General First Panda - Love it!

[Axis]

Collected my 2018 Lounge today. I had actually been looking at small vans to use at weekends for walking gear and associated paraphernalia but the missus didn't want one in the driveway. So, what else was boxy, raised driving position and van-like gearstick position? Panda of course

My only dislike was the lack of a central armrest but searched on here and found just the thing which has now been ordered from Mick's Garage. Next stage is either a steel wheel/winter tyre package or, for less money, new all season tyres (it gets cold up north). I guess that a 4x4 would have been better but, in reality, I'll be dealing more with cold weather and heavy rain rather than snow or off-roading.

I don't think that I'll get away with a roof tent but might manage a tailgate awning, if such a thing exists for the Panda and I might also remove the rear bench (if possible) so that I can chuck more stuff in the back. Going to put a few miles on this little bus as age has crept up on me and need to pack in some fun before I'm totally past it

Anyway, hello everybody, and here's a pic

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi BOTH
And welcome

Charlie

 

[gar074]

Welcome! Keep packing the fun in!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Rear seat is simple to remove just 4 screws - large torx heads if I remember right.

I totally love these things. Enjoy it!

 

[Axis]

Another pleasant surprise today was the 56mpg that I got whilst driving over the nearby moors. I'm sure that I read stories of late 30's somewhere and that's what I was expecting. In fact, the read out shows that the previous owner averaged exactly 50mpg over the first 8000 miles.

I also ignored the "shift" symbol as it wants to change up too early.

The biggest plus, though, is just the sheer amount of fun driving the car.

 

[TinyTurbo]

Another pleasant surprise today was the 56mpg that I got whilst driving over the nearby moors. I'm sure that I read stories of late 30's somewhere and that's what I was expecting. In fact, the read out shows that the previous owner averaged exactly 50mpg over the first 8000 miles.

I also ignored the "shift" symbol as it wants to change up too early.

The biggest plus, though, is just the sheer amount of fun driving the car.

It's the TwinAir engine that can give high 30s to low 40s mpg if driven enthusiastically. More on longer run, though.

The 1.2 does much better, as you've discovered.

 

[Super Uwe]

Another pleasant surprise today was the 56mpg that I got whilst driving over the nearby moors. I'm sure that I read stories of late 30's somewhere and that's what I was expecting. In fact, the read out shows that the previous owner averaged exactly 50mpg over the first 8000 miles.

I also ignored the "shift" symbol as it wants to change up too early.

The biggest plus, though, is just the sheer amount of fun driving the car.

Lovely looking Panda, I really like that red shade!

Yes, not sure if yours is the 1.2 or not but it really is virtually impossible to do less than 45-50mpg on a mixed cycle if you drive it normally. It's a lovely motor.

 

[Axis]

Yes, it's the 1.2 engine. Suits the car well.

 

[Axis]

I've now ordered up a steel wheel/Falken winter tyre package from mytyres. Not bad value at £84 each delivered (so long as they turn out to be half decent!). The roads near me seem to get flooded on a regular basis over winter and then we have two or three snow/slush "episodes" in the run up to March (and sometimes beyond). The Lounge obviously has fairly limited ground clearance but the extra grip should be useful. Never had winter tyres before so not sure where to pitch my expectations. My mate who knows a bit about tyres reckons that the Falkens should be ok.

 

[AB100]

I've now ordered up a steel wheel/Falken winter tyre package from mytyres. Not bad value at £84 each delivered (so long as they turn out to be half decent!). The roads near me seem to get flooded on a regular basis over winter and then we have two or three snow/slush "episodes" in the run up to March (and sometimes beyond). The Lounge obviously has fairly limited ground clearance but the extra grip should be useful. Never had winter tyres before so not sure where to pitch my expectations. My mate who knows a bit about tyres reckons that the Falkens should be ok.

I have 20 year old FIAT Punto alloys with 195/50-15 tyres and in fact have just fitted them after spending a fortune on refurb (£10).

The winter tyres feel a little squidgier in normal weather but grip/brake better when it's icy.

 

[Popoffchris]

Removing the rear seats only takes ten minutes, then just get a metre square of ply to cover the exposed wiring, fuel lines etc and you will have a nice little panda van [emoji16] worked a treat for our camping trip down to the south of France, (also had a roof rack with our oztent on) also fitted the arm rest, just found it too tall so modified it to a more reasonable hight, now wouldn't be without it.

 

[Axis]

Thanks for these pics

Quite a versatile wee thing

That flat bed opens up quite a few possibilities - also gives a bit of fun trying to think of ideas for improving creature comforts on my day trips to the hills. And so quick to convert back to standard too

 

[Popoffchris]

Yes we find it quite versatile and surprisingly very comfortable (for us at least), we had no problems on the French camping trip covering just over 2400 miles in two weeks.

Sorry forgot to explain the Ply in the back property, I took the photo with the Ply in the wrong way around.... When in place correctly the two pieces are hinged with the larger bit furthest in with the smaller bit cut so it folds to gain access to the spare wheel underneath.

Thanks for these pics

Quite a versatile wee thing

That flat bed opens up quite a few possibilities - also gives a bit of fun trying to think of ideas for improving creature comforts on my day trips to the hills. And so quick to convert back to standard too

 

[Axis]

Very happy with the armrest. Decently solid and easy to fit (well, about 20 mins all in). Not everyone's first mod but I've had them in all my previous cars and, whilst I don't actually use it most of the time, I like to have it there

 

[Axis]

Just had an email from mytyres.co.uk saying that delivery of my my winter tyres will be delayed due to the high number of orders. Maybe I should have been more considerate and ordered them in May

 

[Axis]

Finally received notification of shipping from DHL in Germany

I'm actually quite impressed by the oem summer tyres - had to go up a long steep hill this morning when it was -5C. No issues. Had a go at disengaging the traction control but I didn't really have to, but useful to have that facility.

Edit. and my £30 spacesaver arrived this evening - not the full package foam/jack etc, but good enough for the money.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

...you will have a nice little panda van [emoji16] worked a treat for our camping trip down to the south of France, (also had a roof rack with our oztent on)...

Still love the look of that tent! ‘Proper’ 4x4 gear, but scaled down

 

[Axis]

Finally received my winter wheel/tyre package but had to get the local mechanic to fit them as the alloys were "welded" on pretty firmly. He only asked for £10, which I can't complain about.

By the way, any reason why the silver coloured centre cap is only on the back wheels, or are my fronts simply missing?

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Sounds like you’ve got a versatile little Panda there, Axis - enjoy your new car! With winter rubber, you’ll keep much more mobile than most. The little Panda is a versatile piece of kit. Really like the tent in the photos earlier in this thread, too!

 

[Axis]

I had my first run this afternoon trying out the Falken tyres - just a 15 mile round trip with a big increase in elevation.

Firstly, these tyres are amazingly grippy, so much so that I'm sure that I could actually feel the increase in rolling resistance and, no doubt, increased fuel consumption! I'll check the mpg after a few hundred miles but I bet it drops by around 10%. Thankfully I won't be doing big miles over the winter.

In fact, the ride felt so soft and compliant that I came home and re-checked the pressures, which were all spot on. I then checked my summer tyres to see if they had been over-inflated (thereby giving me 56mpg) but they were identical. So, sticky rubber, whilst undoubtedly grippy, comes at a cost (although I did have some fun on a twisty country lane)

Edit: Antartica, unfortunately the pics of the roof tent were't mine! I'd love one though!