are often questionable and the FIRE has a steel pipe across the front of the engine. Add some Bars Leaks but also budget for a new rad and pipe. It's a cost but the cost of a blown head gasket on a 16V is really not worth the saving.

Hi,
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
I had an electroclash grey 100HP for 7 years. Loved it. Didn't really want to sell it but circumstances dictated that I had too.
Regards,
Dan.

I have just sold mine for a new 4x4. I am already regretting it in many ways. My 100HP was still going strong and with an near perfect reliability record at 103000. It is without doubt the best car ever made! A pity my wife did not like the firm ride! I had just fitted old Bravo bump stops that increases the spring travel to about 2.5 inches from 0.75! The ride was much better and the handling seemed unaffected.

His last run up the A1M and over the M62 at 'speed'!!! yielded 46mpg+ If there was a new one - anywhere- I would buy it now.

You will fall in love with this car!