The dealer are collecting the car on Monday to look again at the car. They are finally giving me a courtesy car. I have zero idea what it is. The noise can be heard outside the car as well as inside. I've noticed the squeaking reduces in wet weather. I'm not good with the mechanic side of things. I just hope it can be sorted.
General Problems with new Panda
- Thread starter Linzilou
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General Problems with new Panda
The dealer are collecting the car on Monday to look again at the car. They are finally giving me a courtesy car. I have zero idea what it is. The noise can be heard outside the car as well as inside. I've noticed the squeaking reduces in wet weather. I'm not good with the mechanic side of things. I just hope it can be sorted.
Hope Panda finally sorted soon. I've had 3 cars out of several that I was happy to see the back of having had one fault after another. There's something to be said for peace of mind that comes with a new car with warranty.
My Panda has been repaired on the third attempt. Getting out of the dealer what was wrong has been very difficult involving a number of phone calls. All i've been told is it's a common fault with a loose bolt under the rear of the car causing parts to move and make the noise. It's been lovely driving a silent car. I had a Fiat 500 courtesy car. I've owned 2 before but could never go back after having a panda 4x4. The dealer have been poor though. They delivered the courtesy car with the low fuel warning on. I live 9 miles from the dealer yet they did 32 miles and used lots of fuel. The back of the interior had clearly had people in with mucky dried boot marks and debris all over. I'm just happy it's finally sorted.
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Glad sorted. They've obviously had people in the back listening for the noise. They may have used a gallon of your fuel but the engine nowhere near freed up and they can't damage it. My Dad and I both tried the same 2014 demo car. And sure seen it since, completely fine. Something may "unlock" around 500-600 miles.if it does, trust me you'll notice the performance increase. ?
I think they've had a little jolly round in it is more likely as you don't see any like it really. That would explain the miles. They told me they fixed it as soon as it came in as they'd had another just like it. I'm so happy it's fixed it's a massive worry gone and i can get back to enjoying the drive. Love it.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Delighted its fixed. It makes me so cross that you get treated like this though. I will make sure if in their area and needing help I call someone else!
Desira in Norwich has my daughters car (2011) and serviced it last week. They also fitted a new air con condenser at my request. The car was delivered back in spotless condition inside and out, and its clear all the work was done. I cannot even see which things they removed to change the air con radiator. I am still pretty impressed with the service department after 10 years they have been consistently excellent. I am hyper critical if things are not right so this really is praise indeed. They are not cheap at all but if you can get things done at the cost quoted, at the time stated, and to a high standard every time its worth paying. Stoneacre should take note that it does not need to be three visits per item and it is NOT necessary to return new cars in dirty condition let alone damaged on delivery. Anyone in the Norwich area should be able to be confident in our local dealer. I watched the service reception staff briefing a young lady about her car and things she needed to know. The way this was done was outstanding. Clear polite and in no way condescending.
Thanks Panda Nut. My whole experience with Stoneacre in Chesterfield has been poor. They really don't care. They have not apologised once for any of it. It's just disappointing and i will NEVER go near a Stoneacre again. The car will be getting cleaned this weekend so there will be no reminder of them at all then.
It's lovely to hear a good experience of a dealer. That's how it should be.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Now I understand Woodleigh. You probably know them as they are also in Chesterfield. They seem expensive to buy from but obviously are running on the back of the appalling service from Stoneacre.
Did you know that I call Chesterfield home of the Fiat Panda. I regularly drive from Norfolk to south Manchester passing through Chesterfield and always see at least 5 or 6 Pandas in the process. We have turned into MAD Panda counters so if I am down I detour past Woodleigh to get my numbers up. Sadly all the ones I see have names too between the family we know where dozens and dozens now live and have named them all....
I hope your will now do as it should and behave. They can be quite naughty, but my experience is they are fundamentally very reliable apart from the suspension dampers which are short lived. Not an expensive thing to deal with so I can forgive this. I certainly love mine to bits. I am trying to persuade my older daughter to change to a Panda too. (It will not come from Stoneacre) It makes it easier if you only have one type of car to maintain!
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Al are you admitting to "fully enjoying the performance" on terst drives, AND insinuating your Dad does the same thing!
The Panda Nut my Dad only went round the block. I took it home for an hour and tried on the roads I found the 1.2 and '09 Panda Multijet infuriating. But the Twin Air barely noticed hills even with 100 miles on the clock. Wished I'd bought it even at a 5 figure price. £1500 discount including the paint. Discounts very small new at the time (2014).
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I live in Sheffield and always look for Fiat Panda's. I've yet to see one like mine though. They are special little cars. I've named mine Christian Grey ?. My mum also has a Panda 4x4 so i get the whole keeping it in the family.
If your ever in Sheffield and see a matt grey Panda Waze 4x4 it's probably me!
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gar074
Prominent member
Is that because of all the pain it's caused you?
Haha yes! It's also because he's very handsome and just a little bit naughty ?.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
I'll let you both off without a caution then! I must say I find the torque in the new one staggering. You change gear and it goes off so hard it feels as if you changed down, not up. Makes the Bravo feel rather slow at lower speeds. I need to organise a race.......
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Noop is cheapo white with red wing mirrors. He will certainly flash his lights.
Glad the Panda is all fixed now, but such a shame that your experience with Stoneacre has been so poor. The Chesterfield branch has had negative feedback for years, even when it was called Autoworld, before Stoneacre took over. The other Stoneacre sites are either really good or really not, but unfortunately a lot of the Fiat dealers in Yorkshire and surrounding counties are made up of Stoneacre sites.
If you don't mind a bit of a drive to Wakefield I'd give Piccadilly Fiat a try. They're very long-standing Fiat dealers and have a good reputation. I bought an Alfa Romeo from their Knaresborough branch and if they weren't a 3 hour drive away I'd use them all the time - they're big enough to cope but small enough to care. Their Knaresborough site comes consistently recommended by Alfa owners and the Wakefield site should be just as good.
Failing that there's Pentagon Barnsley, who have a very modern looking showroom unlike many of the Stoneacre sites. I don't know as much about Pentagon but would imagine they're better than Stoneacre but not as good as Piccadilly.
