General What did you do with your Panda today?

[The Panda Nut]

Finished off under-sealing. What a hell of a lot of holes there are in the floor plan. I hope we never try going through floods. I suspect we will need new carpet if we do! Lots of bare metal now covered in wax based underseal and Dinitrol rust proofing, including all visible nuts and bolts the rear suspension and diff castings. Also de rusted and rust proofed the sump on Daffo my daughters 1.2.. It was very superficial rust. Noted the air condenser rad is disintegrating and needs replacement. I need to rig some mesh to reduce the damage from road debris on the new one. What a royal pain in the backside that job is going to be!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hi pandanut the 595 runs on 17s which do make it crash over bumps I test drove this then went in the back while my partner test drove, this runs on 16s and on two long city test drives seemed much better than my lowered loud exhaust mr2.
Sb1500 seemed quite practical and smooth compared to my slammed mr2 and at least it has a boot and rear seats, luxuries I've not had for a while, with only 2 rear boxes behind seats for storage in the mr2

Not to say I don't still hanker for one, but I cant control my right foot so a Panda is better for my license!

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Finished off under-sealing. ... Lots of bare metal now covered in wax based underseal and Dinitrol rust proofing, including all visible nuts and bolts the rear suspension and diff castings. ...

It might be 'bare' (I think it is at least primed), but the whole bodyshell is galvanised so rust v unlikely there. However, the non-galvanised suspension beams, spring seats and so on do rust. They also hold a lot of salt-laden mud and so respond well to a thorough hosing out frequently during the winter months, along with clearing the small stones which seem to lodge in the various drain holes in those parts. Doing that kept my 2005 4x4's suspension bits looking almost new when I sold it in 2013.

 

[The Panda Nut]

It might be 'bare' (I think it is at least primed), but the whole bodyshell is galvanised so rust v unlikely there. However, the non-galvanised suspension beams, spring seats and so on do rust. They also hold a lot of salt-laden mud and so respond well to a thorough hosing out frequently during the winter months, along with clearing the small stones which seem to lodge in the various drain holes in those parts. Doing that kept my 2005 4x4's suspension bits looking almost new when I sold it in 2013.

I agree. I pressure wash underside weekly. The suspension and spring seats are now all done in Dinitrol dry under body seal so I hope they will stay bright for a bit longer. I also use the Dinitrol wax on all exposed bolts nuts and castings and the damper bodies. Only trouble is Desira keep trying to tell me the gas filled dampers are leaking oil.... They tried twice to change the ones on the last car. I did explain that gas is not a liquid but they still wanted to change them.

 

[The Panda Nut]

It might be 'bare' (I think it is at least primed), but the whole bodyshell is galvanised so rust v unlikely there. However, the non-galvanised suspension beams, spring seats and so on do rust. They also hold a lot of salt-laden mud and so respond well to a thorough hosing out frequently during the winter months, along with clearing the small stones which seem to lodge in the various drain holes in those parts. Doing that kept my 2005 4x4's suspension bits looking almost new when I sold it in 2013.

Waze wheels

 

[AB100]

Waze wheels

The mystery revealed. It had to be like that the way the wheel covers worked.

Some silver Hammerite on them and the job's done. How long before a pothole cause a weld to fail?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Waze wheels

Thank you. Tempted: the fragile alloys are not really best for anything off the beaten track.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

The mystery revealed. It had to be like that the way the wheel covers worked.

Some silver Hammerite on them and the job's done. How long before a pothole cause a weld to fail?

In much of the rest of Europe, these stronger wheels are standard on the 4x4s.

For example:

https://www.fiat.de/panda/panda-4x4
https://www.fiat.it/panda/panda-4x4
https://www.fiat.fr/voiture-citadin...ur-panda-4x4/#/version/0031917R36CF/exteriors

The alloys for us here in the UK (and Holland, and optional in France) are really a decoration rather for any functional benefit, and alloy wheels can be cracked through off road use.

Interestingly, in France teh 4x4 'Wild' - the more basic 4x4 spec available in Europe - has no radio, no air con, no 'eco leather', no high centre console, etc... all very cut-down set up. But, the same model in Germany has a radio/CD player (no bluetooth), and full climate control + 3 rear seat/belts as standard! All very curious.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

...Only trouble is Desira keep trying to tell me the gas filled dampers are leaking oil.... They tried twice to change the ones on the last car. I did explain that gas is not a liquid but they still wanted to change them.

Hee hee.
In their defence, technically, most 'gas shock absorbers' still contain liquid oil too... eg https://www.monroe.com.au/trade-cor...ged-shocks-struts-replacement-cartridges.html (lower part of the page)

 

[The Pretender]

Got 2 new front tires installed on the Panda today.

 

[KPat]

Blew the cobwebs out of the Lounge with a 400 mile return trip to Fareham and back in Hampshire. Went last Wednesday and returned today. I put Shell V power in the tank to give the injectors a good clean. The engine runs lovely.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Nooplebe is now kleeen!

Nooplebe in the way when anyone else gets home!. I think I like the Supagard paint treatment! The car stays cleaner and is much easier to wash. He's back in the Panda house and will soon have his coat on to keep him clean. Me thinks I need to treat the rood timbers again for woodworm!

New lighting in the Panda house will make it more user friendly too. 29 years and 279 days it took to do that job! Dont believe in rushing.....

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Becky and I had a day out together at the Scottish Italian Car Day near Edinburgh - See my post in the leisure lounge - She ran faultlessly but she's now a bit mucky down the nearside due to running with N/S wheels in the gutter along the country lanes on the way back to the main road (avoiding Maseratis and the like). Have to get my two bucket cleaning system out in the morning - Can't have her looking like this!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Nooplebe twing his trailer to be repaired. Discovered at the weekend the fram was broken in two and it was only still in one piece courtesy of the floor (rotten) and sides holding it together.

Moral of the story is to have decent look every 6 months to ensure this never occurs again. One chassis break would be bad but 3 complete breaks and one cracked weld on the five fixings could have been a disaster. Shame! I am so glad I decided to replace the floor or I could have loaded a washing machine for a 170 mile journey imminently.

A comprehensive renovation is now underway, repair, bracing, strengthening, sand blasting, rustproofing, repainting new floor and sides complete new electrics and LED lights. Including making the ladder rack fit properly which it never did from new. Already has new bearings tyres and hitch, so it should be good for another 20 years once done.

It should still cost less than half the cost of a new one so probably worth t as its now used 2 or 3 times a week.

Paintwork will be colour coordinated with Noopleby.

 

[GazzP87]

Managed to park next to (bar one... stupid BMW) another 100hp yesterday!! Doesn’t happen very often...or does it?!
There are two 100hp’s where I work. So we’ve formed an unofficial fiat club where you are allowed to join if you have 100hp or less ?

 

[Phils panda]

I transfered ownership of the TA to my daughter for passing her test 1st time and only 3 minors..£990 insurance for a 18 year old..but with no black box Telematics.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Managed to park next to (bar one... stupid BMW) another 100hp yesterday!! Doesn’t happen very often...or does it?!
There are two 100hp’s where I work. So we’ve formed an unofficial fiat club where you are allowed to join if you have 100hp or less ?

You two need to lean how to park! Your FAR TOO FAR AWAY and you need two more to park behind it!!!

 

[The Panda Nut]

I transfered ownership of the TA to my daughter for passing her test 1st time and only 3 minors..£990 insurance for a 18 year old..but with no black box Telematics.

You old softie. That's a nice gesture. Now off to get a new top spec Panda Cross for as a reward for being so generous??

 

[GazzP87]

You two need to lean how to park! Your FAR TOO FAR AWAY and you need two more to park behind it!!!

Not sure if that’s banter or what... either not funny or I just don’t get it. ??*?*

 

[The Panda Nut]

Not sure if that’s banter or what... either not funny or I just don’t get it. ??*?*

You missed an opportunity to get a BMW... Panda sandwich. Its rare to have one at your mercy?