Hello to you all, again.

I've been away for a while, and not been missed one bit, and I'm enjoying the new look forum!

After owning my first car in 2007, a 1.2 8v 5 door Mk2 Punto, I've had a thing for FIAT's, who wouldn't? Since then I have owned an Mk2b active sport, an Abarth 500, bought new (Best. Car. Ever. ML59 NXG - Not cropped up on here has it? haha)
An Rx8, another Mk2b, but a sporting, and a Celica T Sport.

Now I'm currently selling my second Rx8 and after lot's of searching and many a night wondering what car I'll be getting sensible with, I've narrowed it down to 2 choices. :

MK2B HGT
1.4 Panda 100HP

More than anything, i'm after something fun to drive and nippy, insurance isn't too much of an issue as I've been paying the same for long enough, I'm just used to it (I'm 22) Wouldn't mind it being half decent on juice as I'm going to be using it as a daily driver.
Never driven a HGT and I'm only presuming that the 1.4 engine in the panda is very similar to that in the MK2B's.

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on the two cars, and I apologise for my large post, and look forward to conversing with you all in the future!

Dan

Don't know much about the MK II Punto but the Mk1 was good and so is the Evo. As for the Panda, it would be my choice simple because the standard car is so much fun on twisty roads anyway without the 100HP

well, I would have gone for the panda but the one i was looking at was a cat c write off, repairs and all considered, I'd rather drive a car I know hasn't been in a smash of any kind.

Which puts me back to either a 1.4 mk2b sporting or an mk2b hgt.

used to have the sporting, a good drive, cheap to insure and tax as well as decent mpg, will the hgt be stupidly more costly to run? obviously it'll be more in tax and insurance, just thinking mpg wise mainly.

danbobnix said:

well, I would have gone for the panda but the one i was looking at was a cat c write off, repairs and all considered, I'd rather drive a car I know hasn't been in a smash of any kind.

Which puts me back to either a 1.4 mk2b sporting or an mk2b hgt.

used to have the sporting, a good drive, cheap to insure and tax as well as decent mpg, will the hgt be stupidly more costly to run? obviously it'll be more in tax and insurance, just thinking mpg wise mainly.

Click to expand...

I'd be pretty positive that the 1.8 petrol HGT will be pretty thirsty, but in the Mk2B they did offer a 1.9 Multijet HGT aswell, which will probably be more economic than your previous Mk2B Sporting. Only trouble is A) finding one as they're rare as hens teeth and B) finding one that hasn't been thrashed.

Personally i'd have a Panda 100HP. Make sure you can deal with the ride as owners say it's extremely hard but other than that it's pretty sound. It'll probably be more to buy, but there are far more to choose from & many have really been cherished so you can afford to be picky. It'll also be cheaper to insure, cheaper to tax (than the petrol Mk2B's, M-Jet might be even cheaper on tax) and decent-ish on fuel.

Personally, I would go for a Grande Punto Sporting with the money youll get from your RX8, (about £5-6k right?)
Either the M-jet 1.9 or the 1.4 Tjet,
both nippy and very tuneable, attractive, spacious and modern with good handling.

Both good on the ol' wallet cleansing fluid too.. about 45-50 in the 1.9mjet and 35-40 in the Tjet.

My two cents

Tom