Matt's Panda 100HP
Discussion
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:
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
Podie said:
Thanks, will give it a whirl.
Apologies for side tracking...
It's all good, I have made enquires as to what to use too. That was Autogylm Bumper and Trip gel, while it looked fantastic after I was finished after 3 days in it started going grey again. Apologies for side tracking...
When I asked on another forum I was pointed to G4 as JFR has recommended, I did wince at the price a bit BUT if it lasts a year, or even 6 months VS putting a bottles and bottles of cheap stuff on each week then it'll work out the same I guess. Plus this car does have a LOT of black bumper trim lol.
Podie said:
Cleanyourcar claim 2 years!
On previous cars I've had plastic trim painted - far easier
Yeah my mate said that to me too, the thing is I really like the finish of the unpainted trim and side skirts, it's strange I know, given we have had cars evolve over the years to have more and more colour coding but it's a simple car and it suits it I think. On previous cars I've had plastic trim painted - far easier
I've just given it another wash, I need to head over to CYC.com and have a nose about, might have been bitten by this 'detailing' bug.
In other news, I decided to try and gearbox oil change and it went a bit wrong. Only about 400ml come out, filled the box up and it only took about the same! f
k knows where the other 1.25 litres are hiding, but the level is right (until it dribbles out the filler hole, technical right?) and drives ok, aside from the slight crunch in 3rd when flooring it. Driving it is everything I expected and more, it's just so fun! Chuck it about everywhere and it just keeps coming back for more, theres a twisty bit of dual carriageway on my drive home, I can resist chucking it round the outside of much pricier cars with a huge grin on my face. Seems to sip fuel too, considering how I'm driving it at the moment.
Edited by CaptainMorgan on Saturday 3rd October 20:00
JFReturns said:
They're okay. 70mph is a tad over 3,000rpm if I remember correctly but overtaking up inclines required a drop to fourth and spanking the nuts out of it! It's more economical at 60mph too, 70 sees it drop to less than 40mpg.
Thick skin required to own one! To us petrol heads they're utterly cool, but to 'normal' people they're granny cars!
I couldnt agree more on the thick skinned comment, again, bit like the Fabia, only those who knew a bit about cars knew what they were. In fact, I've just had some 'comments' on facebook about it from a car mate so even people who do have a idea about cars dont always know about them. Thick skin required to own one! To us petrol heads they're utterly cool, but to 'normal' people they're granny cars!
I cant comment on the motorway driving too much, the rear tyres are Eagle F1's, they appear to be the loudest tyres in the world. They were even noted on the last service, but they've still got 5mm tread on so I'm loathed to throw them away. As soon as I get above about 50mph they are louder than everything else tbh but the revs arnt too high, I suspect to make swift progress you'd need to wind it up a bit. One of the bonuses for me though is 80 feels like 120 so it takes some effort to get into silly speeds (not impossible mind
)Fishy Dave said:
The ride is awful on our local lanes, but on main roads it's acceptable, performance is great for a little car and economy is fine. Paintwork is thin with a number of panels showing signs of UV discolouration, a bit of a mop and polish needed I think. The Bluetooth is reluctant to work with a modern phone and lowering the seat lowers the base only, making the base of your spine quite uncomfortable if you try to go too low. We took it on track for one session which was a bit of a giggle but I was hoping for a more playful back end. It would be nice to combine the firmer steering from Sport mode with the normal throttle map.
Would I buy one? No, sorry, but my wife likes it and the practicality of the 5 door and how physically small the car is proves handy. When I do moan about the little 100hp I have to remember that it was a £10k car when new which is/was remarkable value.
Cheers, Dave
I agree with most of that, the ride is not designed with UK country lanes in mind, but I can cope with it, I'll be adding some coilovers at some point, so while it might not help the stiffness it might make it more composed. The seat adjustment is crap but to be honest, the seats are crap overall, cost cutting I suspect. I'd like a setting of stiff steering/soft throttle too, would be the perfect mix, the throttle in sport mode is too on/off. Would I buy one? No, sorry, but my wife likes it and the practicality of the 5 door and how physically small the car is proves handy. When I do moan about the little 100hp I have to remember that it was a £10k car when new which is/was remarkable value.
Cheers, Dave
The bluetooth has worked spot on with my 3 iPhones but I did have to resort to getting the Italian Mrs out to translate what was being said to me in Italian lol.
Official Radical said:
Most people take the mick when they see it, then shut up once they've been in it...styling is certainly an acquired taste. Costs in the last 12 months have been limited to MOT without advisories, and offside rear wheel bearing (ironically the one that takes least load?!) New front boots will be required soon, thanks to a lack of TC and personal restraint:-)
It really is a car that you have to explain to non 'pistonheads' or people that haven't read/heard about them, or in some cases, just dont bother. I have been surprised at how well the tyres are lasting given the abuse they have been taking, but then I guess the low weight helps. You must be doing well to get through them!Mr Peel said:
What exhaust have you chosen? Mine will need doing before too long and I'm keen to get something a touch noisier for sensible money.
I have gone for.......ilovequo said:
Group N Ragazon exhaust sounds Mint...
This! It's VERY loud, the silencer is tiny but I like it. I've never been one for loud exhaust but I think it suits the car. The chunky tail pipe fits just nice too.
I'll stick a video up when I get the chance.
It was all a bit of a nightmare tbh, I bought the Ragazzon group N middle section thinking it'd fit the rest of the standard pipework, I didnt want to go too go all out on the noise front to start with. Anyway, turns out you need the Ragazzon flexi section too, my garage fitted it, but it was a struggle The standard flexi was borked too which resulted in the exhaust knocking it's tits off. At this point I decided to just go balls out and got the flexi and back box, couldnt get it in time for my drive to Belgium in it but got it on asap.
I got the straight through centre pipe and 'group N' back box which has a tiny silencer. It's a bit ASBO but I think it suites the car. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff