I went and sat in one of the Pandas by the way. I thought it felt a little cramped. I'd wanna take this sucker on the motorway, I guess the cabin isn't the nicest place to spend several hours...
We (Mrs. Beard) a medium sized dog and I often use it to go to Middlesbrough which is 120 miles and 2 hours away.
I've also used mine for driving tuition having spent up to 4X2 hour sessions in a day in it. There are many more unpleasant places to be.
I've covered over 85,000 miles in my MJ since I bought it new in 2005 and I must admit I'm pretty chuffed with it. When I bought it I think it may well have been the most powerful Panda as well as the most economical. It's averaged 55-59 mpg in normal everyday use and will just about top 62 cross country.
The total replacements, excluding service items, have been mostly the kind of thing I'd expect to go. As far as I can remember they are:
2 sets of tyres, currently on 3rd set.
3 sets of wiper blades " " 4th set.
1 pair of anti-roll bar drop links.
2 MAF sensors 3rd needed.
2 sets of front pads, currently on 3rd set.
1 set of rear shoes, currently on 2nd set.
1 timing chain at 82,000-ish miles.
1 EGR valve at 82,000-ish miles.
1 sump pan at 82-ish miles.
1 handbrake assembly & cable.
2 O/S/F shock absorbers. 1st one at 70,000 miles and it was replaced again at 80,000.
It's recently developed a fault in the N/S/F door lock and won't latch remotely but will lock manually.
And that's about it. No failed bulbs even. The number of VW group cars I've seen this winter with failed bulbs is quite worrying.
In answer to the OPs original question (he's probably gone and bought a Corsa by now) if he doesn't do a huge mileage then I'd suggest the 1.2 Dynamic or Eleganza if he can find one. If he's not keeping it very long then having to do a cambelt change will cost less than a chain, plus he wont' have to fork out for an EGR valve.
I've only driven a 1.2 once and felt it was a bit more responsive in the handling department as it's lighter at the front end than the MJ.