- Joined
- Mar 1, 2014
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The 2004 Panda has to be up there with the best. Reliable, great value, class leading in its time & surely responsible for saving Fiat from ruin a long time before the new 500 arrived.
In 2004 the range consisted of a poor selling Stilo, poor selling Multipla, a Doblo, and a Punto which was a few years through its life span. The Panda appealed to the public and the motoring press almost universally. The 500 has surely raked in loads of cash for Fiat, but would Fiat have had the money to develop the 500 had it not been for the 2004 Panda sales? I'm not sure.
Other favourites including the Mk1 & Mk2 Bravo for just quietly & reliably getting on with the job without the limelight of more popular Fiats. The Mk2 Punto for great styling & sales success & the Multipla for taking the rule book & ripping it to shreds.
I must confess to having never driven 1 at this point, but the Pandas still have something about them. It's hard to put your finger on, but there's this colossal charm they have.
For me personally, the Punto mk2 is a beautiful car in its own right. For a cheap, mass produced supermini to look that good (and to still look good over 16 years later!) is an excellent achievement.