General Panda 169 shoulder room.

[barefootdrummer]

Hello All,

Firstly may I apologise for my past lack of involvement on the Forum despite having been a member for a decade and a half. I have often read the forum for tips and general know how but I've only posted once before.

I have very rarely been without Fiats in my fifty eleventy two years and come from a family where Fiat ownership began in 1974 with an original 500.

Recently we had to scrap my wife's 2003 Punto Active Sport which was a superb little car but fell victim to the dreaded tin worm and an obliterated clutch.

It has been replaced with a 2009 500 Sport which I collected and drove 600 miles home being pleasantly surprised at the space for a bloke of my width and long limbed proportions.

So impressed am I that I'm considering getting rid of my non-Fiat (sorry) and replacing it with a 169 Panda which I prefer over the 319.

My query before committing is, does the 169 compare to the 500 for accommodation in the driver's department?

Thanks,
Martin.

 

[koalar]

I am 6'2" and fit easily I to the Panda, I don't know how it compares to the 500 though

 

[barefootdrummer]

I am 6'2" and fit easily I to the Panda, I don't know how it compares to the 500 though

You have an inch over me, I have arms fit for an albatross' wings and need plenty of elbow room too. How do you get on with width?

 

[koalar]

Width fine

Seats uncomfortable though

 

[barefootdrummer]

Width fine

Seats uncomfortable though

I thought they might be by the look of them, I've presumed that a pair of 500 seats would fit as I find them really comfy.

 

[koalar]

They can be swapped but the rail needs swapping as well, not sure if they are an upgrade though most of the panda 169 are over 15 years old so the seats are pretty tired, I also find the back doesn't have enough lower back support for me

 

[koalar]

Sport 500 probably has err sporty seat upgrade Vs a base model 500, so probably better made

 

[barefootdrummer]

Sport 500 probably has err sporty seat upgrade Vs a base model 500, so probably better made

Yes I think you may well be right, they are surprisingly comfy over a long distance. That's what left me so pleased with the car when I had my marathon drive home.