Panda Panda Fan

[Borntown]

Hi Folks,
Have hired Fiat Pandas for years when on holiday. Absolutely love them. So 4 years ago I bought a 2012 reg 1.2 Active. It's been very practical and sensible.
Love her to bits.
Until she starts costing me money. Like this week
Will be posting a thread in the appropriate forum to seek advice.

Many Thanks.

 

[DaveMcT]

Wife's 1.2 Panda this week -

Front right suspension leaking oil. At least the bolts are lubricated
Rear dampers have broken rubbers in top mounts though dampers feel fine.
Both front tyres badly scrubbed. Rears cracking between tread blocks. So that's a full set.

I have not yet discoverd why the tyres got scrubbed so badly. It might need new bottom suspension arms. Time and tests will tell.
The MoT last year (compulsory safety test) showed the exhaust emissions were borderline. So could be looking at a new catalyst.

It's a car. Things wear out and cost money. But compared to new car depreciation it is still low cost motoring. Compared to another old car - it's the devil I know.

 

[rmjbn1]

Hi One major benefit of the 169 Panda is that all the major (expensive) aspects (engine, gearbox, structure and bodywork) are strong and unlikely to cause problems (as long as they're not neglected).

I think it's reasonable to expect to have to replace consumables on a car that's coming up to 10 years old.

In coming years you might need to be prepared to replace things like steering & suspension components and bushes, brakes (front discs / rear wheel cylinders), wheel bearings, exhaust, battery, alternator, sensors... (I see you've just had a new clutch)

Obviously it can all add up. And if you find you need multiple things replacing at once then it can end up costing close to the car's value.

I think it's worth doing, personally, especially if you like the car and want to keep it.

Even more so as parts for the Panda are so plentiful and cheap (100HP excepted).

I've always driven quite old cars and I budget £200 a year for running repairs. In the two years I've had it, my 16y.o. Panda's cost me nothing aside from servicing. A newer equivalent car could cost £500-£1000 in depreciation alone every year.

To future-proof a Panda I'd recommend regular fluid changes and checking the following for rust:

• coolant return pipe across front of engine
• engine sump pan
• shock absorbers & springs
• rear axle spring pans
• mud trap behind front springs
• rear brake drums

Also the battery and its earth connections need to be in good condition or the power steering (which draws a lot of current) can throw a wobbly.

And check the 'duckbill' scuttle drains below the wipers are clear - they block easily.

 

[DaveMcT]

The recent spend on our 1.2 Dynamic is consumable stuff but a small fraction of what we'd be paying for a new(er) car. It's just done 3+ hours each way to visit my daughter (A303 is always slow) without raising a sweat, though we were glad of the air-con.

My daughter drives a nearly new Audi A1. It's great (obviously) but for the miles she covers a Panda would do the job fine. Even with garage fees, it would be a lot less cost than the Audi. But it's her money and she can afford it.