General What to you think of...

[pantalaimon]

The VW up, Skoda Citigo etc?

I used to have a classic Panda Fizz and loved it, these new cars, especially in their basic spec, are like a Panda re-born. They are small, cheap, have wind up windows, a shelf for a glove box, a key you actually have to put in the lock to unlock and lock, they even have the body coloured interior trim...

What do people here think about them?

I love the look of them, probably the best small modern car i've seen.

Shame the new Fiat Panda has gotten so big and has such weird interior styling...

 

[Palio]

In a word :yuck:

If you're hankering after a classic Panda, could I suggest buying a Classic Panda. :idea:

I wouldn't let the 2 you mentioned on my drive personally, but each to their own! I don't see any design merit, or original thinking in them, more a cynical marketing exercise - the opposite of the Panda really.

 

[Eklipze3k]

My neighbour has an Up! and although it's spacious sitting in the drivers seat, for a car that's basically the same length as a classic Panda, it feels otherwise miniscule ... no boot, unusable back seats and (imo) waaaaay too much plastic between the driver and the front of the car.

 

[pantalaimon]

In a word :yuck:

If you're hankering after a classic Panda, could I suggest buying a Classic Panda. :idea:

I wouldn't let the 2 you mentioned on my drive personally, but each to their own! I don't see any design merit, or original thinking in them, more a cynical marketing exercise - the opposite of the Panda really.

Been there done that

 

[Palio]

Been there done that

You said, but you're clearly missing it - you'll have more fun in it than anything modern anyway.

You must have expected that people would recommend a classic Panda if you say how much you miss it in the classic Panda section?

 

[kolza]

but you're clearly missing it

"Panda bug" never dies

 

[onemanmade]

Not my cup of tea, too rounded, most only have 4 seats and less interior and boot space. No 4x4 versions either as far as I'm aware

 

[GrandeGuy]

Just buy a panda??

 

[panda panda]

I've driven a seat mii and an up!, pretty unremarkable really, unless you wanted 5 doors I'd go for a 500 instead.

 

[homeward]

Shame the new Fiat Panda has gotten so big and has such weird interior styling...

I agree with the others: that you should just buy a Mk2 Panda.

Otherwise, what about a Mk3 Panda 100hp...? Great fun; but a lousy turning circle -- not that this matters, of course. Corners nearly as well as a 1990 750L...!

 

[dragonwagon]

Very ordinary cheap little tin boxes, cynically designed and marketed to fill the lowest common denominator - image led city cars - not merit led. At least the Panda in all its forms exhibits original thinking whether you like it or not.
If the Panda fails to flutter your frock - try the 500 instead.

 

[Dragon Man]

if you want panda size but modern luxury spec.. have a look at the Hyundai atos prime

i think they are awesome cars.. they dont look half bad, they have electric power steering, climate control with air condiditoning. yet they feel "panda".. well i can tell you that the rear view mirror from out of a Hyundai atos prime fits the fiat panda classic perfectly...


(im holding the panda one)

well worth looking at.. and in my own opinion.. they look very tasty in lime green...

 

[Giacosa]

I can see the appeal to an extent. They are like an automotive apple i-pad. They are a lot like the old Toyota Aygo I briefly considered, competent, crash well, but not really 'fun' to drive.

 

[portland_bill]

A few months ago I spent a whole day fleet training in the client company's up!. Three of us, two quite tall, no complaints from the back seat for the short durations between driver changeovers, although probably would have been on a longer stint. A very enjoyable day, nice little engine, comfortable. I'd be quite happy to own one.

Now, can anyone tell me why some have a glass tailgate, and others seem to have a painted metal one. (Too lazy to browse their website)

 

[lewey]

Essentially, a new car can't replicate a classic Panda's practicality and feel mostly due to 3 decades of safety-led manufacturing legislation. This legislation keeps you alive in a crash that would kill you in a classic Panda.

Choose accordingly.

 

[Palio]

:yeahthat:

They crash well.

Don't really want a car that crashes well, so I'll stick with one dynamic enough to potentially avoid crashing in the first place.

 

[dragonwagon]

Essentially, a new car can't replicate a classic Panda's practicality and feel mostly due to 3 decades of safety-led manufacturing legislation. This legislation keeps you alive in a crash that would kill you in a classic Panda.

Choose accordingly.

Very true, however that does not automatically mean that all traces of character need to be expunged as well.
Classic Pandas do reasonably well in a crash - my mother totally demolished a late 90's Civic and a brick wall with one and survived intact