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General  Maybe joining the dark side... 100HP

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General  Maybe joining the dark side... 100HP

Aston Martin

Aston Martin

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I may be joining the 100HP gang, my classic Panda is always poorly and costing me money. But, as he is an amazing little thing, hopefully he gets to stay under a tarp.

So i'm off to test drive one on Sunday, it's a grey '58 with 50k miles. No esp, no Skydome, no sub and no Pandemonium Pack. It's a pure 100HP :p (Although I would love a white Skydome and maybe a sub.)

Is the ride really that terrible? I live in a slightly dodgy area, so theres speedbumps everywhere. I remember the ride in the back of a Grande Punto was terrible, over speedbumps you'd leave a skull impression on the roof. Is this the same kinda thing, but for the driver too?

Apart from the rear bumpstops any other issues?
 
The ride is hard for sure but its just the same as most other 'focused' hatchbacks, have a good long road test in one....see how you feel about it after 20 miles and if your still smiling ( I am after almost a year) get one and enjoy driving without the constant fear of losing your licence.
 
The ride isn't too bad, you just have to slow down to 20 for speed bumps which other cars would take at 30. Similarly, you learn to avoid potholes, but you won't break yourself or the car if you accidentally drive over an occasional average sized pothole, it just won't be the world's most pleasant experience.

As for anything else going wrong, they can go through dampers at quite a rate, but mine are 6 years old and still going strong, so I guess that's the luck of the draw. You could always solve the problem before it arises by fitting Koni dampers (STR.T or Sport are available). The exhaust back box can rot, but that's pretty much a wear and tear item and can be replaced at not too greater cost.

I'm sure there's some stuff I've forgotten, but the 100HP seems to generally be a very reliable little car :).
 
Aston Martin said:
I may be joining the 100HP gang, my classic Panda is always poorly and costing me money. But, as he is an amazing little thing, hopefully he gets to stay under a tarp.

So i'm off to test drive one on Sunday, it's a grey '58 with 50k miles. No esp, no Skydome, no sub and no Pandemonium Pack. It's a pure 100HP :p (Although I would love a white Skydome and maybe a sub.)

Is the ride really that terrible? I live in a slightly dodgy area, so theres speedbumps everywhere. I remember the ride in the back of a Grande Punto was terrible, over speedbumps you'd leave a skull impression on the roof. Is this the same kinda thing, but for the driver too?

Apart from the rear bumpstops any other issues?
Click to expand...
Definite cambelt! Don't believe that it was changed unless you see a physical bill/invoice. It is one of the biggest lies in the world:eek:
Discs and pads all round check.
Seats for sagging and back lumbar area collapse / tearing on support bar
If private, or non fiat, then insist on full print out of ECUs at fiat dealer.
Never believe any service history unless supported by invoices,

The comfort factors are best answered by those using them day to day.
Enjoy!
There are quite a lot for sale and quite a lot of rough ones. Beware 'enthusiastic' owners and mods to car unless absolutely what you want, they will almost certainly greatly devalue the car,
Don't underestimate the cost of any repairs or parts, they can be extortionate.
 
captainslarty said:
Definite cambelt! Don't believe that it was changed unless you see a physical bill/invoice. It is one of the biggest lies in the world:eek:
Discs and pads all round check.
Seats for sagging and back lumbar area collapse / tearing on support bar
If private, or non fiat, then insist on full print out of ECUs at fiat dealer.
Never believe any service history unless supported by invoices,

The comfort factors are best answered by those using them day to day.
Enjoy!
There are quite a lot for sale and quite a lot of rough ones. Beware 'enthusiastic' owners and mods to car unless absolutely what you want, they will almost certainly greatly devalue the car,
Don't underestimate the cost of any repairs or parts, they can be extortionate.
Click to expand...
I knew I'd forget some stuff haha :p.

Yeah, Cap's right, cambelt and water pump are important. If they've not been done, get them done ASAP and drive the car is little as possible until they're done.

Also, yes, there are some "uniquely" modified ones floating around, best to get a well looked after stock model, it's less likely to have spent its life being thrashed to within an inch of its life.
 
Repair costs are no higher than any other small hatch and its easy peasy to work on, the cambelt is important as you'll want to rev the nuts off it with peace of mind, i'd accept a specialist service history over main dealer any day as you'd be surprised what Isn't done as part of regular servicing...change the backbox for a stainless one and that's about it......ignore the haters and enjoy one of the greatest handling little sports hatchbacks that money can buy.
 
Just remembered a few more things as well lol...
When in for service/cambelt kit, use a main dealer if possible, unless you have an indie with full diag gear and you know them and trust them.
Always ask for old parts back, insist on branded parts. , most important !,,
Have gearbox oil changed, also brake fluid. At same time get them to change the bottom tie bar - gearbox to suspension crossmember, not expensive, and can transform a car with 50k on. It plays a major role in controlling powerplant fore and aft movement. Wear in this item will be present at 50k!
It can cause exhaust failure at the flexi , it can cause kangaroo petrol symptoms, juddering in reverse, but mainly just unwanted slop on power on and lift off.
Again, not expensive, worth every penny.
 
Gavv8 said:
Repair costs are no higher than any other small hatch and its easy peasy to work on, the cambelt is important as you'll want to rev the nuts off it with peace of mind, i'd accept a specialist service history over main dealer any day as you'd be surprised what Isn't done as part of regular servicing...change the backbox for a stainless one and that's about it......ignore the haters and enjoy one of the greatest handling little sports hatchbacks that money can buy.
Click to expand...

How would you define specialist?.
Also, without receipts you have no history in real terms.
So with receipts, one can see exactly what has been done. - whoever did it - you will find most indies will not itemise the make of the parts though, so you dont know if good or crap was fitted. So, Each to their own on service centres. But caveat emptor.
 
Just because its a main dealer doesnt mean the work is going to be sound. Fiat are notorious for not caring about dodgy main dealers. Im sure their are some amazing main dealerships out there but their are equally amazing independents. In my experience I find that independents are more grateful for your custom and as a result work harder.

Anyway some great advice above,the 100HP is an amazing car you will love it as I did mine.
 
captainslarty said:
Definite cambelt! Don't believe that it was changed unless you see a physical bill/invoice. It is one of the biggest lies in the world:eek:
Discs and pads all round check.
Seats for sagging and back lumbar area collapse / tearing on support bar
If private, or non fiat, then insist on full print out of ECUs at fiat dealer.
Never believe any service history unless supported by invoices,
Click to expand...

The cambelt is due at 70k or 5 years? So it definitely should have been done.
I've seen a few, were the drivers seat has worn on the the side.
I just figured another easy check is what tyres are on the car. Goodyear F1's are standard?

captainslarty said:
The comfort factors are best answered by those using them day to day.
Enjoy!
There are quite a lot for sale and quite a lot of rough ones. Beware 'enthusiastic' owners and mods to car unless absolutely what you want, they will almost certainly greatly devalue the car,
Don't underestimate the cost of any repairs or parts, they can be extortionate.
Click to expand...


Yes, i'm not buying the most expensive and newest one. But i'm also not buying the cheapest available. I have been a bit picky, theres one for sale, but it has an [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League]EDL[/ame] number plate. By the time I change the plate, it's less hassle to find another one.
Theres a couple with half-arsed homemade Pandamonium kits.
Any Abarth stickers and badges and the the website gets closed immediately. :p
Any blue-to-red badge conversions and the page gets closed.




Matt100HP said:
Yeah, Cap's right, cambelt and water pump are important. If they've not been done, get them done ASAP and drive the car is little as possible until they're done.

Also, yes, there are some "uniquely" modified ones floating around, best to get a well looked after stock model, it's less likely to have spent its life being thrashed to within an inch of its life.
Click to expand...


I hate any kind of modifications, Koni's maybe acceptable.
I don't think this means anything these days, but the car has been HPI checked and the dealer has had some kind of check too and appear to be non-dodgy.


Gavv8 said:
Ignore the haters and enjoy one of the greatest handling little sports hatchbacks that money can buy.
Click to expand...

Guy at work with a stupidly overpriced pushbike, said "Why do you want to show off 100 BHP on the back?" He didn't appreciate my talk on the history of Fiat doing this with the Uno 45 etc.
 
Cambelt was revised down to 45000 by Fiat I think and if your friend at work doesn't understand.....that's fine.....it keeps the idiots away.
 
Last edited:
Aston Martin said:
The cambelt is due at 70k or 5 years? So it definitely should have been done.
Click to expand...

Time based as well, never let it go over 5 years is sound reasoning.

Yes, i'm not buying the most expensive and newest one. But i'm also not buying the cheapest available. I have been a bit picky, theres one for sale, but it has an EDL number plate. By the time I change the plate, it's less hassle to find another one.
Theres a couple with half-arsed homemade Pandamonium kits.
Any Abarth stickers and badges and the the website gets closed immediately. :p
Any blue-to-red badge conversions and the page gets closed.
Click to expand...
A sound and effective plan.(y)
Re hpi et all
Useful for never never, but of no use for mileage.
The ECU checks will tell you the actual mileage, the engine ECU stores a running mileage from new, even if the clock is Alfred , this won't be, easy to read with the right equipment.
Abs ECU stores number of starts, useful to judge type of use. You can learn a lot from these two figures.
Again, I think you are approaching the purchase in a safe and logical manner.
I wish you well
Enjoy your car if you are still happy after test drive.:)




I hate any kind of modifications, Koni's maybe acceptable.
I don't think this means anything these days, but the car has been HPI checked and the dealer has had some kind of check too and appear to be non-dodgy.




Guy at work with a stupidly overpriced pushbike, said "Why do you want to show off 100 BHP on the back?" He didn't appreciate my talk on the history of Fiat doing this with the Uno 45 etc.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Aston Martin said:
I'm off to see the car in a few hours. It's 100 miles there, but theres another dealer a few miles away from that. Who has a white one, same year, but with 16,000 less miles for the same price.
Click to expand...
Let us know how it goes, hopefully it's worth the 100 mile journey (y). I noticed in your info that it says you live in Hull, I go to Uni there, if I see your 100HP around when you get one I'll be sure to wave :)!

I've seen a couple about, a grey one in the city centre (in front of St. Stephen's) and a blue one at the mini roundabout outside The Lawns in Cottingham, but they were both ages ago and I've only seen each of them once :(.
 
Matt100HP said:
Let us know how it goes, hopefully it's worth the 100 mile journey (y). I noticed in your info that it says you live in Hull, I go to Uni there, if I see your 100HP around when you get one I'll be sure to wave :)!

I've seen a couple about, a grey one in the city centre (in front of St. Stephen's) and a blue one at the mini roundabout outside The Lawns in Cottingham, but they were both ages ago and I've only seen each of them once :(.
Click to expand...

Theres a grey one that parks in Kingswood shops occasionally. I work on Kingswood, so if I get one it'll be around the back. People will think they're common if parked together. (y) :p

I said to my sister, why don't you me and you go to the Trafford Center? Forgetting to mention the detour, to drive a Panda.
 
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