I'm really struggling to get the 100HP to perform, maybe somebody can help me understand what's going on.

If I drive in 'normal' mode then it feels like I'm always going up hill and I need to (almost) floor it. In 'sport' mode it performance a lot better for normal driving, but I find it hard to control the throttle during gear changes. I just can't get the revs right between gear changes, it's as if it's a really laggy or something. I rev it a bit, and nothing happens, rev it a bit more and then I'm suddenly doing 5000rpm. Do others have trouble doing this or is it just me? When I change gear it's either really rough or it's really slow while I wait for the engine. In 'normal' mode my changes are okay, but then I struggle to accelerate.

In 'normal' mode I probably just need to move my foot a lot further to accelerate, but I don't like the idea of flooring it just for normal driving. It also seems like too much work having to move my foot that far.

I haven't driven many cars, but all of the others I have drive have been how I would expect it. They just do what you expect, but I think the electronics must be doing some complicated stuff in the Panda. In my old Seicento the engine reved very freely and I could change gear very smoothly and very quickly. I miss my 899cc Seicento - at the moment, my Panda is boring in comparison

There is a definite lack of linearity between what you do with your right foot and the way the 100HP responds - I gather it's because of the "fly-by-wire" mechanism. The response is much softer in non-Sport mode - I only use this for parking and very occasional trickling in traffic. In Sport mode it's very easy to open the "throttle" too far, you need to feed it in just ahead of where the engine is - if you see what I mean; this is particularly so when the revs are below, say, 3500, and you're going uphill. I've found that the freeing up of the engine reduces this effect markedly - I suppose the friction losses are more significant at low-medium revs - I've done just over 3000 miles and the performance is still improving - this may well be because my driving is becoming more sympathetic to the characteristics of the engine, but the engine itself is definitely still loosening up as well.

Having said all that, my wife's (now departed) 899cc Seicento was the dullest Fiat I've ever driven (it may be that you're going much quicker than you were in the Seicento without being aware of it) - not a patch on the Cinquecento in 899 or 1108 form - and it could be that you've either got a spud up your exhaust pipe (!) or two (or three) of your sparking plugs are disconnected.

I think the throttle is pretty predictable in either sport ot normal mode, (although I've only done about 5 miles in normal mode ) and the key to smooth gear changes is to use the pedal progressively to squeeze in power.

If you're free on the 28th, there's a driving day in North Wilts and you're welcome to see if my 100hp is the same

Chris

There is no doubt that the 100hp is a bit of a jiggly car to drive and takes a bit of getting used. I keep trying the normal mode ( not that often though) but always end up giving up with it. Mine must have the early servo set up because in slow moving traffic I find I am either braking to hard or not hard enough, either nearly going through the windscreen or thinking **** I'm not going to stop. It's a fun car and great on the move on A roads, but at other times it's not exactly a relaxed drive.

When I first got my 100HP I was exactly the same, I found it difficult to drive with sport on.

To get over this I kept the sport button on an changed my driving to get the most out of it. After a few days your driving style will automatically adjust to the reactions and feel of the pedals.

IMO with the sport button off the car is terrible. there is minimal throttle pick up unless you floor it and the steering is stupidly light.

Keep the sport button on when ever you drive the car and you will naturally adjust to it.

Murano16v "There is no doubt that the 100hp is a bit of a jiggly car to drive and takes a bit of getting used. I keep trying the normal mode ( not that often though) but always end up giving up with it. Mine must have the early servo set up because in slow moving traffic I find I am either braking to hard or not hard enough, either nearly going through the windscreen or thinking **** I'm not going to stop. It's a fun car and great on the move on A roads, but at other times it's not exactly a relaxed drive."

I agree with you on the earlier brake servo - I think I'd have changed the unit if it had that spec. On the other hand, I find the 100HP very relaxing to drive - the chassis and brakes are so competent and the engine just has enough power to let the car do all the work.

I've never driven my car in non-sport mode.

Surely though when you change gear you lift off the throttle then re-apply once the car is in teh next gear?

I don't understand why you have to 'wait for the engine'? You can change gear as quick in the 100hp as you can in any car.

I must admit I've never experienced this problem. Though I do note that my other half isn't as smooth with the gearchanges though to be fair I only let him drive it if i've had a drink.

It's not like the throttle is sticking or something similar is it?

babbo umbro said:

There is a definite lack of linearity between what you do with your right foot and the way the 100HP responds - I gather it's because of the "fly-by-wire" mechanism. The response is much softer in non-Sport mode - I only use this for parking and very occasional trickling in traffic. In Sport mode it's very easy to open the "throttle" too far, you need to feed it in just ahead of where the engine is - if you see what I mean; this is particularly so when the revs are below, say, 3500, and you're going uphill. I've found that the freeing up of the engine reduces this effect markedly - I suppose the friction losses are more significant at low-medium revs - I've done just over 3000 miles and the performance is still improving - this may well be because my driving is becoming more sympathetic to the characteristics of the engine, but the engine itself is definitely still loosening up as well.

Click to expand...

I've driven the car today, and I was going to say almost exactly what you've written! I've been trying to get used to the 'normal' mode for a few days, but I had enough and used the sport button today. There are 300 miles on the clock now, and it seems to rev much better than it did the day I got it. It is pretty much how I would expect it now and I am making much more progress. I'm sure the engine is a bit faster too, but that could be because I've been in the 'normal' mode for a while.

The way I can really tell how quick it's reacting is by pressing the clutch pedal without moving the gas pedal. When I first got the car it took ages for it to react, but now it does it within the time it takes me to select the next gear. It's probably a combination of the car running in and me getting used to it though.

iv done 15000miles in mine now and have no trouble with mine when i first got it it seemed very slugish from new but now its nice run in specially as i drive it how the 100hp was intended to be driven its really impressive now still suprises me how nippy it is could even call it fast, can beat or keep up with a lot of cars i never thought i would

I have to be honest, i'm no expert, but by what you're saying, i would guess that its purely down to the engine being tight, im sure after you have run it in, it will loosen up a lot and become a lot more driveable!

My 100HP has just covered over 18k, and its sweet as a nut in both Normal and Sport modes, even though Normal mode is just for parking in my car! Ive only had it a week and found it easy to get used to, but my last car was a silly Selespeed Alfa romeo, so if that can be driven smoothly, the HP is a doddle!

I hope you're enjoying it a bit more now, and continue to do so as the engine loosens up!