General Don't make the mistake I made

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General Don't make the mistake I made

scout

Big is not always better
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I feel I must make this post as a warning to others thinking of buying a Classic Fiat Panda.

DON’T DO IT

I did and my life changed forever. I had attended a few meets and Palio had let me drive some of his Classic Pandas which planted the seed. My daughter learning to drive provided the excuse, and VmanC had the car for me to buy. If you forget about the big smile it puts on your face as the eager little engine drags you along, it also takes over your world and wallet. You find yourself looking for things that will enhance your new best friend (bits Fiat forgot to put on your model). You keep finding ‘little’ jobs to do that take you away from your family (may not be such a bad thing) to spend time with the panda. The number of times I’ve had to stop myself taking the Panda to work instead of the 500 is quite phenomenal. And to cap it all, I was warned that I would not be able to keep it to one, I’ve found myself looking at others for sale in various classified ads. What’s worse is that I’ve only owned the Panda since the end of January!!

So in summery buy anything other than a Panda, please, save yourself.

I’m now looking for a Panda’s Anonymous club I can attend.

“I’m an addict, I love Fiat Pandas”
 
meh, mine is rotting away at my friends house after failing an mot last year.
 
As heroin addiction declines I'm thinking of opening a Panda clinic where you can have access to Panda porn on the net. Open packages marked fiat ricambo and caress the parts. Relax after your fix on a fully reclined hammock seat set from a mk1. Check insurance and fuel costs per year against a BMW catalogue. If your into the hard stuff there will be a room dedicated to 4x4 owners and a padded cell for the Sisley guys.

As a substitute to get you off the addiction, an offer of a mk3 panda will be given on prescription .... I'm only finding limited success with this therapy at the moment and may just go back to offering heroin as this is the only thing which I think will match the obsession of panda ownership.
 
I think i need a re-hab session. been a few weeks now since i sold my pepe yet i still find myself spending my evenings on the panda section of the forum and typing "fiat panda141" into you tube, dreaming of the days when i was a slow moving phantom menace on the road.

I only did panda for 2 years but i became hooked on it very quickly, the effects have lasted far longer then i ever imagined and when asked about my dream garage it includes at least 3 different pandas

I have mentioned to my friends and family that one day soon i will have another panda as a toy which is when they sigh and look at me as if i should be locked up for my own safety. little do they realize that im dead serious and the next chapter; "pepe 2, attack of the clones" will start soon (i hope).

mad? probably...
 
I think i need a re-hab session. been a few weeks now since i sold my pepe yet i still find myself spending my evenings on the panda section of the forum and typing "fiat
panda141" into you tube, dreaming of the days when i was a slow moving phantom menace on the road.

I only did panda for 2 years but i became hooked on it very quickly, the effects have lasted far longer then i ever imagined and when asked about my dream garage it includes at least 3 different pandas

I have mentioned to my friends and family that one day soon i will have another panda as a toy which is when they sigh and look at me as if i should be locked up for my own safety. little do they realize that im dead serious and the next chapter; "pepe 2, attack of the clones" will start soon (i hope).

mad? probably...

You're mad? I own 2 (shh! On the other 2)
I did own a MK1 some 10 years ago, :)nice to have different model of the same car, there a members on this forum who think/know I need help! (With my cars I hope ;-)
 
I feel I must make this post as a warning to others thinking of buying a Classic Fiat Panda.

DON’T DO IT

I did and my life changed forever. I had attended a few meets and Palio had let me drive some of his Classic Pandas which planted the seed. My daughter learning to drive provided the excuse, and VmanC had the car for me to buy. If you forget about the big smile it puts on your face as the eager little engine drags you along, it also takes over your world and wallet. You find yourself looking for things that will enhance your new best friend (bits Fiat forgot to put on your model). You keep finding ‘little’ jobs to do that take you away from your family (may not be such a bad thing) to spend time with the panda. The number of times I’ve had to stop myself taking the Panda to work instead of the 500 is quite phenomenal. And to cap it all, I was warned that I would not be able to keep it to one, I’ve found myself looking at others for sale in various classified ads. What’s worse is that I’ve only owned the Panda since the end of January!!

So in summery buy anything other than a Panda, please, save yourself.

I’m now looking for a Panda’s Anonymous club I can attend.

“I’m an addict, I love Fiat Pandas”

(y)

All true & somewhere a couple of years ago is my prediction that you would end up with at least one - we've predicted quite a few now as Didge3 and homeward can attest. ;)

You are spot on about using the Panda for work Bob - now you start to understand why the Abarth has done less than 8000 (7700ish I think) miles in 4.5 years! :cry:

I am a fully trained counsellor (no really!) so can help anyone suffering from Pandaritus. My discipline is person centred meaning I help you find your own answers - this may involve buying more Panda's of course. Still I can help with the marriage breakdown if you choose the more Panda's solution! :D
 
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If you need to wean yourself off Pandas, may I suggest a mk2 Punto?You still get to drive a Fiat, and you can instead get addicted to revving the nuts off a 1.2 8v just to hear it's lovely throaty rasp turning into a shout. Winter wheels for you Pandaholics? ;)
 
If you need to wean yourself off Pandas, may I suggest a mk2 Punto?You still get to drive a Fiat, and you can instead get addicted to revving the nuts off a 1.2 8v just to hear it's lovely throaty rasp turning into a shout. Winter wheels for you Pandaholics? ;)

See my siggy. I'd still rather be driving Pippin, though.... :cool:
 
No no no - a mk2 Punto 8v doesn't do anything a Panda can't over winter. It also has awful fly by wire throttle & electric power steering. Now a mk1 Punto 16v with proper power steering, proper throttle, and sports suspension - then you're talking! ;)
 
No no no - a mk2 Punto 8v doesn't do anything a Panda can't over winter. It also has awful fly by wire throttle & electric power steering. Now a mk1 Punto 16v with proper power steering, proper throttle, and sports suspension - then you're talking! ;)

Lol!! No complaints with the throttle and steering here, lol!
 
If you need to wean yourself off Pandas, may I suggest a mk2 Punto?You still get to drive a Fiat, and you can instead get addicted to revving the nuts off a 1.2 8v just to hear it's lovely throaty rasp turning into a shout. Winter wheels for you Pandaholics? ;)

What are you doing in the Classic Panda section! RUN!!! before it's too late.
 
Lol!! No complaints with the throttle and steering here, lol!

Aha, there speaks someone who hasn't driven a mk1 for years - try a mk1 Sporting for say 5 years, then jump into a mk2 Sporting and tell me what you think! The mk2 is nice (I had one for a while), more comfortable, quieter, better finished, etc, etc - the mk1 is quicker, much sharper, and way more fun. Just my view. (y)

Mk1 is more like a quick Panda.

Speaking of which the reason you're being warned to run away is because you WILL catch Pandaritus if you stay. You don't believe it now, but stick around & then see what happens in a few months..... :eek:
 
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