General Buying a Panda 100HP

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General Buying a Panda 100HP

CampDavid

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Yesterday my girlfriend's 1994 Metro decided that enough was enough and it was time for a new engine. I know this because 3 miles into our trip to Birmingham from Bedford the temp gadge went through the roof and a huge cloud of white smoke poored out of the back of the car. Monty, it appears, is not full of the Christmas chear.

Monty will therefor be off to our local metro specialist for a new engine, clutch, rad and a full service. On it's return it will become a second car with hopefully a new Panda 100HP Helen's main work car (I don't need a car most of the time as I work in the city and use the train)

I've come on here, mainly to find out a bit about the Panda, and where I should be going to get the best deal. Ideally we want to pay by finance on an interest free type of deal, though can raise the cash to buy out right if need be. So anyway, here are the few questions that I have:

How much should I be looking to pay for a standard, option free (they're loaded up as they come anyway!) 100HP, probably in white?​
Are there any dealers that are worth going to for a good deal and friendly service, within a decent radius of Bedford?​
Are there any options that I should be really looking at? Is the hi fi upgrade worth it (she's a keen musician and a music teacher)​
Are any of the colours ones to avoid? I really want a white car, but is the solid paint finish any good?​
Are they reliable? I've looked through and most seem to be fine, however I have had Fiats before and I know they could be a bit of a pain at times (My old W plate Brava stop gap which I bought at auction was a case in point. The inlet manifold started to take in water like the titanic for some unknown reason!)​
Cheers in advance for all your help. Seems like a really friendly forum so far. Hopefully we can get one ordered fairly swiftly as it's one of the few cars we agree on and both like, the other being the Fabia VRs, which is a bit on the steep side at the moment and used only
 
the white looked good in the flesh from what i could see. you want to be paying as close to 8k as you can.

so 8k with the interest free deal is the target then? They also seem to be doing free insurance, can I get in on this to? I suppose it is just a case of whether the offers are dealer or manufacturer subsidised
 
Should have no problems with reliability, its an old myth relating to the early cars fiat built, expect a couple of niggles though, main thing to watch out for is uneven tyre wear due to incorrect camber, a couple of rattles in the cabin, although the build quality is excellent considering the price of the car, overall, buy one, you'll love it! ( like the white colour, looks brill in the flesh) :)
 
Hi David,

8000GBP is definately the price to pay for 100hp's. Any dealers that tell you otherwise, just walk. A quick search on the web including auto trader etc should suggest dealers who have some in stock that are unregistered and are willing to trade at a substantial discount.

At this time of year, with no trade in, you are in a very strong position, and I would look at 8000 as a maximum to pay.

If you are after a colour/spec not in stock with a dealer, then you will pay more. Only you can say if you feel paying extra for a partcular colour/hi-fi etc is worth it. Personally, I think all the colours are ok and so is standard spec, when the prices are such good value with a discount.

With your bargaining position, you may be able to do a deal over the phone on a new car. I'd ring around for some prices - be bold! I travelled 100 miles for the best deal. A morning in the car and 20 quid in petrol is worth the savings you can make if you're prepared to travel a bit.

Finally, David. if you really are camp, I think you should tell the Mrs!!:)

Happy Xmas and happy hunting!
 
CampDavid-map.GIF
perhaps

not....

atmrspeach.jpg
:D
 
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Yesterday my girlfriend's 1994 Metro decided that enough was enough and it was time for a new engine. I know this because 3 miles into our trip to Birmingham from Bedford the temp gadge went through the roof and a huge cloud of white smoke poored out of the back of the car. Monty, it appears, is not full of the Christmas chear.

Monty will therefor be off to our local metro specialist for a new engine, clutch, rad and a full service. On it's return it will become a second car with hopefully a new Panda 100HP Helen's main work car (I don't need a car most of the time as I work in the city and use the train)

I've come on here, mainly to find out a bit about the Panda, and where I should be going to get the best deal. Ideally we want to pay by finance on an interest free type of deal, though can raise the cash to buy out right if need be. So anyway, here are the few questions that I have:

How much should I be looking to pay for a standard, option free (they're loaded up as they come anyway!) 100HP, probably in white?​
Are there any dealers that are worth going to for a good deal and friendly service, within a decent radius of Bedford?​
Are there any options that I should be really looking at? Is the hi fi upgrade worth it (she's a keen musician and a music teacher)​
Are any of the colours ones to avoid? I really want a white car, but is the solid paint finish any good?​
Are they reliable? I've looked through and most seem to be fine, however I have had Fiats before and I know they could be a bit of a pain at times (My old W plate Brava stop gap which I bought at auction was a case in point. The inlet manifold started to take in water like the titanic for some unknown reason!)​
Cheers in advance for all your help. Seems like a really friendly forum so far. Hopefully we can get one ordered fairly swiftly as it's one of the few cars we agree on and both like, the other being the Fabia VRs, which is a bit on the steep side at the moment and used only



I got a very good deal from my dealer back in July with the clincher being the free insurance (being a 21 year old male its always useful!!). I picked up a brand new unregistered car that was already in the dealers stock and came with some nice extras. (skydome, pandamonium pack, metallic paint etc..)
The only slight downside was that the dealer would not give me 0% finance and the free insurance, so i took the insurance and negotiated a very low rate of finance, not sure if they are doing it as a combination deal now!?

I have now covered some 12,000 miles and it has been faultless!!!:)
I would 100% recommend this car to anybody, superb value for money!!

Btw New Orleans Blue is the best!! (in my biased opinion of course:))

Happy car hunting hope you get a good deal, panda's rock!!

M100 NSY
 
Thanks for all your help!

The CampDavid name comes from aggess ago, and it sort of has routes in the US presidents holiday home. My mates mum was watching the news when Camp David the place was on there, she then asked me to pass something over to her and called me Camp David, so the names stuck! It's a good forum name as no one else is ever going to sign up with it :)

Insurance wise, we're both 25 now so it's not that much of an issue. I'm used to group 14 on my Saxo VTS so it's nice to move down 9 groups :)

Really looking forward to test driving it. It sounds like a very sensible daily runner with the sort of fun handling that I've loved about the saxo and the basic charm of the metro, while being as well spec'd as an average Audi.
 
Regarding the options, I've got a white one with the Stereo upgrade so....

1. I got the cd changer, and almost wish I hadn't (or I will once I connect my iPod). It takes up all of the space in the glove box.

2. The stereo upgrade is definitely worth it. The sound, for such a small car, is great. Subwoofer goes under the drivers seat, so no lost space.

Basically, I went for the 'Evo spec' ie no traction but add the extra airbags.

The colour is great, a nice pearly white, not brilliant or extra bright.

I was offered £8,500 without even haggling much
 
Does seem to be the case, dealers saying no discount on list with the 0%, one's just got the arse with me for even mentioning internet pricing. Hmmmm, not the response I was after!

Booked a test drive for next monday. We shall have to see how it performs!
 
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