Panda 2012+ Returning to Fiats after 50 years

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Panda 2012+ Returning to Fiats after 50 years

Joined
Jan 4, 2016
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Location
Barnoldswick
Wifes first car was an original 500 in Turquoise followed by a 126 in Black with full canvas roof (I wish we still had that car as it was breathed on by Lotus and was a joy to drive) whilst I had a 130 or 132(think it was). Liked Fiats at that time for small motors so purchased original Panda for daughter which had canvas seats and built in rust.
Now that we do not travel large distances anymore we purchased new Twin Air Lounge Duologic late Nov in White for a change as all our last cars have been black.
I purchased Dealer stock car so no choice of options but the Panda probably is better kept "simple and less expensive".
So far we both like to drive it and find it comfortable and friends like its "unique vocal sound" when pushed.
Economy is a bit of a let down but as we only do approx 12000 per year its no big problem.
 
Welcome back!

By "original 500" I presume you mean the Nuova 500, which was the fourth 500 after three models of Topolino. The first car I had on the road - just over 50 years ago - was an early Topolino and I've had several dozen Fiats, plus some Alfas and Lancias, in the meantime. Doubt you had a 130 - they were a rare luxury Fiat with a Ferrari-based V6 engine - either the very chunky 131 Mirafiori - with a variety of engines from 1300 pushrod to 2 litre twin cam in the Sporting - or the 132 - a bit more up-market with only twin cam engines.
 
Wifes first car was an original 500 in Turquoise followed by a 126 in Black with full canvas roof (I wish we still had that car as it was breathed on by Lotus and was a joy to drive) whilst I had a 130 or 132(think it was). Liked Fiats at that time for small motors so purchased original Panda for daughter which had canvas seats and built in rust.
Now that we do not travel large distances anymore we purchased new Twin Air Lounge Duologic late Nov in White for a change as all our last cars have been black.
I purchased Dealer stock car so no choice of options but the Panda probably is better kept "simple and less expensive".
So far we both like to drive it and find it comfortable and friends like its "unique vocal sound" when pushed.
Economy is a bit of a let down but as we only do approx 12000 per year its no big problem.


hi, and welcome,
the TA motors take a LONG time to break in , and will still be "Tight" at 12,000 miles,
that's why the "performance engine Break in method" is advised, as are several early oil + filter changes,
Charlie - :cool: 21,000 miles in my Punto TA, not used a drop of oil
 
Thanks babbo umbro for reminding me of the 132 I had, it was quite plush in those days . I remember trading it for a Lancia Beta which too soon gave us a glipse of the road through the floor!! Typical Lancia problem in those days.
 
Thanks babbo umbro for reminding me of the 132 I had, it was quite plush in those days . I remember trading it for a Lancia Beta which too soon gave us a glipse of the road through the floor!! Typical Lancia problem in those days.

My dad had a 1600 beta coupe, dealer could never tune it properly and I remember a regular misfire. Also the bonnet hinges rusting through.....
 
Just the hinges?
That must have been a good'un!

Years ago I once went to look at a 2 year old HPE 2000 and as they do, the owner had just washed it, it was dripping rusty water in front of my eyes!

To be fair it was actually the entire hinge and where it attached to the leading edge of the bonnet. Lovely car though! Made a great noise - when it was firing on all cylinders.....
 
No that was the Fiat Dino (coupe and spider) with the Ferrari (Jano) 2.0 or 2.4, 65 degree V6.

The 130 was a large saloon or coupe (2 door saloon) that looked like a big fat 124 with the Fiat (Lampredi) 2.9 or 3.2, 60 degree V6.

Yes, I remembered the Dino, which had a real Ferrari engine - I thought the 130 engine had some Ferrari influence but not if Lampredi was responsible for the design.
 
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