Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!

General Pinky The Panda Fundraising Thread

Currently reading:
General Pinky The Panda Fundraising Thread

blu73 said:
seriously?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I really don't remember having any problems driving Pinky the few miles back from Chiltern Hills to Palio's... -- except for complaining about the suspension... (it's new on Pippin...) -- and I was following some seriously experienced (and therefore faster-than-I-would-normally-go) classic Panda drivers; and was pretty much a classic Panda 'virgin' at the time.... :D

There were no oh-sh*t moments to be had, at all. Perhaps the brakes have got worse since I drove him...? (Dare I ask how the front pads are doing...?) He has done a few miles, since then.... :confused:

PS: I know what you mean about Beetles: having owned a couple, thirty years or so ago. I doubt if I would have the strength, now, though, to drive my 1967 1500... -- sometimes it felt as if you needed both feet...! :eek:
 
Last edited:
blu73 said:
well they don't feel spongy or make any noise like the pads are worn, they just don't have any stopping power at all. CLS how does Pinky brake compared to Fizz??
Click to expand...

Honestly I felt exactly the same as you when I first drove a non servo'd Panda, first I drove Chario then Pinky, they do stop but not like Fizzle!
There's no initial 'jerk' when brakes are applied in them so you do question if they are working. When I forgot to double the braking distance I ended up with a sphincter tightening moment, you don't forget twice though!

It took a while to adjust to Fizzles after years of new cars but they aren't bad in comparison to the mk3 at all.

The selecta had the best brakes of any panda I'd ever driven and seemed too keen for a Panda, after a few attempted windscreen headbutts I adjusted to that too :p
 
perhaps i am just just too much of a scare-di-cat but seems to me if a kid jumped out in the road or something in pinky you just simply could not stop, no chance. it just seems so impossible to me that they could be so bad compared to my old k-reg beetle bearing in mind that was the old style k-reg and this is the new style lol. it should by all rights, servo or not, stop better than than a heavier, over 20 year older car!
 
I genuinely thought Pinky's brakes were fine & much the same as most decent Panda's. Give em a good prod and they seem to work fine.

I do drive a lot of old cars though, and every one is slightly different. Will it stop before hitting a brick wall is my test - Pinky passes this test fine, and doesn't even give you a scary moment.

If you want to see bad Panda brakes, you're welcome to try my Super. :eek: I have been frankly astonished that it passes the MOT fine - it's a real where's my insurance policy moment! When I start using it more, I'll get Vernon to sort it - at the moment anticipation is the key ;)

Of course I have driven a 127 with no brake fluid, so anything's an improvement really - that was edge of the seat stuff..........

Seriously, just drive it a bit more & it will soon feel ok.

Oh yes and Pinky's a 999cc engine - can't you feel the extra power? :)
 
Last edited:
blu73 said:
perhaps i am just just too much of a scare-di-cat but seems to me if a kid jumped out in the road or something in pinky you just simply could not stop, no chance. it just seems so impossible to me that they could be so bad compared to my old k-reg beetle bearing in mind that was the old style k-reg and this is the new style lol. it should by all rights, servo or not, stop better than than a heavier, over 20 year older car!
Click to expand...

When I first test drove Char I felt there was no braking at all, compared to my big Punto which has the sharpest brakes in all human history. Got used to the brakes after about 15 miles, don't even think about it now, I've had a few lock up moments but I've always stopped before hitting anything. Pandas do nothing if you press the peddle lightly, you have to smoosssh it into the carpet.
 
homeward said:
Honestly, I really don't remember having any problems driving Pinky the few miles back from Chiltern Hills to Palio's... -- except for complaining about the suspension... (it's new on Pippin...) -- and I was following some seriously experienced (and therefore faster-than-I-would-normally-go) classic Panda drivers; and was pretty much a classic Panda 'virgin' at the time.... :D

There were no oh-sh*t moments to be had, at all. Perhaps the brakes have got worse since I drove him...? (Dare I ask how the front pads are doing...?) He has done a few miles, since then.... :confused:

PS: I know what you mean about Beetles: having owned a couple, thirty years or so ago. I doubt if I would have the strength, now, though, to drive my 1967 1500... -- sometimes it felt as if you needed both feet...! :eek:
Click to expand...

I drove Pinky the morning before you did the return run and felt it was verging on the dangerous then (as I mentioned on the day). It was like pushing my foot through custard to the floor not pushing against any real resistance. The Sisley was much much better in the brakes department.
 
Don't forget you'd just come from a new 500 Bob and that was your first Panda drive - they do take some adapting to. The Sisley had a big brake repair that week so it was all fresh - it doesn't feel any better than Pinky IMHO, and still feels a little soft.

If Pinky's at Stanford I'll take him for a run if we can get back in. I haven't driven him since before Chiltern Hills, so can give a fairly unbiased opinion. I just don't recall anything about his brakes so they must have seemed ok at the time. (y)
 
scout500 said:
I drove Pinky the morning before you did the return run and felt it was verging on the dangerous then....
Click to expand...

Palio said:
Don't forget you'd just come from a new 500 Bob and that was your first Panda drive - they do take some adapting to.
Click to expand...

I think Gavin has hit the brake pedal on the rubber, there.... My first drive in Pippin immediately took me back to driving through the Lakes in a Mk1 4x4, in the mid-eighties (which is what started this addiction in the first place...). It's a completely different feel to any 'modern' car; and does take some time before you have faith in it. Looks like you developed this rapidly: as you were obviously a lot happier in the Sisley.... :devil:
 
homeward said:
I think Gavin has hit the brake pedal on the rubber, there.... My first drive in Pippin immediately took me back to driving through the Lakes in a Mk1 4x4, in the mid-eighties (which is what started this addiction in the first place...). It's a completely different feel to any 'modern' car; and does take some time before you have faith in it. Looks like you developed this rapidly: as you were obviously a lot happier in the Sisley.... :devil:
Click to expand...

I agree the panda brakes are nothing like the 500's (or any modern car) but I have driven many cars over many years and Pinky scared me. It could be that this affected the way I drove the Sisley, which made that feel better but the pedal on the Sisley didn't hit the floorboards. Maybe I need to take him for a much longer run and see if my opinion changes
 
The Sisley has a servo where Pinky doesn't, so I would expect the Sisley to have better feeling brakes.
Pinky is coming back with us on Sunday so if there are any issues I can attend to them. Of course when he is restored proper the brakes will be brought up to as new, or mediocre as some call it. ;)
 
Dragon Man said:
i still think Talon's brakes could be better.. :/

did you find them.. not very responsive Mr VmanC, when you drove him?

oh and i sorted the "in and out" of gear play.. the weld has snapped on the nut, top of the linkage arm so it was lose :D
Click to expand...



Sorry John can't really remember going fast enough to test them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
General Panda Van
Replies
0
Views
70
Jacko Mallorca
J
R
General Panda Raid 2024 - Who's going from the UK?
Replies
1
Views
845
joetheroof
J
P
Technical Service manual for the 1988 4wd panda
Replies
2
Views
512
bevfisher
bevfisher
C
Technical Oil Panda 900 Young 1170A1.046
Replies
0
Views
224
ctln91
C
G
General Panda classic gearbox fire engine
Replies
11
Views
244
porta
porta
Back
Top