doctorchris
Established member
My Panda Cross has now clocked up in excess of 17,000 miles and I've just been over the Pennines to Manchester and back. Now, I know that mileage is not huge but the car runs more smoothly, more economically and it seems more powerful than ever before. The new Quatrac 3 tyres give a firm but safe ride as well on roads that at this time of the year are never entirely dry and are often very greasy.
OK, my car has developed the famous Panda rear suspension clunk but I find that a good pressure wash underneath the car cures lots of noises and that's what I'm going to try first.
Going over to Manchester gave me the opportunity to look over my daughter's 06 Panda 1.1 Active. She never washes it nor checks the tyres nor oil level. She has only just got round to doing something about last years ABS recall and was delighted that her local fiat dealer washed and hoovered the car when it was in their workshop.
Anyhow, her car, after 40,000 miles, is still without fault, looks great and runs beautifully.
So, what's my point? Well, Pandas seem to improve with age and mileage and I feel we should hold onto them and cherish them into their retirement. You know, I have a neighbour who works for Nissan and gets a new car every year, then barely drives anywhere. He never gets the benefit of a car with a few miles on the clock, which is his loss.
Oh, and remember, it will be along time before it costs a Panda driver the £70 that the newspapers tell us it costs to fill the tank of an average family car!
OK, my car has developed the famous Panda rear suspension clunk but I find that a good pressure wash underneath the car cures lots of noises and that's what I'm going to try first.
Going over to Manchester gave me the opportunity to look over my daughter's 06 Panda 1.1 Active. She never washes it nor checks the tyres nor oil level. She has only just got round to doing something about last years ABS recall and was delighted that her local fiat dealer washed and hoovered the car when it was in their workshop.
Anyhow, her car, after 40,000 miles, is still without fault, looks great and runs beautifully.
So, what's my point? Well, Pandas seem to improve with age and mileage and I feel we should hold onto them and cherish them into their retirement. You know, I have a neighbour who works for Nissan and gets a new car every year, then barely drives anywhere. He never gets the benefit of a car with a few miles on the clock, which is his loss.
Oh, and remember, it will be along time before it costs a Panda driver the £70 that the newspapers tell us it costs to fill the tank of an average family car!
