General 500 vs panda

[keeforelli]

hi guys

the stop start is in the garage and i have a 1.3 multijet diesel basic panda as a courtesy car-

its a revelation!...smooth, powerful, great ride, nothing in it you dont need, lots of space, and very very comfortable!

but that little engine!..wow!..not as poweful as the one in the 500 either i understand.

now considerig the 500 is based on the panda,which you can tell from sitting in it, the driing position, and the location of all the controls, was wondering where the differences in the basics are- my 500 has a much choppier ride for a start, but the interior much more expensive looking..

im actually thinking i would like a panda diesel!

whats this engine like in the 500?..i loved the low rev diesel shove in 2nd and 3rd....does it suit the 500?

anyone have both a panda and 500?

 

[danger girl]

Don't have (awaiting 1.3MJet Sport) but did test drive both and was mightily impressed. Especially as I'm coming from a 2 litre 16 valve Golf GTi. They were both surprisingly pokey. The 500 just feels a little more chunky/solid/smooth. Obviously all of this is based on a test drive in each alone but I did manage to get relatively long drive in both and including varied driving (hillls, stops and starts, dual carriageways, over taking on national speed limit b roads etc).

 

[keeforelli]

Don't have (awaiting 1.3MJet Sport) but did test drive both and was mightily impressed. Especially as I'm coming from a 2 litre 16 valve Golf GTi. They were both surprisingly pokey. The 500 just feels a little more chunky/solid/smooth. Obviously all of this is based on a test drive in each alone but I did manage to get relatively long drive in both and including varied driving (hillls, stops and starts, dual carriageways, over taking on national speed limit b roads etc).

I Test drove a KA setec 1.3 tdci- the same engine..and it didnt feel like the pandas..but i didnt really give it much welly!

really want a little diesel now

 

[Fred Mumford]

I have a 1.2 Panda and a 1.2 %00 Sport. The Panda is way quicker.
I much prefer the 500's looks and handling but the Panda is much more comfortable.
I have tried both in deisel format and was quite impressed but diesels get tiring. I drive a turbo charged Transit diesel in work and it's quick but it ain't got the spark of a petrol engine and you have to thrash it all the time to keep up with the traffic.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

I drive a 500 diesel and I love the engine, yes it revs and it pulls well not at very low revs (<800) but once above 1K its smooth power all the way up to 4.5k.
I give mine lots of right foot ! pokey and still returns 50mpg in town

 

[udtrev]

Can I point you in this direction - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/168377-can-anyone-beat.html

Now that's impressive MPG

 

[306maxi]

Can I point you in this direction - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/168377-can-anyone-beat.html

Now that's impressive MPG

That's a useless MPG reading though Trev Over 20 miles? I had 75 in my 500 the other day over about 15 miles but you'd never get that sort of MPG in real life unless you drive like an absolute granny everywhere. I got ~55 out of the 500 on long motorway runs where I wasn't braking at all (I mean NO braking) and all I did was gain momentum on downhill stretches and then using it up going uphill. Probably never gave it more than 20% throttle as well.

 

[RobW]

OK the following is based on real world driving experience (not testdrives except the Abarths)

New Panda

1.2 Dynamic Duallogic

Really fun, revs willingly, blips throttle on downshift
Handles tidily

1.3 Multijet

No fun, does not rev no torque no turbo boost!!
Handles like a wheelbarrow ith a flat tyre
hateful horrendous car

1.4 100HP

HUGE fun, revs out and sounds great
Really great handling and feedback, yes a bit bouncy but so what?
Would buy tomorrow if i didn't have my 500

New 500

1.3 Multijet

Different car to the Panda (but was remapped by Angel)

1.4 Sport 100HP

My daily driver, great car
Even better now it has suspension suited to UK roads

1.4 Abarth 135 HP

WOW what a car - will have one one day

1.4 Abarth Esseesse 160 HP

as above after 2 cans of Red Bull

 

[306maxi]

1.3 Multijet

No fun, does not rev no torque no turbo boost!!
Handles like a wheelbarrow ith a flat tyre
hateful horrendous car

You trying to get into TDQ's good books?

Not driven a 1.2 500?

 

[RobW]

You trying to get into TDQ's good books?

Not driven a 1.2 500?

Nope not driven a 1.2 engined 500 yet, would like to though

 

[keeforelli]

OK the following is based on real world driving experience (not testdrives except the Abarths)

New Panda

1.2 Dynamic Duallogic

Really fun, revs willingly, blips throttle on downshift
Handles tidily

1.3 Multijet

No fun, does not rev no torque no turbo boost!!
Handles like a wheelbarrow ith a flat tyre
hateful horrendous car

1.4 100HP

HUGE fun, revs out and sounds great
Really great handling and feedback, yes a bit bouncy but so what?
Would buy tomorrow if i didn't have my 500

New 500

1.3 Multijet

Different car to the Panda (but was remapped by Angel)

1.4 Sport 100HP

My daily driver, great car
Even better now it has suspension suited to UK roads

1.4 Abarth 135 HP

WOW what a car - will have one one day

1.4 Abarth Esseesse 160 HP

as above after 2 cans of Red Bull

the 1.3MJ panda i drove was awesome....really noticed shove from 1800rpm in 2nd and 3rd..much stronger than it had any right too! in its element on m way. engine whistled sweetly..handled really nicely...such a smooth ride!...i just thought...what a useful, great little car!

 

[Alfatwo]

hi guys

the stop start is in the garage and i have a 1.3 multijet diesel basic panda as a courtesy car-

its a revelation!...smooth, powerful, great ride, nothing in it you dont need, lots of space, and very very comfortable!

but that little engine!..wow!..not as poweful as the one in the 500 either i understand.

now considerig the 500 is based on the panda,which you can tell from sitting in it, the driing position, and the location of all the controls, was wondering where the differences in the basics are- my 500 has a much choppier ride for a start, but the interior much more expensive looking..

im actually thinking i would like a panda diesel!

whats this engine like in the 500?..i loved the low rev diesel shove in 2nd and 3rd....does it suit the 500?

anyone have both a panda and 500?

I would have bought a Panda instead of my 500 Pop.
One thing that put my off,the Fiat 500 would be worth a lot more in three years time than the Panda.

 

[Chris123]

I'd recommend anybody considering a 500 buy a diesel - in fact, my boss is seriously considering buying one based on my experiences with mine. I can see no reason why Panda buyers should be any different.
All this nonsense about the handling being affected by a heavier engine- its nonsense. There's no problem whatsoever. Plus, the motorway performance is far better than the petrols - the torque is just where you need it at motorway speeds.
I recently spent the weekend travelling to, from and around West Wales, and averaged 66mpg at real-world speeds. Thats's good enough for me.

 

[306maxi]

I'd recommend anybody considering a 500 buy a diesel - in fact, my boss is seriously considering buying one based on my experiences with mine. I can see no reason why Panda buyers should be any different.
All this nonsense about the handling being affected by a heavier engine- its nonsense. There's no problem whatsoever. Plus, the motorway performance is far better than the petrols - the torque is just where you need it at motorway speeds.
I recently spent the weekend travelling to, from and around West Wales, and averaged 66mpg at real-world speeds. Thats's good enough for me.

The 1.2 is just fine for most people.

 

[Chris123]

The 1.2 is just fine for most people.

The real-world performance is a bit weak though. I know it looks ok on paper, but in reality the 1.2 is well underpowered. My mother's 1994 1.2 clio has more go!

 

[!beepbeepbeep!]

The real-world performance is a bit weak though. I know it looks ok on paper, but in reality the 1.2 is well underpowered. My mother's 1994 1.2 clio has more go!

Agree
The 1.2 is fine, but just fine, and just good enough, but not a great all-rounder because of the 69horses.
The lack of performance is really getting to me after 39000 miles

I'd love to try a Panda 100HP!

 

[Chris123]

Agree
The 1.2 is fine, but just fine, and just good enough, but not a great all-rounder because of the 69horses.
The lack of performance is really getting to me after 39000 miles

I'd love to try a Panda 100HP!

Yes, I've only heard good things about that Panda 100hp. They seem to be available really cheaply too - around £8,000 ish new from the traders on Autotrader website. Doesn't seem bad at all

 

[306maxi]

Agree
The 1.2 is fine, but just fine, and just good enough, but not a great all-rounder because of the 69horses.
The lack of performance is really getting to me after 39000 miles

I'd love to try a Panda 100HP!

What were you expecting from the bottom of the range engine spec though?

 

[!beepbeepbeep!]

What were you expecting from the bottom of the range engine spec though?

yeah you're right, i wasn't expecting lightning performance
i thought i'd be able to cope with it but i can't!

 

[!beepbeepbeep!]

Yes, I've only heard good things about that Panda 100hp. They seem to be available really cheaply too - around £8,000 ish new from the traders on Autotrader website. Doesn't seem bad at all

yeah, at about £8000 new, a VERY tempting buy!