General 2012 Panda Twin air with 5 previous owners
- Thread starter Don P
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General 2012 Panda Twin air with 5 previous owners
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Difficult to answer this one; you'll likely get as many responses saying 'go for it' as you'll get saying 'just walk away'.
I've mulled this one over for ten minutes or so and my gut feeling says 'walk away'. Something in what you've posted has got me wondering if this isn't just a load of rubbish polished up to look like a decent car. I've never been a fan of older TA's, simply because of the potential for expensive repairs. The lack of a full service history is also a strong negative; regular oil changes with the correct oil are particularly important with this engine and folks regularly report issues with both turbochargers and valve gear.
I'd be much more positive if you were looking at a 1.2 petrol; at this price point and age, there's a lot to be said for keeping things simple and the 1.2 has an excellent track record for longevity, without the complexity and specialist parts you'll find on a TA.
Any 10yr old car is a gamble, in so far as it could turn out to give several years of reliable service, but equally could prove to be a shedload of trouble. At this age, condition is everything - and it's easy to be deceived about a car's real condition if it's been nicely polished and valeted. Unless you're knowledgeable about buying older used cars, at the very least, have it inspected by someone who knows what they're doing.
Don't rely too much on any used car warranty; you'll find most common failure items aren't covered, and even getting redress on the ones that are is often much harder than buying the warranty in the first place.
If you came back in twelve months time and told us you'd bought it, and then had to spend another £1k-£2k replacing brake and suspension parts, none of which were covered by warranty, I'd not be surprised at all. But equally, I'd also not be surprised if you'd spent nothing - that's why it's hard to advise you.
But if you're stretching things to buy this, and a couple of multiple hundred pound repair bills over the next year would cause you hardship, then don't walk away - just run.
Difficult to answer this one; you'll likely get as many responses saying 'go for it' as you'll get saying 'just walk away'.
I've mulled this one over for ten minutes or so and my gut feeling says 'walk away'. Something in what you've posted has got me wondering if this isn't just a load of rubbish polished up to look like a decent car. I've never been a fan of older TA's, simply because of the potential for expensive repairs. The lack of a full service history is also a strong negative; regular oil changes with the correct oil are particularly important with this engine and folks regularly report issues with both turbochargers and valve gear.
I'd be much more positive if you were looking at a 1.2 petrol; at this price point and age, there's a lot to be said for keeping things simple and the 1.2 has an excellent track record for longevity, without the complexity and specialist parts you'll find on a TA.
Any 10yr old car is a gamble, in so far as it could turn out to give several years of reliable service, but equally could prove to be a shedload of trouble. At this age, condition is everything - and it's easy to be deceived about a car's real condition if it's been nicely polished and valeted. Unless you're knowledgeable about buying older used cars, at the very least, have it inspected by someone who knows what they're doing.
Don't rely too much on any used car warranty; you'll find most common failure items aren't covered, and even getting redress on the ones that are is often much harder than buying the warranty in the first place.
If you came back in twelve months time and told us you'd bought it, and then had to spend another £1k-£2k replacing brake and suspension parts, none of which were covered by warranty, I'd not be surprised at all. But equally, I'd also not be surprised if you'd spent nothing - that's why it's hard to advise you.
But if you're stretching things to buy this, and a couple of multiple hundred pound repair bills over the next year would cause you hardship, then don't walk away - just run.
Wehn looking for a TA 4x4 back in 2020, I found a relatively cheap one many miles away, but warranted, so I employed one of those car check folk for a full going over and history check…the car was well presented up top and inside but a wreck underneath (crushed exhaust, bent suspension, scraped fuel tank and N/S floor)…I walked away and I think I spent my £180 wisely
Registered owners can be misleading, first is often a garage, moving from company to private owner, passed down to a family member, moving assets before bankruptcy and so on
Nobody can say
Go for it
Or
Walk away
With the information above
MOT history is sometimes useful
Milage between MOTs has is sat for long periods
Same advisories would be an alarm bell
Nobody can say
Go for it
Or
Walk away
With the information above
MOT history is sometimes useful
Milage between MOTs has is sat for long periods
Same advisories would be an alarm bell
Yes, that Sisley that was up for sale twice recently had six owners, four of them were my family
Bonefish Blues
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Agree - IIRC mine has 5, but tbh it's all about price/condition/history and the interaction between the 3.
Turns out mine has the fullest of full histories, and it really was that the book was lost. Supplying Dealer has just posted the new book I sent them back with lots of lovely stamps in it, and I know I can get the rest done to complete it, too. Nice when you back your instincts and it comes right.
Turns out mine has the fullest of full histories, and it really was that the book was lost. Supplying Dealer has just posted the new book I sent them back with lots of lovely stamps in it, and I know I can get the rest done to complete it, too. Nice when you back your instincts and it comes right.
Regardless of whether it's got a decent documented service history or not I'd be steering clear of the twin air - or multi air - once they get to this sort of age, Just too much to potentially go wrong. I think this is going to be true for many of the small capacity direct injection offerings from many of the manufacturers these days. Direct injection, so very expensive injectors if/when they go wrong and not simple to replace either. Very high pressure fuel pump which can go wrong, Multi thermostat cooling systems, secondary electric coolant pumps, Variable volume oil pumps, very specific lubricant requirements, and so on. Pretty much none of which you'll find on the 1.2.
Regarding dealer warranties. If it's a warranty backed up by the dealership itself then have a careful read of it because it might just be worth having. Ask outright "what doesn't it cover?" If it's a third party bought in policy then most of the ones I've seen look absolutely fantastic on first read but are as full of holes as a collander when you try to claim.
Regarding dealer warranties. If it's a warranty backed up by the dealership itself then have a careful read of it because it might just be worth having. Ask outright "what doesn't it cover?" If it's a third party bought in policy then most of the ones I've seen look absolutely fantastic on first read but are as full of holes as a collander when you try to claim.
Lingottoroof
Member
We just part exchanged one that sounds very similar for a 500L locally in Kent as we needed a bigger car with a new baby. Whilst we were sorry to see it go as it was immaculate I was expecting to refresh all the suspension over the next 12 months due to age.
We love twinairs but full disclosure I'm an engineer by trade so able to sort issues myself saving the large sums that any 2012 car is likely to throw up.
I can't disagree with any of the wise words above; the twinairs can be highly strung and problematic and few garages have suitable experience with them and just throw parts at them to try and solve issues which becomes expensive.
The 1.2 is less fast and fun but better on fuel and conventional technology hence most garages will understand it and be able to maintain it.
Good luck with the search
We love twinairs but full disclosure I'm an engineer by trade so able to sort issues myself saving the large sums that any 2012 car is likely to throw up.
I can't disagree with any of the wise words above; the twinairs can be highly strung and problematic and few garages have suitable experience with them and just throw parts at them to try and solve issues which becomes expensive.
The 1.2 is less fast and fun but better on fuel and conventional technology hence most garages will understand it and be able to maintain it.
Good luck with the search
Half of this depends on you understanding what you are buying...
Its a simple car with a complex engine
Basic panda is pretty robust.. no Climate Control.. Electric roof ..etc
Simple AND CHEAP suspension and brakes
Twinair:
1. Its an aquired taste
2. Its Different
3. Its complex
Prices are odd currently
We bought a similar car from an Italian specialist
9500 miles 3 owners, it has actually been ok
Money spent in 20,000 miles of our use is currently 1 x £600 service (propping up the warranty.. could have done the job for @£100)
Has an annoying niggly electrical issue.. and has obviously been accident repaired in its previous life..
But.. its relatively cheap to buy.. is £0.00 VED and sips Tescos Unleaded
No cambelt to bother about if it sits for months.. and tyres are cheap
38k is potentially 2 x annual service oil changes in reality
2 of the 5 owners probably had one
If its straight..tidy..AND RUNS PROPERLY
( you might need to try a few to know that..)
why not go for it
Charlie - owner of 2 x twinairs
(I own a 2018 1242cc 500.. poor in every respect I'm afraid)
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The most obvious question no one has asked … HOW MUCH IS IT? The cost/benefit and risk/reward ratios of such a purchase cannot be calculated without this.
FWIW, even without this, I’m with jrkitching. A Twin Air Panda is a great little car, but it needs a full service history, and evidence that this was done by people who know what they’re doing. Five owners in less than 40K miles, regardless of age, suggests to me this might be a “problem child”.
FWIW, even without this, I’m with jrkitching. A Twin Air Panda is a great little car, but it needs a full service history, and evidence that this was done by people who know what they’re doing. Five owners in less than 40K miles, regardless of age, suggests to me this might be a “problem child”.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
NO. Five owners and limited service history is as fishy as it gets and I wouldnt trust the mileage at all on the basis described. There are lots of decent Pandas with low miles so keep looking.
There's a parallel thread running just now which illustrates rather well why so many of us are advising you against buying this car.
Faced with a problem like this, which will likely cost £1000+ to fix, many owners would just trade the car in. In the case of the car you're considering, it's possible the last owner, perhaps even the last two or three, have done exactly that.
Faced with a problem like this, which will likely cost £1000+ to fix, many owners would just trade the car in. In the case of the car you're considering, it's possible the last owner, perhaps even the last two or three, have done exactly that.
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The question is really how much is it selling for? I had to replace a UniAir module but I negotiated the price down since there was no history. Done anther 40k miles since and love the TA.
