Fiat Panda 100hp - Dream Car?
Discussion
100hp said:
This was my 100hp packed for the British Downhill Series. I also managed a 2000 mile round trip to Les Gets. My wife was pregnant, we camped and we bought a friend and our dog. I always loved the drive through North Wales. I cracked the Evo triangle and the Kinglockring. A massively underated car which would always show up cars to fat to fight.
New exhaust fitted. I flirted with some stainless steel jobs but in the end went the boring route and just replaced the stock system. I may regret it, but it certainly does the job. The original exhaust was seriously corroded, I wouldn't have believed the mechanic if I hadn't seen it, I think I could have crushed it into rust.
So it is now quieter again and has a full MOT, only advisories being brake discs all round, which I had known about but changing them is a pay-cheque or two away! They still work fine.
So it is now quieter again and has a full MOT, only advisories being brake discs all round, which I had known about but changing them is a pay-cheque or two away! They still work fine.
It's been a few months since the last update. Since then, the Panda has mostly been used to escape Birmingham at weekends to the Peak District or Wales. It has been faultless. I got new brakes and pads, EBC all round. They've bedded in well, they feel strong. Other than that, the occasional quick wash is about as much as it gets. And I touched up the completely worn away paint on the front wiper arms. Exciting stuff.
Badly in need of a good vacuuming!
Badly in need of a good vacuuming!
The Panda is re-taxed, re-insured (At a much lower price!) and has been shipping me round the country hassle free. Mostly to Wales, the Peak District or various other hilly places.
At the weekend I went mountain biking in the Peaks, with snow, rain, mud and sun in equal measure. I fitted 2 mountain bikes and all the kit needed in the back, with myself and my partner in the front. No need to strap anything to the roof. Delighted with that.
It performed admirably but is badly in need of a wash!
At the weekend I went mountain biking in the Peaks, with snow, rain, mud and sun in equal measure. I fitted 2 mountain bikes and all the kit needed in the back, with myself and my partner in the front. No need to strap anything to the roof. Delighted with that.
It performed admirably but is badly in need of a wash!
The Panda is in the garage today. I put the windows down last night on the way out to clear the rain from them, and the passenger one refused to go back up. The motor was clicking but not moving. So I taped it up for the night (Forgot to take a pic)called the specialist this morning and drove in with an open passenger window. Pretty cold!
It'll be fixed tomorrow, regulator is the issue so a replacement has been ordered. Quick and painless, hopefully not too expensive either!
It'll be fixed tomorrow, regulator is the issue so a replacement has been ordered. Quick and painless, hopefully not too expensive either!
Spring hasn't exactly sprung, but the Panda has mainly been on driving to hills duty, with trips to Shropshire, Cannock and the Peak District in the last month, for Mountain Bike fun. I was too lazy to re-attach my bike-racks to the roof bars, so I've instead figured out the perfect way to fit two bikes and all the gear we need into the back of a Panda. It all fits despite me being 6'3" and needing my seat right back, which also means my bike has a pretty big frame.
It's a bit of a jigsaw:
Put a blanket on top, bags at the back or behind the front seats, and it all fits!
It's a bit of a jigsaw:
Put a blanket on top, bags at the back or behind the front seats, and it all fits!
It has been a long time since I updated about the Panda, because really it has just done a great job. It has just passed its MOT, with an advisory for new springs all round and front discs, none of which will break the bank once I get round to them. I have done a drive round the Scottish Highlands, a bunch of trips to London, Wales, Peak and Lake Districts, and a bit of town driving, although very little. A new battery is the biggest outlay after a sad refusal to start one cold morning in February.
Hard to argue with it being incredible value for its time with me, given that prices are now higher than I bought it at. Insurance is as cheap as it gets, consumables are at the bottom of price-lists, and it manages almost 40mpg most of the time. The only issue I have is the dinky size. It is amazingly roomy for its footprint, but a mid-sized estate or even Yeti-equivalent would probably make more sense in the long-term for bikes, kayaks and other transport duties. But for now, still delighted by the little thing.
Hard to argue with it being incredible value for its time with me, given that prices are now higher than I bought it at. Insurance is as cheap as it gets, consumables are at the bottom of price-lists, and it manages almost 40mpg most of the time. The only issue I have is the dinky size. It is amazingly roomy for its footprint, but a mid-sized estate or even Yeti-equivalent would probably make more sense in the long-term for bikes, kayaks and other transport duties. But for now, still delighted by the little thing.
Visible rust on the springs, I assume because it was sitting for 2 weeks before the test more than anything else. I've had a look myself since, it is not something I'd have bothered commenting on.
I've not changed any suspension components, the ride can be a bit crashy but not enough to have me reaching for my pocket. If I drove it more often or commuted in it over Birmingham streets I might have been quicker to do something about it!
I've not changed any suspension components, the ride can be a bit crashy but not enough to have me reaching for my pocket. If I drove it more often or commuted in it over Birmingham streets I might have been quicker to do something about it!
I can't pretend it is the best load-lugger around, it is just astonishingly good for its size and footprint. I still do a classified search for a medium-sized estate every month or so but I have yet to feel the need to pull the trigger.
A2 is a similar thing. Not a big car, just weirdly big inside.
A2 is a similar thing. Not a big car, just weirdly big inside.
As a follow-up, I've just done 700 miles over 5 days in the Panda - Up to Northumbria, then over to the Yorkshire Dales, and back to Birmingham. The Panda was great, even if the Motorway isn't its natural environment. 3500rpm at 75mph is a bit buzzy. The fuel tank is also pretty small, even averaging 40mpg it still only lasts about 280 miles.
All of this was tempered by the fact I had 2 road bikes on the roof, 2 mountain bikes in the back, and a load of gear, clothes, bedding and food for 2 people for 5 nights. So, pretty full. Again the weirdly cavernous inside wins!
All of this was tempered by the fact I had 2 road bikes on the roof, 2 mountain bikes in the back, and a load of gear, clothes, bedding and food for 2 people for 5 nights. So, pretty full. Again the weirdly cavernous inside wins!
There are a few options out there from Thule etc, but I got the OEM Fiat ones here: https://www.fiat-accessories.com/fiat-panda-roof-b...
They have no outer overhang so are a bit narrow but fit 3 bikes. And they are on fixed points which is good for security. And they're not too expensive, win all round.
They have no outer overhang so are a bit narrow but fit 3 bikes. And they are on fixed points which is good for security. And they're not too expensive, win all round.
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