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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)
A Mirca with a sport button :ROFLMAO:

It not the same as L in the Panda :confused:

Basically, yes (as in the Punto, as well): in that it just hangs on to the revs for longer.... :rolleyes:

When you've got something like the Micra, though, with stupidly light steering, it is all too easy to introduce torque steer.... Apart from that, it was reasonably chuckable... -- but bland.... :p
 
Basically, yes (as in the Punto, as well): in that it just hangs on to the revs for longer.... :rolleyes:

I stick out Punto is L all the time when my Dad's driving whilst he's blissfully unaware of my Tomfoolery and is screaming at the thing to change up when its hangs on till about 4k :D
 
Hokay - I have retrieved my spare passenger seat for Hal if it's the right material.

Driver's seat is grubby and has a frayed patch in the seat base. I'm assuming it's not needed for Hal but let me know if not. Driver's seat pics below:



Passenger seat looks good to me, may benefit from a mild clean. If it matches, you might want to swap the whole seat, leaving your existing passenger base available to swap onto your existing driver's seat base. Simples (y) Pics of the passenger seat below.

Please remember all the unused bits and seats are John's Dragon Man if he wants them (though I appreciate they are a long way away!).



 
Hokay - I have retrieved my spare passenger seat for Hal if it's the right material.

Driver's seat is grubby and has a frayed patch in the seat base. I'm assuming it's not needed for Hal but let me know if not.

Passenger seat looks good to me, may benefit from a mild clean. If it matches, you might want to swap the whole seat, leaving your existing passenger base available to swap onto your existing driver's seat base. Simples (y) Pics of the passenger seat below.

Please remember all the unused bits and seats are John's Dragon Man if he wants them (though I appreciate they are a long way away!).

i think they are the same fabric/colour pattern as fallouts seats :eek:

tbh, i am thinking of just reusing the old seats....

Many thanks, Palio...! (y)

Apart from the base, your driver's seat is actually in better nick than Hal's -- so, if possible, I shall nick it (see what I did there?!) from you, at some point, as well, please! (We can compare notes on Sunday... -- although I may yet turn up in an ark....) :D
Dragon Man -- I know this sounds like we're feeding you the scraps (for which I apologize wholeheartedly...): but, if you wish, you can have whatever you need of what's left, after Gavin and I have swapped stuff over (with VmanC's help, of course...). If you do want anything, at some stage, I could bring them up to you, along with the parcel shelf I owe you! :idea:

What would we do without this Forum, and the wonderful people on it, eh...? :worship:
 
Sat on the M40, 12 miles into a 132 mile trip to Palio, and then VmanC. :cry:



No clutch.... :mad:

It's a Selecta, no clutch pedal ;)

Seriously, sorry to hear that & thanks for letting me know early. Hope you get sorted quickly - you should be a priority for the AA anyway. Maybe you shouldn't have joked about the yellow truck the other day :(
 
Give me a shout if you need any technical info :)

Thanks, Jon! Strangely enough, your name has cropped up a couple of times, today...! :D

Will post more, later... -- but am not worrying about it too much, at the moment! :eek:

Anyway: thanks to everyone else! Hal is safely stashed at Vernon's; and I'm waiting for my train home...! (y)
 
Was in no state to drive back, anyway, to be honest; and they rarely have automatics.... :eek:

Anyway, home, now; mission accomplished; and I shall recount my tale of woe (lightened by VmanC -- Batman, to Alan's Robin -- a big cup of tea, and a Kit-Kat...) later, after a much-needed nap...! :D
 
So... -- I set off, nice and early, intending to have my breakfast at Cherwell Valley Services; then run to Palio's to collect his matching seats for Hal, and multiple sets of roof-bars; but got as far as the bottom of the Banbury junction slip road. :cry:

The car had been fine, all week; and fine as far as the junction -- but I put my foot down to accelerate down the slip road, and got lots of revs, but very little forward momentum. Luckily, the only thing behind me was a big artic going even slower then me... -- so I coasted to the bottom of the hill, onto the hard shoulder... :(



...to be rescued (after only about 15 minutes) by the wonderful Phil, from the local recovery company (Isis -- who have a depot just off that junction...!): who towed Hal to the first services on the A34 (Peabody, or somesuch...) :eek:



...where Hal was transferred to a flatbed, and tranported (at stupid speeds, and dangerously close to the traffic in front -- when I actually had my eyes open...) to Vernon's. :eek:

Google Maps had said it would take 90 minutes... -- it took just under 70 -- to do the 70 miles to Vernon's. Not my style of driving at all. So the driver will remain nameless. I was not a happy bunny. But I was a nervous wreck.... This was the worst part of my day... (well, possibly apart from the heavyweight occupant next to me, on the train from Basingstoke, crushing me against the window...). :mad:
VmanC, as always, was a star (as was D*ts*n-lover Alan...!) -- and I was soon quaffing a hot mug of tea, and nibbling on a courtesy Sainsbury-style Kit-Kat. :)

Me arriving on a flatbed was a bit like one of those Top Gear scenes, where Mr Slowly always arrives last.... However, Vernon does not a good hamster make; nor Alan a Jezza.... :D

Anyhoo: Most Easterly Pandas, I'm guessing it's the clutch -- as it's demonstrated the occasional momentary bit of slippage, during the week. But I guess it could be electrical: as it's sometimes needed a little accuracy to get the gear lever in the correct position (and for the gear indicator to light up...). :idea:

I'm not worrying about it now, as I said above: as Vernon has Betty, Panto and Sir Panda Face's Bianca to get ready for the NEC. But any thoughts will be welcomed -- whilst we all gen up on Selecta gearboxes and their foibles.... :confused:

PS: Dragon Man -- we're aiming to put a completely different, Fizzy interior into Hal: from one of Vernon's dead Pandas (Rest In Pandaheaven): so, if you want them, my seats (and Palio's -- sorry, Gavin...) are yours, if you want to resurrect Fallout at any time. The rear seat is virtually spotless; the passenger seat is just worn on the base; but the driver's is definitely showing its age... -- although is still very supportive (especially when compared to the 750 one...). Just let me know.... :cool:
 
When she failed was the LED light showing when in Drive?

I know our origional Selecta is sometimes a pain to get into reverse, as she won't enguage the clutch if the red LED next to "R" doesn't show. Had some git steal a parking space of mine once which I was trying to reverse park into :mad:

I doubt its the clutch, as shouldn't just fail like that, just start slipping like a manual would. Personally I think its either the contacts on the selector display internally, or the brushes for the clutch, or more likely the power feed to it. There is a nice heavy duty in line plug if you run the wire from the gearbox back to the bulkhead, would be worth getting that checked to see if it has any power to it when the accelerator is being pressed when running.

I think Vernon would hopefully have these parts from his Selecta he's turning into a manual, I might find room in my heart to forgive his sacrifice if he does and they manage to fix Hal :D
 
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