OK folks I think I've found a Panda to take the plunge with.
It's to teach my oldest son to drive in.

Panda 900 Dance 1989 G reg White 57k miles.

Good:
I hope to get it for £50.
6 months MOT
Recent new brakes
Full service history

Bad:
Rusty doors
One rusty wheel arch
Broken speedo
Shocking interior - roof lining won't stay in. Used for horsey stuff.
Exhaust needs fixing
100 mile trip to get it - but I can borrow a trailer

Shame:
Not FIRE engine
No sunroof (I really like the sun roof)

After seeing what Steve's managed to do with his 750 - it might be worth the plunge.

Worst case - if there problems with it - I'll retrieve it for spares.
Medium case - some more rust is found that makes unlikely to pass next MOT
Best case - back box, speedo, oil & filters.

How much do I need to spend:
best case: Exhaust £25 + Speedo cable £30 + filler/paint/stuff £15 + Filters/Oil £30 = £100

medium case:
Tax it for 6 months - so it can have a holiday to be fixed.
Then find a friend who can weld thin stuff.
Arc welding we can do - but just agricultural stuff.

worst case: it goes for spares and I look for another.


How easy is it to scrub/steam the inside clean?
Does a 900 Dance have cloth/carpets or plastic/rubber trim?

What do you reckon?
Cheers
C.T.

Well, for 50 quid....

but remember that between Steve and I we've thrown 500 quid at Splutter...

Sometimes the cheapest cost more in the long run

(but splutter's worth it, hehe!)

Jim

good choice! to get the best from that 903 engine you must play around a bit setting up timing, points gap and the carb. Youll know when its right as it will sing and fly. thats what I like about them, the litle lump is full of surprises.

Thanks for the encouragment.

Nuovapanda: - can you help with my questions about cleaning the interior of the Dance?

I'm expecting this car to be really grubby inside and I might have to take drastic action to get it clean.

How easy do the seats come out?
Can you take the seat covers off to wash them?

Are the seats as posh as the Sisley see: How to swap seat covers on a Sisley

Thanks
C.T.

depends how grubby it is, seats unbolt really easily, youll see how. I would use a really strong detergent, in the past weve used a kind of degreasing cleaner that is lethal... mixed with water then powerwashed it all off. seats look amazing but take ages to dry!

Yeah, Splutter has easily had 500 quid thrown at him. But the plus side of this is that we know exactly what has been done to him and he won't need any major work for a long long time.

C.T.dont be disheartened by a poor interior -theres always people on FF with spares . it' jut a question of mix and match !
good luck
gina XXX

sorry - problem with my 'S's......

I've got a 900 Dance at the moment, and it's a great car, but to be honest as far as the seats go 'multicolored 70's deckchair' comes to mind. I seriously wouldn't bother cleaning them if replacing them or recovering them is an option (I bought seat covers from Halfords), because most people wouldn't want to be seen dead with them. They are nasty!

Which is a shame because mine is black and the red fabric trim on doors and dash board is suprisingly good looking with the black paint.

My Dance is currently having engine trouble and is restricted to short journeys only until I can find someone that knows enough about mechanics to fix it for me...
(my local garage won't look at it because apparently it's too old and they can't work out whats wrong because they are only used to dealing with new cars now )

panda type thingy said:

Which is a shame because mine is black and the red fabric trim on doors and dash board is suprisingly good looking with the black paint.

Click to expand...

Sounds like my old 900S. I sold it because I couldn't live with the seats.

What's the problem with your car? I wouldn't go near that garage with a big stick. If they can't fix an itty bitty Panda they have no business going near newer cars.

THATS IT! Thats exactly how mine looks inside!
(but newer)
(and cleaner)

To be fair to the garage they have said said they will look, but they don't want to cost me a fortune in labour charges whilst they remember how older cars with things like points etc work.

I kind of know how they feel, if someone came to me asking me to fix they're windows 3.1 I'd probably refuse because it's not fair me charging them labour whilst I remember how program manager works!

you two are sad, those seats are ace, real character and far better than the rotten old light grey in many Pandas! Be proud of them!

In most cars you can tell which model is better because it has more accessories, for instance a BMW might have parking sensors whereas the entry level one won't, it seems with panda's it's a bit simpler (I only just noticed this), I know Steve's is a higher model then mine because he has an ash tray and a passenger side door pocket!!!

I've got a spare ash tray if you'd like it !
-just pm me an address and it's yours !
Also i love this interior very sexy....

Your easilly pleased Gina

posh pandas said:

I've got a spare ash tray if you'd like it !
-just pm me an address and it's yours !
Also i love this interior very sexy....

Click to expand...

Yep, I love the interior too!

Russ

LOL I'd be tempted by the ash try if I wasn't trying to quit and I feel that would just be pushing temptation

As well as that you can apparently get done for lighting a ciggarette in the same way you can for talking on a mobile now...

panda type thingy said:

In most cars you can tell which model is better because it has more accessories, for instance a BMW might have parking sensors whereas the entry level one won't, it seems with panda's it's a bit simpler (I only just noticed this), I know Steve's is a higher model then mine because he has an ash tray and a passenger side door pocket!!!

Click to expand...

Yeah, it was a 900 S rather than a lowly Dance. Even the Dance is luxurious compared to my current 750 L. No carpet, no rear wash/wipe, no passenger door bin, no, erm, brakes...

A lowly Dance eh!!!! The only thing it doesnt have over the 1000 CLX is boring seats and a FIRE engine! Its well plush the Dance you know! Ginas right it is well sexy...

Oh to have boring seats and a fire engine... Not only would Speedy no longer have a gender crisis each time I take the seat covers off but he might have a chance of living up to his name!!!

/me re-reads Steve's post

Wait a sec brakes??? The Dance is supposed to come with brakes?????