Fiat Panda 100HP - To buy or not?
Discussion
Hey guys,
Long time forums lurker here, I was hoping one of my first posts would be a bit more constructive than begging for help and opinions but the time has come where I need the advice!
I've recently started doing my hospital placements as I'm a medical student and I'm looking for a car for the three times per-week 55-60 mile mainly motorway commute. I want something nice and cheap for fuel, insurance and general ownership but with the grunt to handle the motorway stuff too, and the Fiat Panda 100hp seems to fit the bill and aside from a slightly hard ride which I can handle, no reviews I've read seem to be able to find fault in it. Also for some reason I love how it looks!
Other cars I've looked at are the Alfa 147 Collezione 1.9 Diesel and the Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 Sporting, but the Panda looks a lot more fun than these from reviews and such.
Could any Panda owners give me any advice or maybe some of you even have alternatives? It seems like a good purchase in terms of value for money and I've done my research but any 'real world' experience so to speak would be nice to hear.
Thanks,
F
Long time forums lurker here, I was hoping one of my first posts would be a bit more constructive than begging for help and opinions but the time has come where I need the advice!
I've recently started doing my hospital placements as I'm a medical student and I'm looking for a car for the three times per-week 55-60 mile mainly motorway commute. I want something nice and cheap for fuel, insurance and general ownership but with the grunt to handle the motorway stuff too, and the Fiat Panda 100hp seems to fit the bill and aside from a slightly hard ride which I can handle, no reviews I've read seem to be able to find fault in it. Also for some reason I love how it looks!
Other cars I've looked at are the Alfa 147 Collezione 1.9 Diesel and the Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 Sporting, but the Panda looks a lot more fun than these from reviews and such.
Could any Panda owners give me any advice or maybe some of you even have alternatives? It seems like a good purchase in terms of value for money and I've done my research but any 'real world' experience so to speak would be nice to hear.
Thanks,
F
Ah mixed comments!
I've been doing a little look around and I've got my heart set on the Panda at the moment but still doing other research. The petrol Punto looks good, I haven't done a lot of research outside of insurance quotes on those though. Might be time for some other looks. Out of all of the cars I've looked at the Panda 100hp seems to have the most character and looks like something I'd have the most fun with and have a good laugh owning aside from the problems mentioned. I think a test drive may be in order.
Srob it's a shame to hear that buddy, I've had similar problems with the Mini One I've owned from new until recently, I heard they weren't bad!
What are general parts/labour servicing costs I need to be aware of on a Panda that you guys know of? Like consumables etc.
Thanks a lot for the replies chaps
I've been doing a little look around and I've got my heart set on the Panda at the moment but still doing other research. The petrol Punto looks good, I haven't done a lot of research outside of insurance quotes on those though. Might be time for some other looks. Out of all of the cars I've looked at the Panda 100hp seems to have the most character and looks like something I'd have the most fun with and have a good laugh owning aside from the problems mentioned. I think a test drive may be in order.
Srob it's a shame to hear that buddy, I've had similar problems with the Mini One I've owned from new until recently, I heard they weren't bad!
What are general parts/labour servicing costs I need to be aware of on a Panda that you guys know of? Like consumables etc.
Thanks a lot for the replies chaps
I've got a test drive in one of these next week! Looking forward to having a sit in it and see what it's like. Think if I ended up with one I might have to do a pilgrimage to some twisty roads to have a play with it and get used to it. Getting a little obsessed, read the evo review of it 4 or 5 times.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff