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Panda (Classic) Hal, the turquoise Selecta: Once more unto the breach, dear friends!

Introduction

Named after [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_V_of_England"]King Henry V[/ame] (Prince Hal, for those, like me, who are Shakespeare addicts...) -- not the computer in Kubrick's masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey -- Hal (see the number plate...), I'm hoping, is the Panda of my dreams. For someone who said he wasn't going to buy any Pandas, this year -- but I would buy either a Selecta or a 4x4, next year... -- I'm doing pretty well.... :D

No new photos, beyond those in this how-on-earth-did-I-end-up-with-a-third-Panda thread: as there's nothing new to show, really; and I was too tired to take photos of the engine bay... -- so apologies for the disappointment. Hal does feature a full complement of tools, under/around the spare, though, I can reveal; as well as a stonking new battery; and a very slow oil leak (possibly from the rocker cover...). :eek:



As you'll have seen from the Auction Watch thread, I had to catch a couple of trains to get to Hal; followed by a gentle walk through the suburbs of Birmingham (where Hal seems to have spent all of his life...). The guy selling the car then took me to the Post Office to get a new tax disc, and to the local factors, to get the battery. (What a star...!) He even wanted to make sure that all the fluid levels, etc. were okay, before I set off...! :worship:

It comes with most of its old MOTs -- showing the following mileage progression...
  1. 08/1996: 10,970
  2. 09/1997: 14,397
  3. 09/2001: 24,965
  4. 09/2002: 27,252
  5. 01/2004: 27,584
  6. 01/2005: 34,693
  7. 01/2006: 42,205
  8. 01/2007: 48,929
  9. 01/2008: 55,391
  10. 01/2009: 60,597
  11. 01/2010: 65,560
  12. 01/2011: 70,107
  13. 01/2012: 75,179
  14. 09/2013: 78,084
...so it's been in pretty constant use; but nothing too strenuous! :)

It also comes with two copies of the Owner Handbook -- as did Pippin -- both identical: neither mentioning either the 1108 cc engine* I'm fairly convinced it has (see below); nor the injection light, on the dash (that does work... -- also see below...). :confused:



Anyhoo: never having driven a Selecta in anger, before, I have the following comments:
  1. It's more obviously CVT-based than Priscilla: making a lot more fuss (i.e. piling on the revs) before the actual speed catches up. It does this quite noisily, at the moment (but then quietens down at speed....) -- which I hope will be helped by a new bucketful of gearbox oil... -- but I wouldn't be surprised if the clutch will need replacing soon. We shall see.... :rolleyes:
  2. Frell, it's powerful... (well, as much as a classic Panda can be, without an engine transplant...) -- especially compared to Pippin... -- and it seemed to have even more pep than Pinky: so I'm assuming this is the 1108 cc engine* -- especially as all the plastic stuff under the bonnet is dark blue. I found myself cruising at a measured 75 mph (sorry, officer...) all too easily; and it is very relaxing to drive on the motorway... -- if a little less engaging (if you'll excuse the pun...). :cool:
  3. The injection light came on momentarily, just before the services on the M42, so I left the motorway, intending to stop: only for the light to then go out, as I slowed down. So I went back onto the motorway, keeping to about 65-70 mph; and it never reappeared.... I'm hoping this was just a minor glitch, caused by the fact that it's been parked up for a few months -- but any advice will be gladly taken. Hopefully, whatever the 1993 equivalent of OBD will reveal all (or, even better, nothing...) -- if there is such a thing.... I will investigate.... :idea:
  4. The brakes are also more reassuring than any other Panda's I've driven; and the suspension seems fine (if not as tight as Pippin's all-new stuff...). (y)
I'm therefore hoping that this turns out to be the bargain of the century... -- but we shall let VmanC be the judge of that! :slayer:

Overall, I'm incredibly chuffed. The bodywork, sills, etc., have obviously been fettled at some point; but it feels solid, generally. I just need -- with Vernon's help, probably -- to sort out the aftermarket washer jets; although I think I shall leave the aerial where it is, for the moment. :eek:

Immediate plans include changing the engine and gearbox oils; coolant, air filter, etc.. I shall then, hopefully, give Hal a darned good clean, inside and out; before taking him to Vernon's.... Eventually, I may source a new HU, and add in some front speakers. I'm quite tempted to leave the slight variations in colour (346: Turchese, I believe...) as they are, though: as this will be my go-to Panda (with Betty being for special occasions; and Pippin, obviously, going to the homewardette...) -- and I quite like what I think of as the 'patina of honesty'...! :rolleyes:



Watch this space...! :wave:

* Just found a piece of paper with the engine and chassis numbers -- along with the following text: "1108 cc" and "29-4-93". There you go, Most Easterly Pandas...! (y)
It's only the driver's one that's worn in Hal: and looks/sounds pretty much the same (material and condition) as Gavin's... -- you are therefore free to take the lot...! (y)

Otherwise, I would have had to hit you over the head with the parcel shelf I owe you...! ;)

Now, how we do go about getting this lot to you...? :chin:

Are the covers reversible? Maybe my spare passenger seat cover could be used on your seat if so?

Anyway if anyone wants any/all of the seats/cards/roll you are more than welcome.

I do like the idea of Panda jousting though (y)
 
That's a really good question.... @VmanC? :confused:

If so, I would then be interested...! Sorry, @Dragon Man... -- I'll let you have the shelf and strings for free, in compensation.... :eek:

Yes, they are. lots of mess and trapped fingers but it is doable, the seat bottom seams to be bit easier than back rest.
 
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Yes, they are. lots of mess and trapped fingers but it is doable, the seat bottom seams to be much eassier then back rest.

Thank you! :worship:

It's the seat bottom that's in worst shape: so this is good news indeed...! (y)
Palio: I may just ask you to bring your driver's seat to Malvern, please, if that's okay...? (Although I may then have taken Hal down to Vernon's.... Oh b*gg*r.) :confused:
 
Not reversible but they are interchangeable :p

Can be done as Kolza says (y)

The backrest can't be swapped from passenger seat to drivers as there is a hole cut on one side for the seat tilt lever, but it's usually only the base that needs changing anyway.

Gavin, could you bring your passenger seat down with you on Friday, then I can do the swapping when Hal gets to me?
 
Not reversible but they are interchangeable :p

Can be done as Kolza says (y)

The backrest can't be swapped from passenger seat to drivers as there is a hole cut on one side for the seat tilt lever, but it's usually only the base that needs changing anyway.

Gavin, could you bring your passenger seat down with you on Friday, then I can do the swapping when Hal gets to me?

My hero...! :worship:

Why didn't I think of this...? :bang:

PS: Just realized I never replied to your PM. Oops. :eek:

Not a problem in theory.....

How quickly is it needed (assuming it's not eaten when I exhume it)? The seats are in one of the lockups so I've got to go over & possibly get Jasper started to get them out.

I could go across today but it wasn't in my schedule. If non urgent and can wait until Hal goes down South for Stephen to pick up/me to go back down to collect the Sisley/ us to go to the Malvern show, that would be much easier for me.

What do you think folks? (y)
 
How quickly is it needed...?

Not at all...! There really is no urgency to getting Hal sorted: so I'm hoping that -- until I can get a garage organdized -- Vernon will keep him at the bottom of his fettling list.... :eek:

I won't be taking Hal down there until after Malvern, anyway.... :rolleyes:
 
Not at all...! There really is no urgency to getting Hal sorted: so I'm hoping that -- until I can get a garage organdized -- Vernon will keep him at the bottom of his fettling list.... :eek:

I won't be taking Hal down there until after Malvern, anyway.... :rolleyes:

If it's ok then I'll sort out for Malvern?

I'm sure Vernon doesn't really want spare seats down there anyway! I will drag them out and check the condition pre Malvern - can then get proper photos for you if I'm not sure if they will be suitable. (y)

It helps with my disorgandized itinermany ;)
 
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I think the following comment speaks for itself. It's from my friend John, who runs a garage. (y)

I was standing over [Hal] earlier admiring the thought that has gone into it’s design – how the washer bottle houses the spare wheel kit, the use of the space, access to the parts, it’s simplicity (and simplicity takes thinking!). Compare that to trying to change the alternator last week on a new Punto and 2 hours later finally got it free because the air-con pump could have been located ANYWHERE else in the engine bay except where it was and REALLY not thought about in terms of accessibility and ease of repair. Progress, eh!?
 
The Punto's gone in for its MOT today: so John put Hal up on the four-poster for me to have a look at his bottom (Hal's; not John's...!), whilst I was there. (Hal is currently sitting patiently amongst John's fleet, before his trip down to Droxford. He was sitting next to an SD1, earlier...!) :cool:

Apart from a little bit of (currently) surface rust on the offside sill -- and an urgent need for undersealing (sorry, VmanC...) -- there's really not much to mention. There's evidence of the welding mentioned in the old MOTs, of course; but, amazingly, Hal seems in much better nick than Pippin was when I bought him.... (y)

Worryingly, although the gearbox oil isn't a bad colour, there wasn't a lot of it: which probably goes some way to explain why the poor thing puts a bit too much effort in getting going... -- although is smooth as whipped cream, at speed.... [The Punto had a similar problem when I bought it; and clunked into gear, when setting off. The oil in that box, and the filter, looked almost original (at 80,000 miles...?!). A flush and some new stuff, and all is well, though.... Why are CVT gearboxes so neglected...?] Hopefully, no long-term harm has been done.... I shall find out on Friday.... :eek:
Palio: if you don't mind me bringing a slightly 'customized' Panda -- and I can get Hal cleaned up in time... -- I may just bring him to Malvern...! :D
 
Hal's home... (for a week, before being taken down to see Dr Panda, for fettling...)! :woot:



Looks good, next to Pippin; and it will be interesting to see what cutting and waxing reveals... -- a coat of many colours (well, shades of turchese, anyhoo...), I suspect.... :eek:

I am hoping to use him as my daily runabout, therefore, for the few days he's here... -- as well as (definitely) taking him to the Malvern Classic Car Show, on Sunday... -- as he is running quite sweetly, after a service and a little driveshaft fettling; as well as new brake discs and pads (they looked very worn, to me: -- the pads were on the limit... -- but still stopped the car very well...). Having a full complement of CVT oil has helped, too...! :rolleyes:

By the way, this is what I've been driving, for the last few days: whilst Hal and Priscilla were away (the Punto passed its MOT, of course...)! :eek:



It was actually quite nice to drive -- the gearbox being halfway between Hal's and Priscilla's... -- and with being a 1.3, it was quite eager; although I found the steering over-assisted.... :p

I shall post some more when I've cleaned Hal up, tomorrow and Saturday (if it doesn't rain, too much...). :wave:
 
By the way, this is what I've been driving, for the last few days: whilst Hal and Priscilla were away (the Punto passed its MOT, of course...)! :eek:



It was actually quite nice to drive -- the gearbox being halfway between Hal's and Priscilla's... -- and with being a 1.3, it was quite eager; although I found the steering over-assisted.... :p

I shall post some more when I've cleaned Hal up, tomorrow and Saturday (if it doesn't rain, too much...). :wave:

Its the same gearbox as the Panda's CVT iirc :)
 
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