General Panda 100HP 3 Months Review

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General Panda 100HP 3 Months Review

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Hey,

After owning my Panda 100HP now for around 3 months I decided to give it a quick breakdown on the good and bad points and hopefully answer a few questions for those intrested in the new 100HP Panda.

Firstly the Good Points:

1. One will notice as soon as they start the Panda that very attractive ignition noise that is usual herd from a much more expensive and powerful car which I know is minor but all these small things build up to the whole package.
2. Once driving the 100HP you cant help but feel that you are driving something far more expensive than £10k and a feel of quality and style within the cabin gives a good internal driving experiance.
3. Handling is great for me and being the most important thing of a car I love to see Fiat has gone to such attention to actually get the 100HP to feel like a sports car (close enough :) )
4. Low down revs are poor but this is a good point because it allows you to look forward for that 4500RPM mark where it really starts moving ;)
5. Engine makes a lovely raspy noise which really gets addictive and the gear change is so precious that it almost pulls the gear stick into gear and with the bonus of some perfectly timed gear ratios, pleasure to drive.
6. Looks, lets be honest it looks absolutely brilliant.... Italian flare
7. Way Way Way more bonus points which you just need to buy a 100HP to experiance yourselves.

The Bad Points:

1. Funny Klonking noise coming from the rear over certain bumps.... Have not found the source yet but I think its either the rear spare tyre has some play and is moving about or maybe one of the tool items banging about... Maybe rear seats!
2. Have to mention lack of power/torque below 4500 rpm but as mentioned above good fun when it does kick in.
3. Not sure about any other 100HP owners but getting quite alot of tram line steering off the 195/45/R15 wheels... I.e. follows the inperfections in the UK roads very well sometimes waking you from your driving daze (tyre pressures are 33PSI Front and 31 PSI back).
4. One cant help but wish that the two front seats could be lowered in height and be a little less hard for that extra body hugging feel and sporty seat position.

All said I love the Panda 100HP and still smile every time I drive it, heaps better than my Seicento Abarth and would recommend one to anyone.

Performance: 7/10
Handling: 9/10
Style Interior: 8/10
Style Exterior: 9/10
Fuel: 7/10 (Small tank which feels like its empty quicker)
Enjoyment: 10/10

Adam
 
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The Bad Points:

1. Funny Klonking noise coming from the rear over certain bumps.... Have not found the source yet but I think its either the rear spare tyre has some play and is moving about or maybe one of the tool items banging about... Maybe rear seats!
Adam

I agree with this one. I don't think it's my backseat, more like those tools that FIAT gave me! My panda doesn't come equipped with spare tyre, so, it's more on the "refiller tools". Am thinking of putting in sponges and bubble wrap!!! :)
 
Now done about 1600 km with the little monster and i agree on the points stated above.(y)
Three things that i havent red,
-Squeeling brakes (mine is going to the shop this week to get an mod.)
-Very large turning circle (had an Marea Weekend with the same circle)
-Fuel consumption ( one liter every 11,4 km average) (heavy right foot though)
As long as its beter than the Marea (1 Ltr every 8 km) its fine with me:)
For the rest...........:slayer: :slayer:

Greetz

Driveseis
 
Glad someone else spotted the large turning circle for such a small car.:rolleyes:

Not really checking fuel consumption but having done about 1450 miles so far I find she returns about 250 miles for a 30 litre investment.

My squealing brakes appear to have eased off on their own.:confused:

Still smiling and still to see another on the road.
 
I have noticed the tuning circle too.
It is a lot different to my old Micra!!!
Also, my brakes seem to randomly squeal every now and then. Strange...
 
I have noticed the tuning circle too.
It is a lot different to my old Micra!!!
Also, my brakes seem to randomly squeal every now and then. Strange...


Ah yes the squealing brake syndrome - not as annoying as MKII Renault Clio bonnets flying up at speed I guess. But interesting that we are all experiencing this nonetheless. Perhaps a dodgy batch of break pads fitted in Poland?
 
My brakes squeeled from 4 miles - 1200(ish) miles yet now they have decided to stoped so I have not seen the need to take the 100HP to Fiat for the modified pads which are available for Panda 100HP/Grande Punto Sportings.

As for the turning circle, after owning a Seicento everything seems to take forever to turn... The Sei could almost turn with its backwheels staying in one place while the front did the work :D awesum!

Adam
 
heres my 3 month 4600 mile review:

good points:

All the mentioned above
Find the choice of tyres excellent
bluetooth handsfree is useful
great fuel consuption when driving gently

bad points:

sometimes here that noise mentioned over bumps.
Have a rattle from the dash.
Brakes squeeling
Dealer fitted wrong stereo (not a problem with the car as such)
turning circle is poor, but 3 point turns are easy with the light steering
 
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