Hi all,

New to this forum having recently purchased a 2011 1.2 Panda Dynamic, have to say it's a great car - cheap to run, cheap to repair, well screwed together and came with everything I could want (...other than a boot light !)

Anyway, my question relates to the description of the car used by both the seller and my insurance company, which includes the phrase '5 STR' ? However, this is not shown on the logbook.

I assumed it meant it was a 5 seater, but there's only 2 rear seatbelts - no sign of a centre belt which I would have thought would be obligatory nowadays if a manufacturer wants to claim it as a 5 seater. And the logbook states 4 seats including the driver.

Can anyone shed any light on this - I've seen others advertised with the same description, but looking at the images, none have a centre rear belt.

Or does it mean something completely different ???

Any information would be much appreciated

5 Seater ???

Hi Guys

When ordered new you could opt for the fifth seat belt at about £150 extra, this normally meant a factory order as the seat belt attachments for the middle seat meant a different head lining, this would officially then be shoulder seat belted for 5 people.

the sales listings are often just standardised wording and tick boxes.

Tim

Panda Dynamic said:

Hi all,
New to this forum
if a manufacturer wants to claim it as a 5 seater. And the logbook states 4 seats including the driver.

Can anyone shed any light on this - I've seen others advertised with the same description, but looking at the images, none have a centre rear belt.

Click to expand...

Hi

Bit of a weird one..

As stated ..
'Standard was 4 seats..as your V5c

Insurance.. not ideal as you COULD think you are legal for 4 passengers.. until making a claim

SELLERS.. a comedy writer..

You see all kinds of WRONG info.. often stemming from bone idle 'cut and paste'

When looking for an as new panda

One of the main FIAT dealers had a panda
With 4 steel wheels and blue paint
Description was Red with alloys

With 4 alloys in a panda you dont need to be concerned about rear occupants


Be good to know IF '5 STR' could mean anything else

Charlie

Looks like a lazy seller. Probably a dealer ticking boxes.

First to see will buy (so why didn't they>)

Relisted due to time waster (not the seller of course)

It might be a good car but check with a fine tooth comb and be prepared to walk away.

DaveMcT said:

Looks like a lazy seller. Probably a dealer ticking boxes.

It might be a good car but check with a fine tooth comb and be prepared to walk away.

Click to expand...

Who is this aimed at..?

varesecrazy said:

Hi

Bit of a weird one..

As stated ..
'Standard was 4 seats..as your V5c

Insurance.. not ideal as you COULD think you are legal for 4 passengers.. until making a claim

SELLERS.. a comedy writer..

You see all kinds of WRONG info.. often stemming from bone idle 'cut and paste'

When looking for an as new panda

One of the main FIAT dealers had a panda
With 4 steel wheels and blue paint
Description was Red with alloys

With 4 alloys in a panda you dont need to be concerned about rear occupants


Be good to know IF '5 STR' could mean anything else

Charlie

Click to expand...

seems like most are 2011 and 2012.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="...AhUDlFwKHc4qC8UQ8tMDegQICxAv&biw=1024&bih=527



heres one thats advertised a 5 seater but clearly isn't

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223933719278


then the error will be compounded when someone clicks sell one like this

Also some adverts shorten an excellent car as 5 star or 5 str

All very confusing but as already mentioned its important that if its th more common 4 seater its insured as a 4 seater

I'd discounted: 5 star..

Fuel

EuroNCap ..

Performance.. or economy

Emissions.. doubtful


So left with

A: 5 seater

B : 5 star

Conclusion.. WRONG..!!

varesecrazy said:

Who is this aimed at..?

Click to expand...

I think "5 STR" means 5 seater. Comment aimed at a potential buyer.

Seems to me like a typo for 5dr, or possibly EU5 (5EUR)? But it is strange that it's on your insurance documents.

Might be worth a call to your insurers for clarification. When I called my insurers they corrected a few details on my policy that were wrong due to the vagaries of on-line form-filling

Glad you're enjoying your Panda - they're great little things aren't they

Boot light is easy enough to fix, the wiring's already in place. Details are in the Guides section here.

I'm too mean to pay FIAT £16 for a feeble glimmer, so I cut off the connector and wired in a LED.

Have you checked the condition of these yet:

• rear axle spring cups
• mud trap behind front springs
• coolant return pipe across front of engine
• duckbill drain scuttles below wipers

Thank you for all your replies, in fairness it's not actually shown on my insurance documents, but they mentioned it when I was setting up the policy. I'm not overly worried, as carrying less passengers is less of a risk than if it had said it was a 4 seater and I was carrying 5 !

Have checked my rear axle (bit rusty, but solid), cleaned out the front mud traps behind the springs and ensured the duck bills are clear (exact same problem on Rovers !) but will check my coolant pipe soon as not done that yet.

Had to do a few repairs (exhaust, pads & shoes, cambelt & pump, exhaust manifold studs - helicoiled) but overall it's a great car that's easy to drive & giving me around 60mpg (mostly dual carriageway), so very pleased with it.

Have seen the info on boot light, but I'm also too tight to buy a new unit from Fiat, so will wait til I find something in a breakers !

doesn't the panto one work. Loads in the breakers. Although you would have to wait until after the lock down


only car with the remote boot unlock have the wiring already. I believe thats every model except the active ?

Thanks Koalar, yes I think I read on here a while back that the Punto one is suitable, just need to find one in a breakers somewhere.....and then remember that I need the boot light out of it !

I've got the remote boot release thing on the key, so pretty sure the wiring will be behind the trim (not checked yet).

On a different topic, interestingly it looks like mine has had a new sump recently. Is there a problem with them, or had mine been hit ?

Panda Dynamic said:

Thanks Koalar, yes I think I read on here a while back that the Punto one is suitable, just need to find one in a breakers somewhere.....and then remember that I need the boot light out of it !

I've got the remote boot release thing on the key, so pretty sure the wiring will be behind the trim (not checked yet).

On a different topic, interestingly it looks like mine has had a new sump recently. Is there a problem with them, or had mine been hit ?

Click to expand...

Sumps can rust badly..

Mild steel with lightweight paint finish..

Do check it for leaks.. as they are a awkward thing to fit and seal..

GLUED to the bottom of engine

Panda Dynamic said:

Thanks Koalar, yes I think I read on here a while back that the Punto one is suitable, just need to find one in a breakers somewhere.....and then remember that I need the boot light out of it !

Click to expand...

I used one of these for a while (until I swapped it for USB sockets for a camping trip):



99p delivered from the far East, and I suspect a tad brighter than FIAT's factory option

The connector matches up happily enough, and I stuck it over the existing cut-out for the boot light. The solder was very fragile, though, and snapped when I removed it.

Someone on here (can't find it now, of course...) wired up LED strip lights on the underside of both sides of the parcel shelf housing, which I thought was the neatest arrangement I've seen.

Thanks for the replies, the new sump has been sealed on pretty well, - not exactly neatly but at least it isn't leaking, so I'll be leaving that alone. However, I guess it might be worth cleaning it & giving it a couple decent coats of Hammerite or similar.

Nice mod for the lighting rmjbn1, thank you. Like you say, a lot brighter than the standard item.

Found it! Courtesy of forum member Demi's gallery here