The time is nigh when I need to spend less money on cars. Obviously the easiest way to spend less money is to buy a new one!

Due to working further from home than I used to, I'm doing approximatley 24000 miles per year, so I'm spending about £200 a month on fuel in the Primera. If I just used the Coupe, it'd be about £325 a month in fuel. Also I'm currently paying tax (2 * £175), MOT (2 * £40) and insurance (£1000) twice over, not to mention servicing and repair costs.

As I have other things that demand constant financial input (like a house ), I'd be better off with a car that doesn't cost much to run.

One such car is the new Fiat Panda. Sammi and I went to have a look at one yesterday, and while it's no Coupe, it seems alright. The one we had a look at in the showroom was the Sporting - let's not start on how accurate that name is! Because this is a Multijet, I reckon my fuel bill would be around £125 a month. Insurance is about £250. Tax is £85 per year I think. And there's no MOT to worry about, just servicing. So I reckon it'd save me about £2000 a year, which would almost pay for the car!

We had a chat to the salesperson, who without any prompting said that I could have the Sporting for £8495 (£500 off list price), with 3 years interest-free credit, with no deposit. He was also keen to mention that if we found any better offers, they'd do their best to match it. So the question is, are there any better offers? What can I go to the dealer with, and say "match this"?

I don't really have much (if anything) to use as a deposit (which is why that deal sounds fairly good), since I will be selling the Coupe to pay other bills, and the Primera is only worth about £800.

I'm hoping to get a test drive of the Panda next week - both a petrol and a diesel, just to compare. If only they did a Multijet Eleganza 4x4... Or even a Multijet with aircon would be nice.

The salesperson also mentioned that the stripes on the Sporting come off fairly easily...

H

Round here at our local reg vardy you can get brand new pandas for 4899 according to our local press not sure which model probably the base

Probably the 1.1 Active. I think I've seen them listed for £5k too. I haven't driven any Panda yet, but from what I've read, I think it has to be a Multijet. I'll find out next week, after a test drive.
H

Benfield Fiat in Newcastle upon Tyne, have brand new panda dynamics (sporting without the stripes), for £5995, with 3 years 0% finance and only £99 deposit....

"New Panda 1.2 Dynamic From £5995
SAVE £1600

The award winning* Panda with:
Roof Bars . Power Steering . ABS . Electric Windows . Height Adjustable Steering Wheel . Driver and Passenger Side Airbags . Electronic Brake Distribution . Central Locking . Body Coloured Bumpers".

1.2 eleganza 5 door (air con/elec windows/remote lock/CD) only £5988,sporting 1.3 MJ seen for £6998....could always get a pre-reg bit cheaper?

christopher watson said:

Benfield Fiat in Newcastle upon Tyne, have brand new panda dynamics (sporting without the stripes)....

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I think that's the 1.2 petrol you're talking about. Also, the Dynamic doesn't have the alloys or bodykit, or the interior of the Sporting, amongst other things.
H

hmallett said:

I think that's the 1.2 petrol you're talking about. Also, the Dynamic doesn't have the alloys or bodykit, or the interior of the Sporting, amongst other things.
H

Click to expand...

didnt realise you wanted the diesel

try ringing up benfield fiat though, as they often give very good deals (like free servicing for 3 years, and a warranty on the first mot).

according to the fiat website, you can get a multijet panda for £7895, and the aircon pack is available on the diesels (at a cost of £550).

or you could pick one of these sportings, one of which is brand new for £7995. http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...urce=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

You're selling the coupe?! NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will you fit okay in a Panda H? you are quite tall. I wonder if the coupe engine drops straight in. Can you imagine a 20VT in a small 4x4 chassis? hello mini 'grale

Sat in a panda with the GF's dad. He's 6'4 and fit in with headspace to spare. Much better than the Tipo where he has to open the sunroof blind

H, the new cars stand all dealers the same amount, so you can always push all the dealers the same. Just be aware, if you push them much lower, they may not offer you intrest free credit as the dealership has to subsidise this out of the profit in the deal.

the multijet is great to drive, my mum wanted one so we all went to test drive it, it was suprisingly smooth and picked up nice , the only thing that stopped her was the price

i suppose you can try all the local dealers round this way and see what they can offer

yep fraid so, the coupe is going.... too much run two cars and he needs a diesel to get back on track. Plus we want to do work on the house and owning a coupe kinda takes a lot of your money

We sat in a Panda at the Fiat dealer near you gaz H is six three and there were plenty of space. The only thing really is to put it to the test, hopefully we can book a test drive for friday. To get me on the insurance is about £11

well good luck with your panda they look so well done to fiat. again.

http://www.norwichunioncars.com/SearchResults.aspx?m=FIAT&mo=PANDA&adid=F-PANDA

Pre Reg?

http://www.dccook.co.uk/new-car-search-detail.aspx?Car_ID=21516

or new...

http://www.buyacar.co.uk/detailyq13...rBy=derivativeString&manufacturer=2193&idx=11

Mmmm... Interesting.

Jim

T14086 said:

1.2 eleganza 5 door (air con/elec windows/remote lock/CD) only £5988,sporting 1.3 MJ seen for £6998....could always get a pre-reg bit cheaper?

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F*ck paying £8k!!

Make: FIAT
Model: PANDA DYNAMIC M/JET
Year: Sep-05
Engine/Transmission: 1248cc Diesel Manual
Mileage: 1 miles
Colour: RUMBA RED
Body/Doors: Hatchback 5 Door
Price: £6995
Available now at
Newcastle Under Lyme Motorstore
Tel: Stoke

The 8.5k was for the sporting - not the dynamic

Make: FIAT
Model: PANDA DYNAMIC M/JET SPORTING
Year: Sep-05
Engine/Transmission: 1248cc Diesel Manual
Mileage: 1 miles
Colour: RUMBA RED
Body/Doors: Hatchback 5 Door
Price: £6995
Available now at
Liverpool Nissan / Motorstore

www.buyacar.co.uk are quoting £8184 for a Sporting. Worth mentioning that to your dealer, although getting the credit interest free is going to be useful if you have no upfront deposit.

They also have the Punto multijet HGT diesel at under £9000 (just over with metallic paint). Not as economical, but faster for sure, although insurance would be more as it's group 9 vs group 2 (wow that's low!). For running costs the Panda wins all the way.