General Advice needed by Panda newbie

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General Advice needed by Panda newbie

yknivag

Gavin
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
328
Points
52
Location
Carterton, Oxfordshire
As some of you know I went to the Southern Panda Meet last weekend and after riding with Jim in Sylvia and Sam in FuzzyPanda I think I'm hooked! :eek:

Idly browsing (yeah right) through the "Panda's for sale on Ebay" thread I can across this 4x4 Sisley for sale here in Bristol.

Given that it has no MoT and has the oil loght stuck on, what do people think would be a fair price? (I'm new to this Panda buying lark and wouldn't want to bid over the odds).

I know that the door bottoms are prone to a little oxidisation ;) but are there any other areas to pay special attention to when looking to buy a classic Panda? And anything specific to the 4x4?
 
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Hello mate there are quite a few tips on looking for problem area's already in the section but briefly the main ones are the doors, sills, boot floor, rear bulkhead/vallance where the tailgate shuts onto, seatbelt mounts, round the bottom of the windscreen and the chassis where the rear springs attach to in front of the rear wheels. There is also a pressure point on the B pillar in line with the window next to where the door shut's almost every panda has a small almost invisible crack there.

If he is honest about the oil it's probably the wire that connects to the oil pressure sensor as they often break at the connector ot the connector slips off and that will cause the light to stay on which could help keep the bids down so you get it a bit cheaper.

I would go and have a look if it's local and have a look at that wire (can supply pics of what you should be looking for if you wish prior to visiting) If it is that then don't be daft enough to tell him ;)
 
Hi Alan,

Thanks for the tips. Any idea what a reasonable price would be for an F plate Sisley, with a stuck oil light and a rusty passenger door?
 
? Without MOT it could still go to £3-400 or if people are scared off with the oil light maybe £1-200. At worst an engine replacement can be as little as £60 if you do it yourself (it's not that difficult) BUT without MOT he could be hiding some real problem area that requires lots of welding and unless you have good mates in that dept that can be much more costly than an engine.

My best advice would be to go and see it. If there is someone nearby that has lots of experience with panda's ask them along to view it with you. A free lunch and a pint goes a long way ;) (not me though as my back is still knackered :cry:)
 
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? Without MOT it could still go to £3-400 or if people are scared off with the oil light maybe £1-200. At worst an engine replacement can be as little as £60 if you do it yourself (it's not that difficult) BUT without MOT he could be hiding some real problem area that requires lots of welding and unless you have good mates in that dept that can be much more costly than an engine.

Will see how much it goes up to over the weekend. Can't afford too much (what with just having bought the NuovoPanda too).

My best advice would be to go and see it. If there is someone nearby that has lots of experience with panda's ask them along to view it with you. A free lunch and a pint goes a long way ;) (not me though as my back is still knackered :cry:)

Don't have any Panda-expert friends :( Will make special note to check all the points in your post though (if I get the chance to go have a look)
 
There is also a pressure point on the B pillar in line with the window next to where the door shut's almost every panda has a small almost invisible crack there.

Is this an MOT failiure as the Selecta has one on Drivers side that I'm beginning to get a little concerned about.

Thanks. Jon.
 
Well there is a Panda section full of them so just see if any are near you and ask nice (y)

Oh I know there are lots here :) that's why I started the thread. Trouble is you all live so far away! :( Now if only this had been for sale last weekend when so many people were down here for the meet!

For **** sake. More money. The harder I work and earn it, the more I have to spend:mad:.

'Tis always the way with cars, it doesn't matter the make, model, age etc. They seem to have a sense of how much money you have and always break just beyond budget!
 
For **** sake. More money. The harder I work and earn it, the more I have to spend:mad:.

Think I might become a dosser at this rate but couldn't bear doing nothing:yuck:

I've never heard of a panda failing it's MOT at that point and as said almost every panda I have ever seen has that pressure crack except willie :) so unless it's an obvious weekness i think you will be fine.
 
I've never heard of a panda failing it's MOT at that point and as said almost every panda I have ever seen has that pressure crack except willie :) so unless it's an obvious weekness i think you will be fine.

O, thank goodness for that. I was beginning to panic. I know Vauxhall Corsa fail on them, so didn't know if it were the same for Panda's, but check the Selecta tonight and it was just drivers side. Passenger side is fine so might just be a scratch which has rusted away. Will sort with other bodywork things in my summer break.

Jon.
 
OK, I had a text from Jim (e505jpy) yesterday suggesting that the Sisley was not a very good bet. I'm figuring if Jim wouldn't touch it then I would be well advised to stay away.

Having discovered that FF has a classified section, this one looks rather more attractive. :)
 
Gavin, if I were you I'd wait til I had the Multijet before looking into getting another car. This is just how I work though and you may enjoy taking on a Classic. Gary's looks like a sound car, the 1000S is for some the ideal Panda - 999cc fire, running a carb and no catalytic converter to slow things down a bit. Keep it well serviced and it'll be quicker than mine, and as you found out they can move along pretty swiftly. :)

Would love to lend a hand but geography is against us.
 
Gavin, if I were you I'd wait til I had the Multijet before looking into getting another car. This is just how I work though and you may enjoy taking on a Classic. Gary's looks like a sound car, the 1000S is for some the ideal Panda - 999cc fire, running a carb and no catalytic converter to slow things down a bit. Keep it well serviced and it'll be quicker than mine, and as you found out they can move along pretty swiftly. :)

Would love to lend a hand but geography is against us.

Hey Sam! Thanks for your input. :)

The dealer situation has got even worse since last week and the multijet may be a long way away. My dealer appears to have lost the car in the system and they can't tell anything about it. Talk is of May/June delivery but rather vague. :( To be honest, I'm about 48 hours away from cancelling the order all together (as they've done nothing but lie to me for the past 8 weeks) and looking more long term.

I've long wanted a classic Fiat - though always aimed for a 126 but they seem very fragile and I can't afford a garage. So a Panda seems a perfect compromise. Still an iconic classic and yet rather more durable than the 126.

Does that make sense?
 
I've long wanted a classic Fiat - though always aimed for a 126 but they seem very fragile and I can't afford a garage. So a Panda seems a perfect compromise. Still an iconic classic and yet rather more durable than the 126.

Does that make sense?

Yes (y)

Also, a classic Panda is far more practical and can easily be used daily. A 126 is more fragile as you said and less suitable for the daily grind. A 999cc FIRE Panda will be more than capable round town and with a five speed 'box can cope quite happily with motorways. Go for it!
 
You don't have the black window edge so a bit of white tape or give it a wax which will fill the gap temporarily, but would get it sorted to save any further corrosion problems nearer rather than later.

This is it.

27042008720.jpg

Jon.
 
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