General Wanted - Panda with 5 gears

[TomSaintJames]

Hello everybody!

My insurance premium has just rocketed for rather painful reasons, and I cannot afford to insure my current car (mk2 1.4 astra), so i'm after a Panda.

I chose a Panda because they are very cool and very cheap to insure! A 5 speed would be preferable becuase I commute from somerset to london bi-weekly which is 130 miles each way. My astra did 48mpg here which was affordable, i'm assuming a panda would equal and maybe better that?

I have quite a restricted budget, but don't mind a project as i've got until july to play with it, so far i've only found one such car on gumtree, but thought i'd ask here anyway as this forum looks really nice and helpful!

Will consider most things, the more economical the better.

Thanks everybody,
Tom.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Well, you'e on the money about the forum being polite and helpful, but the forum police will be along shortly to tell you to post in the classifieds to keep all ad's (wanted and sales) neat and tidy

Hope you find what you're looking for and look forward to seeing you on here more often

 

[Pandarus]

Hi Tom,

Welcome to the Panda section!

Fuel economy is talked about on here a lot - I would think that most Panda's should average at least 40-50mpg if driven sensibly on a long run. 35mpg is about the average around town, but again depends how you drive the car.

Your best bet for Pandas seems to be eBay at the moment. I would get your funds together and if at all possible then try and view (a localish?) car - what you consider 'good condition' might not be quite on the same wave length as a sellers! The other advantage of going to see a car is that you may be able to make an offer on it, rather than waiting for auction end.

There are also lots of models to chose from, the later CLXs are very comfy with auto choke, 5 speed and various luxuries. There is a very nice edition with a double fabric sun roof called the 'COLOUR', again 5 speed and all the Panda luxuries that you can shake a stick at.

I'm now on my 3rd Panda and I knew what I wanted - they are very addictive, there are guys on here with 3 or more!!!

Good luck with your hunt, if you want a car that looks and feels different then you are definately in luck with this little Fiat.

 

[Pandabloke]

Hi Tom,

... There is a very nice edition with a double fabric sun roof called the 'COLOUR', again 5 speed and all the Panda luxuries that you can shake a stick at.....

Ok, stop encouraging other people to buy Colours! It's not fair. I am old and I need one first, lol!

Seriously though, anything with a ticket seems to be going a bit mental on ebay at the moment. May I draw your attention, in a purely comedic fashion of course, to this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-FIAT-PANDA-SELECTA-WHITE-/280655969162?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4158663b8a

Good luck with your hunt my friend and I'll race you to the next decent Colour that comes up!

Pandabloke

 

[TomSaintJames]

Ok Pandabloke, you're on!

What a fab welcome, thankyou everybody.

I've spotted this on Gumtree this morning, and will phone the chap this afternoon, on the off-chance, does anybody know anything about this car/owner? Will have a haggle I think, it's been on there 3 months and has some rust forming.
(1 litre 1989 fiat panda 12 months mot 6 months tax 73000miles cd player 5 speed £295 slough, Reading - can't post URL's yet)

I'm thinking this panda, with some 127 or other retro fiat alloy wheels would look great!

 

[alexbpl]

The reason I got a Panda is 1) Retro factor 2) Insurance group ONE!! 3) 5 gears!!

And thats 5 forward gears and reverse. I also had the same questions about the gearing after owning terrible 4 geared cars e.g Pug 106, Citroen AX.

 

[Palio]

Ok Pandabloke, you're on!

What a fab welcome, thankyou everybody.

I've spotted this on Gumtree this morning, and will phone the chap this afternoon, on the off-chance, does anybody know anything about this car/owner? Will have a haggle I think, it's been on there 3 months and has some rust forming.
(1 litre 1989 fiat panda 12 months mot 6 months tax 73000miles cd player 5 speed £295 slough, Reading - can't post URL's yet)

I'm thinking this panda, with some 127 or other retro fiat alloy wheels would look great!

http://reading.gumtree.com/reading/96/70623296.html

Can't really see what the rust situation is - the bottoms of the doors aren't visible in the pics. There is rust on the corners of the bonnet, which isn't where they usually rust (or at least mine haven't!) - maybe some repair work in the past? It's cheap though especially with 6 months tax. To be honest something this price would usually be snapped up - more £500/£600 usually and they sell like greased lightning round here if in good condition. Just my thoughts so be a bit wary if it's stuck around.

Shame it's not a bit nearer - about 50 mile round trip for me - anyone nearer?

Gavin.

 

[panda1408]

I'm always abit dubious of Pandas that have had the lower half blacked with stone chip etc, usually points to a quick fix for rusty doors and dodgy repairs to the sills, always worth a look though if its not too far away.

I would be looking for a later car anyway, will get you better MPG because they are fuel injected and are they are also less prone to rust. I reckon you would probably struggle to get 48mpg at normal motorway speeds i.e 70mph, more likely to be low 40s, if you were to sit at 55ish with the lorrys then you would probably do it no worries as long as the car was running well.

 

[L7 KVV]

I'm always abit dubious of Pandas that have had the lower half blacked with stone chip etc, usually points to a quick fix for rusty doors and dodgy repairs to the sills, always worth a look though if its not too far away.

Im with you on this one. Just back there from looking at a fiorino with stone chip right up to the moulding. Opened doors and theyre completely shot at the bottoms (typical fiat).

 

[Pandarus]

Ok Pandabloke, you're on!

What a fab welcome, thankyou everybody.

I've spotted this on Gumtree this morning, and will phone the chap this afternoon, on the off-chance, does anybody know anything about this car/owner? Will have a haggle I think, it's been on there 3 months and has some rust forming.
(1 litre 1989 fiat panda 12 months mot 6 months tax 73000miles cd player 5 speed £295 slough, Reading - can't post URL's yet)

I'm thinking this panda, with some 127 or other retro fiat alloy wheels would look great!

This won't hang about!

Nice car, gagging to be brought back to original condition...somebody sort those wheel trims out quick smart!!! :yuck:

 

[Pandarus]

ps. I believe Purple Haze has a set of 127 sport wheels on, they are absolutley to die for!!! :worship:

 

[Pandarus]

Ok, stop encouraging other people to buy Colours! It's not fair. I am old and I need one first, lol!

Sorry Pandabloke!

I found a blue Colour a year or two back with 19K on the clock (barn find) but the owner did not want to sell...

Always loved that edition, even the lilac/purple one!!!

 

[purple haze]

ps. I believe Purple Haze has a set of 127 sport wheels on, they are absolutley to die for!!! :worship:

Sure has ...and Vern has a set too...

 

[Palio]

ps. I believe Purple Haze has a set of 127 sport wheels on, they are absolutley to die for!!! :worship:

They look really good on a Panda - the Sport had pressed steel wheels as standard, I think the alloy ones you mean are 127 Palio ones as shown in their natural habitat below?

 

[purple haze]

They look really good on a Panda - the Sport had pressed steel wheels as standard, I think the alloy ones you mean are 127 Palio ones as shown in their natural habitat below?

Yep!!!.......

 

[TomSaintJames]

Yep, them's the ones! Look pretty good on the 127 too.

 

[neeny09]

ps. I believe Purple Haze has a set of 127 sport wheels on, they are absolutley to die for!!! :worship:

indeed he does! they're in need of a refurb though to get them looking all nice new and shiney! it's on the to do list!

I seen a set of 5 for sale on ebay back when i bought PH think they went for about £180 can't remember exactly :bang:

 

[scottyy]

hi mate good luck finding a panda there is a few around somerset as i live in burnham on sea =] there are some old ladys with some mint pandas you just got to confront them. my mate may be sellin his red 5 speed one but not for a month yet but i can ask him he is looking for £350 and are you sellin your mk2 ? as i collect old vauxhalls mite be interested if its the rite price

here is the red one next to mine if you look at my pics

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/257659-my-new-panda-roma-project-8.html

 

[purple haze]

Hmmm... There was me thinking they were in very good nick... I have another spare which is in poor condition compared to those....still if the other half is doing the work..let him get on with it...

View attachment 89215

indeed he does! they're in need of a refurb though to get them looking all nice new and shiney! it's on the to do list!

I seen a set of 5 for sale on ebay back when i bought PH think they went for about £180 can't remember exactly :bang:

 

[neeny09]

Hmmm... There was me thinking they were in very good nick... I have another spare which is in poor condition compared to those....still if the other half is doing the work..let him get on with it...

there not in bad condition i've just become a little OCD where PH is concerned