General Key questions

[bjm38]

Hi all

I'm due to collect my new (well, to me!) Panda tomorrow, but a couple of questions have already come to mind:

1: The car's only got one key - does the Panda have the dreaded "red key"?
2: How much does a new key cost (on average) from dealers?
3: Why the hell doesn't it have a locking fuel cap, and is one available?

Nice to find an enthusiastic online forum!

BJM
(one time owner of the venerable old-shape Panda)

 

[Creamola]

Hi,
My Pandas have always come with two keys. One normal one, and one with the remote built in.

They don't have a locking petrol cap - but see here for what to buy: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-new...petrol-cap-last.html?highlight=locking+petrol

PS. They also don't have a boot light - but don't get me started on that again ....

 

[bjm38]

Hi, Creamola

Thanks for the prompt reply.

"My Pandas have always come with two keys. One normal one, and one with the remote built in."
Thankfully, the car's got the remote key, so maybe not so bad if Fiat only usually supply the one of these.

"They don't have a locking petrol cap - but see here for what to buy: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-new...petrol-cap-last.html?highlight=locking+petrol"
Looks like a walk down to the local Fiat dealer tomorrow then - I'm having to go 40 miles to pick up the car! Best the dealer could do was £6000 for a pre-reg Active, but SWMBO insisted on aircon, so that meant a search to find one at a sensible price. Ended up with an '05 Eleganza for £5600 - VERY impressed with what else you get for the money.

"They also don't have a boot light - but don't get me started on that again"
I don't suppose it's spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar, but it seems odd to cram the car with niceties like heated mirrors and miss out on the basics - oh well, they're more or less designed by accountants nowadays!

BJM

 

[Joker288]

"Eleganza" DO have a boot light, so one problem out of the way then.

I brought my fiat fuel cap lock from ebay for around £18 (include postage). so expensive for a cap.... think i might have got ripped off....

Anyway, gratz on your new car, hope u like it.

 

[Jai]

no joker, i think thats about right, there were if memory serves 2 versions of the cap, one about £14 the other about £18, so you're pretty much right on, welcome aboard by the way! stick yourself on the listing up top of the section, it's getting a bit fat there now!

 

[kipster]

I didn't get a locking cap either, so i will look into it. I'm not worried about syphoning, more like a chav putting something in the tank.

 

[pandissimo]

Hi, Creamola


"They also don't have a boot light - but don't get me started on that again"
I don't suppose it's spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar, but it seems odd to cram the car with niceties like heated mirrors and miss out on the basics - oh well, they're more or less designed by accountants nowadays!

BJM

Congrats on the car, the aircon is pretty good too. If your Eleganza has the magnificent boot-light you may want to take your Ray-Bans with you when you pick up the car, before opening the boot....

Maybe the dealer will kick in with a spare car for you. Sometimes the insurance companies kick up a fuss if the car gets stolen and you don't have both keys.

Welcome aboard!

 

[scottish_guy69]

A new panda should have 2 keys. No red keys since bout 2000. 2005 or newer pandas do not have locking petrol caps, 2004 models do. Don't know why they changed it but they shouldn't have.

I work for a Fiat main dealer in Scotland.

Richard

 

[james.mitchell]

you have all been ripped off on the locking fuel cap! my franchised fiat dealer ordered on in for me for £8.25 inc VAT!

 

[Creamola]

you have all been ripped off on the locking fuel cap! my franchised fiat dealer ordered on in for me for £8.25 inc VAT!

You must have got the budget "white box" version.

For about 14 quid, the rest of us got a locking cap in a presentation case with a voucher for 5p a gallon discount down Tescos.

Also - you will find that the key on the white box version is a "universal" key - the same as all the other white box keys.

 

[T14086]

I work for a Fiat main dealer in Scotland.

Best keeping that quiet around here mate