General Only the strongest survive..

[ExBluebird]

November 2014 I joined here with my wifes shiney POP on the driveway after much testing of the Panda and others. At the same time my Daughter bought the new 3 cylinder 107. I waxed lyrical about its engine at the time.

Fast forward 2 years. My girl has grown tired of the 107 depsite its toys, has grown to loathe brakes that threaten not to stop and an engine that she says doesnt like warm weather.

107 is going and she's taking off us the car she wouldn't look at 2 years ago. The Panda has a new owner.

 

[The Pretender]

And what will your wife be driving next. ?

 

[ExBluebird]

And what will your wife be driving next. ?

Back to her MX5!

 

[ExBluebird]

8 months down the line and she's loving the Panda in her role of community midwife. shes put another 10k on it and her last trip gave 56 mpg.
Low noise, comfort, ride and economy are her favourate bits, she could do with a bit more boot space to hide her on call kit. Yes the seat can come down but oxygen and other kit are a come and get me sign to the scallys on her patch.
I jumped in for a short drive yesterday, joyous!

 

[gar074]

Might be worth getting the rear windows tinted - makes it well nigh impossible to see what's in the back.

 

[ExBluebird]

Nice one, I hadnt thought of that.

 

[Al D]

Good suggestion of Gareth's. Maybe replacement for parcel shelf in black fabric (loops onto dowel nearest rear seat. Velcros other side to protect from anyone seeing what's in. Maybe get more in too.

 

[gar074]

That's a great suggestion - I might do that myself, as I often carry loads of stuff in the back with the rear seats folded down (my car's a bit like a mobile library cum wardrobe, as, living in two different places, I tend to leave my essential work books & files in the car, along with essential items of clothing, so I've always got them handy when I need them).

 

[ExBluebird]

Now 4 years on. Poppy the Panda is still here 35k and at the end of its PCP. Theres £2400 left on it. Faultless and no less great than it was on day 1. I still borrow it off the girl when i need to go to the tip.
I wish she'd clean it a bit more often though.
Its a no brainer, its staying.

 

[Super Uwe]

Now 4 years on. Poppy the Panda is still here 35k and at the end of its PCP. Theres £2400 left on it. Faultless and no less great than it was on day 1. I still borrow it off the girl when i need to go to the tip.
I wish she'd clean it a bit more often though.
Its a no brainer, its staying.

Nice one, sounds like it's been a great buy.

I can imagine the 107 grated a bit. I test drove an 11 plate Aygo a few months back, it wasn't my thing either. It just felt a bit flimsy to be honest, the Panda feels like a solid car to drive.

I'd have considered a Panda again, but ended up buying an 08 plate 1.2 Micra two weeks ago for £900! Couldn't resist at that price. It's surprisingly good fun to drive, quite shocked to be honest

 

[ExBluebird]

Yed Micras - They do the job, i recall in the 80s driving the first one and thinking it was a bit better than expected. In the days when cars could still be quiky, ergonomically it was fantastic, and the engine was like a sewing machine. No wonder they became a firm favorate with the driving schools.

 

[ExBluebird]

Now five and a half years on..

Panda Pop(py) still soldiers on in my girls hands, now with 2 children in the back, and is the regular commute car to her new job in one of the sheffield hospitals. on the days shes off, hubby now uses it. And I still use it for the tip. Its still in great order, and she still doesnt wash it.

The battery went in the interim. Completely without warning just one day it wouldnt start and that was that. Other than that faultless, though i notice the anti vibration mounts are desintigrating again on the air cleaner housing, changed once under warranty. I expect theres a frequency in there that the rubber doesnt like.


What a great Car Fiat!

 

[aparsonson]

Other than that faultless, though i notice the anti vibration mounts are desintigrating again on the air cleaner housing, changed once under warranty. I expect theres a frequency in there that the rubber doesnt like.

Could you elaborate on these anti vibratio mounts? My girlfriends 500 1.2 has a annoying vibration at idle especially with the A/C on. Sounds like this is a possibility as they share the same engine.

 

[ExBluebird]

Certainly where the air cleaner housing mounts, either side to the top of the cylinder you will see some bolts with rubber inserts which isolate the two parts.

These are degrading, and you can see the crumbling resedue around the bolt. Sadly the cars not here at the mo, but i'll get a pic. Heres a stock photo, and from memory the bolts are either side.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Might be worth getting the rear windows tinted - makes it well nigh impossible to see what's in the back.

Had a quote from good quality supplier recently - £175+vat

 

[aparsonson]

Certainly where the air cleaner housing mounts, either side to the top of the cylinder you will see some bolts with rubber inserts which isolate the two parts.

These are degrading, and you can see the crumbling resedue around the bolt. Sadly the cars not here at the mo, but i'll get a pic. Heres a stock photo, and from memory the bolts are either side.

Lovely! thank you sir That'll be a nice weekend DIY job for me...if I can get the parts during this COVID-19 situation.

 

[ExBluebird]

Well 6 years on. I had intended to tell you that the clutch failed 3 weeks ago, but instead I'll tell you that this evening a young lad pulled out of a petrol station and sadly Poppy the Panda is no more. It did its job and while my daughter is having some checks in hospital, she's walking wounded and ok apart from chest pain and marked up..
A cracking car, a great selection from new . Thanks Fiat.

 

[jackwhoo]

Wishing your daughter a full and speedy recovery.
Stay safe everyone.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Wishing your daughter a full and speedy recovery.
Stay safe everyone.

DITTO. and RIP Panda

 

[scotsstag]

Yed Micras - They do the job, i recall in the 80s driving the first one and thinking it was a bit better than expected. In the days when cars could still be quiky, ergonomically it was fantastic, and the engine was like a sewing machine. No wonder they became a firm favorate with the driving schools.

Learned to drive and passed my test in one. 1988 I think