Audi A2 or Panda 100HP?
Author
Discussion

71notout

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

268 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
Folks,
I'm currently selling my current motor and I am looking to replace it with 2.

One will be a cheaper to run, family wagon and the other is a daily toy for me.

Originally the plan was V70 and toy, but I'm thinking the more sensible option is something cheaper to run.

I'm looking around £6k for the sensible one, and the current shortlist is either an Audi A2 (either 1.4tdi sport, or 1.6fsi sport) or a Panda 100hp.

Both seem to fall within the budget, the panda obviously being newer, but us the A2 likely to wear better?

Any other options? I need to get the dog in the boot, with me, the mrs and our 8 year old daughter.

As for the fun motor, shortlist is currently down to Corrado, Mr2 or the old favourite Mx5 biggrin

we also have the mrs' Ignis 4wd which is a fun wee buggy (great for skipping over the recent snow!)

cheers,
steven

jcelee

1,082 posts

275 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
The Fiat is a hoot and remarkably well built. 500s have been proving pretty reliable in general.

The Audi is all aluminium with limited access to engine / major components - likely to prove specialist and expensive to service. Coupled with the fact that while highly competent it has an overly hard ride and is as dull as ditch water.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

229 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all

Targarama

14,791 posts

314 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
Both are great cars. Question is, how large is your dog? You'll not get a big dog in the boot of a Panda.

71notout

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

268 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
She's a Cairn Terrier biggrin

PaulHogan

7,672 posts

309 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
jcelee said:
The Fiat is a hoot and remarkably well built. 500s have been proving pretty reliable in general.

The Audi is all aluminium with limited access to engine / major components - likely to prove specialist and expensive to service. Coupled with the fact that while highly competent it has an overly hard ride and is as dull as ditch water.
Can't comment on the Fiat as I've never had one. However I have had an A2 for 7 years and what you say about that is utter cock. It's as easy and as cheap to service as any other supermini. The ride is fine for me and being lightweight (relatively) it is nippy for its' size. It's also built like an Audi.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

229 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
PaulHogan said:
It's also built like an Audi.
a clone of something else ?

Paul_B

914 posts

207 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
I think the Pandas are quite cool little cars. Had a bit of a blast with one the other day in my MR2 and it was fairly nippy and not shabby on the corners either.

gj88

1,961 posts

225 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
This.

Targarama

14,791 posts

314 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
71notout said:
She's a Cairn Terrier biggrin
Good. You need to try both cars. The Fiat is very well built and 100% reliable in my experience. It does trump the A2 for hard suspension though. Your Cairn Terror may not like leaving the ground over every bump.

I'm guessing here, but I expect the Fiat will be cheaper to insure (Group 5). I average 39-40mpg in mine.

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

230 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
gj88 said:
SystemParanoia said:
This.
Out of those 2 cars and no other then the Panda is a no brainer IMO, the A2 was a very good car but in a totally different way to the Panda. I keep seeing one most days and after a short blast in one would love to live with one on a more regular basis.

tati25

55 posts

212 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
I like de audi better, but I think panda is a smarter choice.

Deerfoot

5,257 posts

215 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
jcelee said:
The Audi is all aluminium with limited access to engine / major components
The entire bonnet lifts off after a couple of quick release fasteners are unlocked, access to the engine is therefore pretty good.

I`ve got an A2 1.6 and it`s a decent enough little car, it`s bigger inside then a Panda for sure. The ride is firm. I get mine serviced at a good specialist and it`s quite cheap. A2 specific spares are quite expensive though.

It averages around 40mpg regardless of how it`s driven and after 73,000 miles is still reasonably solid inside.

williskwl

375 posts

208 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
gj88 said:
SystemParanoia said:
This.
+1 someone in my street has one of these and says its great fun, cheap, small, chuckable and fairly economical.

ross-co

411 posts

216 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
Just a few things to note about the A2:

The "bonnet" does not open my neighbour puts their one to audi for bulb changes on the headlights as i believe it either a in through the arch job or bumper off. Also some A2's have the option of a shower head in the boot ideal for washing the dog (or what ever else) down if its got muddy or sandy at the beach or suchlike.

Ross

Raify

6,556 posts

279 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
I've had a 100hp for 30k miles, don't think I've even been a passenger in an A2, but. They're very different cars aren't they?

Deerfoot

5,257 posts

215 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
ross-co said:
The "bonnet" does not open my neighbour puts their one to audi for bulb changes on the headlights as i believe it either a in through the arch job or bumper off.
Utter cobblers.

Adam205

822 posts

213 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
I've got a 500 1.4 sport which is basically identical underneath. Its surprisingly good fun once you get used to the EPAS and funny throttle response (not slow, but not consistant :S). Reliability wise it's been fine, as you would expect from an 18month old car, other than the rear brake pads recently starting to squeal.

Oh and its not THAT economical. Average about 40mpg with mostly motorway miles and the odd blast. More than makes up for it with the lovely italian 16v sound about 4000rpm though biggrin

Edited by Adam205 on Thursday 15th April 13:19

Chris71

21,549 posts

273 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
The Fiat's reputation as a hoot to drive is completely justified. Not only is it immensely chuckable it also feels nippier than the figures suggest I reckon. Luggage space isn't too bad with the seats down (you can get a bike in quite comfortably, think a friend who has one has managed two).

How are the residuals doing? That's not usually a small Fiat strong point. Also I'm in the camp that says the ride is a bit too frantic on rough tarmac - I found it compromised to the point of being distracting on really bumpy country lanes. Great fun though.

Not driven an A2, so they might be great. I'd be surprised if they were as much fun as the Panda, but I'd hazard a guess they were perhaps a little more civilised?

vdubbin

2,176 posts

228 months

Thursday 15th April 2010
quotequote all
I'd love a Panda 100, but apparently the boot isn't big enough for a buggy... rolleyes