Fiat Panda 100hp - Dream Car?
Discussion
Ahhhh, this i making me miss mine!
I always wanted one, pleased i did, had it for a year and loved it, moved on for various (non car related!) reasons. I'd possibly have another but having also driven a Suzuki Swift Sport...which i found tremendous...i may edge that way next time.
Still, great fun cars, good memories, practical and roomy despite it's tiny size! And mega cool to boot (in my eyes!)
Here's mine in the North York Moors last year.
Now with a nice chap from Leeds who im sure is apprecating it like i did.
I always wanted one, pleased i did, had it for a year and loved it, moved on for various (non car related!) reasons. I'd possibly have another but having also driven a Suzuki Swift Sport...which i found tremendous...i may edge that way next time.
Still, great fun cars, good memories, practical and roomy despite it's tiny size! And mega cool to boot (in my eyes!)
Here's mine in the North York Moors last year.
Now with a nice chap from Leeds who im sure is apprecating it like i did.
I've now had the Panda 9 Months. It has only done about 5000 miles, I bike or run to work so it is used mostly for weekend escapes. It has been to North Yorkshire, Dorset, Wales, the Peak District and around the midlands mostly.
Honestly, it's great. It fits in loads of stuff despite being little. I can get a mountain bike in the back, another on the roof and fill it with a weekend's worth of gear for me and a passenger. It isn't the fastest thing on 4 wheels, or even the 2nd fastest, but it is engaging and fun to bash around in.
I got it serviced last week including new bump-stops and was astounded by how cheap the costs are (Specialist, non main dealer!). Next up is 4x tyres and new brake pads. Suggestions?
Honestly, it's great. It fits in loads of stuff despite being little. I can get a mountain bike in the back, another on the roof and fill it with a weekend's worth of gear for me and a passenger. It isn't the fastest thing on 4 wheels, or even the 2nd fastest, but it is engaging and fun to bash around in.
I got it serviced last week including new bump-stops and was astounded by how cheap the costs are (Specialist, non main dealer!). Next up is 4x tyres and new brake pads. Suggestions?
Paraicj said:
Next up is 4x tyres and new brake pads. Suggestions?
Still missing mine after two years (looks good in the pictures above!).If I was fitting tyres I'd probably go to size 195/50/15 and look at Vredestein Sportrac 5s. They've been great on the Barchetta. I had Sportrac 3s on the Panda, and they were surperb.
Brake pads. I used EBC Greenstuff. Seemed to suit the car well.
df76 said:
If I was fitting tyres I'd probably go to size 195/50/15 and look at Vredestein Sportrac 5s. They've been great on the Barchetta. I had Sportrac 3s on the Panda, and they were surperb.
Brake pads. I used EBC Greenstuff. Seemed to suit the car well.
Thanks, that's helpful, I'll have a look at changing the tyre size as well!Brake pads. I used EBC Greenstuff. Seemed to suit the car well.
Rossmc88, I agree, great to throw the bike on top. Do you find the roofbars are actually quite far apart? Fiiting the bike-rack meant using the widest settings, meaning the front tyre barely fits on to be tied down. Weird for such a short car!
Paraicj said:
Thanks, that's helpful, I'll have a look at changing the tyre size as well!
Rossmc88, I agree, great to throw the bike on top. Do you find the roofbars are actually quite far apart? Fiiting the bike-rack meant using the widest settings, meaning the front tyre barely fits on to be tied down. Weird for such a short car!
My Thule carriers adjusted enough to take my bikes no problem. On my 650B Enduro bike, it's quite close to not fitting as the frame is really slack meaning I have quite a long wheel base, but it does just fit safely. I've never tried a 29er on it though, only large 26ers and large 650Bs. Then again, 29ers are rubbish but that's another debate for another thread Rossmc88, I agree, great to throw the bike on top. Do you find the roofbars are actually quite far apart? Fiiting the bike-rack meant using the widest settings, meaning the front tyre barely fits on to be tied down. Weird for such a short car!
Christmas has come and past, and dull January is in full flow. The perfect time so splash out on a new set of boots for the little Panda. With thanks to df76 for pointing out that going up to 195/50/15 was possible, I went for a set of 4 Toyo Proxes T1-Rs. They seem like the best mix of value and performance and had a lot of great reviews on light cars. I have yet to try them in anger but am off to the Peak District this weekend for a bit of MTB so will report back.
Everything else is going well, bar a blowing from the exhaust that may be from the flexi, so that'll have to be looked at next.
The terrible picture has also reminded me that I promised myself refurbed alloys on day one of purchase. Still something to look forward to!
Everything else is going well, bar a blowing from the exhaust that may be from the flexi, so that'll have to be looked at next.
The terrible picture has also reminded me that I promised myself refurbed alloys on day one of purchase. Still something to look forward to!
Paraicj said:
Everything else is going well, bar a blowing from the exhaust that may be from the flexi, so that'll have to be looked at next.
Glad the tyres worked out, they should slightly improve the comfort also. When my exhaust needed replacing I got hold of an Ulter Sport exhaust. Good value and seemed decent quality.The exhaust is still blowing away, but MOT is due very soon so that's the next job, as I'm pretty sure that'll be a fail!
The car is still serving well, I only really drive it on weekends as I bike to work, but it is a great little buggy to get out of Birmingham and into the countryside.
The car is still serving well, I only really drive it on weekends as I bike to work, but it is a great little buggy to get out of Birmingham and into the countryside.
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