Hello All. I'm new here so please forgive if this is a repeated post. I have searched and can't find anything.
I have just bought a 2009 Panda Dynamic eco. On test drive, everything seemed ok but, now the car is in use, I am surprised how jittery and bumpy the ride is. Is this normal or could something be wrong?
The general handling (cornering etc) seems fine but the overall ride is very choppy.
Any advice folks? It came from a main dealer who has just serviced and MOTd it.

Never get inside a 100HP then.

Aston Martin said:

Never get inside a 100HP then.

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The opposite. Go take a ride in a 100hp and then go back to the Dynamic. This will cure any thoughts of a bumpy ride.


We have 100hp and Dynamic and I'd never describe the Dynamic as bumpy. Maybe I would if I'd just sold a Citroen C6.....

I assume you're on 155/80 13 tyres on steel wheels.

Look at the tyre make, then search the manufacturer's website for tyre pressures. You may find their recommended pressure to be higher than that in the Fiat book. Set them at the higher pressure.

Trying to remember, cos its in the car, out in the cold, and I can't be ar**d (bothered) to go out and look. With the Vredesteins on the front they recommend 2.3 bar, which is higher than in the book. Continental on the rear are, I think 2.3 also. The winters are 2.4 front and 2.3 rear. Raising them made mine significantly softer to ride, and gave less understeer.

Check the shocks - I'd describe the base Panda as underdamped rather than badly sprung, and any wear/deterioration will just make it worse.

Out of interest, what size tyres does it have?

I thought that it said 2.2 bars in the front and 1.8 bars in the rears in the handbook? I can't check though as my Panda is sick in the dealers.

That was for a Multijet on 13s btw.

SirHenry said:

Hello All. I'm new here so please forgive if this is a repeated post. I have searched and can't find anything.
I have just bought a 2009 Panda Dynamic eco. On test drive, everything seemed ok but, now the car is in use, I am surprised how jittery and bumpy the ride is. Is this normal or could something be wrong?
The general handling (cornering etc) seems fine but the overall ride is very choppy.
Any advice folks? It came from a main dealer who has just serviced and MOTd it.

Click to expand...

hi, as others have said,
ride is never "planted" but should be smooth enough..,
80'odd thousand on our 1.1 now

front dampers went soft @60K,
rears are going now..,

what mileage on yours ?,

ECO - is that 13" wheels..?? tyres make a huge difference,
went to 175 /65 14's from a punto on ours..transformed it

Charlie - Oxford
Charlie

Wee Smurf said:

I thought that it said 2.2 bars in the front and 1.8 bars in the rears in the handbook? I can't check though as my Panda is sick in the dealers.

That was for a Multijet on 13s btw.

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portland_bill said:

I assume you're on 155/80 13 tyres on steel wheels.

Look at the tyre make, then search the manufacturer's website for tyre pressures. You may find their recommended pressure to be higher than that in the Fiat book. Set them at the higher pressure.

Trying to remember, cos its in the car, out in the cold, and I can't be ar**d (bothered) to go out and look. With the Vredesteins on the front they recommend 2.3 bar, which is higher than in the book. Continental on the rear are, I think 2.3 also. The winters are 2.4 front and 2.3 rear. Raising them made mine significantly softer to ride, and gave less understeer.

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There's the difference. The book is significantly lower than the tyre manufacturers' figures. I've gone with the higher figures from my tyre manufacturer's website and it is softer, smoother and quieter. And trying it is free.

It it was moted and serviced after you drove it I'm sure if you look behind the rear wheels it has had new shock absorbers fitted , the ride on mine is too rough after fitting new shocks

Thank you for all the helpful comments everyone.

I should have added more basic info to start with...

It's a 59 plate with 28k on the clock. It is on 13" steels with different makes of tyres front and back. Contis on the front and some nasty ditch finders on the rear.

I've just looked underneath. It doesn't have new rear shocks but it does appear to have new springs? The front definitely look original.

I think the tyres may be a good place to start. Or just sell it again!

I have been running Michelin Energy as my summer tyres on my 13s and they feel so much better that the Continentals. I'd be looking to get rid of the ditchfinders as soon as I could (especially on the rears).

varesecrazy said:

hi, as others have said,
ride is never "planted" but should be smooth enough..,
80'odd thousand on our 1.1 now

front dampers went soft @60K,
rears are going now..,

what mileage on yours ?,

ECO - is that 13" wheels..?? tyres make a huge difference,
went to 175 /65 14's from a punto on ours..transformed it

Charlie - Oxford
Charlie

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my 100hp is planted. very steady, really responsive and after 8 months ownership I am fully confident in how it behaves or will behave depending how I drive it. really grown to loving the little thing.

Ok. So it looks like I need to sort out the tyres first. Thinking of fitting a set of 4seasons or possibly winter tyres. Any recommendations?

I'm currently getting my second set of 100hp alloys refurbed.

I have continental winter contact ts800 en route to me in 195/50/15 fitment

GunMetalPo said:

I'm currently getting my second set of 100hp alloys refurbed.

I have continental winter contact ts800 en route to me in 195/50/15 fitment

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the OP has a 1.1 petrol panda on 13" rims, rear drums etc,
has little in common with YOUR 100 HP

Continental WinterContacts are good though.

Wee Smurf said:

Continental WinterContacts are good though.

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thanks,
I've just trawled through a few searches.., but not found anything too helpful in the 13's,
charlie

I ran those on 13s for the last 8 years. This year I'm trying out Michelin Alpins for the first time as I've been so impressed by the Michelin Energy's. Unfortunately now that the bad weather is here, my car is sick in the dealer and I'm not getting to see how well they work.

I should also say that my alloys are also 13s so I'm on 13s all year round.

I've used these guys:http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s=1/winter/t=1/car/r=1/155-80-r13
My winters are Vredestein, quiet, comfortable and much grippier in the cold than the summers. At £34 each, a bargain.
The Uniroyals at the same price are well thought of on here too.
My summers are Vredestein on the front, and some older Continental on the rear. Before I put the new Vredesteins on the front, it had Contis all round. The Vredestein summers are quieter and more comfortable than the Contis.

If getting them on-line, make sure your local garage will fit them for you, at a reasonable price, before ordering. Some garages and tyre shops won't fit your own tyres. I have the machine to fit my own, so just buy the valves locally, at £1 each, then get them to balance them. If you are local to me, South Oxfordshire, you could bring them round and we'll fit them.

I have Vredesteins on the Morgan. Will use the same brand on the Panda when the present, virtually new, tyres (already fitted when I bought it nearly 2 months ago) are EoL...