Matt's Panda 100HP
Discussion
Nice one, great colour. I ran one for 15 months and absolutely loved it. Probably in my top three cars owned due to the infectious character of the little blighter, and cost peanuts to run.
It was hugely practical considering its dinky size - removing the rear seats meant it could take SWMBO, Yoda (choccy lab) and I plus all our camping gear to Cornwall and back. Averaged 45mpg too!
As you'll find out (if you haven't already) the gear change is great. Words like slick, nuggety, quick, positive come to mind. And due to the van like position you only need to move your hand half a foot from the wheel.
Yeah the ride is a little on the stiff, bouncy side, but the upshot is awesome handling. It's such a giggle at legal speeds. Enjoy!
It was hugely practical considering its dinky size - removing the rear seats meant it could take SWMBO, Yoda (choccy lab) and I plus all our camping gear to Cornwall and back. Averaged 45mpg too!
As you'll find out (if you haven't already) the gear change is great. Words like slick, nuggety, quick, positive come to mind. And due to the van like position you only need to move your hand half a foot from the wheel.
Yeah the ride is a little on the stiff, bouncy side, but the upshot is awesome handling. It's such a giggle at legal speeds. Enjoy!
Yep, sounds like you have covered all things- you really need to press on through the bends though - it has tenacious grip and is seemingly unflappable - as long as you approach right and load the chassis smoothly.
Like I've said in previous posts, We've had it for years and despite having a few other far more expensive cars, the little fiat still is a hoot!
If you get a knocking from the rear then its rubber bushing on the rear dampers - Eurocarparts sell em for a bout £40 pair. Everything is just so damn cheap to buy and no matter how hard its thrashed, they keep coming back for more.
Great, great little cars!
Like I've said in previous posts, We've had it for years and despite having a few other far more expensive cars, the little fiat still is a hoot!
If you get a knocking from the rear then its rubber bushing on the rear dampers - Eurocarparts sell em for a bout £40 pair. Everything is just so damn cheap to buy and no matter how hard its thrashed, they keep coming back for more.
Great, great little cars!
JFReturns said:
Nice one, great colour. I ran one for 15 months and absolutely loved it. Probably in my top three cars owned due to the infectious character of the little blighter, and cost peanuts to run.
It was hugely practical considering its dinky size - removing the rear seats meant it could take SWMBO, Yoda (choccy lab) and I plus all our camping gear to Cornwall and back. Averaged 45mpg too!
As you'll find out (if you haven't already) the gear change is great. Words like slick, nuggety, quick, positive come to mind. And due to the van like position you only need to move your hand half a foot from the wheel.
Yeah the ride is a little on the stiff, bouncy side, but the upshot is awesome handling. It's such a giggle at legal speeds. Enjoy!
I think that sums it up, I love it already. It was hugely practical considering its dinky size - removing the rear seats meant it could take SWMBO, Yoda (choccy lab) and I plus all our camping gear to Cornwall and back. Averaged 45mpg too!
As you'll find out (if you haven't already) the gear change is great. Words like slick, nuggety, quick, positive come to mind. And due to the van like position you only need to move your hand half a foot from the wheel.
Yeah the ride is a little on the stiff, bouncy side, but the upshot is awesome handling. It's such a giggle at legal speeds. Enjoy!
lord trumpton said:
Yep, sounds like you have covered all things- you really need to press on through the bends though - it has tenacious grip and is seemingly unflappable - as long as you approach right and load the chassis smoothly.
Like I've said in previous posts, We've had it for years and despite having a few other far more expensive cars, the little fiat still is a hoot!
If you get a knocking from the rear then its rubber bushing on the rear dampers - Eurocarparts sell em for a bout £40 pair. Everything is just so damn cheap to buy and no matter how hard its thrashed, they keep coming back for more.
Great, great little cars!
That was a big attraction, cambelts arnt such a expense when they cost £200 or so and tyres are £30 a corner. Like I've said in previous posts, We've had it for years and despite having a few other far more expensive cars, the little fiat still is a hoot!
If you get a knocking from the rear then its rubber bushing on the rear dampers - Eurocarparts sell em for a bout £40 pair. Everything is just so damn cheap to buy and no matter how hard its thrashed, they keep coming back for more.
Great, great little cars!
I made the most of the lush weather today, gave it a good clean. One thing that I had to do straightaway was sort out the unpainted plastics. They're annoying enough on a car that just has a small amount of it, but on this it's about 50% of the bodywork so looks terrible. Dug out the bumper gel and got on with it
I need a paintbrush to get in all the honeycomb bits but already looks 10x better I think. Also took a bit of time cleaning in the gaps, in typical Fiat style I can remove the petrol cap cover in 5 seconds with no tools, makes cleaning a bit easier though.
The wheels need some tlc, most likely get them refurbished, they're not too badly mullered but the brake dust is ground in heavily. Overall it has come up quite nice for now, needs a good clay and polish though.
steveo3002 said:
what are these like to insure , i keep looking at them now
For me it's alright, I'm 26 with 6 years NCB, if I done the full year it'd be under £400 or so. About the same as the Octavia vRS I just got rid of, although the panda is newer and worth more. -crookedtail- said:
Wow, that is a bargain - Great little cars.
I think I prefer these over the equivalent 500, they just look so cool!
No doubt, I dont mind the 500 but I'd never have one, these just look so coolI think I prefer these over the equivalent 500, they just look so cool!
Yadizzle1 said:
Join the club!
Nice! Where are you? A mini panda meet could be cool if theres a couple dotted aboutTheInternet said:
Shortening/removing the rear bump stops is cheap/free and makes a big difference IMO. The ride on these reminded me of a classic Mini, very entertaining most of the time.
I'll look into that, thanks.BigMon said:
Have always liked these and was going to get one brand new after my Lupo GTI.
Unfortunately I didn't fit in it (I'm 6ft 6) as my head touched the roof.
They still turn my head now. Lovely.
Amazingly the bloke I bought it from was 6ft 6 and just about fitted. If the seat didnt lower then he'd not fit though lolUnfortunately I didn't fit in it (I'm 6ft 6) as my head touched the roof.
They still turn my head now. Lovely.
MartyG1987 said:
Did a track evening at Cadwell Park with someone flying around in one of these, looked like they was enjoying themselves 
The thought has crossed my mind, especially after last night, gave it a good smashing on the way home and it just grips and grips but is so much fun too. I loved how I felt like I was doing 120mph down the straight but really was doing much less too. Yadizzle1 said:
Join the club!
Nice! Where are you? A mini panda meet could be cool if theres a couple dotted aboutI'm between London and Oxford, would definitely be up for a Panda meet. As for insurance, as my first car and being an 18 year old having held his license for 3 days, my insurance was 1660 for the year, so not bad!
I've done about 10,000 miles in mine since February and the ride is only just starting to bother me now. I do forgive it when I go for a little thrash though.
Congrats. I've had mine as my daily for a year and a half now, it just ticks so many boxes. I don't think there's anything I need that hasn't been covered already. Mine has a knocking from the rear that somehow isn't the bumpstops, the garage reckon it's the OEM equivalent Bilstein dampers the previous owner fitted that are the cause, but I've not rectified as yet. Other than that, I've had to replace a lower arm bush (means a whole new arm) and the rear beam bushes have seen better days, but the car has been a solid workhorse and a hoot to drive.
I say this every time, but it's just a good, honest little car.
It's been suggested before, but due to the relatively low numbers of these, you do, as a 100HP owner, get a bit excited when you see another on the road (or perhaps just me!).
I recall joining the dual carriageway recently to be presented with another New Orleans Blue 100HP, but not only was it the same colour as mine, but also had the 'Pandamonium' pack like mine as well (silver side stripes, silver mirrors and red calipers). This is the 100HP equivalent of that rare red supermoon from the other day, I'm sure.
Anyway I overtook this other 100HP and as I drew in line with the driver, I was giving it the whole big thumbs-up and smiling adoration for his Panda, except I'm pretty sure he thought I was absolutely crazy and didn't know what was going on....probably something to do with me driving my Exige V6 at the time.
I say this every time, but it's just a good, honest little car.
It's been suggested before, but due to the relatively low numbers of these, you do, as a 100HP owner, get a bit excited when you see another on the road (or perhaps just me!).
I recall joining the dual carriageway recently to be presented with another New Orleans Blue 100HP, but not only was it the same colour as mine, but also had the 'Pandamonium' pack like mine as well (silver side stripes, silver mirrors and red calipers). This is the 100HP equivalent of that rare red supermoon from the other day, I'm sure.
Anyway I overtook this other 100HP and as I drew in line with the driver, I was giving it the whole big thumbs-up and smiling adoration for his Panda, except I'm pretty sure he thought I was absolutely crazy and didn't know what was going on....probably something to do with me driving my Exige V6 at the time.
Edited by Arun_D on Wednesday 30th September 16:50
Yadizzle1 said:
I'm between London and Oxford, would definitely be up for a Panda meet. As for insurance, as my first car and being an 18 year old having held his license for 3 days, my insurance was 1660 for the year, so not bad!
I've done about 10,000 miles in mine since February and the ride is only just starting to bother me now. I do forgive it when I go for a little thrash though.
Nice, considering the cost of insurance when I was looking for my brother at 18 on a cheap car thats not bad at all! I've done about 10,000 miles in mine since February and the ride is only just starting to bother me now. I do forgive it when I go for a little thrash though.
I'm south of Milton Keynes so not too far away form you.
Arun_D said:
Congrats. I've had mine as my daily for a year and a half now, it just ticks so many boxes. I don't think there's anything I need that hasn't been covered already. Mine has a knocking from the rear that somehow isn't the bumpstops, the garage reckon it's the OEM equivalent Bilstein dampers the previous owner fitted that are the cause, but I've not rectified as yet. Other than that, I've had to replace a lower arm bush (means a whole new arm) and the rear beam bushes have seen better days, but the car has been a solid workhorse and a hoot to drive.
I say this every time, but it's just a good, honest little car.
It's been suggested before, but due to the relatively low numbers of these, you do, as a 100HP owner, get a bit excited when you see another on the road (or perhaps just me!).
I recall joining the dual carriageway recently to be presented with another New Orleans Blue 100HP, but not only was it the same colour as mine, but also had the 'Pandamonium' pack like mine as well (silver side stripes, silver mirrors and red calipers). This is the 100HP equivalent of that rare red supermoon from the other day, I'm sure.
Anyway I overtook this other 100HP and as I drew in line with the driver, I was giving it the whole big thumbs-up and smiling adoration for his Panda, except I'm pretty sure he thought I was absolutely crazy and didn't know what was going on....probably something to do with me driving my Exige V6 at the time.
I remember when I collected my motorbike I had a long boring ride home from the north, about half way I spotted a Panda 100HP, for once it had a young (ish) guy in it, I slowed as I passed it to admire and he glanced over, have him a little thumbs up and he have me a nod back. I like that they're unusual, only people in the know know what they are. I say this every time, but it's just a good, honest little car.
It's been suggested before, but due to the relatively low numbers of these, you do, as a 100HP owner, get a bit excited when you see another on the road (or perhaps just me!).
I recall joining the dual carriageway recently to be presented with another New Orleans Blue 100HP, but not only was it the same colour as mine, but also had the 'Pandamonium' pack like mine as well (silver side stripes, silver mirrors and red calipers). This is the 100HP equivalent of that rare red supermoon from the other day, I'm sure.
Anyway I overtook this other 100HP and as I drew in line with the driver, I was giving it the whole big thumbs-up and smiling adoration for his Panda, except I'm pretty sure he thought I was absolutely crazy and didn't know what was going on....probably something to do with me driving my Exige V6 at the time.
Edited by Arun_D on Wednesday 30th September 16:50
CaptainMorgan said:
One thing that I had to do straightaway was sort out the unpainted plastics. They're annoying enough on a car that just has a small amount of it, but on this it's about 50% of the bodywork so looks terrible. Dug out the bumper gel and got on with it
Can I ask which product you're using? I've yet to find one that lasts for a decent period of time. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff