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General The new Mk4 Panda - do Mk3 owners like or dislike?

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General The new Mk4 Panda - do Mk3 owners like or dislike?

Hi

It is funny you should say that as I was sold on buying the new Panda but then decided to keep my original car and buy a Panda 4X4 on a 06 plate.

I am very impressed with it. I lent it to a friend and when I asked him what he thought he said you can tell it has not done many miles. He had looked at the trip oddmeter rather than the speedo reading. It has actually done over 81,000 miles. The inside is mint with no wear and the body work is extremely good.

I have owned a Fiat Stilo for some 4 years which I keep over in Spain and again the car has been perfect.

I nearly spent £9,000 on a new Panda but finished up spending just £2,600 plus service and a set of winter tyres so it set me back about £3,150. To sum up I am very pleased and surprised how well they are put together.

Derek
 
Last edited:
Super Uwe said:
Morning all,

I started a poll on the Panda (2012) section to see what the general view of Mk3 Panda owners was in terms of the new model:

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/314368-new-mk4-panda-do-mk3-owners-like-dislike.html

If you could add your votes that would be most appreciated(y)
Click to expand...

I actually like it just a more modern take/design and slightly newer technology i think you can tell its the succesor to the mk3 i wont be gettin one for time being couldnt justify the cash as the spec i want is £13350 .
 
I don't like the new Panda the older one is much better looking! And was cheaper to buy new.

That said I'm looking forward to a new 100hp.
 
I don't think the new interior works well for the base spec models. It looks like it has too much missing, a trick the MK3 managed to avoid.

I have not sat inside one, but I don't think the build quality has improved enough to match the VW Up! etc. The Panda MK3 was a massive game changer when it was launched in 2003. Sadly the new Panda only matches the competition and doesn't smash it.
 
I do not particularly like the new Panda interior at all. The squircular dials are novel but that will wear off quickly I suspect...and the overall effect for me at least feels distinctly cheaper looking than the mk3 which has a more "sober" style and more universal appeal in my eyes
As I read somewhere the new mk3 interior may or may not be stylish for the younger generation but may alienate the older generation. I also prefer the outside styling of the previous mk3 but again looks and interior design are very subjective things. Saying that it was made more roomier with a more spacious trunk. I would have liked more personalisation for interiors available.
 
gquarzo said:
I do not particularly like the new Panda interior at all. The squircular dials are novel but that will wear off quickly I suspect...and the overall effect for me at least feels distinctly cheaper looking than the mk3 which has a more "sober" style and more universal appeal in my eyes
As I read somewhere the new mk3 interior may or may not be stylish for the younger generation but may alienate the older generation. I also prefer the outside styling of the previous mk3 but again looks and interior design are very subjective things. Saying that it was made more roomier with a more spacious trunk. I would have liked more personalisation for interiors available.
Click to expand...

I'll try a new Panda in the next week or two - dislike its exterior and I suspect that all this notional extra room will be so marginal that I won't notice it - I've sat in one and it felt no bigger - and hated the interior mess - but I'm hoping the driving experience makes up for it.
 
You need to drive it to appreciate it - a fun drive all round, super engine, novel, nice noise, really good sharp steering and brakes, an nicely put together - excellent build quality. Drove the rivals like Hundai/Kai and Citroen first. There are cars out there that feel as if they held together with paperclips in comparison. And nice design-touches, take a look at the handbrake.
Its also surprisingly tough and solid...about to drive home from Cape Town.
www.africarecordrun.com also reporting updates on facebook.
 
I've driven the Mk4 Panda (in Spain) and driving wise, it's not much different to the MK3 Panda from what I recalled (drove both in Spain this year for 700+ miles each).

1.Looks - kinda prefer the Mk3 in 100hp/Eleganza/4x4 guise

2. Interior - prefer the Mk3

3. 4x4 - like the Sicilian Orange, seats, the Twinair. Dislike the 6-speed box as it'll have a crap turning circle like my 100hp

It's not like anyone else has anything startling out there though for the size.
 
I rented one last month. It was only a 1.2 Pop, but compared to our current 1.2 Eleganza and 100hp, I conclude the following:

1) It is more refined
2) It has a more supple ride - better than many larger segment cars
3) The build quality is good
4) The handling is competent, but not as involving as the earlier cars
5) It is a genuine 'four adult car'


All in all, it reminded me more of a shrunken C3 Picasso rather than a bigger Panda. But I guess that's Fiat's new target audience. 500+500L to chase after fashion-led buyers and Pandas to go for the practical mini-MPV market, rather than the Hyundai i10/Picanto minicar market.

I like it, but liked it less than the current car. However, a Twin Air 4x4 or a MultiAir Abarth may be a different matter.
 
AB100 said:
I've driven the Mk4 Panda (in Spain) and driving wise, it's not much different to the MK3 Panda from what I recalled (drove both in Spain this year for 700+ miles each).

1.Looks - kinda prefer the Mk3 in 100hp/Eleganza/4x4 guise

2. Interior - prefer the Mk3

3. 4x4 - like the Sicilian Orange, seats, the Twinair. Dislike the 6-speed box as it'll have a crap turning circle like my 100hp

It's not like anyone else has anything startling out there though for the size.
Click to expand...

I agree - surprise, surprise - but the narrower 2-pot engine should prevent the six-speed box from enforcing that oil-tanker-like turning circle that I enjoy in the 100HP.
 
babbo_umbro said:
I agree - surprise, surprise - but the narrower 2-pot engine should prevent the six-speed box from enforcing that oil-tanker-like turning circle that I enjoy in the 100HP.
Click to expand...

I forgot one VERY nice item that all (British) cars should have and that we've presumably inherited from Uncle Henry (ford)...............

HEATED FRONT SCREEN

That to me is an ace. If the 6-speed can yield a 9-ish metre turning circle as well I'd be tempted.

Not interested in the diesel as I like to be able to skip gears, something the 100hp revels in, when the car that exited the roundabout before you lacks the urgency (1st.....3rd.........oh-get-a-move-on....ugh....6th).
 
You can skip gears in the diesel because its got more low-down torque. But whats wong with using the gear-lever?
Heated screens first appeared on the Monte Carlo Minis in 1965, it's taken a long long time for this to be adopted generally.
 
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