Hi, I'm thinking of buying a Panda, have always quite liked the square looks. I drive a big 3litre saloon at the moment but am looking at getting something cheaper to run.

Just a few questions;

- is the Panda fun to drive, even the 1.1?
- is there much difference between the 1.1 and 1.2? I quite like the black bumpers that come with the base 1.1 but not sure if it would be underpowered?
- does the 1.2 with alloy wheels (Eleganza I think) have wider tyres than the 1.2 with plastic trims or the 1.1
- did they update the model at all, I note the Fiat badges changed from blue to red but were there any other changes?
- has anyone traded down from a big saloon to a Panda, and if so how did they find it?

thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer.

I find the 1.1 fine for city work. The earlier 1.1s did have black bumpers but from 2009 onwards they were colour coded. Earlier cars also had a radio cassete in the more basic forms, where as the later ones had CD players.

Early base spec cars only had a drivers airbag and no ABS but from 2004 they all had ABS and a passenger airbag.

The badges were changed in 2008 I think. In 2009 ECO models were introduced which have much cheaper road tax. In 2010 bigger mirrors were introduced.

Any model will be fine, they are all good, it is really best just looking at a few and test driving them and seeing what you can afford.
I wouldn't class buying a panda as 'trading down' from some gas guzzling , money eating 3 litre monstrosity - more trading UP.
Sheesh...

JD82 said:

I find the 1.1 fine for city work. The earlier 1.1s did have black bumpers but from 2009 onwards they were colour coded. Earlier cars also had a radio cassete in the more basic forms, where as the later ones had CD players.

Early base spec cars only had a drivers airbag and no ABS but from 2004 they all had ABS and a passenger airbag.

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:yeahthat:

Although ALL UK Panda's had passenger airbags. ABS on the Active was somepoint in 2004>, our 2004 Active 1.1 didn't have ABS (was 31/03/2004 registered) but was a hoot to drive and more fun than our 2009 1.2 Panda

Most Easterly Pandas said:

:yeahthat:

Although ALL UK Panda's had passenger airbags. ABS on the Active was somepoint in 2004>, our 2004 Active 1.1 didn't have ABS (was 31/03/2004 registered) but was a hoot to drive and more fun than our 2009 1.2 Panda

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many thanks for all of your replies. I was thinking that maybe the 1.1 could be more fun, as it will need be thrashed to make good progress. Many years ago I had a mk1 SEAT Ibiza with a 0.9 ltr (Fiat) engine (pre VW days) and it was great fun, because it needed to be thrashed, and was on narrow tyres.

I have a '55 plate Panda Active 1.1, I absolutely love it and find it very easy to drive and park. There's isn't much umpf in that little engine for the hilly Lake District roads but it hasn't caused me any problems.

I have the 1.2 in my mk2 Punto, and it's a fantastic engine: reliable, economical, makes a great noise, and provides good performance.

Phil1 said:

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a Panda, have always quite liked the square looks. I drive a big 3litre saloon at the moment but am looking at getting something cheaper to run.

Just a few questions;

- is the Panda fun to drive, even the 1.1?
- is there much difference between the 1.1 and 1.2? I quite like the black bumpers that come with the base 1.1 but not sure if it would be underpowered?
- does the 1.2 with alloy wheels (Eleganza I think) have wider tyres than the 1.2 with plastic trims or the 1.1
- did they update the model at all, I note the Fiat badges changed from blue to red but were there any other changes?
- has anyone traded down from a big saloon to a Panda, and if so how did they find it?

thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer.

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Around 2007 the interior plastic trim change from light grey to a much darker grey - the darker grey is much nicer to my eyes.


The 1.4 100hp is the perkiest, but not the most economical and the firm ride doesn't suit everyone.


Your budget isn't mentioned, but the later 1.2 models (2010 on I think) had the 69bhp FIAT 500 engine (versus 60bhp) which is more economical and £30 a year to tax.

The tax bands changed too. The newer Eco 1.1 should be cheaper to tax than the older ones.

The alloy wheel size on the Eleganza should be the same wheel width as the Actives and Dynamics with alloys fitted.

What's the difference between the 60bhp 1.2 and the 69bhp version, power output aside?

puntofan01 said:

What's the difference between the 60bhp 1.2 and the 69bhp version, power output aside?

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Better fuel economy and lower emissions I believe. Its a far better drive also

It's still the same engine then, just tweaked?

puntofan01 said:

It's still the same engine then, just tweaked?

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Same engine, revised head workings.

Didnt they also use a lower visc' oil and different tyres ?

Nice! I'm hoping my next Punto will have that engine.

A Panda is a different animal to a big saloon car. I drive both a 1.2 Panda and an E-class merc and they both have their good and bad points. I tend to take the Merc in preference even for short trips but use the Panda if I need to park in town etc.

A few things to consider about the Panda:

• The ride is very bouncy. You get used to it.
• The handling isn't all that good (although others will be along shortly to tell you otherwise). I have the Eleganza with alloy wheels which are slightly wider and lower profiled than the steel wheeled versions and it runs out of grip pretty quickly on wet roads even with new Conti tyres on. My old Panda dynamic with steelies was just the same. It's always good fun despite the lack of absolute grip though.
• The Panda has an excellent turning circle and great ground clearance and is fairly easy to control in the snow even on summer tyres.
• The Panda is too narrow to straddle most speed bumps but at least there is loads of headroom so you won't bang your head even when you hit one square on too fast.
• From reading this forum, the diesels seem to suffer from lots of problems so unless you're doing mega miles the repair costs might well outweigh the fuel savings (others will be along shortly to dispute this). The 1.2 typically does about 45mpg (others will be along shortly to say that they get 55mpg+)

Looks like the orical has spoken :worship:

captainslarty said:

Didnt they also use a lower visc' oil and different tyres ?

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Yep, was on all Panda's badged 'Eco' I believe.

Lol!! Unlike the e class, the Panda is front wheel drive, like a proper modern car should be. I've driven a rwd vehicle, and I have no desire to drive another, lol! If most of the time it will only be yourself in the car, then you might as well have a small car: what's the point of having a huge car if theres no-one else in it, lol?!

Well, I've had my 1st ever Fiat which happens to be a 2007 Panda 1.3 Diesel Multijet Dynamic, now for just under 2 weeks to use as a cheap runabout. I use a 2.5L 174bhp VW Transporter Kombi Van for towing the Caravan and Family days out, but for local use I found it a little thirsty and not great for parking hence the Panda.

I opted for the Diesel as unless its in a Motorbike I hate petrol cars,unless they a big thirsty engines, they always seem gutless at low revs to me, compared to other diesels I've driven, the little 1.3 (1248cc) 70bhp diesel engine does seem a little rattly at tick over and when you first pull away, but I put this down to it being so small, having said it pulls straight from the off with plenty of torque, and and soon smoothes out to be a great little engine and gear box. Compared to bigger cars the ride quality is a little choppy, but what do you expect for such a true small car, I love the upright seat position, and view of the road and allround visibilty and at 55 -65mpg and only £30 / Year road so far it gets the thumbs up from

Longway said:

Well, I've had my 1st ever Fiat which happens to be a 2007 Panda 1.3 Diesel Multijet Dynamic, now for just under 2 weeks to use as a cheap runabout. ....................................

I opted for the Diesel as unless its in a Motorbike I hate petrol cars,unless they a big thirsty engines, they always seem gutless at low revs to me, compared to other diesels I've driven.

The little 1.3 (1248cc) 70bhp diesel engine does seem a little rattly at tick over and when you first pull away, but I put this down to it being so small, having said it pulls straight from the off with plenty of torque, and and soon smoothes out to be a great little engine and gear box.
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Hi Longway, in view of the age of your car and your comments above, I would be getting the cam-chain and it's tensioner checked.

Dave