I've had my multijet for 6 months now. Now the excitement of owning my first bran new car has worn off I'm starting to wish i'd bought something else.

I guess the cumbia beige colour doesn't help. The looks haven't grown on me at all as i would have hoped they would, it just looks boxy and uninspiring to me thesedays.

I find the performance of the multijet laggy and lethargic. The economy is okay but not amazing (avg around 53mpg or so).

The body rolls way too much for my liking.

Its been fault free and i keep telling myself it was the sensible choice because it was way cheaper than other options (aygo sport, 100hp, twingo GT etc).

It does though work well for my job, nobody is going to nick it are they? Its fairly economical and reasonably good for nipping around town, but i really don't like the laggy diesel, am thinking i would have preferred the responsiveness of the petrol.

On the other hand it is great on the motorway.

But i do worry that i've got another 2.5 years to go before i pay it off and can get something with better performance, better handling and better looks (would love a mini). I just can't help thinking that i want to get rid sooner, but know i've made teh sensible choice from a money point of view.

I excuse the car by saying it was cheap.

Anyone else had these feelings or are you happy with your choice months down the line?

I am very happy with my choice, and have zero regrets buying it - I smile every time I get in it

I had a Grande Punto 1.9 M-Jet sporting and after a month of ownership I had decided that I did not like the laggy nature of a diesel. I paid cash for my car so I decided to strike while the iron was hot and I sold it a week later! I got almost what I paid for it back ish.

I know exactly how you feel at this moment in time. I bet just like me you did everything you could like test drove one, reaserched the economy etc etc but nothing can prepare you for the realisation you are not happy.

As much as it hurts I say cut your losses and sell/trade it in and get what you are happy with. Myself I have not yet got a replacement but I use my motorcycle to get to work at the moment and have seriously contemplated not replacing the GPS. My wife has a petrol 1.4 Active Sport GP and I prefer that so much more to my GPS at the time. Although the performance was not any where near as good the responsiveness of the engine was a dream. I also like the fact the 1.4 Active Sport was so much more supple over bumps etc where as the GPS was too firm for me.

I say if you can follow your heart.

One of my main motivations behind getting the Panda was because I wanted to leave the diesel fold (previous 3 cars had been diesels). I considered the MJ as an option, but I'm a petrol head at heart and paying a bit more for the 100hp won out.

I'm also awful for hankering after other cars and wondering if I made the right choice and it'll be interesting to see when I start thinking that about the Panda. So far so good, although it really could do with some more power.

Btw, if you want to pep your car up a bit, you might consider one of these:
http://www.dragonperformanceuk.com/store/home.php?cat=348

Have run them on my last two diesels and they make a significant difference to performance. If you're going to buy one, check their ebay shop or e-mail them and ask for their best ebay price and you'll get a nice big saving (I got £120 off the last one I bought!!!).

Chris

Despite buying a Panda 4x4 nearly 3 years ago and it being one of the slowest cars on our roads, I still love it. Choosing Dry Turquoise probably helped and the fact that I don't do many miles and rarely use a motorway. I will probably stick with it until it's only good for scrap then see what has come on the market by then (if private cars still exist!).

Hmm, I guess the problem is i bought the car on finance, so i'd have to work out a way of sorting that out as its bound to cost me a fair amount of money i can't afford in depreciation versus what is left on the finance.

This being the first time i've bought a car on finance i'm not sure where i stand with it?

Its 6 months old and has 6.5K on the clock. I paid £6904 with it. MJ with aircon.

I'm with Stu DemonD on this one and it even makes me smile more when I pass the local garages who seem to be putting up the price of fuel daily these days!

Hmmm..why not lower the suspension and get a re-map to address the power and handling issues you have?

Chinky_500 said:

Hmmm..why not lower the suspension and get a re-map to address the power and handling issues you have?

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That would cause warranty issues and it would cost a reasonable amount to do that. I've modded cars many times before (some pretty radically) and though it is fun, it is essentially a mugs game and the costs never get recouped.

ScoobyChris said:

Btw, if you want to pep your car up a bit, you might consider one of these:
http://www.dragonperformanceuk.com/store/home.php?cat=348

Have run them on my last two diesels and they make a significant difference to performance. If you're going to buy one, check their ebay shop or e-mail them and ask for their best ebay price and you'll get a nice big saving (I got £120 off the last one I bought!!!).

Chris

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Did you do this on new cars? If so were there any warranty issues? I've heard the clutch is made of chocolate and can't take the extra torque.

trackdayqueen said:

Did you do this on new cars? If so were there any warranty issues? I've heard the clutch is made of chocolate and can't take the extra torque.

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The cars weren't new but it only takes a couple of minutes to unplug and remove the box from the car, if you were concerned. Not sure on the clutch, but I tend to drive diesels around above their peak torque revs as it's quicker and also more mechanically sympathetic to the clutch and dual mass flywheel.

Wrt getting out of the finance, you'd need to check your specific agreement. Most finance companies seem to have financial penalties for terminating the agreement early but I've known people who have been cheeky and negotiated with them so it might be worth a try anyway.

Chris

doctorchris said:

....Choosing Dry Turquoise probably helped....

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Great colour choice!....(The same as our Eleganza) :slayer:

Why did Fiat think it would be a good idea to get rid of those funky colours?
(Dry Turquoise, Guacamole etc) The Panda's looks cry out for a fun colour!

I suppose another possible option is that i could chop it in for a 100hp from the same dealer... mind you they are offering it at 8700 so not such a good deal as they were 6 months ago. Unless i went for a low mileage year old one?

Though the running costs would increase a fair bit. But i'd no doubt enjoy it more.

A part of me fancies the aygo though which would cause a bit of a headache trying to get out of the finance deal i currently have with the dealer.

trackdayqueen said:

....I suppose another possible option is that i could chop it in for a 100hp from the same dealer... ....Though the running costs would increase a fair bit. But i'd no doubt enjoy it more....

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Make sure you test drive one over a decent period (ie a weekend) as the ride is not to everybody's taste!

I know exactly how you feel!!

2 of my last four cars have leasted less than two months, the panda has now reached 5 and a hlaf months and boy do i regret being sensible and not getting the 100hp!!

But then i also want a sportKA, and a Mazda 2 1.5, and a million and one others!! I bought the panda because it was cheap and hence because i like cars, having one just becasuse its cheap doesnt really excite, and its probably not going to whether its a panda or an aygo.

Have you thought of a sport KA:slayer:?? Cheap fun chuckable loads of grip and can be picked up from 3k, the reduction in cost per month would cover the running cost and it would put a smile on your face??

Sam

Nowt wrong with being sensible and at my time of life and modding cars for many years I some time wonder why I did it the stilo I owned stood me just over 11k after buying it and modding it and only got me two and a half K in a part ex.. take my word for it you did the right thing which you will soon see when driving costs start to go through the roof in the future..I wish I had found a mj when I bought mine the frugalness of the fuel consumption really is what we need..road tax is also a winner at £35 a year..

Trackdayqueen - didn't you notice the issues you mention on your test drive before you bought it?

Sam87 said:

I know exactly how you feel!!

2 of my last four cars have leasted less than two months, the panda has now reached 5 and a hlaf months and boy do i regret being sensible and not getting the 100hp!!

But then i also want a sportKA, and a Mazda 2 1.5, and a million and one others!! I bought the panda because it was cheap and hence because i like cars, having one just becasuse its cheap doesnt really excite, and its probably not going to whether its a panda or an aygo.

Have you thought of a sport KA:slayer:?? Cheap fun chuckable loads of grip and can be picked up from 3k, the reduction in cost per month would cover the running cost and it would put a smile on your face??

Sam

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I know the Ka isn't a bad car, but i don't really want a car who's design is over ten years old.

Besides i think going for a sportka would be pushing it too far towards performance. After all i do have an integra type-R for weekend and track fun.

An Aygo, are you serious? Thats a very dull car, your Pandas far more fun to drive than those.

HP. said:

Trackdayqueen - didn't you notice the issues you mention on your test drive before you bought it?

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Not really no. I only did a short test drive. Also i was slightly smitten by the 'buying my first new car' type scenario.

I really think though that to notice the issues takes a few months of ownership.

I knew i was being really sensible and that it is cheap to run and i convinced myself i could live with not being overawed with the looks or performance. This is the first time ever i've bought a practical car. All my other cars have been sporty, performance cars (from supercharged mr2s to 325i's etc).

My partner says my problem is that i try and drive the panda like a sports car... he reckons i'm terrible with it constantly foot to the floor 4.5K rpm quite a lot of the time, because to me thats what it takes to make acceptable progress... of course in my previous cars that kind of acceleration was just cruising along. I've tried driving it economically and just get bored and annoyed that when i want it to pick up i have to wait for the turbo to wake up.

I guess, i'm really not enjoying my first diesel car.