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General CLX update

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General CLX update

Pandarus

Pandarus

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Parked in the garage
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Dec 5, 2005
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Location
Sleepy Suffolk
I was able to spend some time on the new car this weekend.(y)

I have t-cutted the bodywork and autoglymed the bumpers and side panels and I have to say that the result is very, very nice.

I also started to treat the doors. I was very relieved to find that it is only surface and cleaned them up, given them a rub down and given the (small) infected areas a light first coat of white hammerite.

I have an oil filter and spark plugs on order. I changed the dirtiest air filter I have ever seen today and re-fitted a nice shiney FRAM one. I also fitted a locking petrol cap, in this day and age I am not looking to hand out free unleaded to any undesirables.

I have also cleaned inside, once I get a set of mats in the car it will look very nice indeed. It will have a shampoo from a vax too.

I need to find a semi-decent stereo, the current one looks older than an 8-track player. The strange thing is, I just love to drive and listen to the engine! I guess this will wear off in time.

The car runs very well considering. It starts well and I still find the auto-choke very, very strange! The clutch is heavy, but I have got used to it. There is plenty of bite and I am wondering if this is normal. It creaks a bit too. The front bumper is off on the n/side too.

The brakes work but are poor. I am stripping these down hopefully this week and will let you know what the problem is later.

I am really pleased with my addition. It is not perfect but it is a project, there are not many Pandas around where I live and I am proud to be driving something a bit different! As it is an ongoing project, I can tweak things and sort them as I go.

More pics to follow asap - I have another shiney Panda! (regulars will recall that I previously owned the shiniest 750 ever made)

Cheers for now

MARTIN
 
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I mean't to add that I found out from the service history that my car is a local Panda from Station Garage on Burrell Road in Ipswich. It was here until about 1998 and then went to live at the manor in Cambridgeshire!

Sadly the garage was demolished about 4-5 years ago.
 
Pandarus said:
That's exactly it! I am used to getting in a Panda, starting it and then sorting the choke out!!! Very little effort now required!(y)
Click to expand...

lol. Going from a Selecta to a Sisley was hard at first. I'd just got so lazy. Perhaps I should get a normal 4x4 and convirt it to the first Auto Panda 4x4 with injection engine :p

I love the Sisley, but couldn't bear to get rid of the Selecta which is now the 'summer car' :)
 
Pics on the way, hope to put some nice ones up over the weekend.

The white hammerite has really sorted the doors out by the way. I did the same on the old 750 and never had any problems, so touch wood this has sorted it.

Think my dad is coming over today to give the car the once over while I am at work. He's also car mad and I'll wager those wheels are off as I type. (y)
 
Update from the weekend.

Have used the car all weekend and have now abandoned the Fabia!

What I have noticed more than anything is other drivers letting you out - do other Panda owners think that in the main other road users seem to be really courteous to our little cars? They are very cute and becoming a rarer site on the roads. It is nice to drive something a little different.(y)

The Panda was a very popular car and most people who owned one do seem to have very fond memories of their ownership, despite all the people I know who had one mentioning the rust on the door bottoms! If I hear that gaffer tape story one more time...!:bang:

Still cleaning and tinkering. In honesty, I bought it for tinkering so it's certainly keeping me occupied!
 
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They aren't being courteous letting us out they're stalling their cars! :D I'm sure they can't believe what they're seeing!! You should have seen the looks we got driving in convoy from Gaydon Motor Museum to the pub for lunch; 18 (or was it 19) Pandas on the loose together! I have to say I nearly crashed laughing and I was driving one of them. (y)

Glad to hear it's going well.

Luke.
 
Pandarus said:
What I have noticed more than anything is other drivers letting you out - do other Panda owners think that in the main other road users seem to be really courteous to our little cars?
Click to expand...

Errr, not really, but to be honest, I make them aware of my presence! :p

Luke P said:
You should have seen the looks we got driving in convoy from Gaydon Motor Museum to the pub for lunch; 18 (or was it 19) Pandas on the loose together! I have to say I nearly crashed laughing and I was driving one of them. (y)
Click to expand...

Damn, still got to put the vid up on youtube of that :eek:
 
Have had a really busy weekend on the CLX :)

I have:

Sorted the front bumper, so she doesn't look wonky now

Lubricated the pedals bar

Vaxed the upholstery and carpets and cleaned the inside thoroughly

Had the wheels off and checked the brakes

Had a general clean and check up under the bonnet, copper greased the battery terminals and bonnet latch etc.

...and most important of all, hung my new fluffy dice up:D
 

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Update.

Now using the car nearly every day and the car has definately got better with use. I don't think it was used too often and with a little tlc I think the car generally feels much, much better. The brakes feel much more responsive just with use and even the handbrake feels better too. I oiled the brake and clutch pedals and this has really improved things.

I always thought the Panda was a driver's car, it is a very rewarding drive given time and practice and I love it to bits. :)

The car is now lovely and clean throughout and the only downer is the gaiter on the gearknob has split and needs repairing. Any ideas for the best way to fix this?

Jobs to do:
Oil and oil filter change, new sparkies and gearbox oil check up and possibly change of driveshaft gaiter(s)


Gutted we cannot make the meet on 27th, I really wanted to show her off!
 
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