Having owned my Panda for over a month I think I'm convinced now on Fiat as a brand. (This is a non specific model thread)
I'm only 19 and like many ignorant ones my age always kind of laughed at the thought of Fiat and either saw things like the 500 unappealing and cars like the Punto as a bit ugly..
Having owned my car now and experienced first hand its benefits over other brands in the same class - even some who are considered more up-market, I'm starting to really get the Fiat thing! And it's great.
I've discovered that the small factor really does add to the fun. The handling isn't that of a Ferrari, but again, it doesn't try to be. Whoever first used the term 'honest' to describe their Fiat really hit the nail on the head in terms of appropriate adjectives. That's very much the type of satisfaction the car gives.
It's a 1.2, yeah, but it's much more compact than even a Polo so when you consider the weight saving it's very nimble and agile - even despite the height of the Panda. And when I look behind the UK into its home market of Italy, I learned things like it was the best selling 5 door car etc and I saw that if Italians take the brand seriously then why shouldn't we? It's the same product and not too much of a different market.
I can certainly say too it's given me much less problems than the few cars I've owned before. The engine runs like clockwork, I'm discovering more and more small things too that'll save my ass someday like the non-interference engine in my case. This is all far from the rumours I've heard about Fiats being unreliable and lousy build quality?! Clearly - if ever - this was true it was long before I was born anyway.
What I'm basically saying is, Fiat make cars that seem unusual when compared to the competition. It feels like they use some kind of different process that involves less of 'what do the other guys have in their latest models' and more of innovation where innovation is needed in making their market of small cars better as the models develop through time.
Now, I hope that my Panda continues to serve me for maybe 5 more years yet - too optimistic? I hope not.
And if it does, my heart is set on the new Panda 4x4 or possibly the 500 (I'm beyond caring if people think it's more of a girls car) because Fiat are offering a product that I for one feel is unique and certainly with today's models the utmost modern and value for money vehicles.
I'm convinced anyway that I'll be a Fiat driver for life so long as they're sticking to their roots and doing what they do best - small cars.
Anybody else agree? If this is a useless thread feel free to delete but I definitely thought this was worth sharing to owners of all Fiats
I'm only 19 and like many ignorant ones my age always kind of laughed at the thought of Fiat and either saw things like the 500 unappealing and cars like the Punto as a bit ugly..
Having owned my car now and experienced first hand its benefits over other brands in the same class - even some who are considered more up-market, I'm starting to really get the Fiat thing! And it's great.
I've discovered that the small factor really does add to the fun. The handling isn't that of a Ferrari, but again, it doesn't try to be. Whoever first used the term 'honest' to describe their Fiat really hit the nail on the head in terms of appropriate adjectives. That's very much the type of satisfaction the car gives.
It's a 1.2, yeah, but it's much more compact than even a Polo so when you consider the weight saving it's very nimble and agile - even despite the height of the Panda. And when I look behind the UK into its home market of Italy, I learned things like it was the best selling 5 door car etc and I saw that if Italians take the brand seriously then why shouldn't we? It's the same product and not too much of a different market.
I can certainly say too it's given me much less problems than the few cars I've owned before. The engine runs like clockwork, I'm discovering more and more small things too that'll save my ass someday like the non-interference engine in my case. This is all far from the rumours I've heard about Fiats being unreliable and lousy build quality?! Clearly - if ever - this was true it was long before I was born anyway.
What I'm basically saying is, Fiat make cars that seem unusual when compared to the competition. It feels like they use some kind of different process that involves less of 'what do the other guys have in their latest models' and more of innovation where innovation is needed in making their market of small cars better as the models develop through time.
Now, I hope that my Panda continues to serve me for maybe 5 more years yet - too optimistic? I hope not.
And if it does, my heart is set on the new Panda 4x4 or possibly the 500 (I'm beyond caring if people think it's more of a girls car) because Fiat are offering a product that I for one feel is unique and certainly with today's models the utmost modern and value for money vehicles.
I'm convinced anyway that I'll be a Fiat driver for life so long as they're sticking to their roots and doing what they do best - small cars.
Anybody else agree? If this is a useless thread feel free to delete but I definitely thought this was worth sharing to owners of all Fiats
