Did anyone notice on TV the 5th Gear program a week or so back....
How very quickly they dismissed the PANDA from their group test of small Cars.

Noise was their issue......discuss?


Ian

On holiday, so I'll start with....it's only a TV program so what, then again it's only a wee Panda...:devil::nerner:

My Panda 1.2 is pleasantly quiet for a small car. Even at motorway speeds. The Ford Ka duratec and Nissan Micra K12 I used to drive were a lot noisier. Most of the sound I hear in the Panda is tyre noise.

KPat said:

My Panda 1.2 is pleasantly quiet for a small car. Even at motorway speeds. The Ford Ka duratec and Nissan Micra K12 I used to drive were a lot noisier. Most of the sound I hear in the Panda is tyre noise.

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Totally agree...I was surprised just how quiet the Panda is which is partly why I bought it.
Fifth Gear? A load of egotistical presenters with, no doubt huge amounts of money tearing around test tracks. Yes, that is representative of the real world for normal people like us.....

If a Ferrari makes a lot of noise it's called character but with the Panda Twin Air the whole 5th gear team started whining. I lived the character and noise from the Panda Twin Air Turbo wich made a lot of cool noise when you trashed it but also could be ridden very quitely(cruisin on the motorway it was perfectly silent even with big wheels).I still miss the playfull and eager character of that engine now that I traded it for a MK8 Fiesta ST Line with the 1.0 ecoboost engine.
No other small car comes close to the character of the Panda Twin Air Turbo.

I think they were testing a TA?

Every passenger who has ridden in my Cross TA has said words to the effect of "WTF is that noise?" when I've given them a ride. Let's not kid ourselves, the TA is a rowdy, raucous little beast until you get it up to cruising speed in 5th/6th, at which point the engine noise miraculously settles down to a distant grumble. But through the gears, it's loud, and it feels rough.

Accept the Panda TA for what it is, or feels like (i.e. a demented go-kart) and you'll be content, but in comparison with the best of the competition, I'm not surprised that it didn't impress on a short test-drive. It's an acquired taste.

My son's just bought a Fiesta 1.0 Active (his first new car - bless!). It probably wouldn't have been my choice (he didn't seek my advice ) but it drives very smoothly, and the engine hums away unobtrusively around town. My Panda sounds agricultural in comparison.

All small cars are noisy. The TA has its own idiosyncrasies but is no worse in real world use than most. I would rather live with the noise than the characterless boxes that most other new cars are. Panda rides better than most too. The 1.2 is quiet and smooth in most conditions.

I cannot see why you need to pay thousands more for the alternatives when Pandas available cheap. Never pay list price as there are always offers on!

Pay your money and take your choice.

I will relish not towing the 5th Gear tribe out of a snow drift if I find them stranded. I will ring for a tow truck for them though, Shame it might cost more.......

Cars are so personal one mans meat is another's poison so I will continue to make my own decisions. I tend to seek more down to earth opinions than 5th Gear. They spend too much time worshipping overpowered gas guzzlers for my approval!

875cc is enough for anyone.

The Panda Nut said:

All small cars are noisy. The TA has its own idiosyncrasies but is no worse in real world use than most. I would rather live with the noise than the characterless boxes that most other new cars are. Panda rides better than most too. The 1.2 is quiet and smooth in most conditions.

I cannot see why you need to pay thousands more for the alternatives when Pandas available cheap. Never pay list price as there are always offers on!

Pay your money and take your choice.

I will relish not towing the 5th Gear tribe out of a snow drift if I find them stranded. I will ring for a tow truck for them though, Shame it might cost more.......

Cars are so personal one mans meat is another's poison so I will continue to make my own decisions. I tend to seek more down to earth opinions than 5th Gear. They spend too much time worshipping overpowered gas guzzlers for my approval!

875cc is enough for anyone.

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The noise of the TA is absolutely fabulous, a great little car which in 4x4 guise is unbeatable. If the mob in 5th gear don't like it that is their loss.
If there were any "real" drivers among them (ie someone who had BOUGHT their own car and had to service/run/keep it more than a couple of hours) then maybe just maybe they could begin to appreciate just what it has going for it. Get into 6th on an appropriate road and the little beast is as quiet as any other. Make up your own mind,

What's interesting is that a few years ago on Fifth Gear, Tiff was quite singing its praises...I cannot post the URL yet as I haven't posted enough yet. But it is an easy video to find on You Tube.

Crazyj said:

What's interesting is that a few years ago on Fifth Gear, Tiff was quite singing its praises...

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Time moves on.

While I’m a fan of the 2CV-alike thrum of the TwinAir, I get it might not be to all tastes. What baffles me is the rattley-clatter from the VAG equivalents (Up!/Citigo/Mii) gets nothing but praise when it sounds far louder and more of an unpleasant din. The difference is that the Panda, at cruise is smooth and quiet, where the VAG 3-pot continues to get louder and louder....
But then the cynic might point to whomever gives them the best advertising revenue.....

Had a brief look at a brand new TA Panda cross (I think) at a dealer yesterday for mrs Motability. Sounded like a little old diesel sat idling.

Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica said:

While I’m a fan of the 2CV-alike thrum of the TwinAir, I get it might not be to all tastes. What baffles me is the rattley-clatter from the VAG equivalents (Up!/Citigo/Mii) gets nothing but praise when it sounds far louder and more of an unpleasant din. The difference is that the Panda, at cruise is smooth and quiet, where the VAG 3-pot continues to get louder and louder....
But then the cynic might point to whomever gives them the best advertising revenue.....

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Definately my brother-in-law's VW up! is noisier than my 1.2. And it's from the engine.