Panda Yet another 100HP

Got some Bug and Tar remover from Wilkos. 'do NOT leave on for longer than 30 seconds, rinse immediately with water.'

It worked beautifully and it took the surface rust off too.


Knob painted and it looks alright I also have another paint project in the works....

Aston Martin said:

Got some Bug and Tar remover from Wilkos. 'do NOT leave on for longer than 30 seconds, rinse immediately with water.'

It worked beautifully and it took the surface rust off too.


Knob painted and it looks alright I also have another paint project in the works....

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Are you going to do the Humbrol Enamel detailing on the gear top? black in the H's and numbers, red in the 'R'? Looks nice that. I can't be bothered mind.


Oh but wasn't that sunroof a godsend this weekend? Marvellous.

Aston Martin said:

The glue will come off with tar and glue remover, I thought the flag was hiding something. But it's the panda and 100hp badges that have caused the rust. There's also a dent on the boot. It'll get mended at some point.

Now, everybody states the car comes alive after 5k rpm. I don't think I'd had it about 3.5/4.
Until tonight, I was on a road which has a police station on it, hit just over 5k and the car seemed to come alive.... Then I saw an Octavia coming the other way, I slowed down, luckily it was just a taxi.

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You should talk to some of the Italian owners, they can't understand why you'd keep it UNDER 5000rpm!!

Drove to work fine, now it won't start. Turns over but nothing else.


EDIT^: I guessed it was the immobiliser, got the spare ran out to me and he fired up.

Anyway, i'm gonna take the key fob to a locksmith in morning and see what happens. I'm not holding my breath after reading threads on here about them.


Remember this?




and now...




In other news I parked next to the Spruce Goose.




:yuck::yuck::yuck:

That de-badged boot looks rather clean.


Here's a question for you - they blacked the front of the roof to match the sunroof. why didn't they do the bit behind the roof? Often wondered.

Went to key man, parked in supermarket car park.... There's that white Cross with a space next to him.

Went to take a pic, but a man was walking near me and I didn't want to look like a psychopath. Turns out it was the owner.... Next time Crossy, next time.

Aston Martin said:

Went to key man, parked in supermarket car park.... There's that white Cross with a space next to him.

Went to take a pic, but a man was walking near me and I didn't want to look like a psychopath. Turns out it was the owner.... Next time Crossy, next time.

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Oh man - you had the chance to get some info and a price. He'll be desperate for the new model! They have a white one in Sheffield for £9500. Print it out and stick it on his windscreen.

Ok the locksmith said that the key chip is working, its the car thats not picking it up.

He said it's a main dealer job, however it doesn't explain why the other key works.

I didn't get charged anyway.


Thoughts?

Aston Martin said:

Ok the locksmith said that the key chip is working, its the car thats not picking it up.

He said it's a main dealer job, however it doesn't explain why the other key works.

I didn't get charged anyway.


Thoughts?

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How does he know it's working? I wonder if our MultiECUscan users know if this is something picked up on that software.


Presumably the key chip works independently of a battery (i.e.doesn't need one). Also assume you've tried it since and still no luck.

AB100 said:

How does he know it's working? I wonder if our MultiECUscan users know if this is something picked up on that software.


Presumably the key chip works independently of a battery (i.e.doesn't need one). Also assume you've tried it since and still no luck.

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The transmitter in the key is being picked up by his machine.
I'm gonna take it to Woodcock Car Sales in Willerby tomorrow, they have Fiat diagnostic kit.


Yes, it's independent.

Anybody want a free, money-pit of a car? :bang:


He rang Fiat to get my code, tried reprogramming it, which in-turn killed the remote function. So i'm using the car with a key like a pauper.

New remote is on the way along with a nice big bill.

Aston Martin said:

Anybody want a free, money-pit of a car? :bang:


He rang Fiat to get my code, tried reprogramming it, which in-turn killed the remote function. So i'm using the car with a key like a pauper.

New remote is on the way along with a nice big bill.

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Bite your lip..........it still drives ok!

Its still a small Italian car....

Didn't you get a warranty?

panda panda said:

Didn't you get a warranty?

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Private sale.

.......

A guy at work has a Fiesta ST (Which mummy and daddy paid for) the ST would destroy the Panda in every way, so I had to be brave. The guy seemed impressed/shocked.

The Panda is back in my good books.

Aston Martin said:

Private sale.

.......

A guy at work has a Fiesta ST (Which mummy and daddy paid for) the ST would destroy the Panda in every way, so I had to be brave. The guy seemed impressed/shocked.

The Panda is back in my good books.

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I suspect there are many folks on here who could afford a dozen Fiesta STs if they wanted. It boils down to being practical/frugal/sensible and not living for the data on a brochure or what Das AutoExpress says.


Next time a big diesel forces past you at 100mph on the bypass, just grin cos he felt the need to do that because you're in a Panda.

AB100 said:

Next time a big diesel forces past you at 100mph on the bypass, just grin cos he felt the need to do that because you're in a Panda.

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I just replaced my S60 20v Turbo with a Panda 100hp. The motorway commute to work is a bit less fun, but it's totally worth it when you get to a nice bit of the twisty stuff... I never certainly smiled as much in the Volvo

The ST is a fantastic car but don't forget its also much more expensive than the panda ever was.

AB100 said:

Here's a question for you - they blacked the front of the roof to match the sunroof. why didn't they do the bit behind the roof? Often wondered.

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Now that you mention it, I wonder why too.

Gavv8 said:

The ST is a fantastic car but don't forget its also much more expensive than the panda ever was.

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They're also common as muck. Although that turbo sounds nice.


.........................


One week in: more random thoughts than usual.

It's been an interesting week, he's broke down after three days and cost me several hundred already. Buying a white car, everyone said he'd always be dirty. He's been washed once and was dirty straight after. But, only because I went to the seaside for fish and chips.

"The rides rock hard" It's certainly firm, but not unbearable.

"It's bouncy" so, so, bouncy. It's always subtly bouncing. However, this type of road...




They aren't common, but the lines in the road feel a few inches deep.:yuck::bang:



Exterior:
I think he looks awesome, as do a few guys who've watched the car as i've drove by. I've yet to see a random woman look at the car.
Why Fiat, don't you have a locking fuel flap? They don't even come with a locking fuel cap, someone has fitted one in the past though.



Interior:
What a delightful place to be, everything is easy to get to. A few downsides are the speedo and rev counter are the wrong way around, the steering wheel leather has de-laminated. The wing mirrors are far too tiny. But, thats what my neck and side windows are for. It also has a lack of cubby holes. On the way home from work last night it was raining, I could see. The Parade gave me no vision in the wet. I just ordered a Blaupunkt aux cable, so I can finally find a use for that Ipod Nano.



Driving:
Sports mode is now always on, the steering feels more realistic and a bit weighty. This is the first car where I actually like driving at 10 and 2. Every other car i'm just at 12. The gearstick location is a great idea, its close to the wheel height. I like the noise it makes, even though it's a poxy 4-pot. Fiat installed a 6-speed box, i'm not sure why. It's geared soo low I use 1-2-4 and 6th.