General My Panda Selecta

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General My Panda Selecta

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Jul 23, 2009
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260
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Location
Essex
Just got home with my new Panda Selecta! :D
Well, I say mine, but the missus will be driving it...
Well chuffed with it at the moment! It's a white L reg, belonged to an old dear and has 32k miles on the clock. It drives very well and feels nice and taut, actually has less squeaks and noises than Manda.
Temporarely named Willy (lol) because of last 3 letters on number plate.
Interiors are immaculate, seems like the previous owner looked after it very very well in that respect.
It comes with the genuine radio cassette, and pair of pathetic 4" speakers and pods, but all working correctly.
Engine-wise, I will get busy this weekend and do a basic service, oil and coolant certainly need replacing.
One thing caught my eye when I parked it on the drive, though.
I popped the bonnet to see that everything was ok after the 30miles drive home, and I noticed there is a little gearbox oil weeping from the pipes that connect to the oil cooler. Now I have a little dot of the pink stuff on the driveway:mad:. Nothing major, but might as well get it sorted while I am crawling under the car.
To be fair, the pipes look like they have seen better days and probably could do with replacing. Are they standard 6 or 8mm low pressure (same sort of stuff you would use on a carbed panda), or are they high pressure?
I am sure this has been asked before, but any recommendation on which CVT oil should I use? I know Fiat has its own line of oils, but they are overpriced and hard to come by IMO.
Pictures to follow, too dark now, and the car(s) could do with a wax and polish anyway to bring out that shine :cool:
So proud of my driveway a the moment, in a street full of German and Japanese 4wd nonsenses, my 2 Pandas stand out like two sore thumbs :), even seen a neighbour shaking his head while going past my house walking his dog.... oh dear.
 
Your Neighbours know nothing! ;)

Sounds like you've got a cracker there, look forward to seeing the pics. I always loved driving the Selecta, especially away from traffic lights.
 
Just got home with my new Panda Selecta! :D
So proud of my driveway a the moment, in a street full of German and Japanese 4wd nonsenses, my 2 Pandas stand out like two sore thumbs :), even seen a neighbour shaking his head while going past my house walking his dog.... oh dear.

:cool: They'll soon get used to it - mine have, & now just humour me every time another one appears! (y)

You'll find most of the kids & mums (and most of the men tbh) love the Panda's when they walk past (stick a couple of fluffy ones in the back for added effect - Panda's that is, not children or you'll get in trouble ;) ). Most of the passers by are looking at the cars as they go past - hardly any laugh :D
 
Sounds like a nice motor. Get some pics up :D

Regarding the oil, any CVT oil, not normal auto gearbox fluid!!

I'm trying to think where I got my last bottle from, was a motor factors own brand, about £10 a litre or £38 for 5 lites, this is going back a few years though.

Probably best to change the fluid completely tbh (y)
 
I have given up until tomorrow to give the ol' girl a good polish. The weather and previously arranged commitments have stopped me giving the car a good once over that she deserves.
Still, I managed to do an oil change, replace the coolant and sort out that annoying gearbox oil leak.
In the meantime, here are a couple of pics, not the best quality as taken with my mobile phone.


One for the weekend, one for the weekdays :D:D




Very tidy inside, but one door pocket only, none on passenger side.. (anyone got a black one to spare?)



Here is one of that hose I replaced.



Also, the standard steelies are in good conditions, the tyres are legal, but not great.
I think, with this Panda I am gonna go with the genuine look (no lowering springs or 1242's here), but I just got this set of Borbets off fleabay :idea:
What do you think?



The tyres on them are shot (cracked and gone rock solid) and the wrong size (145/70), so they will need replacing. The wheels are 5j's.
Any suggestions on what size to use? shall I use the OEM size 155/70, or move onto 165/65? Looking at Uniroyals or maybe Toyo 350's.
Are Michelins energy and Pirelli P4's really that much better?
Your thoughts please (y)
 
Lovely pair of Pandas (y) Aren't you glad I beat you to the one in Porthcawl now ;).

Had those alloys on on a 4x4 I sold last year.........





I still have one if you need a spare. I'd go with 165/65's myself, the extra width is always useful, and as these wheels are an original Fiat option there is no issue with offsets/wheel arch fowling etc.
 
Lovely pair of Pandas (y) Aren't you glad I beat you to the one in Porthcawl now ;)..
Yes, I am really glad I got hold of this one! I really wanted the sunroofs, but that, I suppose, it's just an excuse to buy another one evenctually :D

Thanks for that picture of the 4x4, it really helps visualising. I think they look good. Also the 4x4 is slightly taller, so in a Selecta the wheel arches would be a bit more "filled".

Nice Selecta, I hope there arnt any plans to drop a 1242 into it as there are less than 100 Selecta's on the road now. The alloys I think would be acceptable though :p

How did you find this Selecta out of interest :confused:

oh, I'm aware that selectas are getting rarer, and I have no plans for major modifications. Although a 1.2 8v would be a nice upgrade...
Anyway, I really enjoy driving it at the moment and I don't feel the need to change anything. Sooooo quiet compared to Manda. Induction kits are great, but if you're just popping down the shops or you actually wanna hear the radio and you're not in a rush, the selecta is the one to use.
Surprisingly quick acceleration, 0-30mph is on par with modern cars.
The car is off eBay. Went to view it and made an offer quite early.
 
Quick update on the selecta as well.
Finally fitted the alloys the other week, along with some 165/65, and the handling has improved a lot. Also upgraded the sound system with a modern CD player and a pair of decent speakers.
Here she is after a quick visit down the DIY car wash :p

selecta.jpg


The next things I have got in mind is a set of lowering springs and I still need to get a new speedo cable :mad:
 
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