Mark Elvin said:

Park it next to a 500 & tell me which you would rather own.

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Well, I'd start by spotting that one car offers two extra doors. And roof rails. And a much more space efficient interior. So.... If I planned to have people get in and out of the back seats, or I wanted to sometimes fill it to the roof, or carry a roof box...... in other words a proper practical workaday car, it's an absolute no-brainer. The Panda.

If on the other hand I already had a proper car, and simply wanted a piece of automotive jewelry, then yes, I'd take the 500.

Its a bit silly to see them as alternatives. It's like suggesting an Alfa Brera instead of a 159. Or an Audi TT instead of an A4.

Horses for courses...

alfabarry said:

Well, I'd start by spotting that one car offers two extra doors. And roof rails. And a much more space efficient interior. So.... If I planned to have people get in and out of the back seats, or I wanted to sometimes fill it to the roof, or carry a roof box...... in other words a proper practical workaday car, it's an absolute no-brainer. The Panda.

If on the other hand I already had a proper car, and simply wanted a piece of automotive jewelry, then yes, I'd take the 500.

Its a bit silly to see them as alternatives. It's like suggesting an Alfa Brera instead of a 159. Or an Audi TT instead of an A4.

Horses for courses...

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You've probably made a good case for the Tata Nano over both the Panda and the 500.:idea:

alfabarry said:

Well, I'd start by spotting that one car offers two extra doors. And roof rails. And a much more space efficient interior. So.... If I planned to have people get in and out of the back seats, or I wanted to sometimes fill it to the roof, or carry a roof box...... in other words a proper practical workaday car, it's an absolute no-brainer. The Panda.

If on the other hand I already had a proper car, and simply wanted a piece of automotive jewelry, then yes, I'd take the 500.

Its a bit silly to see them as alternatives. It's like suggesting an Alfa Brera instead of a 159. Or an Audi TT instead of an A4.

Horses for courses...

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You are of course correct.

But for me, as a commuter vehicle where 99% of the time it's just me in the car & all the luggage I have is a lunchbox , it's ideal.

alfabarry said:

If on the other hand I already had a proper car, and simply wanted a piece of automotive jewelry, then yes, I'd take the 500.

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5 star Euro Encap, 7 airbags, low emissions, all superfluous of course.

Me, I like them both as I was told they are they same body pan etc, I thought they would be similar, but no, they are poles apart. I spend a lot of time in my panda driving in London, and the driving position for all around vis, is ideal. As for the launch, thanks SGM for a good well, hosted evening. The only point I have is that the 500 with 100HP engine will hit the sales of the Panda 100HP, but as a salesman pointed out to me, he could only choose the Panda, as he was so tall!!

Suasexed said:

It's like getting a Macbook Pro over a £299 PC World Special. You don't neccassarily need the MB Pro, but it's nice, it's made out of nice material and is a nice bit of kit to own

Not saying the Panda isn't nice to own, don't want a back lash!

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I'm an IT teacher - don't even get me started on Mac vs Pc!!!

The Panda is hardly a PC World special - that's more like a Perodua Kelisa:yuck:

I think the 500 looks ace and as a Fiat-ist, I hope it does really well. Its priced to shift, unlike the Mini. I hope to see lots of them driving around Edin. Loads of Pandas kicking round my way these days.

Maybe even my next car come September time. Or a Grande Punto. Or a 100HP.

(To think my Dad nearly wept when I bought my first Punto - he had a very very bad Fiat 128 in the 70s which rotted like a corpse).

ensonricky said:

5 star Euro Encap, 7 airbags, low emissions, all superfluous of course.

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5 star NCAP & airbags: Yes, good point, and the next Panda needs the same. A large part of the Panda's star deficit is removed by specifying side bags which really should be standard. The NCAP report on the Panda praises it's front impact protection, but penalises it for poor side impact protection.

Low emissions: The diesel versions use exactly the same 1.3 multijet unit, but are set up slightly differently. The 500 therefore has lower emissions, but the difference is highly marginal (111g/km as against 114g/km is hardly a planet-saving leap forward... and you still get to pay £35 pa to Alastair Darling)

Don't get me wrong: I really like the 500. I think its a "small object of desire". I'd genuinely like to own in my dream garage of about a dozen cars. But, no matter how safer/cleaner/prettier it is, it just isn't as practical as the Panda.
Hence my point that they are different cars for different audiences...

alfabarry said:

A large part of the Panda's star deficit is removed by specifying side bags which really should be standard.

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And fitting them pushes the price to £8045!!!!!!!!

The the Panda is a much less attractive proposition, unless you really need a larger boot & 5 doors.

alfabarry said:

Low emissions: The diesel versions use exactly the same 1.3 multijet unit, but are set up slightly differently. The 500 therefore has lower emissions, but the difference is highly marginal (111g/km as against 114g/km is hardly a planet-saving leap forward... and you still get to pay £35 pa to Alastair Darling)

Don't get me wrong: I really like the 500. I think its a "small object of desire". I'd genuinely like to own in my dream garage of about a dozen cars. But, no matter how safer/cleaner/prettier it is, it just isn't as practical as the Panda.
Hence my point that they are different cars for different audiences...

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Some fair points you make. Regarding emissions I was particilarly referring to the smaller petrol engine were the equivalent is 119g/kg against 133 for the Panda. Quite a condiderable difference and bringing the 500 into the lower tax category and congestion charge exempt from February.
The fuel consumption of the 500 is also significantly better. It's not just a pretty face you know.

Low emissions, glad my panda is not fitted with the APF, this is now fitted to the 500 diesel and does not seem to make a big difference. It will be required though when city congestion charges apply, my panda does not have it and I'll not be getting off the congestion charge as previously I thought, regs require Euro IV and APF.

500 versus Panda?

Cares not a jot - Just pleased to see FIAT going back to what they do best.........building and selling small, sporty cars.

Have to really as it looks unlikely that the FIAT Coupe replacement will ever reach the drawing board. But that would of course get us onto the FIAT versus ALFA debate.

hpScot said:

Cares not a jot - Just pleased to see FIAT going back to what they do best.........building and selling small, sporty cars.

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Well said that man