One of the reasons I've kept the Panda for so long was that it's been to hell and back, just like me. It's a long story, and I won't bore you with it, but I've been ok for the last 12 years so far. One day at a time.
The other reason is that after Dad died of cancer in 1988, it was his money that Mum lent me to buy the Panda after blowing up the Skoda. She gave me her Skoda and took over his Bluebird, which she still has.
The Panda has had the usual share of misfortunes: two prangs, clutch dying at 18k, which was blamed on my driving style (replacement was still okay at 94k so that theory went out of the window), but the biggest problem was the gearbox. It's not the first time I've had to replace it. Back in 1995 it stuck in 2nd gear and I had it replaced by a reconditioned one at £250. When I got it back it was obvious it wasn't working properly so they replaced it by another one ...
I love driving the Panda. Although I'm 6' 4" and have size 12 feet, I don't have trouble getting in or out. Many people don't realise who surprisingly roomy it is!
The car most far removed from the Panda in my case was my old BMW 2002, which replaced my 124 in 1980. Shame I couldn't afford to run it, mainly because of having Penny on the insurance when she was 22. Lovely car.
I've never liked Peugeots. Or any French car. I borrowed a Citroen DS from a friend - it made me feel sick with it's weird hydro-pneumatic suspension (I think that's what it was called)
And Swithland, really the less said about them the better. When I went to get the car, it was actually a black Fiesta I went to see. It looked like someone had washed it with a brillo pad (like the advert) and my eyes fell on the Panda. Both Penny and her mum liked it (unbelievably) so that was the clincher. Once I got used to the crappy brakes it was nice and easy to drive!
Not all Fiats have crappy brakes - the 124 was brilliant, having discs all round
I'm glad you drive a Skoda as well. I know modern Skodas are completely different from the old ones. When a car gets boring then at least that means it's reliable!
I think that Penny's Almera Tino is one of the most boring cars on the planet. Power steering and the automatic gearbox make it feel like a tank. Luckily the ICE makes up for it. I've got Joni Mitchell's "Ladies of the Canyon" in there at the moment.
Right. Must do some work.
STEVE - the almost geriatric, NOS guzzling Panda owner and beagle fanatic ...
I'm pink, therefore I'm SPAM