General Just bought my first ever car!!

[pantalaimon]

and its a Fiat Panda Fizz

Its an L reg (94) and has only done 64'000 miles, its in pretty good condition from what I can tell, apart from a tiny bit of rust on the passenger door. I got it for £450 with 12 months mot and 6 months tax. Is that about right? Hope I haven't got ripped off. It was originally £495, managed to get it down a little.

How easy is it to fit a stereo? I've just ordered a cheap sony cd player, hope it isn't too much hassle, I really don't know too much about cars at all.

I'm hoping to learn how to do a few things myself to keep it in good shape though, i've got a Haynes Panda manual and i'm looking through it at the moment, don't have any tools yet though and they seem pretty expensive from halfords.

I'm hoping it will last a while, its a decent little car

 

[black_cinq]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase

 

[jamie86]

Welcome!

Why don't cars have such great names these days

Fizz
Dance
etc.....

 

[joecinq]

congrats on the purchase. Welcome to the forum

 

[sammiboo]

i should put fizz on my car - how cool is that - coupe fizz lets hope it doesnt mean fizz, pop, bang welcome to the forum

 

[dave]

welcome to the forum
first rule, never go to halfords for nothing. look in yellow pages for motor factors, they will sel all the bits you need, plus tools aswell for a lot less than halfords

 

[Steven]

Welcome and congrats on your Panda. £450 was a little over the odds, but if it's in good order not by much.

You've got the perfect car to learn how to do jobs on as Pandas are so easy to work on. I'm mechanically stupid and even I can do bits and pieces to mine!

Best of luck with it, oh, and get a few pictures up!

 

[pantalaimon]

Best of luck with it, oh, and get a few pictures up!

thanks, will do but I haven't even picked it up yet, i'm getting it Wednesday.

Just looking around and I read that a Panda won't last too long because rust will get it in the end

Is this true? I thought later Panda's had galvanised bodies?

 

[John H]

Welcome to the forum.

How's the bumper coming along??


Regards

John H

 

[John H]

Just looking around and I read that a Panda won't last too long because rust will get it in the end

Is this true? I thought later Panda's had galvanised bodies?

The bodies are galvanised, but the doors are not...

 

[pantalaimon]

hya, thanks for directing me this way, seems more people post on here

I haven't got the car yet so I haven't looked at the bumper yet, it will be one of the first things I try to sort out on it when I get it though, along with installing the cd player and cleaning it up a bit.

Should i make it a priority to get rid of the bit of rust on the door or can it wait? Its very small, about the size of a little finger and its the only rust on the entire body.

 

[dave]

Should i make it a priority to get rid of the bit of rust on the door or can it wait? Its very small, about the size of a little finger and its the only rust on the entire body.

it ill look small untill you strip back to good metal, its proubaly 4 times as big under the paint. dont forget to treat insine of door aswell

 

[Panda_Boy2]

thats almost the same as mine except mines got a few more miles on it. panda doors always rot. Fitting the stereo is a nightmare i suggest you start from scratch with the wiring. The rust on doors are bad, i need some new ones.....if anyone has some rust free doors preferablly green metalic (if there is such a thing as a rust free panda door)pm me.£450 aint too bad, i paid £100 for mine with rusty doors,broken rear bumper, need new brakelines and brake disc for the mot and then the head gasket broke a week after i got it on the road. so all in all it cost me 300-400 but i still have rusty doors, so thats a good price. good luck with the panda it was my 2nd and third car....my 1st was a marbella.

laters rich

 

[pandafan]

Welcome to the Forum,
Whatever you do second..........repair your doors FIRST !, then fill the cavities with Waxoyl. It will be one of the best investments you ever make.

 

[pantalaimon]

thanks, i might get the door sorted out soon, might just take it in for a full service and ask them to do the door too... hope it won't cost too much, i've just spent most of my money buying the thing!

 

[John H]

thanks, i might get the door sorted out soon, might just take it in for a full service and ask them to do the door too... hope it won't cost too much, i've just spent most of my money buying the thing!

Get a quote for the work first, rather than just "ask them to do the door" - it's a blank cheque for them, otherwise.

Take care.


John H

 

[pantalaimon]

ok, thanks for all your advice, i'm going to pick it up now, best not break down on the way back!

wish me luck!!

 

[Steven]

You don't need luck. It'll be fine!

 

[snell80]

Congrats on your first purchase. £450.00 with a long MOT and tax and only 64,000 miles sounds pretty good to me. As everyone else will tell you get on to that door rust and don't be mean with the waxoyl afterwards. I am only a recent Panda owner but I can vouch that this should be a good car to learn on and not expensive. Good luck to you and drive safely.
Mike.

 

[pantalaimon]

well got back ok

just a couple of things though, the pedals are a little squeeky, how can I fix this?

also there are stickers on the back (exterior), i think its something to do with it being a limited edition, they are peeling off so i want to just take them off completely as they look horrible, how can i get them off without scratching the paintwork?

apart for that its a great little car, its extremely nippy, i'm surprised at the power it has for a 1000 engine.