A draft version of how to buy a Panda - bits collected from all over.
If others can add comment, perhaps one of the moderators can make it a sticky posting.
The biggest killer of Pandas is rust - there are some disturbing pictures in this Sisley thread
other places to look are:
bottom of the doors, front or back, either side.
When your doors rust they're difficult to repair or replace.
Check the bottom of the sills under the car, where the panels all come together at the lowest point - this seam should be nice and solid, and the same width all down the length of the car - any "fat bits" are corroding badly inside.
While you're down there check the driveshaft boots for splits.
Check the wheel arches too - outer edges front and back - and also the seam inside the rear arch where the top, middle and bottom of the car are welded together. Look out for "fat bits" on this seam too, if it gets very bad you get a hole inside like the first attached picture.
Check the tyres for odd wear patterns, and condition, while you look at the wheel arches.
Open the hatch and lift the floor matting, check along the edges for rust bubbles.
Fold the rear seat and check for bubbles where the rear suspension arm brackets are mounted (this is is the other attached picture, the view is of the passenger side looking towards the rear of the car - the indentation to the left is where the rear seat base locates).
Make sure the bonnet can be opened (might be a two man job) and check the oil colour on the dipstick - it'll probably have been changed recently anyway, but worth a look.
Take the oil filler plug out - there should be no signs of "mayonnaise" in there. If there is you might have head gasket problems.
Look to see how much oil there is splattered about on the engine - some leakage from the camshaft cover is common - but less is better, unless it's been steam cleaned very recently. In which case, what are they hiding??
Check the floor under where it's been regularly parked up - you'll soon see if there are serious leaks.
Make a note of the VIN number for later.
Take the top off the radiator header tank (careful if it's hot), check the antifreeze mixture looks either green or blue, but not clear water. Look for oily residues, or mayonnaise, in the coolant - there shouldn't be any, if there are you probably have head gasket problems.
Put the filler cap back on.
Before you start it up, see what dash board lights are lit:
Brake, ignition, oil, and (briefly) engine management lights should all be on.
Start it - it should start without touching the pedal (as it's fuel injected) and run evenly and be free of loud tapping or rattling noises.
All the lights should go out, except the handbrake warning.
Don't be fobbed off with "it's just the bulb" if a warning light is out.
Back under the bonnet again - see if the coolant pipes get stiff quickly, if so you're looking at a head gasket problem.
Let it warm right up - the fan should cut in at about 90 on the gauge.
While it's warming up check all the lights, indicators, wipers, and washers.
(The front wipers have two speeds flat out, and intermittent flat out. The back washer is operated by pushing in the rear wipe button, and holding it in, when you let go the rear wiper runs non-stop until you press the button again.)
Also check the heater is working, and check the fan for operation on both speeds.
Check all the locks - hopefully the same key.
The clutch operation should be reasonably light - as mentioned above, a very heavy pedal is common towards the end of the clutch life, possibly because the driven plate is sticking on the splines.
Foot brakes on this Panda should be good, and no shock to a driver of any modern car, due to the servo.
Press the brake pedal fairly firmly - keep the pressure on for several seconds... The pedal shouldn't sink towards the floor.
It should pull up in a straight line.
Check for fluid leaks around the servo, and by the wheel cylinders.
The handbrake should hold the car on a slope without too much effort - but it's one of the weak spots on the car: use it as a bargaining point.
When driving, the steering should be very precise, and not pull, or tend to go left or right if you loosen your grip a bit on the steering wheel.
The performance should be quite lively, with lots of pull from low revs - it should feel a bit "under geared".
Any hesitation, or spluttering, or needing to keep the revs up (or excessive steam from the exhaust) is a bad sign.
The gearchange might be a bit vague, and there may be some difficulty in selecting 5th gear - use it as a bargaining point - there should be very little gear noise.
The synchromesh should be good on all forward gears, as this one has the later gearbox.
Check the condition of the opening roof(s) - the outer edge stitching will probably have gone by now, and it will be a bit noisy at speed, but it shouldn't flap about when closed with the windows shut.
It should all line up with the roof, and the catch, when closing.
Both the rubber straps (for keeping the roof open, or partially open) should be there, without any rips.
The most important sunroof bit is the leading edge, where it is riveted to the roof: older used ones tend to split here. When it tears all along the front edge you need a new roof...
Don't forget to ask how long they owned the Panda, beware the "I'm selling it for a friend/aged relative/ etc" line, look at the V5 for last issue date, and number of owners.
Large number of owners may be a problem car, short last ownership ditto.
Check the VIN number is the same as the car (and MOT).
If the name isn't the seller you may be looking at a "home trader" who has got it from auction/trade in, and is looking for a quick profit.
If you don't want a 100+ UKP bill at the next MOT, get it done before the purchase - with emphasis on the gas test: the CAT will be tired by now, if original.
If you've got through all that, and ticked every good bit, and not found any bad, give or take the state of the tyres, preferably with lots of "history*", you've probably got 400 and odd UKP worth of Panda.
Regards
John H
