Hi all of you Panda fans out there I am a 31 years old guy from Norway who have the strange illness of liking Fiat`s Probably one of the least popular brands in Norway I am afraid. I already have a 1963 Neckar Europa( Fiat 1100 ), a 2008 Fiat 500 1,2 pop and a 2009 Fiat Bravo 1,6mjet dynamic. Now I feel a urge of another little Italian, the classic Panda I just love the boxy little innocent looking car And it also seems like an easy car to fix by my self But there is not many Panda`s for sale in Norway and those I can find have all been used in something they call db drag( something to do with loud stereos). What I wonder is: What do I have to look out for when buying a Panda? Where do they usually rust? What electrical issuses should I watch out for? Any common engine problems? I will be very happy for any advice you guys can give me

Traditional Italian fare. the engines and transmissions will keep on running while the bodywork rots around them. Look out for rust in the seams (look under rear arches), sills esp around the rear suspension mounts, rear cross members seem to go and the old favourite the door bottoms. Door bottoms rust from the inside out so a bit of 'surface rust' there is usually more than it looks. Electrics are temperamental but there's so little of it it's not usually too much of a headache and usually dodgy earth related.
Easy to buy, faults are usually easy to spot. Happy hunting
Andrew.

I have finally found one....Only problem is that it is in Sweden 600km`s away from where I live in Norway. It has VERY low milage, only 42000km`s and is before the current owner driven by an old lady There seems to be some rust on the lower parts of the passenger door, but thats it the owner says But from what I can see from the pics it looks very tidy, both on the inside and the outside BUT if I should buy it I have to pay 12500nok to get it on norwegian platesThats £1360 And the purchase price in Sweden comes on top of this( approx£600). I am not sure if it is worth it, but I just cant find a good one in Norway at an resonable price
Here is the car:
http://www.blocket.se/gavleborg/Fiat_Panda_1000CL_27269579.htm?ca=5&w=1&last=1

Rust! as pointed out above, the running gear and engine are reasonably bullet proof. Electrics are nowt to worry about as....well its not got many

Additional to the above, check under the windscreen/scuttle panel and the boot lid. They tend to rot from the inside out, when you do finally spot it, its too late.

I'm still building up my panda knowledge but you have come to the best place for advice

wreckmaster said:

BUT if I should buy it I have to pay 12500nok to get it on norwegian platesThats £1360 And the purchase price in Sweden comes on top of this( approx£600). I am not sure if it is worth it, but I just cant find a good one in Norway at an resonable price
Here is the car:
http://www.blocket.se/gavleborg/Fiat_Panda_1000CL_27269579.htm?ca=5&w=1&last=1

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May be you can try somewhere in Northern Germany, Denmark, or Nederland, and took some ferry to Norge? Prices is much much better.
There is a very respective- Panda Classic Fan Clubs in all mentioned countries - so try to google-it - and contact directly with Club members with same questions and assistention...
All the best,
AcaDorcol

goodgirl156 said:

Rust! as pointed out above, the running gear and engine are reasonably bullet proof. Electrics are nowt to worry about as....well its not got many

Additional to the above, check under the windscreen/scuttle panel and the boot lid. They tend to rot from the inside out, when you do finally spot it, its too late.

I'm still building up my panda knowledge but you have come to the best place for advice

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Thanks for the advice My problem right now is that I probably must buy it unseen As it is way too far to go there just to have a look.... I might just take a chance....

aca said:

May be you can try somewhere in Northern Germany, Denmark, or Nederland, and took some ferry to Norge? Prices is much much better.
There is a very respective- Panda Classic Fan Clubs in all mentioned countries - so try to google-it - and contact directly with Club members with same questions and assistention...
All the best,
AcaDorcol

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The price ain`t too bad really. It is the importcosts that worries me, and that would be the same nomatter which country I bring it in from Norwegian taxes Everybody just laughs at me when I tell them I want to import an old Panda It is probably considered the ugliest car ever made But I love it and want one to keep for a summer and enjoy car All I want to do with it is keep it original, give it a nice good polish and waxing and maybe put on some nice retro alloys I think it would look smashing:yum:

Here's the link to german site: http://fpcd.iphpbb3.com/forum/portal.php?nxu=57860722nx58 The price of this swedish Panda is too high, imho.
But the tax is horrible!

Sutjeska

Thanks but I am not very steady in german But I dont think 725euros(what I have bid for it) is too bad, but the taxes:yuck: I have been lloking for several months now and this is probably the first desent looking one I`ve found I have asked the seller for more pictures tough and he says he will take some

wreckmaster said:

It is the importcosts that worries me, and that would be the same nomatter which country I bring it in from Norwegian taxes

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And before you take some importing action, check and re-check, and double- check-and again re-check -with your Norge Custom Authorities that they dont have some ``special`` regulations and request - regarding import of used vehicles - sush as possesion of Producers original - EURO 4 Certification (or even later) or other CERTIFICATES, Certification of limited gass emmissions etc...etc.... (only Panda Classic produced after 2000 has some of these certification and requirements).

The car looks in superb condition...1987 makes it a early MK2..

The odd thing is that it has headlamp washers which are usually only found on a panda 4x4??..Could this be a swedish thing??...Rust on the doors is the most common thing on a panda...The seats also look very plush...£600 for the car is cheap and i would consider this car if it was in the UK...the tax you pay is mad!!..

The car is missing the "1000CL " badge on the tailgate which one of us on the forum could send you...

Goodgirl...remember you have a MK1..these rusted away after 5 years!!..The later one were better and the very late ones are as good as, if not better, than most 1990's cars..

Good luck and if you like the car BUY IT, LOVE IT AND CARE FOR IT..You wont be disapointed...

Kev

Could you not keep it on Swedish plates...insurance in Sweden...regester it with a Swedish friend...etc etc????...Drive it in Norway...:idea:

purple haze said:

Could you not keep it on Swedish plates...insurance in Sweden...regester it with a Swedish friend...etc etc????...Drive it in Norway...:idea:

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Good idea, but norwegian citizens are not allowed to drive cars registred in other countries in Norway! This is too protect norwegian custom / tax rules

But if I buy it I dont have to tax it in at once.....If I wait until it is 30years old it is free(almost) to tax in, as it is considered an classic by law.... No road tax either after 30years. So teoretically I can buy it now and put it in my garage for 7 years and only pay about 250£ and then start too use it I can even rent test plates from time to time and drive it for a day or two

Decisions, decisions........:bang:

purple haze said:

The odd thing is that it has headlamp washers which are usually only found on a panda 4x4??..Could this be a swedish thing?
Kev

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Yes, it seems all (not many) Pandas in Sweden had them Look here: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/223892-ended-up-roof.html

Sutjeska

Looks good to me, especially since in Sweden they must use alot of salt on the roads? I would say go for it if it wasn't for those redicluous taxes

panda1408 said:

Looks good to me, especially since in Sweden they must use alot of salt on the roads? I would say go for it if it wasn't for those redicluous taxes

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True, true Cars in Sweden rusts even more than cars in Norway I am really tempted to buy it....But I am struggeling a bit to convince myself, because of those :bang: taxes.... For that total price it should be absolutely mint!! And I cant be sure of that before I have seen it And it is an 9 hours drive to where it is... The seller says there is some beginning rust on the lower part of the passenger door! He seems very honest tough,,, But you never know before you see it in real life! I cant stop thinking there must be more rust somewhere? I have asked for more pictures, so I will just wait until those pics comes I think! Before making an decision

As i've learnt with my own. Its a panda, theres always more rust somewhere!

L7 KVV said:

As i've learnt with my own. Its a panda, theres always more rust somewhere!

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My toughts exactly

Just bought a Panda the same year as the one your looking at (1987) and it has NO RUST!!!...They do exist...

You need to know your car from top to bottom, get underneath and get checking and when you are happy it is solid - get rustproofing!!!

They exist, but are pretty rare I guess..... Have not got any more pictures from the seller yet! Hope they come soon I really want a Panda

The good thing about rust is that it wont get any worse while I have it, as I intend to use it only as a summer car No more salty roads for that Panda And I will also use somekind of waxoil etc.. in doors and other exposed areas.

I did this on my old 71 Viva and that one did not rust at all while I had it