Fiat Panda 100hp (again)
Discussion
Little to report in panda land. I've been using it for around 4 weeks now, having covered around 500 miles, and it's such fun. I often find myself passing the main roads and hacking it down back roads where the car comes alive. It's bumpy but not as bad as the reviews suggest, saying that, I'm considering renewing all the shocks to get it "factory fresh". Its also been getting filthy with all these detours it's been christened rallypanda.
However, one thing that has really annoyed me with the car is the rear wiper activating when out in reverse with the wipers on. It certainly doesn't enhance the rallypanda feel. I want it dirty, not with a wiper mark. So I deleted it this morning.
For those interested, it was very simple. Off with the nut holding the wiper in place, off with the carpet, undo 3 bolts and the wiper was off. Fill the hole with the bung and put it back together.
I can't remember the last time I did a wiper delete, but I think it looks great.
However, one thing that has really annoyed me with the car is the rear wiper activating when out in reverse with the wipers on. It certainly doesn't enhance the rallypanda feel. I want it dirty, not with a wiper mark. So I deleted it this morning.
For those interested, it was very simple. Off with the nut holding the wiper in place, off with the carpet, undo 3 bolts and the wiper was off. Fill the hole with the bung and put it back together.
I can't remember the last time I did a wiper delete, but I think it looks great.
I've just got one of these to replace my Clio 197F1 and have found it a blast over the first 400 odd miles! Not as quick sure but it certainly puts a smile on my face (see my fleet thread for pics and more info if interested)
Mines had an exhaust upgrade and has a k and n filter which makes it sound quite decent!
Oh go on then one pic 😂
Mines had an exhaust upgrade and has a k and n filter which makes it sound quite decent!
Oh go on then one pic 😂
M1TT J said:
I've just got one of these to replace my Clio 197F1 and have found it a blast over the first 400 odd miles! Not as quick sure but it certainly puts a smile on my face (see my fleet thread for pics and more info if interested)
Mines had an exhaust upgrade and has a k and n filter which makes it sound quite decent!
Oh go on then one pic ??
Brilliant aren't they. Are you local? I see a pic outside Lyndhurst. I'm over near hythe.Mines had an exhaust upgrade and has a k and n filter which makes it sound quite decent!
Oh go on then one pic ??
Panda update as its been mine for almost 3 months now, and I've covered 1600 miles in total now, more than 500 of those in the last week with a trip to the Brecon Beacons and then up to Gatwick and back yesterday.
Before my 500 mile week the average fuel economy was sat at 38.6mpg. Since then I've spent quite a bit of time on fast A roads and Motorways, where is happily sits between 70 and 80mph. It's now sat at 40.9mpg. It's also utterly filthy, which I quite like
This picture doesn't do the dirt justice, but it really is dirty!
...but this car isn't about fuel economy (although doubling my old car is quite a plus!), its more than that. For me it was a combination of money saving but also about enjoying driving again, and its 90% there. I love the handling, the turn in, the grip (in the dry!) and the noise when pressing on. I also enjoy the feeling of being close to the limit when you're actually only doing 40/50mph down a country road that in other cars would feel really sedate. It loves to be abused. Last night i cut home via the Meon Valley and it comes alive when pressing on, egging you on and making you feel like the greatest driver in the world! I expect its small size and sense of speed certainly help. I also love the way it looks, especially when dirty. Its such a clever design and we had plenty of space when going to Wales although the dog sat on the back seat (which he didn't mind!)
However, the novelty does wear off. Not to the point I want to sell it yet, but if I was doing 500 miles a week, every week, I'd get fed up pretty quickly. The ride is getting tiresome. The roads are so bad round here its very crashy. Hit a big bump at speed and you pogo into the roof. It's noisy on the motorway. The seats could be better. The ratios are so short you're always changing gear. It under-steers horrendously in the wet. The tank is tiny meaning frequent fill-ups. The rear wiper activates when you put the car in reverse. The headlights are a bit rubbish. The front plate keeps falling off due to the curve of the front bumper (and I don't like using screws).
Ultimately it was a 10k car, 10 years ago, and because of this I can forgive its foibles, but it doesn't mean I'm going to ignore them. The plan for now is to look at refreshing the suspension and ideally fit some Arbarth 500 seats, which should address the two main areas of concern. I'm luck that I don't do hundreds of miles a week normally. At a push I do 50 most weeks, and mostly shortish journeys and for this its great, and whilst I'm negative about a few bits above it is perfectly acceptable at longer journeys, I'm just being over critical. What I have found is it makes me want to drive places and because its cheaper to run I'm happy to. Its made driving (on the right roads) fun again.
Before my 500 mile week the average fuel economy was sat at 38.6mpg. Since then I've spent quite a bit of time on fast A roads and Motorways, where is happily sits between 70 and 80mph. It's now sat at 40.9mpg. It's also utterly filthy, which I quite like
This picture doesn't do the dirt justice, but it really is dirty!...but this car isn't about fuel economy (although doubling my old car is quite a plus!), its more than that. For me it was a combination of money saving but also about enjoying driving again, and its 90% there. I love the handling, the turn in, the grip (in the dry!) and the noise when pressing on. I also enjoy the feeling of being close to the limit when you're actually only doing 40/50mph down a country road that in other cars would feel really sedate. It loves to be abused. Last night i cut home via the Meon Valley and it comes alive when pressing on, egging you on and making you feel like the greatest driver in the world! I expect its small size and sense of speed certainly help. I also love the way it looks, especially when dirty. Its such a clever design and we had plenty of space when going to Wales although the dog sat on the back seat (which he didn't mind!)
However, the novelty does wear off. Not to the point I want to sell it yet, but if I was doing 500 miles a week, every week, I'd get fed up pretty quickly. The ride is getting tiresome. The roads are so bad round here its very crashy. Hit a big bump at speed and you pogo into the roof. It's noisy on the motorway. The seats could be better. The ratios are so short you're always changing gear. It under-steers horrendously in the wet. The tank is tiny meaning frequent fill-ups. The rear wiper activates when you put the car in reverse. The headlights are a bit rubbish. The front plate keeps falling off due to the curve of the front bumper (and I don't like using screws).
Ultimately it was a 10k car, 10 years ago, and because of this I can forgive its foibles, but it doesn't mean I'm going to ignore them. The plan for now is to look at refreshing the suspension and ideally fit some Arbarth 500 seats, which should address the two main areas of concern. I'm luck that I don't do hundreds of miles a week normally. At a push I do 50 most weeks, and mostly shortish journeys and for this its great, and whilst I'm negative about a few bits above it is perfectly acceptable at longer journeys, I'm just being over critical. What I have found is it makes me want to drive places and because its cheaper to run I'm happy to. Its made driving (on the right roads) fun again.
Edited by S100HP on Wednesday 20th September 09:56
When I bought mine I waited a while hoping a nice blue one would show up, but settled for a black one. The blue looks great!
It is definitely not a quiet and composed ride. I only use mine at weekends really, as I bike to work, but I feel the same, I'm not sure I could keep it as an everyday drive. However, it is perfect for me now, to escape to the Peaks or Wales or Cannock. If you think yours is noisy on the motorway, I have roofbars on mine that never come off!
It is definitely not a quiet and composed ride. I only use mine at weekends really, as I bike to work, but I feel the same, I'm not sure I could keep it as an everyday drive. However, it is perfect for me now, to escape to the Peaks or Wales or Cannock. If you think yours is noisy on the motorway, I have roofbars on mine that never come off!
S100HP said:
...but this car isn't about fuel economy (although doubling my old car is quite a plus!), its more than that. For me it was a combination of money saving but also about enjoying driving again, and its 90% there. I love the handling, the turn in, the grip (in the dry!) and the noise when pressing on...
However, the novelty does wear off. Not to the point I want to sell it yet, but if I was doing 500 miles a week, every week, I'd get fed up pretty quickly. The ride is getting tiresome. The roads are so bad round here its very crashy. Hit a big bump at speed and you pogo into the roof. It's noisy on the motorway. The seats could be better. The ratios are so short you're always changing gear. It under-steers horrendously in the wet. The tank is tiny meaning frequent fill-ups. The rear wiper activates when you put the car in reverse. The headlights are a bit rubbish.. Its made driving (on the right roads) fun again.
Good post and I agree with all the above. I bought mine (black with "Pandemonium" pack) as I missed having a manual car, and couldn't be more pleased.However, the novelty does wear off. Not to the point I want to sell it yet, but if I was doing 500 miles a week, every week, I'd get fed up pretty quickly. The ride is getting tiresome. The roads are so bad round here its very crashy. Hit a big bump at speed and you pogo into the roof. It's noisy on the motorway. The seats could be better. The ratios are so short you're always changing gear. It under-steers horrendously in the wet. The tank is tiny meaning frequent fill-ups. The rear wiper activates when you put the car in reverse. The headlights are a bit rubbish.. Its made driving (on the right roads) fun again.
I don't drive in the week and my wife only has a short commute so the Panda has been perfect for that, as well as for supermarket and tip runs (you can fit loads in with the seats folded flat - it's like a little van). It very rarely goes near a motorway (have the 5 series for that) but does do B-roads pretty much every weekend. Even the kids love it (2 car seats fit comfortably in the back).
Only other criticism I'd have is that the electric steering has very little "feel" - sport mode just weights it up, and also makes the throttle super-sensitive, so I tend to leave it as is. Oh, and the steering lock isn't great! Brilliant little cars otherwise.
Paraicj said:
When I bought mine I waited a while hoping a nice blue one would show up, but settled for a black one. The blue looks great!
It is definitely not a quiet and composed ride. I only use mine at weekends really, as I bike to work, but I feel the same, I'm not sure I could keep it as an everyday drive. However, it is perfect for me now, to escape to the Peaks or Wales or Cannock. If you think yours is noisy on the motorway, I have roofbars on mine that never come off!
Thanks. I wasn't too fussed what colour I ended up with but I really like the blue, comes out well in pictures.It is definitely not a quiet and composed ride. I only use mine at weekends really, as I bike to work, but I feel the same, I'm not sure I could keep it as an everyday drive. However, it is perfect for me now, to escape to the Peaks or Wales or Cannock. If you think yours is noisy on the motorway, I have roofbars on mine that never come off!
I've been toying with getting front to back rails from a different panda, are these the ones you've got?
I'm considering one of these for my short commute to work and for dropping the kiddy off at day care. Couple of questions: How's the ride height over speed bumps? My 320d ED is low and scrapes a lot.
Also, access to the back seat; any good for putting kiddy in her car seat? I'm hoping the roof line is usefully high enough to make this a bit easier than the BMW.
Also, access to the back seat; any good for putting kiddy in her car seat? I'm hoping the roof line is usefully high enough to make this a bit easier than the BMW.
paps said:
I'm considering one of these for my short commute to work and for dropping the kiddy off at day care. Couple of questions: How's the ride height over speed bumps? My 320d ED is low and scrapes a lot.
Also, access to the back seat; any good for putting kiddy in her car seat? I'm hoping the roof line is usefully high enough to make this a bit easier than the BMW.
Ride height is good, no issues with scraping. Also, access to the back seat; any good for putting kiddy in her car seat? I'm hoping the roof line is usefully high enough to make this a bit easier than the BMW.
Access to the rear seats is absolutely fine, however there isn't much room behind the drivers seat. I can't have either of my children behind me whilst driving. One if 4 and front facing, the other is 4 months and rear facing. I can have one behind me if I'm in the passenger seat.
S100HP said:
Ride height is good, no issues with scraping.
Access to the rear seats is absolutely fine, however there isn't much room behind the drivers seat. I can't have either of my children behind me whilst driving. One if 4 and front facing, the other is 4 months and rear facing. I can have one behind me if I'm in the passenger seat.
Ah, ok. How tall are you out of interest? I'm hoping my 5ft 9in frame might give me some options.Access to the rear seats is absolutely fine, however there isn't much room behind the drivers seat. I can't have either of my children behind me whilst driving. One if 4 and front facing, the other is 4 months and rear facing. I can have one behind me if I'm in the passenger seat.
S100HP said:
I've been toying with getting front to back rails from a different panda, are these the ones you've got?
No, I have the side-to-side bars from the FIAT site here: https://www.fiat-accessories.com/fiat-panda-roof-b...Although, they were selling at £60ish when I got them. I go Mountain and road biking, as well as kayaking so they make sense for me. I like that they attach at hard-points. The Rails do too, and would give a lot less wind-noise I'd say.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff