So recently i managed to brake the 10 000 km (6000 miles) barrier with my panda. So i decided to post a quick review. I want to apologize in advance for my English because it is not my native language. This is going to be a pic heavy post because everybody knows pic's or it didn't happen . I bought my panda in november 2012.

My average consumption during the lifetime of the car is about 6.3 l/100km or 44.83 mpg. That ist mostly city driving.

My lowest fuel consumption was 5.5 l/100km or 51.36 mpg which was made during my summer vacation where it wast mostly motorway driving (at about 110 kph, 70 mph).





All in all i am happy with the car and i thing it offers a lot of bang for the buck.

But, and there is always a but.
Here are some things i don't like:

The quality-

i think that the plastics in the car are not good quality, maybe not the plastics themselves but rather the paint. I have already been to the dealers to change the temperature knob because of flaking and the changed part has also started flaking... But this time the dealer said that it is not covered by warranty because they say that i damaged it myself...... Also the paint on the inside door handles is starting to come off.




Also i had my boot mechanism replaced. No problems with the new one.

The screws on the bonnet are starting to rust... Yes that is right RUST! Haven't been to the dealers to sort that out yet but still. This is a brand new car!






I don't know what this thing is but it is rusty

The second gear! Yeah so there is a problem when down shifting in to second gear. It doesn't happen in any other gear except second. When i down shift the car jerks like 2 or 3 times. It doesn't happen when i release the clutch verrrryyyyy slowly but it doesn't happen in higher gears if i release the clutch fast.

Instant consumption indicator. So when im doing 60 mph and i let my foot of the gas pedal the inst cons says 0.0 l/km which it should say, but if the rpm falls below 1600 rpm the fuel consumption starts to rise?? The fuel consumption acts like im in neutral. I don't know why that happens because the engine cut of should work until idle rpm (about 1000 rpm) when it should start to kick in fuel in effort to stop the engine from stalling.

Also at summer time if the car isn't driven for one or two days and is out in the sun when i start it up it makes a strange rumble noise that last for a few seconds until the rpm start to fall to idle.

Thanks for the review. The pictures are really useful as well.

that was a good review

Thanks for the review and photos. I am also planning to write a small review after I hit 10k km.
About average and lowest consumption - is it according to trip computer or your calculations? Trip computer usually shows round 0.3l per 100 km lower consumption according to my observations. Still rather good consumption for city driving.

Strange thing about rust. Is you car parked in a garage or outside all day? Can you take a photo of rear brake drums? I would be very interested to see in what condition are they as mine are getting quite rusty. I know it is a usually thing and there is no way to avoid that in any car except painting them like every year or so.

Also would like to know if you have any deep stone chips on the car (paint quality of the car) ?

Hi krugoval,

The rust on the 'unknown' part is the top of the suspension on the front of the car. It is quite normal. People on the 500 section have made plastic covers to stop rain water gathering there. You can just cover them in grease or petroleum jelly.
They are a consumable part which will need replacing and will not fail due to rust.
Grease makes them easier for whoever has to remove them in future.
You will have to remove the plastic scuttle panel to expose the passenger side (lhd) one though,if you do want to grease them.




My car is exactly the same and I'd hazard a guess that so is everybody else's if they popped the bonnet to check.

What about spraying the offending threads through the grill with WD40 and later with silicone, wouldn't that slow the rusting?

alamar
The fuel consumption is measured by the board computer but i calculated my full tank fuel cosumption once and got 5.99 l/100 km, and the board computer said 6 l/100km. But i think that the more km u cross the more accurate the computer is.

My car is parked outside yes all the time.

If i have time i will take a picture of the drums or at least tell you how they look .

I don't have any stone chips in the paint.

I forgot to mention in my OP that my car is the 1.2 easy model

Where are you from? Just interested as the weather can effect things like paint. My dad used to live in Spain and the sun used to destroy plastics in and out of the car.

good point,
they are in Croatia,
BUT that could be mild / could be extremes of Heat + Cold,

our '04 pandas plastics have been excellent,
my 2013 TA ( punto's) plastics are more cheap + nastier feeling,

Charlie