On the walk back from town I counted 500s and Pandas

500s x 9
Pandas x 1


Yes I know I am sad.

koalar said:

On the walk back from town I counted 500s and Pandas

500s x 9
Pandas x 1


Yes I know I am sad.

Click to expand...

Now look at the Motorpoint website to compare the models for sale..........

I don't know how true it is, but I've heard that the UK is the exception in the ratio of 500s to Pandas - elsewhere in Europe it is more balanced or the Panda sells more than the 500.

koalar said:

On the walk back from town I counted 500s and Pandas

500s x 9
Pandas x 1


Yes I know I am sad.

Click to expand...

Phew, beginnng to think I was the only one daft enough to notice such trival matters......[sic]

I was parked in a local shop car park counting Pandas, 500s and Ford KAs. Surprisingly high numbers of 500s compared to Pandas, but more KAs than either...
I obviously have too much time on my hands at the moment.

Fiat produces thee Pandas for every two (of the small) 500s. The Panda's the best-selling model in its category across Europe. Where we spend half the year - in rural, central Italy - I suspect the Panda outsells the 500 by at least two to one, probably three, and there's a high proportion of 4x4s, including the earliest models. To be honest, I've never understood the appeal of the 500 - I've owned every other model of Fiat 500 from the Topolino to the Cinquecento Sporting - as I just don't get retro in an engineering product like a car, same for the VW Beetle. Apart from anything else - such as styling and engineering integrity - how do you update a retro model once its novelty has worn off?

I have no problem with the retro looking 500 at least the small ones. However, the large versions are just plain horrible. Even worse than the large Minis and they are horrendous looking things.

As for them going out of fashion - they all get updated, sometimes with only the model name and engine staying the same. VW Passat for example.

In terms of doing the job of transporting stuff the Panda will always be the better car. Form follows function but isn't as pretty.

AB100 said:

Now look at the Motorpoint website to compare the models for sale..........

Click to expand...

Dam

You made me look


KA x 11
500 x 170 not including its bigger brothers
Panda x 2

Can't stop now

500 x 14
Panda x 4
KA2 x 5 was last place but 3 showed up in the last 1/2 mile

Think the new Mini is the only car that is more common and the DS might give it a run for its money.


Think there is two things I have learnt here

1 style sells.
2 ford dealership is rubbish.

There is no local Fiat dealership but there is a Ford.

I dont get the 500 either. Had one while my panda was in for warranty work and just 1012 miles on it.
My view was it wasnt as nice to drive and seemed to feel every bump.
Seemed slow compared to my 8000 mile panda (maybe not loosened up yet).
Felt very small inside and almost claustrophobic at night.
Give me a panda anyday and ive had an Dreg 4x4 Kreg 1000 55 11 and 14 plate and id prefer any of those.

DaveMcT said:

I have no problem with the retro looking 500 at least the small ones. However, the large versions are just plain horrible. Even worse than the large Minis and they are horrendous looking things.

As for them going out of fashion - they all get updated, sometimes with only the model name and engine staying the same. VW Passat for example.

In terms of doing the job of transporting stuff the Panda will always be the better car. Form follows function but isn't as pretty.

Click to expand...

Can't find anything retro about the Passat, don't see that it compares.

Wonder what percentage of 500 are mainly driven by females
Compared to the Panda

babbo_umbro said:

Can't find anything retro about the Passat, don't see that it compares.

Click to expand...

Did your read the context?

The point was that all cars change design over time so a retro won't be around for ever. My point was non retro designs change considerably with model changes. Sometimes its only the name that stays. When the 500/Mini/DS/etc run out of steam there will be new designs to replace them.

koalar said:

Wonder what percentage of 500 are mainly driven by females
Compared to the Panda

Click to expand...

I'd have an Abarth 500 but to be fair they are toys rather than useful vehicles. The 169 Panda is a far more useful car.