Fiat Panda 100hp - Dream Car?

Fiat Panda 100hp - Dream Car?

Author
Discussion

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
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Thanks Vitorio!

I had planned to wash it and scrub it this weekend, but instead I ragged it from Birmingham to the Peak District, on to Pontyfract, and back to Brum. It settled well on the motorway and loved the little twisty roads through the peaks. Great fun had by all! Well...by me!



Ok, so it really needs a good scrub now.

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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First job done, back to original badges, courtesy of an extremely helpful FiatForum member who offered a swap for my Abarth badges.Such an easy job, although with a slightly narrow space behind the front grille even after removing the 4 bolts for my meaty Irish paws to unscrew and replace the badge. Minimal fuss, very happy with it. I may return to Abarth badges if I do any work on the car but as long as it is stock, it will stay on stock badges.


samj2014

552 posts

111 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Cool little car that, i rather fancy one! What's the fuel consumption like, out of interest?

CX53

2,964 posts

109 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Reading this has made me miss mine a little. I had one in grey, and you're right, excellent fun to punt around in.

For me personally, the complaints over the suspension harshness/bounciness aren't exagerrated, eventually I couldn't get on with it as my only car, but do still wish I'd kept it. Very reliable despite being driven hard every day, and if I remember rightly, cambelt change cost about £80! I replaced mine with a Swift Sport, which I would recommend if the ride does ever get a bit too much, but it sounds like it's just fine for you. Enjoy!

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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samj2014 said:
Cool little car that, i rather fancy one! What's the fuel consumption like, out of interest?
My average since buying it is around 37mpg. The tank is small so it feels like it's drinking juice quite fast, but a fill only costs £35 so it's pretty good really. I have a heavy right foot and the Sports Button is on a lot.

The Swift Sport is a logical step, I looked at them when buying this but they are still hanging in around the £3500 bracket and above for a good one. It'll be on the list when I change too!

tommy6mps

11 posts

96 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Love the look of these cars, a panda on steroids!

If i didnt need a bigger car, this is what i'd be looking at buying. Brilliant little cars.

reef67

30 posts

134 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Picked one up yesterday!...In Blue, 58,000 on the clock and looks to have been a demo or press car as it's the one on Honest Johns website when he test drove one years ago..She doesn't look to have had much love lavished on her so I've spent 8hrs giving her a clean today, interior hoovered and cleaned, exterior snow foamed washed and waxed and removal of various stickers (Sex Wax anybody???), needs a clay and polish really but looks so much happier now smile
The ride is definitely of the Tigger variety and this one has a bean can exhaust that didn't do my tinnitus any favours on the return journey from Somerset to Northamptonshire, it'll be getting junked for an OE back box tout de suite..

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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Welcome to the club! Fiatforum.com is a great resource, lots of advice and owners on it. I still haven't properly deep-cleaned mine, but will get around to it some day. I've been off to the country most weekends instead!

reef67

30 posts

134 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Paraicj said:
Welcome to the club! Fiatforum.com is a great resource, lots of advice and owners on it. I still haven't properly deep-cleaned mine, but will get around to it some day. I've been off to the country most weekends instead!
Nice one!..Have had a good lurk around Fiatforum and it does look a good resource and not as bhy as some other forums, will get joined up...I do feel a little like I've mugged a teenager for their car but have to say it does have a massive grin factor.

I did have a "what on earth have I done" moment but I'm definitely warming to the little Italian.

Alias218

1,485 posts

161 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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I'm looking at one of these as a second car to pootle to and from work in. How would you say they stand up to the odd long jaunt?

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Surprisingly good. I've done a couple of 2hr drives, mixed motorway and back roads, and it has stood up to it well. It's not the most refined but certainly livable with for a few hours.

I'm off to the west coast of Wales and back this weekend, so I'll report back with a more thorough "long trip" report after!

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

158 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Nice! I bought mine the end of last year, love it to bits! Going to Belgium in it later this month



I like the exclusivity of them too, only seen one or two others since picking mine up.

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Saturday 7th May 2016
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Looks Great! I think Electroclash Grey will be known as the classic 100hp colour over the years, it suits it very well. I'm happy with the black though!

CX53

2,964 posts

109 months

Saturday 7th May 2016
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When I had mine there was a friendly facebook page for 100hp chat too, I think it was fiat panda UK page or something like that. Worth a look incase you want to ask any questions or whatever :-)

Yadizzle1

684 posts

124 months

Saturday 7th May 2016
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CX53 said:
When I had mine there was a friendly facebook page for 100hp chat too, I think it was fiat panda UK page or something like that. Worth a look incase you want to ask any questions or whatever :-)
The Facebook Community for the Panda is epic!

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

158 months

Saturday 7th May 2016
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Yadizzle1 said:
The Facebook Community for the Panda is epic!
Any chance of a link? People keep telling me about these great facebook groups but I cant find them!

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
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I was in the Panda for 6hrs today; 3hrs to Snowdonia, a climb up Snowdon, and 3hrs back.

The Panda was faultless. Nipped through Birmingham city at 9am this morning, cruised up the motorway through Shropshire. Sat in traffic for the Bike4Life festivities in Shrewsbury, which was great fun. Lots of energy, very friendly bikers, and got through before the roads closed! Then buzzed down the A5 through Wales, overtaking with ease when I had to, before a short blast through a twisty bit to the Watkin's Path carpark at Plas Gwynant.



You can see Snowdon, the mountain in the far background. 6.5km to the peak, with an elevation increase of 1085m. So a pretty hefty hike, and back down again, in 5hrs. Back in the car, a bit tired, and drove home with a minimum of fuss, the only downside being the 3500rpm cruising revs, but honestly it's easy to live with it. The average MPG even rose to 39.5!



A well-used back end back home.

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Monday 9th May 2016
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CaptainMorgan said:
Yadizzle1 said:
The Facebook Community for the Panda is epic!
Any chance of a link? People keep telling me about these great facebook groups but I cant find them!
I didn't find it either!

Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Monday 9th May 2016
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Can you fit a tow bar to this little fellow, to carry bikes. Not pull a caravan !.

Paraicj

Original Poster:

502 posts

140 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
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I'm pretty sure there are some after-market towbars available for the Panda, although the little fake diffuser might get in the way. I have a set of roofbars with a bike carrier and no intention of fitting a towbar.

Of course, it'll fit a road bike in the back and still have space for a driver and passenger, so I usually don't even bother with the bars!