Afternoon Panda people.
My first post here but I have been soaking up the ambience for around six months now. I haven't posted because I didn't have a Panda to talk about but as of 10.00 AM today the wait is over.:slayer:
I used to drive an Alfa GT that was my pride and joy - 52mpg commute, 58mpg on long runs, 130mph, comfort to die for and styling to match and I would still have it but for one thing. I fish.
I don't mean popping down to the local pond with tarmac all the way. I mean gnarly rutted tracks to the huts on the best bits of salmon rivers, Highland tracks to remote lochs all of which removed sump guards, fuel tank straps an so on so it had to go. It was also a bit too fast for the roads that contain Audi drivers that can't see bright red Italian cars and pull out anyway:bang:
So what did I want? Panda 4x4 of course. Off I popped to AC Dundee in June to see the marvellous Simon Iluk. Talked cars and finance, said yes to all of it and the order was placed. And Fiat closed the factory the next day to re-tool for the MY17!
Months later it re-opened, they got the order, built it, shipped it and carried it to Dundee. On Wednesday night I drove it, albeit in transport mode and dirty, at night in rain and then didn't sleep much until this morning. Think wee boy at Christmas and you are half way there.
Today I paid for it and drove away trying not to look at my poor Alfa, parked forlornly in the rain.Very sad moment that went away when I played with the Panda. So what does it look like? This!






And this is the VERY first time that I have seen this in my life

Zero on the clock!
The extras cost a lot but well worth every penny. Privacy glass, winter pack (toasty bum), Deepwave Black metallic paint, 60/40 rear seats, spare wheel, 1.3 MJ 95 horse diesel engine. The engine is great and produces a lovely note that is a bit throaty - a rorty diesel Panda! Who'da thunk it!!
Someone asked last week it the Uconnect app works. Yes it does and very well too. Choose your music, radio station, service intervals, voice dialling, text messages and so on from your phone and not an expensive touch screen built in. Park the car and take the touch screen with you - brilliant!
I have mentioned Simon before but I will mention him again. The whole experience was very painless, a lot of laughs and very professional. Thanks mate!
Any issues that I have over the next wee while I will tell you all but the way it drove today I don't think there will be any.
Bring on the fishing season, I am ready!

Euan

Hi Euan, and welcome to FF,
lovely Panda -
hope it's everything you've waited for,


( hint at the reg of the GT - good buy at auction..)

Charlie

It'll be going to central car auctions in Glasgow, the GT is fookin rapid!
Your very welcome mate, we have snow here now, assuming you will be out playing in it.

One of the nicest pandas I've sold ?

Charlie,
FY05FNX, Red GT, 1.9JTD 2005 remapped to 180 horse. Do as Simon suggested and go to the auction.

Simon,
Just delighted with the Panda. It is now filthy after trying it off road ! Very happy and glad you got to try the GT. Shame there are no dry B roads at the moment then you would really smile.

Euan

Running about in an abarth 124 spider at the moment. That's exciting in the snow!

Can't believe u took it off road already!

Burnside Brewery in Laurencekirk was late in opening so Caroline and I had took her for a wee spin in a local wood. It was dirty after the drive home anyway and she will get a bath tomorrow. Promise!

Euan

Congratulations. Looks like a beautifully specced car. The 1.3 95 sounds like a cracking motor.

JCarp16 said:

Congratulations. Looks like a beautifully specced car. The 1.3 95 sounds like a cracking motor.

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It surprised me too. Once you learn to press the loud pedal harder than the Alfa it really does go. It is also quite happy pootling around at slow speeds. Slow corners can be done in third as there is enough torque to drive the car out of them. Second is more fun but that wasn't the point of getting it!

Euan

Soundmixer said:

It surprised me too. Once you learn to press the loud pedal harder than the Alfa it really does go. It is also quite happy pootling around at slow speeds. Slow corners can be done in third as there is enough torque to drive the car out of them. Second is more fun but that wasn't the point of getting it!

Euan

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Have fun. Was the black dash an option for your spec or was the buff colour inevitable - one of my few gripes with my 13-reg 4x44 TA is the reflection in the screen from the dash when heading into the sun - (having lived in Edinburgh years ago) I guess that might not be an issue for you.

The black dash was standard, as was the titanium panel on the dash.
So were the green panels on the seats but I am starting to like them now! It was quite sunny yesterday and the reflections weren't a problem.
The heated screen worked well this morning as did the heated seats, so so far, so good.

Euan

I'm not normally a fan of black (like bright colours) but that looks stunning

Enjoy.

Thank you sir! Much appreciated.
Just returned from my first long drive - home to Tebay in Cumbria for a training course, 235 miles each way. I knew that after 4 1/2 years of the Alfa it might hurt a wee bit with the change of driving position but I was surprised to only have a sore right thigh from the different throttle position.
The Panda performed very well and seems happiest just under 70 mph / 2.5k on the rev counter, with the mpg coming in at 47 which is not bad for a brand new engine. I am sure this will improve. The brakes are excellent and there is very little understeer for a car that sits that high. One thing to watch though is my old habit in the Alfa of going from 4th to 6th and I nearly did that at the Inveralmond roundabout in Perth. That would have put me straight in to reverse at 60 mph!!!
All the front lights have been upgraded with Phillips white vision H4s and LED DRLs and fogs. I have also discovered that the DRLs and the fogs can be on without the dipped headlamps which was a nice combo in the driving rain on the way down. Looks cooler than Audis too!
Going to check the size of the number plate lamp tomorrow as I have some spares in a drawer.
One last thing. The Uconnect app is truly excellent - selecting music is really easy and the whole phone thing is just easy. I am just not sure how the new Police crackdown on mobile phones will treat a dash mounted touch screen that happens to change music. I see it as no different than a built in touch screen like Mercedes or BMW so I might have to ask traffic cop.
I do love it though.

Euan