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Panda 2012+ Buzz our Panda Cross.

Introduction

Starting this thread for Panda Mo as it will be more her car than mine, but she's not too well at the moment and wasn't able to pick up Buzz from the dealer today herself. Hopefully it won't be long before she's behind the wheel though, I know she can't wait!





I went to collect Buzz this afternoon in our Mk1 Panda 45 as most of the salesmen are a similar age to me and like to see the old stuff we have. Plus it was a good photo opportunity to have first and last Pandas together.

Buzz is a twinair. We've added the following options......

Reversing sensors.
Winter pack - Heated seats, windscreen and mirrors.
Passenger seat table.
Tropicalia yellow paintwork.

First trip was back to the workshop to fit some sill protectors......









It was very dark by now so no more pics until tomorrow.

Then it was another twenty miles home. First impressions are great. It seems more refined than I remember from the test drive in the demo, maybe we hit some bad surfaces that day.

Average mpg so far is 38, that's not bad considering I wasn't trying. To be honest if I'm driving I will rarely be trying, and the eco mode will definitely be off. So too will the stop start function :yuck:

I've found Buzz to be a lovely car to be in so far, good quality ride with a commanding driving position for a small car (should suit Barbara well). I like the twin air engine, great all round performance for such a small one, but I'm not sure I'll ever grow to like the 'comb and paper' noise it makes.

Looking forward to the next drive though. :D
Commiserations to you for being too unwell to drive your new Panda. I know exactly how you feel. When my Panda arrived, I was in the hospital getting my tonsils out. My flat was just one mile from the dealer. It was as much as I could do to pick the car up and drive it home and park it up. I then basically stared out the window at it for the next few weeks as I felt too ill to drive it.

Yes! Frustrating isn't it! Vernon took me out for a short drive this afternoon and I really love this car. The seats are so comfortable and vision through all the windows is brilliant. The warm front seats are lovely and cosy and the sound system is great. Vernon has also activated blue tooth on his phone and verbally instructed Buzz to phone me! Brilliant. I'm glad he's worked out how to do it as he can set my phone up for me and I won't have to bother reading the instructions! (y)
 
The car isn't missing. As I've said to mark through text and phone calls, the car is status 60 which is dealer delivered. It turns status 60 as soon as it's requested from Walon. The car will be here when it's here and I have no control over how long stobart takes to deliver it. Considering the car has only taken 8 weeks from ordering instead of the usual 12, your are lucky to get it so quickly. Totally blown out of proportion!

Thank you for clarifying that for me. Yes I am very lucky that Buzz arrived earlier than I was expecting. Very pleased about that! At least Vernon is enjoying playing with our new toy!:)
 
Thank you for clarifying that for me. Yes I am very lucky that Buzz arrived earlier than I was expecting. Very pleased about that! At least Vernon is enjoying playing with our new toy!:)

It wasn't earlier than we were expecting, we were told mid December from day one. :rolleyes:

Well today I've been under Buzz giving him some added protection against the winter.

Cars these days are pretty well protected against rusting but I wanted to add some wax protection to Buzz just to be on the safe side. Anyway, it's not just the body you need to consider, suspension components, axles, subframes etc can rust too, and these parts don't get the same attention as the body.

As you can see from the following pics there are many areas of the underside that don't get covered in the stonechip/ underseal......








The chassis rails and other box sections all have rubber grommets that are easily removed allowing you to spray cavity wax into them with an extension tube.......





I then used an underbody wax on the outer areas of the floorpan wheel arches etc. On all the suspension parts, subframes etc I used a clear wax that's pretty much invisible once dry.....











Ok, bring on the salt and the snow, we're ready for you now. :)
 
Fabulous pictures and that's one hell of a paint job.
Nae rusty butt for Buzz when he's older.
Are the ramps yours? They should have a name too!

Hmm, suppose I could call them 'Jack'.

Na, maybe not. I do find that giving cars a name increases attachment and encourages you to look after them well, but naming my equipment is probably a step too far. Having said that, I did give my new oil drainer a name yesterday as it looks like a small robot. Olly's his name. :eek:
 
Great post VmanC, has made me all the more certain that I need to treat Po with some Dinitrol or Waxoyl.
 
Hmm, suppose I could call them 'Jack'.

Na, maybe not. I do find that giving cars a name increases attachment and encourages you to look after them well, but naming my equipment is probably a step too far. Having said that, I did give my new oil drainer a name yesterday as it looks like a small robot. Olly's his name. :eek:

Doesnt look like a Jack to me.
Being that colour and being able to lift cars it has to be Hulk.
 
Waxoyl is the one that everyone knows but I think Dinitrol is a superior product. I use Bilt Hamber myself, very impressed with thier stuff.


I too had heard Dinitrol was superior, I'll check out Bilt Hamber though.

I thought Po had an older brother but couldn't be sure, hope you don't mind scout?
 
Was quite foggy this morning so I thought it might make a nice moody pic. Don't think I managed the moodiness but it was nice to have a couple of pics of Buzz in his natural environment........





Deep in the woods? No, I was actually stood on the road when I took the pics. Honest Barbara, I was!
 
Vernon didn't drive Buzz to work today so I decided that I would take him for a drive. I didn't go far as I am still not well but I had some Xmas cards to post and as the collection from our road went at 9.00am it meant I had to go to the high street. It's only a mile away but too far for me to walk at the moment. It is such a lovely car to drive! I really love it. Can't wait to really drive it!
 
Ah well it was good while it lasted. :p

Really I'm very pleased that Barbara's behind the wheel at last, she deserves something nice after a rough year. I'm happy commuting in our old Pandas, and I'm sure to be the one driving if we go anywhere in Buzz together.
 
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