General What to buy to replace a Mk3 Panda?

[The Panda Nut]

I like a Suzuki

If the Swift is MHEV only now, then Ignis would be my choice if it has to be new.

Or +1 for a recent used pre-MHEV Panda or Swift. MHEV is probably fine in the right circumstances, but I don't think it's for me.

There's nowt else out now that appeals to me.

A new Ignis is a thing of the distant past now. Sadly.

 

[porta]

I don’t think VAG are any better @ThePandaNut all cars are pretty much of a muchness now, they’ve all got the same electronics and all are having similar issues.
They’re all sharing parts/motors/floor pans much more than say a strada and delta, now it’s sharing them with multiple companies.
I think Marchione was right, there’ll be just four companies left and even then it will be just a badge engineering oligarchy…what capitalists said that was everything wrong with communism is being played out by capitalism…

 

[porta]

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[AnthonyH]

Until last week, I'd dismissed the idea of an EV. But at the price point of the inster, maybe I should take a closer look...

Thus far, I've not even driven an EV.

EVs are the future, there are advances in battery technology regularly, but they're still too limited in my opinion. Give it another 10 years and those problems will be gone.

The SUV are popular in the UK, so i'd run with one of those.

So my recommendation is...the Grande Panda with ICE.

 

[DTanner]

Well, the trusty Mk3 Panda will be 15yrs old this year and basically it's just plain worn out..

This is an interesting thread for me. I bought my Panda new 16 years ago this year and I feel it is starting to show its age. It is our only family car in this time and, starting from no experience, I am the only one to work on it (only been to a garage for the MOTs). It was £5,500 new (£3,500 for the base model but we went for the upgrade to the 1.2 Dynamic Eco) and that includes a £2,000 scrappage discount (£1,000 from the UK government matched by Fiat).

We ordered it custom so had to wait for it to be manufactured and shipped as we wanted a full spare wheel and three seats in the back. It arrived in time to pick up my first child from the maternity ward. Now with three kids (15-11) it is getting tight and the car is aging a bit. I took a moment to look at other options last year and suffered sticker shock on the prices - damn. Was looking at Ford Grand C-Max and Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. Decided I would wait it out a bit more.

The Panda has been amazing. Low cost investment and cheap as chips to insure and tax. The maintenance costs are really low and I feel the price for spare parts remains really reasonable (had to replace an ignition coil recently and it was £14.05). Not sure how we will move on, but we probably will - or maybe buy a new family car and keep this as a run about for the kids.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I think our Panda may have had a reprieve once again.

When it does go, then favourite to replace it is a BMW i3/S, which is still a compelling proposition IMHO.

 

[Twotone2]

I've just bought oil and an air filter from the Fiat Workshop £85 delivered, five litres tub of oil and the filter.

The oil price is up quite a bit on last year. I did check out shop4parts but even with the forum discount the Fiat workshop was cheaper but £10 for delivery though but that's included I've a discount card for them too.