Short Panda 100hp review
Discussion
Hi, I posted this in reader's cars, as some one was asking what my experiance of the Panda 100hp was. Thought I better post in here too. So, you Panda drivers, do you share my thoughts?
Does the Panda posess the skills to commute and entertain?
I've always like small Fiats. I was hankering after a Cinquecento Sporting when I first passed my test, around 11 years ago, but after my Dad applied 'the knock test' to the front wings, he said I should be piloting something with a bit more heft, and a Mk3 Astra became my College wheels.
Fast forward a number of years and with a mortgage, sudden jump in petrol and heating costs, and a sick M3 Evo (the dredded Vanos!), I decided to take a interim loan and grab a slice of 'economy' motoring to replace the M3 whilst I fixed it.
To be fair, I could have gone for something like an older Focus tdi, or back to the Honda stable whilst reminising my beloved Integra R, but there was something about this funky little Panda that kept my eye, and triggered a desire to own one. Maybe it was the chunky good looks, the fact that it is fun to hustle around, or that with an out lay of £7000 for this 5000 mile example, I could halve my fuel costs, halve my insurance, reduce my tax, service costs, and have a laugh at the same time. I also liked the fact that it is much rarer than it's competitors like the mini one. I'd certainly never seen one on the road.
After picking up the car in the early evening, I went on a 120 mile drive later that night, ending up at the top end of the Peak District. With 'sport' illuminated on the dash, the steering feel heavier, and the throttle giving a more instant response, I concluded that the Panda was a good laugh when out for a play, and was satisfying to drive too. You have to extract every last bit of power, and conserve energy by scooting around corners and reading the road. This is the driving I love, and although the M3 was entertaining on these rollercoaster roads, it was somehow too easy, and you could find yourself going too fast. A squirt of the throttle opening up those 6 large butterfly throttle bodies, a roar of induction, and you were down the road swiftly, the big Pilot Sports giving huge grip. In comparison to other small cars I've driven lately, my brother's S1 Mini One, and my Mother's Meriva, the Panda is most like the Mini to drive. It certainly feels as quick, and the slightly taller seating position gives better vision.
This is the first car I've owned with a wired in throttle pedal, and having tried it, I prefer the cable variety. Obviously this is only a Panda, so more expensive systems will likely be far better, but the revs can flair if you dip the clutch and jump off the throttle a tad late. It is also difficult to blip the throttle for downchanges, as it isn't that responsive to a quick prod. This is better in sport mode where the pedals range is squashed somewhat, for more response. The brake pedal took some getting used to as well. There is little braking at the top of the pedal, so push a bit harder and the calipers seem to react all at once. A sensitive foot is definately required! The 100hp has disks all round, which gives you confidence in the abilities of the handbrake. Once you get used to driving the Panda, irritation to these quirks get lobbed out of the window, and driving smoothly and progressively becomes second nature.
The Panda copes well in and around town, darting in and out of traffic, and the slick 6-speed box is nice and direct, providing ratios that allow needed nippness around city centres. The only hole in it's armour really is the ride. It's firm. Broken surfaces rumble through the structure, manhole covers crash the suspension, and quicker roads containing bumps will have you feeling sympathy for the bump stops. But I don't mind that too much, it's part of the character of the car, and I can trade in the bouncing around, for the Panda's ability to please when the roads get quick and twisty, and the frugalness of the commute.
I recently took 3 extra passengers and their luggage (2 girls btw) down to Newquay, Cornwall for a surfing weekend. The little Fiat coped brilliantly. It was frugal on the motorway delivering around 40mpg, but feeling a touch underpowered above 70; it swallowed all the luggage that was asked of it. The standard MP3 player meant that my mix cd accompanied us all the way there and part of the way back too.
Of course I do miss the stonk and rwd action of the bahnstormer, but the frugal nature of the 1.4 engine combined with the 6 speed box and ability to entertain when the road gets interesting makes the Panda a compelling everyday proposition.
To sum up:
+ Fun, practical and cheap to run warmhatch
- Likes to pogo, thrash needed to dash
Does the Panda posess the skills to commute and entertain?
I've always like small Fiats. I was hankering after a Cinquecento Sporting when I first passed my test, around 11 years ago, but after my Dad applied 'the knock test' to the front wings, he said I should be piloting something with a bit more heft, and a Mk3 Astra became my College wheels.
Fast forward a number of years and with a mortgage, sudden jump in petrol and heating costs, and a sick M3 Evo (the dredded Vanos!), I decided to take a interim loan and grab a slice of 'economy' motoring to replace the M3 whilst I fixed it.
To be fair, I could have gone for something like an older Focus tdi, or back to the Honda stable whilst reminising my beloved Integra R, but there was something about this funky little Panda that kept my eye, and triggered a desire to own one. Maybe it was the chunky good looks, the fact that it is fun to hustle around, or that with an out lay of £7000 for this 5000 mile example, I could halve my fuel costs, halve my insurance, reduce my tax, service costs, and have a laugh at the same time. I also liked the fact that it is much rarer than it's competitors like the mini one. I'd certainly never seen one on the road.
After picking up the car in the early evening, I went on a 120 mile drive later that night, ending up at the top end of the Peak District. With 'sport' illuminated on the dash, the steering feel heavier, and the throttle giving a more instant response, I concluded that the Panda was a good laugh when out for a play, and was satisfying to drive too. You have to extract every last bit of power, and conserve energy by scooting around corners and reading the road. This is the driving I love, and although the M3 was entertaining on these rollercoaster roads, it was somehow too easy, and you could find yourself going too fast. A squirt of the throttle opening up those 6 large butterfly throttle bodies, a roar of induction, and you were down the road swiftly, the big Pilot Sports giving huge grip. In comparison to other small cars I've driven lately, my brother's S1 Mini One, and my Mother's Meriva, the Panda is most like the Mini to drive. It certainly feels as quick, and the slightly taller seating position gives better vision.
This is the first car I've owned with a wired in throttle pedal, and having tried it, I prefer the cable variety. Obviously this is only a Panda, so more expensive systems will likely be far better, but the revs can flair if you dip the clutch and jump off the throttle a tad late. It is also difficult to blip the throttle for downchanges, as it isn't that responsive to a quick prod. This is better in sport mode where the pedals range is squashed somewhat, for more response. The brake pedal took some getting used to as well. There is little braking at the top of the pedal, so push a bit harder and the calipers seem to react all at once. A sensitive foot is definately required! The 100hp has disks all round, which gives you confidence in the abilities of the handbrake. Once you get used to driving the Panda, irritation to these quirks get lobbed out of the window, and driving smoothly and progressively becomes second nature.
The Panda copes well in and around town, darting in and out of traffic, and the slick 6-speed box is nice and direct, providing ratios that allow needed nippness around city centres. The only hole in it's armour really is the ride. It's firm. Broken surfaces rumble through the structure, manhole covers crash the suspension, and quicker roads containing bumps will have you feeling sympathy for the bump stops. But I don't mind that too much, it's part of the character of the car, and I can trade in the bouncing around, for the Panda's ability to please when the roads get quick and twisty, and the frugalness of the commute.
I recently took 3 extra passengers and their luggage (2 girls btw) down to Newquay, Cornwall for a surfing weekend. The little Fiat coped brilliantly. It was frugal on the motorway delivering around 40mpg, but feeling a touch underpowered above 70; it swallowed all the luggage that was asked of it. The standard MP3 player meant that my mix cd accompanied us all the way there and part of the way back too.
Of course I do miss the stonk and rwd action of the bahnstormer, but the frugal nature of the 1.4 engine combined with the 6 speed box and ability to entertain when the road gets interesting makes the Panda a compelling everyday proposition.
To sum up:
+ Fun, practical and cheap to run warmhatch
- Likes to pogo, thrash needed to dash
There are quite a few 100HP owners on here, and more than a few threads on the fiesty little car.
Agree with much of what you say, I find it a capable and entertaining little car when I actually get a go in it, its my other halfs car and she commutes all around the country in it and loves it.
Ours is grey also and we've had it just now a year, its 17k up, feels solid as a rock and the engine has really loosened up. I've always been a bit of frustrated Fiat fan, so it was brilliant when they came out with this model as it finally felt they were paying some attention to drivers. Now we have the Abarth sub brand and I can't tell you how happy I am about this, cars like the Punto and 500 and to a certain extent the Panda can benefit from the attention they are now bestowing on them.
Agree with much of what you say, I find it a capable and entertaining little car when I actually get a go in it, its my other halfs car and she commutes all around the country in it and loves it.
Ours is grey also and we've had it just now a year, its 17k up, feels solid as a rock and the engine has really loosened up. I've always been a bit of frustrated Fiat fan, so it was brilliant when they came out with this model as it finally felt they were paying some attention to drivers. Now we have the Abarth sub brand and I can't tell you how happy I am about this, cars like the Punto and 500 and to a certain extent the Panda can benefit from the attention they are now bestowing on them.
I've just bought one for my wife, having read mostly glowing reports and having fond memories of my first car, an Alfa Sprint.
We wanted 5 doors to get the ankle-biters in and decided the 100hp would be more fun than the alternative Honda Jazz. It's all of 12 hrs old so I can't add feedback yet, mainly as i haven't been allowed to drive it but the demo car impressed.
We wanted 5 doors to get the ankle-biters in and decided the 100hp would be more fun than the alternative Honda Jazz. It's all of 12 hrs old so I can't add feedback yet, mainly as i haven't been allowed to drive it but the demo car impressed.
Nice review, I came very close to buying one 4 moths ago but ended up getting a Grande Punto Sporting 130bhp, 200 lb/ft, 1.9 Diesel like this instead(20 months old, 7k miles, £7800).
The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
Pooh said:
Nice review, I came very close to buying one 4 moths ago but ended up getting a Grande Punto Sporting 130bhp, 200 lb/ft, 1.9 Diesel like this instead(20 months old, 7k miles, £7800).
The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
We tried the Grande Punto as well, but decided the Panda 100hp was better for our needs.The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
Smaller (it is our 2nd car), 5 doors to get ankle-biters in, more fun due to being lighter/smaller. Also a breeze to park as it's so square. My wife's not tall and she couldn't see any of the corners of the Punto.
Al W said:
Pooh said:
Nice review, I came very close to buying one 4 moths ago but ended up getting a Grande Punto Sporting 130bhp, 200 lb/ft, 1.9 Diesel like this instead(20 months old, 7k miles, £7800).
The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
We tried the Grande Punto as well, but decided the Panda 100hp was better for our needs.The Panda was great but IMO the Punto is even better, it is, spacious, well equipped, economical, cheap to run (group 6 insurance, 45 mpg) remarkably quick and superb fun down a twisty country road so I would recommend to anybody looking at a Panda to take a look at the Grande Punto 1.4 turbo or 1.9 diesel Sporting too.
Smaller (it is our 2nd car), 5 doors to get ankle-biters in, more fun due to being lighter/smaller. Also a breeze to park as it's so square. My wife's not tall and she couldn't see any of the corners of the Punto.
As you say it is all down to what you need.
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