General Time to move on

[NitramA]

Well it looks like time to move on.... My wife's Panda Trekking is now 8 years old and we fancy a change. I've always loved the character of the TA engine and the way the car scuttles around at low(ish) speed. She on the other hand has always struggled with the engine and gearbox as she found the former noisy and the latter notchy and difficult to use.
This is her 3rd Panda, having had one of the first versions (rust bucket and very primitive), a 169 (she loved it but I loathed the looks) and this one.
None of them have let us down and have been 100% reliable. I've been amazed at what you can get in it too. This was a massive surprise to me as I can be a bit of a badge snob and fully expected them to be unreliable and awful to drive.
I'd happily look at another, but I've watched in concern as all the local Fiat dealers have closed. I've also watched the prices steadily increase along with very little in ongoing development. I know that a new Panda will come out sometime and maybe we'll look at one but I somehow doubt it as Fiat seemed to have lost their way a little in the UK. We went to Italy earlier in the year and loved seeing the number of Pandas, both young and very old, so maybe the UK just doesn't hold an interest to them anymore.
I'll continue to look in at the forums as I've become quite attached to the unpretentious mutterings

 

[The Panda Nut]

Im sure you will regret it... It will be interesting to see what you go for. Im sure your logic for somethig else is sound. Im not sure I trust anyone to work on a TA that isnt properly trained on its little complexities,

 

[NitramA]

The fact that the TA needs a specialist to look after it was one of the reasons we thought about a change. As I said all the local dealers have closed and the conversations I had about what oil to put in the TA at service time made me worry for the poor thing.

The main thing you have to remember here is that it’s not me who wants a change.
In the interest of ongoing matrimonial bliss I’ve had to put all my logic and preferences in a little box and lock them in another box and bury them all in the back garden.
My wife uses criteria that I think even she doesn’t quite understand. Foremost is it’s quiet, easy to drive and is cute!
To you and me this translates into bland. It’s her car and she has chosen it.
It does mean that next time I get to chose the car and that WILL be much more tasteful.

Another thing is we’ve sold the car via Motorway. They sold it for £1000 more than the reserve and £1200 more than a dealer was mumbling about for trade in. That means the car sold for 60% of its purchase price 8 years and 32k miles ago. Quite impressed with the service.

 

[varesecrazy]

I hope she enjoys her electric 500.

 

[SB1500]

I think you’ve had a fairly pleasant experience and one similar to most of us here about the Panda punching above its weight and delivering the same kind of charm.

The dealer situation is dire. They’re dropping like flies. However, now with Peugeot owning it all… service, parts and whatnot might become merged and more accessible than it is today. Even if the pure sole Fiat dealers are no more. Still, in the age of the internet sourcing parts for DIY servicing or even to hand to a local mechanic shouldn’t be too hard. Shop4Parts and other specialists should be able to keep supplying the right oil for the TwinAir.

It’s a big ask to expect someone to buy the same car new twice… but have you considered the current newest Panda’s as an option? The mild hybrid engine won’t be fast or as fun as the twin air, but it might be easier to live with and maintain and be a relaxing driving experience for your wife?

Other than that. New cars… avoid anything Chinese including MG.

Dacia Sandero still a cheap option, relatively robust. I’d take my chances with it than anything cheaper or equally low cost.

Yaris if all you want is reliability / efficiency. Apparently the current new models is NIGHT and day handling and sportiness and fun to drive - and not so boring to look at - as previous models. But not cheap either - new or used.

I haven’t looked into many other small cars too much.. Suzuki Ignis is known for stealing Panda buyers from time to time and good reliability. The Fiat of Japan I’d call em.

Good luck with whatever you buy next. If it’s in your budget I’d say test drive the Fiat 500 electric.

Change is good - so they say. I’m coming back while I can before the Panda we all know and love goes away or becomes a Peugeot

 

[AndyRKett]

My wife uses criteria that I think even she doesn’t quite understand. Foremost is it’s quiet, easy to drive and is cute!

get a mini

 

[Marcus Daly]

Sandero's a good car. Objectively, way better than the aging Panda. Yaris is terrific, but it wants to be at that price.

 

[NitramA]

Now, remember what I said about logic.....
We looked at the Pug, but that's a no for no apparent reason. The Fiat 500C or electric was a definite no. I've got quite a soft spot for Dachias as I've driven the Duster and more recently the Jogger and found them to be excellent cars; They may be built a little on the cheap side in places but superb value for money. However the wife says no.
The Panda is out because of the poor dealer network and what I perceive as yesterday tech. The final point is that my wife wants a change from Fiat. I think that TA has caused PTSD.
As for the Yaris, we both disliked them as they are built from sheet metal even thinner than the Panda uses. Not to mention the weird rear styling that adds inches to the car but takes it all from the rear seat passenger space.
I did try to get her in an electric car - the Renault Zoe caught my eye as the used prices are quite attractive. I also tried a (used) Cupra Born as our main car that we shared. Too big.
So after going round in circles she spotted the new Hyundai i10. We could get a good discount, the Dealer is 1/2 mile away. Delivery is due in October & we can get 4 years cheap servicing.
Its possibly the most boring car in the world but she wants a boring car. I've put up and shut.
The logic of people who don't like driving has always confused me, but I want my ironing done

Please don't hate me

 

[varesecrazy]

Convenience is a big thing

My in laws visited relies in Australia and they all drove KIA

So on returning they bought a KIA. Too new to the UK then, nearest specialist was an hour away... It didn't last

But @10 years ago they got a brand new i10 equivalent and they got on well with it.. And dealer network has improved massively

Hope it is well received

 

[NitramA]

Convenience is a big thing

My in laws visited relies in Australia and they all drove KIA

So on returning they bought a KIA. Too new to the UK then, nearest specialist was an hour away... It didn't last

But @10 years ago they got a brand new i10 equivalent and they got on well with it.. And dealer network has improved massively

Hope it is well received

If only we could get one! The dealer originally quoted a delivery of 20th October so we naively took a really good offer from Motorway and sold the Panda.
Then the Hyundai dealer decided to inform us delivery had slipped to end of November/beginning on December leaving her without a car.
The trouble is that we’ve had so much trouble getting anything information out of the dealer we’ve now lost trust in them. Every other dealer was quoting Jan/Feb when we were buying and can’t help but think that will be the actual delivery.
She’s now climbing the wall as she’s lost her independence so we’re trying to get a used one at a sensible price.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as we now both wished we’d kept the Panda
Looking back it was obviously a mistake letting it go without the Hyundai but I’ve never been accused of being very clever!