General What to buy to replace a Mk3 Panda?

[The Panda Nut]

Its all nice when it works. Have your second mortgage application to hand if it stops working though.

 

[porta]

No there’s no old fashioned handbrake lever it’s a tiny wee thing like a switch in the van.

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I know, but you can switch it to manual operation rather than coming on and off as soon as you stop

 

[Ricardo Silva]

As far as i can see, most of you agree that is better to buy a new 20000eur car than to spend 2000eur in a refurbish of an old car that has no rust and Will likely continue to Run trouble free for another 10y. I disagree, last week spent money on my 25y old Punto that needed a new exhaust line and a new set of tires. It is almost 300000km but still a lot more money wise than buying a new Car with arguable reliability and tech that is still in the development phase

 

[porta]

As far as i can see, most of you agree that is better to buy a new 20000eur car than to spend 2000eur in a refurbish of an old car that has no rust and Will likely continue to Run trouble free for another 10y. I disagree, last week spent money on my 25y old Punto that needed a new exhaust line and a new set of tires. It is almost 300000km but still a lot more money wise than buying a new Car with arguable reliability and tech that is still in the development phase

I’d agree, once I get my new workshop, I’m getting a classic Fiat and use it as a daily driver wehn I don’t need 4x4

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I'm averaging about 4.1 miles per Kwh. I'm just migrating to Octopus Intelligent Go, which can control my charging (and importantly, tell me in advance when it's scheduled itself to do it*) at 7p per Kwh. Maths suggests that's likely to be about 2p per mile if I annualise it (because it's more consumptive during the colder months)
It's an astonishing drive btw. The way it simply scoots around is truly extraordinary. I doubt I've ever had a car with the low-down and mid range pickup that the little i3 does. Recommended on all levels.

*The schedule in advance is important because the whole house will be charged at 7p/Kwh so I can synchronise the heavy use appliances with it to compensate for the slightly higher tariff the rest of the time. The other nuance people report is a rather bizarre incentive to use an inefficient 'granny charger' and use as much energy in the car as possible. Octopus, because charging's under its control, will commit to charge the car to the level you set by the time you set it for, so will sometimes supply for longer than the 6 hours it commits to at 7p/Kwh.

In other news, I've already switched back away from Octopus - who told fibs about being able to offer me the OIG tariff. I've gone back to Fuse (who I've found properly excellent in terms of price & service) on a low flat tariff, so whilst EV charging won't be as cheap*, the overall household bill will be less.

*Still only a third the cost of diesel, mind.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

No there’s no old fashioned handbrake lever it’s a tiny wee thing like a switch in the van.

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I've never heard of any way you can convert an electric handbrake to manual? The fact the Scala has a manual hand brake was one of the more important factors influencing me choosing it.

 

[Twotone2]

I've never heard of any way you can convert an electric handbrake to manual? The fact the Scala has a manual hand brake was one of the more important factors influencing me choosing it.

Aye I had a look in the settings for the van here’s no option to change to a manual handbrake in saying that though I’d describe the hand brake as semi-automatic as in you have to pull it on for hill starts and at traffic lights and when you’re stationary but if you take off the seatbelt it comes on *automatically* but sometimes it doesn’t come on automatically.

I’ve tried to work out why that happens I think it’s maybe if the van is in gear it doesn’t come on, certainly if I have my foot on the clutch pedal the handbrake doesn’t come on and neither does stop start, if I’m stationary at traffic lights for example but it does come on automatically if you turn off the ignition ie when you’ve parked up.

It’s all a bit weird still not used to it.

 

[porta]

If I remember, wehn missus gets back, I’ll run through the handbrake settings on her infotainment thingy…I believe the manuals are online now through Stellantis, the ones supplied with the car are just ‘how to get you started’ briefs

 

[Twotone2]

If I remember, wehn missus gets back, I’ll run through the handbrake settings on her infotainment thingy…I believe the manuals are online now through Stellantis, the ones supplied with the car are just ‘how to get you started’ briefs

Thanks but my van has a screen like a mobile phone and all of the adjustments for the car are in the settings app in the infotainment settings/system on the dashboard screen.

Not that there’s many options just things like turning off the auto mirror retraction and lane assist etc.

 

[porta]

Thanks but my van has a screen like a mobile phone and all of the adjustments for the car are in the settings app in the infotainment settings/system on the dashboard screen.

Not that there’s many options just things like turning off the auto mirror retraction and lane assist etc.

Ahh I thought we were discussing the 500x specifically, and presumed that other Fiats would have the same options

 

[Twotone2]

Ahh I thought we were discussing the 500x specifically, and presumed that other Fiats would have the same options

Thanks it’s not a Fiat van, well it is, it’s a Nissan Townstar which is basically a Renault kangoo, Doblo/Fiorino etc.

Nissan doesn’t make vans now I think stelantis build them in the Citroen factory in France.