Panda Rear seats sliding?

[DaveMcT]

Our 07 Mk2 Pandas are both good on the rusty front, but both have had major work on the back axle.

1.2 Dynamic has a 2015 Fiat 500 axle complete with 500 springs. The ARB gives much better handling and the not too wide wheels fit the wheel arches just fine. All up cost was about £150.

100HP axle was grit blasted and zinc metal sprayed then put back with a coat of etch primer and some Hammerite smooth to cover the dull grey zinc. All up cost was about £100 plus £20 for some 500 springs. 500 axle is too wide for the wider wheels.

The springs do feel a little soft on the 100HP as there is no ARB to stiffen the axle. It needs a 10mm spacer under the top spring mount to raise the back end just a tad - tech term there .

Everywhere else has had a spray with thinned chain saw oil. It soaks in well and lasts better than Waxoyl. The latter seems to go cheesy over time and lose it's protection abilities. The oil is horrible to shift if it gets on the exterior paint and dries. But I guess that shows why its so good on hidden parts.

 

[steve w hebburn]

hi, i also have the sliding rear seat in my 55 dynamic mj. it was a option from the factory. comes in very handy for the shopping. but as other people say, with seat forward, theres no legroom at all. steve.

 

[DaveMcT]

Mine has the fixed rear seat with the handy split folding seat back. I think a big improvement for boot space would be for the seat base to flip forward before the seat back drops down. That does not seem to be possible, but I've not given it any serious thought.

There is an issue for kids in the back. Booster seats tend to make their legs stick forwards pushing feet into the front seat backs. As they get bigger the problem goes away as legs can fit where the car designers intended them to.

 

[Multiodd]

Hello,

Yes, having the seats flip both back and base would ease carrying, quite a jump from the boot to the seat back. This is even higher on the pandas as with mine and the reclining seats.

It is a marginal thing which is best, the recliners have higher back rests and go back further, but are so high up compared to the normal ones.

While I do need a bit of space to drive, the passenger space is more generous, so can go quite far forwards and still be ok, then I find you can sit quite well in back.

Just tried a new panda, a far more enclosed and tighter fitting car than the mk2, even though bigger on the outside :-(

 

[DaveMcT]

Just tried a new panda, a far more enclosed and tighter fitting car than the mk2, even though bigger on the outside :-(

Cars become ever more like padded cells. Before long they'll be self driving so won't need to carry passengers.