General Thinking of buying a 2010 Panda 1.2 petrol

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General Thinking of buying a 2010 Panda 1.2 petrol

thebiglad

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Hi all, I'm after a bit of advice/info please.

I'm in the market for a low mileage 2010 Fiat Panda 1.2 petrol and there seems to be a bit of doubt about it's power - some say it has 59bhp others say the 2010 engine has 69bhp.

As that sounds like a significant difference I would like to know more. I would like the 69bhp (what bloke doesn't want more power!!) version but is it possible just by looking in the engine bay to differentiate between the two versions - if indeed there are two :confused::confused:

Or is it more of a VIN number question?

On my wife's 1.1 2001 Panda apparently that is a "non-interference" engine, so is this 1.2 69bhp jobby the same?

Any advice/help would be most appreciated,

Cheers
Dave
 
Normally id say as a general rule of thumb square oil filler cap = older version with slightly less power and non interference. Round oil filler cap = newer and id be more worried about cam belt snapping.

Im unsure about your wifes panda being 2001 model. The new panda style started in late 2003-4 as far as I know

Ive driven both, extensively and there's not much different. If anything id say newer has a bit more rev and higher end eagerness and older as a bit more low down grunt. As I said though theres not a whole lot different.

I would concentrate on getting the best maintained one for the money you have, the 10hp wont make any difference to you imo
 
I seem to think the 69hp version came into production around December 2010.
The major difference from the 60hp version methinks is a revised cylinder head with variable valve, which has already been pointed out, means it's now interferance fit.

Having access to a 69 and a couple of 60's, plus having owned a 54hp (1.1 Active), there's little in it, driveability wise, the upshot of the changes were more to do with emissions.

Out of all of the above, I do prefer the 54hp of the Active, it just feels revier for some reason.
 
A 2010 model will almost certainly be the old type. In Europe the old Panda was still on sale until 2003, unlike the UK where I think they stopped selling in around 1993.

In many ways the older engine was better as it was non-interference, I am driving around with a 5 year old cambelt and not too worried :D
 
OK guys, done a bit more research and it seems like these are the differences:

Pre Mid 2010: 1.2, 60bhp, 8 valve head, compression ratio 9.8:1; standard gear ratios Euro 4.

2010 : "Eco" version of same engine (188A4000), 60bhp Euro 4, but with longer ratio gears;

2010 : Different version of the above engine (169A4000) 69bhp, 8 valve head, Euro 5, compression ratio 11.1:1.

The higher compression engine appears to deliver approx 10% mpg.


The above 2010 info came from Oct 2009 Owners Handbook.

Cheers
Dave
 
Normally id say as a general rule of thumb square oil filler cap = older version with slightly less power and non interference. Round oil filler cap = newer and id be more worried about cam belt snapping.

The square bung was replaced with a more conventional screw type cap sometime prior to 57 plate cars but the 69bhp engine didn't arrive in the Panda until late 2010 as noted above. The general consensus is the 1.2 engine is non-interference until the 69bhp was introduced.

Personally, I prefer the flexibility of the 60bhp engine, the 69bhp torque delivery is higher up the rev range which makes it less eager in traffic.
 
I've had both versions and the earlier - pre 2009 1.2 is for me the better engine.

The post 2009 (eco dynamic) 1.2 I had was not as quick.

You do have to watch what gear you're in though, the tendency is to change up quickly but that leaves you powerless on gradients, soon get used to it though, quite happy in all other respects.

2009 onwards will be a lower tax band though!
 
Normally id say as a general rule of thumb square oil filler cap = older version with slightly less power and non interference. Round oil filler cap = newer and id be more worried about cam belt snapping.

Not so, as below (y)

The square bung was replaced with a more conventional screw type cap sometime prior to 57 plate cars but the 69bhp engine didn't arrive in the Panda until late 2010 as noted above. The general consensus is the 1.2 engine is non-interference until the 69bhp was introduced.

:yeahthat:
 
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