Panda 100hp

Author
Discussion

benjj

Original Poster:

6,787 posts

162 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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Hello gents,

Has anyone had any experience running and working on one of these?

My wife's Mk4 Golf TDi has just expired and am considering a 2008 Panda 100hp (70k miles) for her as a replacement.

Any tips, buying guides etc much appreciated.

Cheers.

Richard-G

1,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147...

The above is a good thread on the 100hp. They get universal praise and seem cheap to run!

Ghost91

2,964 posts

109 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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I've got one - which I'm actually considering selling cause I've just bought an alfa. It's a fantastic little car - I don't really recommend 1hr+ journeys in it all the time, it can do them well and can overtake, plenty of fun and enough power but it's no comfy cruiser.

I got mine a little while ago with a view to passing it onto the mrs when she passes her test. It was great value, 56 plate, 50k, and I got enough change to have the cambelt done.

I do recommend it completely providing you don't mind a bit of a choppy ride if you've got a long commute - plenty of kit to keep you amused though with aux and bluetooth. Sport button is good fun too.

Ghost91

2,964 posts

109 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Oh and the cambelt was cheap as chips, parts seem to be very affordable!

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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Hi

I'm selling my 40k mile 2007 one soon (as my car allowance insists on a 5 year old car) and I'll miss it.

Yes, you avoid speed bumps, but no car has made me giggle so much since driving an original Mini 30 years ago.

Pure, simple fun....and remarkably civilised when you are not in the mood on a 70mph motorway trip, when it will do 42mpg+ and be pretty quiet for a little car.

Parts: Cambelt and water pump change should be done every 5 years...so check this. It is only a £200 job so it is not worth scrimping on. In my ownership, the only parts it has needed are rear wheel bearings (£25 each).

A fine little car, and the very resilient secondhand prices reflect this. Some 8 year old cars still seem to retain 35%+ of their new price! That's cheap motoring smile

abarth130

257 posts

199 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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Hi Benjj

I too have a 100HP amongst a few other more 'interesting' cars and I use it as a daily hack. It's a great car. I owned 2 4x4 models prior to buying the 100HP and all three have been reliable. Echoing what the previous poster said, all I've renewed is a wheel bearing and 4 new tyres a couple of months back (not because it eats them, purely because the car is driven flat out pretty much everywhere!!).

I've stuck a couple of Konis on the back of the car in an effort to sort the ride out (the standard Fiat shockies can't cope with the spring rate of the 100HP). They've helped but not cured the problem completely. Makes the car a bit more tolerable on our disgraceful roads!

Insurance, tax and parts are cheap. It's the one car I own which causes me no grief. I considered swapping it for a 500 Abarth recently but for the costs involved, I decided I wasn't gaining much. In fact, I was losing two doors and my dog couldn't get in the 500's boot due to the sloping tailgate. So the Panda will remain. When it dies, I shall replace it with another one. They are brilliant cars - buy one at once!!

mickyveloce

1,035 posts

235 months

Friday 20th February 2015
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I have a curious compulsion to buy a 100hp. I drove one at the launch, but just didn't want one enough at the time, but having seen one on the road the other day made me realise that I could make good use of one.

I have great memories of a 999cc Fiat Uno early on in my motoring career, and, with a bit of luck, my 11 year old could learn to drive in it!


benjj

Original Poster:

6,787 posts

162 months

Friday 20th February 2015
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Thanks for all the above gents, sounds like a fine little car for my wife to smoke around in with the kids bouncing around in the back thumbup

I've seen one online I'm going to have a look at when I'm ready to buy (probably about 3 weeks) - looking forward to trying one myself.

Sounds like a quick swap to the Koni rear dampers is a must.

mjdriver

40 posts

230 months

Friday 20th February 2015
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I had one and it was one of the best cars I ever owned, not fast but still grin inducing. In fact I loved it and stupidly sold it for a golf estate.

alex_p

217 posts

204 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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I've had one a few years now and love it.

It replaced a 300bhp FIAT coupe 20VT, and while I miss the induction noise and pure power of the coupe, the 100HP is much more fun 99% of the time.

All the things you've read are true; it loves being driven flat out everywhere, parts are cheap and mine has been totally reliable, the ride can get a bit bumpy but I never have anyone in the back, the engine and gearbox work perfectly together and it is a great drive.

Only issue I've had with mine is a split gearstick gaiter and the steering wheel is a bit scruffy, but this is just because these components get used all the time, the rest of the interior is still in great condition.

I drove it from Bournemouth to Edinburgh once in 6 hours and both myself, and the wife felt fine as a result, so it can do long journeys if needed.

As a car, it is great, it is also the perfect companion to my Alfa Giulia GTV, which is a line-up I intend to keep for a while (unless anyone wants to swap it for a 4x4 Panda...).