Hello all,

I'm new here and don't currently own a Fiat (though I have in the past had an Uno and a Sciecento).

I test drove the Panda Dynamic Multijet today and fell in love with it.

So, I'm about to put in an order for a Dynamic Multijet Skydome with sliding rear seats. Thing is, I can't decide what colour to go for - Pasadoble Red, Samba Orange or Mamba Yellow.

Anyone got any suggestions on the colour, or pics of Pandas in the wild in these colours? Also anyone bought from Simonstone Fiat in Bristol?

Lastly, they've said it'll be a 6-8 week wait (will have to be a factory build at that spec) and can't be discounted if I want the 0% finance. I'm not sure I can wait that long - it's torture!

yknivag said:

Lastly, they've said it'll be a 6-8 week wait (will have to be a factory build at that spec)

Click to expand...

That sounds about right...

yknivag said:

and can't be discounted if I want the 0% finance.

Click to expand...

...but that's complete garbage!

The dealer-subsidy for the 0% APR is no more than a few hundred pounds, so shop around a bit further afield and you'll get a much better deal.

yknivag said:

I'm not sure I can wait that long - it's torture!

Click to expand...

Don't worry, it'll be worth the wait!

Hi there, thanks for your advice.

Scrogg said:

The dealer-subsidy for the 0% APR is no more than a few hundred pounds, so shop around a bit further afield and you'll get a much better deal.

Click to expand...

In which case, given that they're giving me a few hundred over book for my p/x, then I think I've probably got a reasonable deal. Found a few cheaper on the net but the 0% saves quite a lot of money over 3/4 years and so makes them more expensive in the long run.

You forgot Black

Got mine in 4.5 wks from factory order, just ask the dealer to find a standard build due on the line in your colour and get them to change it to your spec, it saves time.

Yellow

I bought my Panda 1.3 MJ from Simonstone some 4 weeks ago. Like you, had to wait 4 weeks for delivery. Simonstone matched the Fiat Supasaver web price exactly and gave an acceptable trade-in.

I think my deal was as good as it gets. Other Dealers had my spec in stock, but Simonstone would not trade at the Supasaver price. I think the web savings financed at 5.5% saved more than finance at 0%.

Alan.D said:

You forgot Black

Got mine in 4.5 wks from factory order, just ask the dealer to find a standard build due on the line in your colour and get them to change it to your spec, it saves time.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure I could cope with a black car. Too much cleaning

I'll ask tomorrow about changing the spec of a car on the line. Thanks for that.

Wee Smurf said:

Yellow

Click to expand...

I thought long and hard about yellow, and if the Panda were available in the same yellow as the 500 then I'd've ordered it straight away. I don't like the pastel yellow though - it looks a little washed out. Mind you, seeing yours with the skydome, I'm thinking again... ...going back to the garage tomorrow so will have a look in the daylight.

jaytee said:

I bought my Panda 1.3 MJ from Simonstone some 4 weeks ago. Like you, had to wait 4 weeks for delivery. Simonstone matched the Fiat Supasaver web price exactly and gave an acceptable trade-in.

I think my deal was as good as it gets. Other Dealers had my spec in stock, but Simonstone would not trade at the Supasaver price. I think the web savings financed at 5.5% saved more than finance at 0%.

Click to expand...

Hi Jaytee, how are you enjoying your new Panda? (I'm jealous! )

If you don't mind me asking how long did it take Simonstone to give you an actual delivery date (other than the "about 6-8 weeks" line)?

I looked at supersaver, but it isn't as good a deal as I've got when taking into account the p/x and 0% finance. Plus there are none of my spec in stock anywhere in the country so I guess they've got the upper hand really.

yknivag said:

I thought long and hard about yellow, and if the Panda were available in the same yellow as the 500 then I'd've ordered it straight away. I don't like the pastel yellow though - it looks a little washed out. Mind you, seeing yours with the skydome, I'm thinking again... ...going back to the garage tomorrow so will have a look in the daylight.

Click to expand...

I thought that too originally. I thought Broom yellow would be better but I don't think so now. I really think pastels are the way to go with the Panda. It just suits cars of the Panda's size. I think there's just enough black on mine with the roof bars, rubbing strips, handles and mirrors to complement the yellow. I've had many nice comments from people about the colour (except from Jim who said it was the colour of wee , but then he bought one the same colour as well ).

I also loved the Guacamole green, but they stopped doing that colour.

they look smart in yellow as long as its not an active version with the black bumpers

I decided to buy the 1.3 MJ Dynamic with a/c. The price was £6399 OTR. Simonstone had several MJ's in stock but none with a/c. While I was in the showroom, they checked the computer and found there were 2 in the delivery pipeline, made but still in transit. I chose one in New Orleans blue and the delivery quote of 4 weeks was firm. I paid a deposit then conditional on 4 weeks delivery and went away.

The actual delivery was a few days earlier.The Dealer knew when the car was delivered to the port of Bristol nd three days thereafter he car was in the showroom, the reg was known and delivery was but two days later. They had the registration paperwork cleared in hours but, it was necessary to take their free 7 day insurance deal to enable first registration in my name.

The whole procedure went without any issues at all. Simonstone is a big dealership and there are many people on the sales side. It's all very impersonal, but when you buy a new car, its the deal that matters.

I've also bought a Panda from a Fiat Dealer in Telford. Much smaller but very much more personal and caring. You pay your money and take your choice!!

Hopethis helps!

Hi Jaytee,

Thanks so much for your reply. Glad you had a positive experience at Simonstone.

I placed the order today and will find out on Tuesday what the delivery schedule is. There's a few holdups on the multijet due to the head gasket issue last week (though I was somewhat worried that the salesman had no knowledge of this!)

Just playing the waiting game now...

I'm glad you've ordered your car. I don't think you will regret the wait!! My Wife is driving my Panda 1.2 petrol at the moment, as she cannot so readily adjust to the different driving characteristics betwen the diesel and the petrol types. Keep us informed as to how your purchase goes.

Hiya yknivag,

I was in the same predicament as you a few week ago in terms of colour. I did want a yellow Panda as I had the broom yellow Seicento but found the Panda Yellow too pastally for my liking. I went for the Orange MJ with Skydome + Aircon without even seeing one Was told 8 weeks to start with but now have to wait 12. Can't wait!!!

Hi Shortie,

That was exactly my problem with the yellow - if it were the same yellow as the 500 comes in then that would have been my choice. I went for pasadoble red in the end.

Finally got a build date from the dealer today Car will be built on the 7th April. They're talking about 2-3 weeks for delivery after that!

I can't wait that long

I'm sooooo jealous. What extras besides the skydome did you go for?

Went for the Skydome Pack (skydome, remote locking, fog lights, roof bars, side rubbing strips & driver mirror) and the split, fold, slide rear seats.

Anyone know how difficult it is to add an option before the build date?

Or how long it takes from build to delivery?

The delay delivery time doesn't surprise me in the least, demand for new and used Multijets is surprisingly high for a car that has been available for almost 3 years. Personally I think the yellow is too 'canary' and makes the car look too much like a Vauxhall Meriva (which is wrong!) The red is neat, but I think the orange would be the one to go for if I had the that choice of colours. I chose the Azure blue, but I am in my mid 30's (!). Adding extras after you've spec'd your model is possible - but things like extra speakers and front fogs are impossible as these have to be done in the factory. Air con and is probabily the best option.