panda 100hp buyers guide?
Discussion
Lovely little cars - I had one for 9 years. Quite heavy on tyres, and tracking needs regular attention. Suspension is hard but fun and can be improved by different shockers. I have heard recent rumours that the rear axle can corrode, so that might need inspection. Other than that build quality was remarkably good, and the engine is a jewel.
The only major thing that went wrong in mine was a tiny plastic cog inside the otherwise excellent climate control broke, leaving me with only cold air. Entire replacement heater was nearly a grand plus "at least" eight hours labour. My helpful garage managed to bodge a fix for fifty quid but it was never quite as good. Other than that, quite the best car - out of about 12 - that I have ever owned. A lot more info on www.fiatforum.com - check it out. Then enjoy!
The only major thing that went wrong in mine was a tiny plastic cog inside the otherwise excellent climate control broke, leaving me with only cold air. Entire replacement heater was nearly a grand plus "at least" eight hours labour. My helpful garage managed to bodge a fix for fifty quid but it was never quite as good. Other than that, quite the best car - out of about 12 - that I have ever owned. A lot more info on www.fiatforum.com - check it out. Then enjoy!
Passenger carpet got wet on mine and I thought the worst, but there are some drains that get clogged with leaves etc under the scuttle/plastic cover by the wipers.
That's literally the only problem I had with mine, bar the unbearable ride. Cam belt change cost me £70 which I thought was particularly impressive.
That's literally the only problem I had with mine, bar the unbearable ride. Cam belt change cost me £70 which I thought was particularly impressive.
I've run a 60k-mile, 2007 car as my daily for the last 12 months. About as cheap as thrills get. Recommended.
Just has a new wheel bearing, which is apparently not uncommon on these. The brake fluid level sensor packed up (fragile wiring) which they also commonly do. Seats and some trim can look a bit tired. Nothing major seems to go regularly wrong on these.
Just has a new wheel bearing, which is apparently not uncommon on these. The brake fluid level sensor packed up (fragile wiring) which they also commonly do. Seats and some trim can look a bit tired. Nothing major seems to go regularly wrong on these.
I am still absolutely bemused by the 'unbearable ride' comments.
I've had mine for about 4 months or so now, covered a few thousand miles in it. It's completely standard, and the ride quality is superior to a number of other cars I've been in recently, including a Mokka and a 308.
I need to think about selling to get something bigger now I have the baby, and the o/h (who complained ferociously about the R50 MINI handling) has asked if there's a slightly bigger Panda, as she says it's so comfortable.
Just a shame it's not quite big enough inside.
But, I repeat, I cannot for the life of me understand why someone thinks the ride is at all bad, unless they are on worn/non-standard suspension?
I've had mine for about 4 months or so now, covered a few thousand miles in it. It's completely standard, and the ride quality is superior to a number of other cars I've been in recently, including a Mokka and a 308.
I need to think about selling to get something bigger now I have the baby, and the o/h (who complained ferociously about the R50 MINI handling) has asked if there's a slightly bigger Panda, as she says it's so comfortable.
Just a shame it's not quite big enough inside.
But, I repeat, I cannot for the life of me understand why someone thinks the ride is at all bad, unless they are on worn/non-standard suspension?
I have had my 2008 100 HP for coming up 3 years and 18K miles. Bought at 5 years old and 52K miles and now just crept over 70K.
Honestly a great little car, so much so that it has stayed while 4 others have came and gone.
The ride is hard and becomes a little tiresome on longer journeys, mine does the daily 90 mile commute half the month, and my focus ST does the other half. I went to the expense of replacing all shocks and springs with koni's to try and sort the ride out which made little difference although many claim it does, I then replaced it with new blistien B4s which was slightly better but overall again not a huge difference. You just have to learn to live with it.
Its decent on fuel returning pretty much bang on 40MPG on my commute which is A road \ Motorway with at least 7 miles of slow moving stop start traffic at both ends of my journey.
So far mine has only had preventative maintenance such as new disc and pads, 4 tires and the usual servicing. It has been utterly reliable.
The only fault has been a failed window regulator cable on the drivers side front electric window which was £125 including labour to replace the regulator.
Some parts are hard to find and \ or expensive given the price point of the car, the exhaust on mine is getting close to end of life as the rear box outer skin is pretty much non-existent and a OEM replacement is about £250, although stainless aftermarket ones are available for around £110. Wheels are expensive to replace, touch wood mine are all fine having been refurb'd when I replaced the tyres. Steering wheels, gear knobs and the gear selector gaitor all wear pretty badly very quickly again not cheap to replace with OEM parts, and the seats whilst comfy enough tend to wear pretty quickly and new seats \ fabric are very expensive.
The plan for mine later this year is to take it off the road for a few months and source a nice set of either 500 abarth or early 500 sport half leather seats, have the steering wheel re trimmed, replace the gear knob and gaitor, respray the front bumper to get rid of the stone chips and replace the exhaust with something custom but not noisy then it will resume its daily duties. Probably a daft amount to spend on what is at best a 1.5K to 2K car but I have to say it is always a lot of fun to drive and I cant ever see me selling it until its dead.
Mine in all its current glory
Honestly a great little car, so much so that it has stayed while 4 others have came and gone.
The ride is hard and becomes a little tiresome on longer journeys, mine does the daily 90 mile commute half the month, and my focus ST does the other half. I went to the expense of replacing all shocks and springs with koni's to try and sort the ride out which made little difference although many claim it does, I then replaced it with new blistien B4s which was slightly better but overall again not a huge difference. You just have to learn to live with it.
Its decent on fuel returning pretty much bang on 40MPG on my commute which is A road \ Motorway with at least 7 miles of slow moving stop start traffic at both ends of my journey.
So far mine has only had preventative maintenance such as new disc and pads, 4 tires and the usual servicing. It has been utterly reliable.
The only fault has been a failed window regulator cable on the drivers side front electric window which was £125 including labour to replace the regulator.
Some parts are hard to find and \ or expensive given the price point of the car, the exhaust on mine is getting close to end of life as the rear box outer skin is pretty much non-existent and a OEM replacement is about £250, although stainless aftermarket ones are available for around £110. Wheels are expensive to replace, touch wood mine are all fine having been refurb'd when I replaced the tyres. Steering wheels, gear knobs and the gear selector gaitor all wear pretty badly very quickly again not cheap to replace with OEM parts, and the seats whilst comfy enough tend to wear pretty quickly and new seats \ fabric are very expensive.
The plan for mine later this year is to take it off the road for a few months and source a nice set of either 500 abarth or early 500 sport half leather seats, have the steering wheel re trimmed, replace the gear knob and gaitor, respray the front bumper to get rid of the stone chips and replace the exhaust with something custom but not noisy then it will resume its daily duties. Probably a daft amount to spend on what is at best a 1.5K to 2K car but I have to say it is always a lot of fun to drive and I cant ever see me selling it until its dead.
Mine in all its current glory
Edited by RTaylor2208 on Wednesday 15th March 00:01
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