Having difficulty now guys, I have changed my mind on this one already and am seriously considering doing so again. I currently have a deposit on a Punto T-Jet and am considering going back over to a Ambience white Panda with sound pack (considering skydome as well)! What is your guys take on my current Dilema in hand?

I've not driven either but have played the same question over in my head a lot recently. I think I'm leaning towards the 100HP at the moment.

If I could afford to do so I would forget about both of these and go for a GP Abarth but seeing as I cant I think the Panda will give more raw fun for less money.

The one point that swings it for me (and most people would think it's silly), the fact that the Panda has a 6 speed box and the GP T-Jet only has a 5 speed box (I want that extra gear for motorway cruising). The GP Abarth however has been fitted with a 6 speed box (wise move IMO).

I cant offer you a comprehensive rundown of both cars and which one would be better but you've driven both so you know how they stack up against each other.

My money would be on the 100HP (unless Abarth will sell me a new AGP for the price of a 100HP )

Hope that helps mate

Clarkson says the 100hp Panda gave him a headache on the motorway due to it having 'no refinement whatsoever' Which to an extent I'd agree as the Panda is a very cheap car.

Grande Punto is pretty refined, Thought Sportings had 6 speed gearbox? or is that just due to it being the same 1.4 engine/box as the 100hp?

That is one probelm for me, and a problem I cannot understand. Why did Fiat put a 6 speed gear box into the panda 100HP and not one in the more powerful Punto T-Jet Sporting, especially when the last generation of sportings were 1.2 16v, but boasted a 6 speed gear box

Another thing the Panda is £2500 cheaper than the punto! £2500 is a fair bit of dough, the only thing that is leaning me towards a Punto to be honest at the moment is the boot space in comparison to the Panda.

I've not taken a proper look in a T-Jet and have been searching everyone online to confirm my suspicions that it is a 5 speed (which it appears to be).

The Punto does have the slightly better driving position by all accounts (in Sporting guise anyway) and more storage (but you would expect that from a bigger car).

I think the Panda's small size allows it to do what Fiat hatchs of the past were always good at, nipping through traffic and safely using road space when taking country lane apexes.

The T-Jet is obviously the faster car (on paper) but the GP shoots itself in the foot slightly with it's Sporting models in the sense that they never feel raw and intwined with the driver (which is something that the Panda does by all accounts). It's too easy to drive the GP sedately and end up using as a tool rather than a play thing.

Draw from that what you will as there are times that I love my GP (M-Jet) and it does make long tiresome trips easy (if not boring and sleepy) but then the latter is a problem for me as I've always been someone who will go for a drive just for the enjoyment of it (something that the GP doesnt tend to get me to do).

To put it into comparison, I used to take my old Bravo HGT out at least once a week late at night just for a spirited drive (and it never ceased to enstow a smile) however as far as I can remember I have never once taken the GP out just for a drive (it just doesnt fill me with driving enthusiasm)

Has anyone got Kids, more to the point a newborn baby, and own a Panda100HP?

Se7enHP said:

Has anyone got Kids, more to the point a newborn baby, and own a Panda100HP?

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Thinking about it, have a 6mth old and may change the 500 1.4 sport for a 100hp!

Thoughts?

My Daughter is due in 4 weeks Good Times . I am just worried slightly about Practicallity with the Panda. One sense 5 doors! Bonus! 2nd thought I can only just about fit the i-Candy Param in the boot.

Buy a smaller pram

Dawesy - drive a 100hp first and see what you think, it might be a bit of a shock to the spine after the 500!

re: 5 or 6 gears - if you have a wide torque band like the T-jet, you don't necessarily need 6 gears.

forget jeremy clarkson he talks nonsense,

I think you'd better get a test drive in the panda, the comments from previous topics suggests the panda is far more fun than the punto (apart from abarth) offers lots of spec for a small price, and is not a common sight on the road, although I am slightly biased (can you tell?)

I think the panda is quite refined on the motorway considering its size, suspension, tyres etc, the only real noise is the tyres, and it can be knocked off line easily by wind etc, but you expect that with a small, tall car.
It's also far more raw in terms of ride stiffness than the punto, but it doesn't bother me, and you soon forget that when bends appear and a smile creeps over your face.

in short if you opted for the punto I'd think you'd regret it a month or so down the line

Guys - its not the number of gears that is important but the gear ratios. I had a Celica T Sport and at 75mph it was pulling 4000rpm in 6th ! This is because it was so low geared. My Polo GTI only had 5 gears but was much quiter at the same speed because 5th was higher geared than 6th in the Celica. This was because the Polo produced so much more torque at lower revs and suited higher gearing. The Celica, as a high revving screamer needed low close ratios to keep the revs up and in the power band. For this reason the T Jet is probably quieter in 5th on the motorway than the 100hp in 6th. Myself - I prefer noisy raw cars and love the 100hp for that reason. You feel like you are driving it , not being driven.

GP will be better car to rack miles up in while 100hp is a good back road car.

Got a 100hp had a GPS 1.9 i know not the same engine as T Jet, go for the Punto..

Arsedownoz, you say go for the Punto. Do you regret selling your M-Jet and buying a 100HP, if so then for what reason(s)?

I ask because I am considering doing just that?

Se7enHP said:

Has anyone got Kids, more to the point a newborn baby, and own a Panda100HP?

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my little girl is 11 months old now and we have had the 100hp for about 6 months ( previous car was a mini one ) . to be honest the praticality of the panda has been superb. . quiny zapp is probably the smallest buggy and fits in the boot fine

as for the 6 speeds. dont be so focused on the 6 speed box , 6th in the panda is no different to 5th in anything else. you get there quicker but motor way cruising is still a bit harcore over 70mph. All the six speed box gives you is lurvelly close gearing so you can keep it screaming :slayer:

If it's any help, the 100hp pulls about 4,000 revs at 90mph in 6th.

HP. said:

re: 5 or 6 gears - if you have a wide torque band like the T-jet, you don't necessarily need 6 gears.

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I agree. 6 gears suck. I have 6 speed box on the 100 and my vivaro van, and get fed up with changing gear all the time. My mazda has a 5 speed box, but the v6 has an excellent spread of torque, so the t jet with 5 speed will be absolutly fine.

Having a 6 speed box, does not always suggest a taller top gear for motorway cruising. The ratio's could just fill gaps between 1st and top, a 5 speed box could still have a taller top than a 6 speed, depends on ratio's.

rpm on the motorway is not always the be all and end all of superior economy. My mazda does nearly 4000rpm at 70mph in 5th, but you are barely touching the pedal, and hills are easy, it still returns good mpg.

Fully laden, the 100hp sometimes struggle up hills at 70-80mph, so you have to change down anyway.

Si - Punto said:

Arsedownoz, you say go for the Punto. Do you regret selling your M-Jet and buying a 100HP, if so then for what reason(s)?

I ask because I am considering doing just that?

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My GPS was the wifes runaround, it was bigger, more comftable, more economical, safer, sat 5 people, it was a nice car but not perfect in any way i would have rather kept GPS, but for you it be that you have got fed up with the GPS, the 100hp might be what YOU need, give it a try go for test drive you will have fun in the 100hp..

Get a 100hp, mines for sale