General Panda Eco 1.1 2010, MOT Failed

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General Panda Eco 1.1 2010, MOT Failed

Theleman. As you say, the whole point of running a 10 years old car is to save money at the cost of things wearing out. Cars are not investments. They always cost money. It all depends on how flash you want to look and how important it is to have OEM warranties.

My method is to look at what a new(er) car would cost per month then how many months I would need to pay in order to cover the repair costs.

Let's say my budget is £200 a month (I know that won't buy much) and the repairs cost £600. After three months I'm done and back to "free" driving. Clearly, I have to look at the big picture if the car needs clutch, suspension, exhaust, tyres and more along with garage labour, the hassle and costs will probably not add up.
 
@Theleman. As you say, the whole point of running a 10 years old car is to save money at the cost of things wearing out. Cars are not investments. They always cost money. It all depends on how flash you want to look and how important it is to have OEM warranties.

My method is to look at what a new(er) car would cost per month then how many months I would need to pay in order to cover the repair costs.

Let's say my budget is £200 a month (I know that won't buy much) and the repairs cost £600. After three months I'm done and back to "free" driving. Clearly, I have to look at the big picture if the car needs clutch, suspension, exhaust, tyres and more along with garage labour, the hassle and costs will probably not add up.


David


I agree that cars are never investment unless they are rare vintage for collectors.


But I don't agree with people who are prejudiced on type of cars others drive, and judge the person's economic ability. I feel that is simpleton way to see things.


I read somewhere the world's richest man in history Jeff Bezos worth a few hundred billion dollars, and he drives an old Honda Accord.


I drive Fiat Panda, because I do like the car. It is small, nippy and practical and economical, and it looks cute. It is also simpler than other cars loaded with latest computer chips, and that's another reason I like it.


But of course, my Panda is now old 10 years old, and needing parts replaced and works needing to be done to keep running.


That's why I came to the forum, trying to learn about diy work, and also trying to find ways to get it done it cheap way. But just because I was looking for ways to get ti done cheap, Luigi told me to sell the car, and save up and do it properly, and I thought it was just not making sense.


OK, I could sell it and buy another used car maybe more upmarket and more expensive one, but that wouldn't guarantee any reliability or fun to own and drive the car.
Like Scotty Kilmer says, there is no perfect car. Every car you buy will be compromise, and have good points and bad points. I agree with that. Because I had gone through as many cars as Scott Kilmer in my life, I do know how they are like. Even the most expensive Mercedes or Benz have some sort of gremlines hidden underneath.

My fun for owning a car right now is to keep the old car I have had, and keep it as long as possible trying to work done on it by myself if I can, if not then done it by garage but in good price, and just keep it going. That is my fun of having car and running it.


I am not interested in fancy expensive newish cars trying to look smart and posh and well off, or what have you :) That time for me is long past now. :)


OK - when my inheritance gets settled in the court, and lumpsome of money comes into my account, then I will buy an Audi 4x4 for my wife, and a decent motorhome for us, but that is it. I will still keep the Fiat Panda, and keep on driving and working on it. :)


Thanks & kind regards.

TM
 
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Watch out with Audi 4x4 models.

Back in 2002 I bought a new A4 Avant with sports pack, half leather, blah, blah and the 1.9TDI with 140bhp. It was really great though had a tendency to spin the wheels from standing start at junctions. It never felt like a "clunky diesel".

I asked about the 4x4 version but (1) the costs were considerable and (2) it only came with the V6 engine which negated most of the fuel costs savings but worst of all, damage to one tyre would demand that ALL FOUR had to be replaced with the same identical tyresl. One tyre or an axle pair with different wear levels would over stress the 4x4 system causing permanent damage.

I probably said something like WTF. ;)

Things will have changed as it was some time ago but I suspect the 4x4 tyre issue stands just the same.

I like the Panda because the roads where I live are narrow and I don't need more space in the car. It's also just gets on with the job and is generally very reliable. My mother had a Panda, my brother had an Uno and I had Punto Mk2 so Fiats have featured a lot in the family.
 
I'd guess most Panda owners have a healthy disregard for the car as status symbol:) Might be one reason why this is the most friendly car forum I've been on! I've never been inspired to participate on forums for other cars I've had.

Like you, I prefer to keep a car going (I also have a 30 year-old car I've owned for 10 years, and a 65 year-old car I've owned for 19), but on a couple of occasions I have had to accept the cost of repairs couldn't be justified and gave up the unequal struggle. A combination of leaking hydraulics, rusting floor & sills, chronic overheating and persistent electrical faults did for my diesel Citroen BX. I don't think the world will miss it. Anything that could be unbolted was donated to an enthusiast(!) and the remains were dragged to a scrap yard. Which I suspect was its creators' ultimate aim for the car. I hope it found the happiness there it had been searching for.

So I think when multiple issues strike at once it's worth considering how long you're going to have to plough money into fixing your car. I'm wary of electrical faults as I've spent a small fortune failing to fix them in the past. I was aware you'd spent a fair bit of time and money already on your car before she failed on shocks, springs and emissions.

As you say, our cars are getting on for the age when a number of 'consumables' can fail (suspension bushes, steering connections, CV boots, wheel bearings, clutch and brake cylinders, exhaust, various sensors), so in addition to the other springs and shocks you might have a few running repairs to consider in the next few years. All do-able, but they add up. Personally I think those are all worth doing to keep a car on the road.

Did your friendly mechanic have anything to say about the condition of the rear axle? Happily the Panda seems proven to be mechanically tough and surprisingly rust-resistant, so hopefully there shouldn't be too many more nasty surprises for you:)
 
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I was a big fan of the 1.9 petrol Citroen BX, never liking any of the diesels. The cars rusted but they were no worse than many others of the period.
 
A quick ring round for prices on changing my front shock absorbers resulted in an average price of approximately £270 with Fiat quoting over 500.

Which is very frustrating as I believe I can pick the parts up for less than £100 and it's just my fear of using the spring compressor that puts me off doing it myself.

I'm debating about making a jock an offer to see if he wants to become a Fiat specialist and do my suspension for me. ??.
 
New springs with a decent spring compressors and you will have no problems.

Mine have forged hooks with right and left handed threads for rapidly compressing the springs. You only need enough to fit the retaining clamps.

For few times a DIY user would need them, these would be good enough for fitting new springs. Lubricate the threads and compress no more than needed.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-Heavy-Duty-Coil-Spring-Compressor-Clamps-380mm-Professional-39/131884718438?epid=5009903640&hash=item1eb4f11966:g:ygMAAOSwxblbNg8L

If you need any stuff from the old units, just cut the spring with an angle grinder and slitting disc. The unloaded spring compression is not severe so nothing nasty will happen.
 
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I have done this job several times on both 1.2 and 1.4 models. Its not hard at all,. As other comments -fear not! Getting the top nut off is the most difficult bit. I had to buy an electric impact wrench (which was worth every penny - if not its weight in gold I keep the cordless tool in the boot for both winding the jack up and down, and wheel nuts - mine is a Ryobi and I cant recommend it / them enough) This is also wonderful to undo the drop link nuts and the bottom clamp bolts. Especially helpful if these are a bit corroded in. I always replace the nuts and bolts every time as a matter of course and got them from a dealer. They were a bit pricey but you know they are safe and uncorroded on refitting!
 
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On the front struts, you must always replace the bottom pinch bolt. It's high tensile and will always be rusty. Mine came out very rusted with the threads all chewed up. You could use any M8 high tensile bolt, but (for what they cost extra) I went with the Fiat bolts which are zinc plated. Use a good anti seize paste all the way from top to bottom.

The road spring is not compressed very much. I could not find my spring compressors which get used (very) rarely, so used two tie down straps. They easily pulled the spring down enough to fit the top mounting.

To loosen the top mount I use a short heavy duty Hex (Allen) bit and T bar in the shock top and a cranked ring spanner on the nut. Angle them so you can push them together and the nut unscrews easily.
 
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