Okay, I am going to say all of the following while touching wood and hopefully not tempting fate!
robjnr - Sport mode is usually off for lessons, at least for all but good-standard students who want to try it. New pupils find the throttle fairly sensitive as it is, not while driving but when learning to "set the gas" to move away.
MEP/AD - Everything is original apart from the tyres and brake pads. The clutch biting point is still below half-travel. The front discs are due for imminent replacement, which at 70k isn't too bad. By comparison, on my Fiesta Zetec-S, the original discs passed an MOT at 115k. Bizzarely, none of the bulbs have needed changing except the rear fog light which is strange as it has never been used [but students can be asked to show how to operate it during the 'Show me, tell me' questions performed prior to their driving test].
MEP - The car does not really get abused by learner drivers. They don't generally take the engine above 3-4k rpm [unless they are building up speed quickly and 'block-changing']. Brakes are only used in anger during emergency stop practice. Of course, the car has changed gear - and used reverse - far more due to repeated manoeuvres and junction practice. However, all of the gears still select cleanly, with the occasional exception of reverse [but no synchromesh has this effect on all of the cars I have driven, regardless of mileage]. Despite the hard ride and poor roads, there doesn't appear to be any play in the front bushes, steering rack, etc.
If Fiat produced an turbo-diesel 100HP, it would be very close to the ideal tuition vehicle. The 1.4 TDCi Mk6 Fiesta 'Climate' that I had prior to the Panda is almost perfect but the Panda does have superior visibility and a better gearstick postion.
Overall, I am still very happy
