OK, my apologies for asking have never really contributed, but I promise I'll do better in future! I've been a long-time forum lurker, if that redeems me at all.

My last Panda (a beautiful Sisley) was stolen 9 years ago. I've just seen another one for sale up the road. It's a steal. I'm desperate to buy it! But what massive pit-falls should someone of limited mechanical knowledge lookout for before handing over the cash. It's only going for £450 so it's not the end of the world if it's a total lemon, but still. What would make you wise Panda aficionados turn down such a car?

It's a '96 with 90k on the clock and a broken windscreen. Seller needs it gone as moving abroad.

Help!

My best advice is make sure it is not terminally rotten, it's most likely it's had its fair share of welding in the past so it's worth having a good look over it, if it has an MOT don't let that fool you into thinking it is solid! At £450 you can't go too wrong MOT or not, but it does depend what you want from it. I presume it is an 1986 not 96 like you said?

Thanks Panda1408,

Nope, it was indeed a '96! Very little rust, but sadly too much other stuff doing. Not much rot, but...

Broken windscreen
Rust around door sills
Clutch gone
Brakes gone
All headlights/indicators/hazards and dash out of action (hiding any number of other disasters)
Upholstery badly torn
Key missing (for doors, boot, and petrol cap)
Radio torn out (maybe contributing to the dodgy electrics)
The deal-breaker? Horrible surf-brand stickers all over every panel of the car. She was... dare I say it... ugly.
And none of the jet thrusters or ejector seats were working.

So I'm giving it a miss. Budgeting a grand or so to get all that fixed (not including full respray, further down the line ) puts me into the range of nicer things. Such as...

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1418367258.htm/?ca=22_s

I should mention - I'm in Right Hand Drive Land

if its just the doors that are rust, its nothing
the electronics are nice and easy to fix.
clutch is not that bad of a job.. but if you are not good with tools i guess a garage would do it for less than £200
brakes again.. does not cost much to rebuild the whole braking system

at 450 for a sisley.. hmmm.. its about how much i paid for mine.