Hi all, I’ve been lurking on here for a week or so, so thought it was time I joined and said “hello”.

So, hello! This is rather a fine forum, bit of a credit to the owners!

I’m currently driving a Sportka SE, but the Options credit scheme is about to come to an end. In 32 months I’ve covered 58,000 miles and said goodbye to the single life to gain a rather wonderful wife and 11 year old boy. As much as I love the mighty Sportka (SE) I fear some big bills around the corner, and I also need something a little more practical.

A big second hand car would’ve been the right way to go – so I’m told – but I’ve always liked small cars, and as my daily commute to work is a 70 mile round trip I favour fun cars, something I can hustle, something that will put a smile on my face. The Panda 100HP seems to fit the bill, it seems a worthy successor to the mighty, evil ka.

It’s a bit smaller – which is a worry – but also a little faster, more economical, has five doors and is hopefully more refined due to the six-speed box and has climate and Bluetooth to satisfy the geek in me!

I just wish the wonderfully practical sliding rear seat was an option on the 100HP; it seems a strange omission by Fiat, not to offer it, and that nearly broke the deal.

Ah, the deal! List price on a 100HP: £10,350. One dealer offered £9,800, even after I said the magic word ‘Broadspeed’.
I popped into a dealer near my office, just on the off-chance they had a 100HP to poke around… and came out with an offer of £7,999. Now, that’s 25% off list… first year depreciation anyone?

So, I now have an Ambient White Panda 100HP with Skydome roof (extra £500) on order, and as much as I’ll miss the Sportka SE I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas!

I'm looking forward to taking part in this forum, made for very helpful reading while I was deciding and lurking. Looking forward to chatting to you all, and I’m a bit of a forum tart so I’ve also posted this in the Newbie Central thread.

First off welcome to the forum!

You won't regret going for the 100HP, its a great little cvar and puts a smile on your face everytime you drive it.

Get some pictures up as soon as you get it!

Excellent price you got for

Skyhook said:

....It’s a bit smaller – which is a worry – but also a little faster, more economical, has five doors and is hopefully more refined due to the six-speed box and has climate and Bluetooth to satisfy the geek in me!

Click to expand...

Firstly...hello and welcome and congratulations on a great choice of car!

Secondly, when it comes to size, I presume you are talking about the Panda's outside dimensions?....I can't imagine it's smaller than a Ka inside as the Panda copes very well with four adults and the five doors mean no clambering to get in which is a definite bonus!

Skyhook said:

....I just wish the wonderfully practical sliding rear seat was an option on the 100HP; it seems a strange omission by Fiat, not to offer it, and that nearly broke the deal.

Click to expand...

The rear seats in the 100hp are sportier than the standard Panda, which rule out the third middle seat and belt....I presume this is also the reason for not allowing the sliding option....But like I say, I don't think you'll find it a problem...I'm 6' and an adult can (and has) sit behind me in mine....

Hope to see some pics soon!

Can't believe the Ka is bigger than the Panda internally - a friend's Ka is so small in the back - apart from being claustrophobic - that my departed Cinquecento Sporting could take items that wouldn't go in the Ka. The 100HP is slightly less adaptable than my wife's MJ, which does have the sliding seat option - I thought we'd never use it but it's been really useful on a couple of occasions in the space of three months.

Thanks for the welcome chaps

The Ka has been surprisingly versatile; swallowing enough gubbins for a weeks holiday for the three of us, the Panda boot isn’t as deep (won’t be able to lay Mrs Skyhook’s suitcase flat) but it appears wider and higher, so all is good!

It’s noticeable from the drivers seat that the Panda is narrower than a Ka, but I’d say – certainly in the back – that the packaging is much better in the Panda, you sit higher and there is space to put your feet under the front seats which really helps you get a comfortable seating position. And of course, five doors, no more waiting for The Boy to clamber in before I can get in, or watching friends turn themselves into origami to fit. Must admit, I’ll miss the leather seats though….

I’m really looking forward to Panda ownership, getting to know how it drives and compares to the Sportka, and yes, piccies to follow when I finally get my sweaty mitts on it!

Bit late now but if you had of joined the Forum first, you could have saved another £1000! Perrys and Fiat super saver are offering them at £6999 at the moment, but never mind, you've got a good car now! I'm actually taking the plunge myself in April (on an 09 plate) Still not sure which colour yet. Let us know your thoughts about the car and have fun!

DraigFlag87 said:

Bit late now but if you had of joined the Forum first, you could have saved another £1000! Perrys and Fiat super saver are offering them at £6999 at the moment

Click to expand...

Thank you for that! :bang:

It's a bit of a bugger I know....Most of us on here paid a fair bit more than the £6995 they are selling for now....

Never mind about the price at perry's you'll soon forget about that when you start hooning about in your new one!

As for the ride difference between a sportka and a panda 100hp, I think you'll be pleasantly supplied, my dad had a sportka a few years ago, and sold it because of the ride quality, after driving mine a bit he's now looking a swapping the Jazz (he got after the Ka) for one.

hp_source said:

As for the ride difference between a sportka and a panda 100hp, I think you'll be pleasantly supplied

Click to expand...

You could well be right! All the magazines seem to slate the 100HP's ride quality - but obviously this is subjective, it's a narrow, shortwheelbase car, not a Jaguar.

I had a brief test drive in a 100HP (I'll do a write-up when I get time), and where the Sportka crashes over bumps in the road the Panda was more 'floaty', it doesn't feel as stiff, and that is no bad thing.

I just got an email from Super saver too saying they've sold out of the 100HP at £6995, and Fiat have raised their prices slightly so it's about £7650 now with met paint. Seems silly to raise the price by a few hundred quid when they're obviously not making money on them with over £3000 knocked off in the first place! Ah well, we'll see come March/April...

A bit late, but congratulations on your purchase Skyhook from me as well...

This is a great forum, enjoy your time here when you aren't out wringing the neck of your 100HP! BTW, you do know the Panda's suspension isn't on Maserati skyhooks don't you?

I too looked at supersaver for a 100 hp £6995 plus cost of paint. I was contacted by Sandicliffes of nottingham, they said they have a demo 08 plate with 3200 mls,new orleans blue, only £5995.....wah hoo. had the car 3 weeks now, love going home from work the long way around. This is the car I have wanted since they first came out, I love it.Did anyone see the 100hp press pack on e-bay this week, sold for over £50, luckily I bought mine about 18 months ago for about a fiver.Will post pics later, got to be side by side with daughters Cinquecento sporting and my Malaguti scooter.

[email protected] said:

...I was contacted by Sandicliffes of nottingham...

Click to expand...

That's where I'm buying mine from! They seem a decent bunch, sourced a HP for a test drive, even though they knew I was almost certain to buy anyway.

Schwenck said:

A bit late, but congratulations on your purchase Skyhook from me as well...

Click to expand...

Schwenck said:

This is a great forum, enjoy your time here when you aren't out wringing the neck of your 100HP! BTW, you do know the Panda's suspension isn't on Maserati skyhooks don't you?

Click to expand...

Thanks And I was wondering how long it would be before someone brought up the Maserati link! I'm a Mechanical Design Engineer, 'Skyhooks' are kinda an in-joke; you design something ace then find you can't hang it on the full machine... so you need a 'Skyhook'. I use it on two other forums too.

Skyhook said:

Thank you for that! :bang:

Click to expand...

If it's any consolation, I paid nearly €14,000 for mine back in September (about £11k at the time).