Panda 100hp

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f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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After too many beers, not enough self restraint, and too much Ebay, I've ended up buying this:



It's a late 2007 Panda 100hp, 84k on the clock, loads of service history with over £1.5k being spent in the last 15 months, refurbed wheels and a new set of Toyo T1-R all round.

Picked it up last night and it appears to do everything it's supposed to.

Problem is, i have absolutely no need for this car, nor have any idea what I'm going to use it for...

Still, driving it hard on a country road last night was incredible...the cars size, modest performance and chuckable nature is an absolute riot...such an engaging car to drive!

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Saturday 3rd June 2017
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Almost two weeks into ownership, and the st box has been pressed into service doing multiple tip runs, taking the dogs to the park, wood to the allotment, plants from the garden centre...it's so liberating driving a car that you don't particularly care about and isn't worth a lot.



The thing is, journeys always take a bit longer as I find myself coming back the long way. Let's be honest, it's a st car, but the amount of fun you can have at legal speeds in one of these is incredible, and there is definitely an appeal in driving a low powered car hard that just can't be had on the road in more modern, powerful cars.

As an only car? hell no. As a cheap, chuckable second or third car? Fantastic!

It's a Fiat right, so what's wrong with it? Well, it's a nigh on ten year old Fiat at that, it everything works as it should, starts stops and steers perfectly. Well at least almost as well as it did when it rolled out of the factory for the first time. No doubt aided by how well previous owners have looked after it, and the relatively large amount of money it's had spent on it previously.

Typically, the steering wheel has gone a bit wrinkly as they all seem to do, and as that's the bit you are touching all of the time it was annoying. I looked at options and as this is a a cheap stbox, I decided £16 worth of perforated leather cover, stitched in blue had to be worth a shot. As it sat there stitching it together I had my doubts...but actually if you squint a bit it's looks fine! Much nicer to use which is a bonus!

The gearknob and gaitor have some wear, so I'll do something about that when something half decent comes up.

What don't I like? It's all about perspective with a car like this...I've got such low expectations of it it can't help but p,easantly surprise me...the "sport" mode just seems to make the throttle response jerky, especially coming off the throttle at low speed so that's rarely gets used.

Other than that it's all good, and even the wife who initially couldn't stand the sight of it is slowly falling for its charms!

Mike335i

5,198 posts

108 months

Saturday 3rd June 2017
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Great little cars these. I know what you mean about the throttle in sport though, we have an Alfa MiTo and in dynamic it is very twitchy but in anything else it's like a sponge.

Yours looks like a nice example. Great colour and looks like it's in good nick. But where is the wheel cover picture? Haha

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Saturday 3rd June 2017
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Haha....okay here you go, bear in mind how bad the original wheel goes...



Not too shabby for £16 surely? It's a lot nicer to use.

The postman has just delivered the gear stick bits...update coming shortly.

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Saturday 3rd June 2017
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The 6 speed fake "pleather" gearknob on these wears on these unsurprisingly, I mean, you think Fiat, you hardly think last word in quality right?, and the finishing on the cap wears away. That coupled with tearing of the gaitor and it was letting the side down in otherwise very presentable cabin.


f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Saturday 3rd June 2017
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So for about £45 and ten minutes, a replacement gaitor and leather gearknob with correct 6 speed insert....



Small things and all that, but I think it's better.

Mike335i

5,198 posts

108 months

Sunday 4th June 2017
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That really isn't too shabby, £16 well spent!

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Sunday 18th June 2017
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Bit of an update.

I advertised this on EBay, and I can honestly say I've never had the misfortune of dealing with as many idiots.

I had a fantastic conversation yesterday which went something like this:

Idiot: is the air con ICE cold?
Me: the air con works correctly, and cools the car down properly as you would expect.
idiot: yes, but is it ICE cold?
Me: er, I wouldn't describe it as Ice cold, but it works correctly and cools the interior down as it should.
idiot: hmmm shame, I was looking for something with ICE cold air con. has it had the clutch replaced?
Me: there is nothing in the service history to suggest that it has been replaced, but the clutch operates as it should, with no slip or judder.
Idiot: hmm that could be a problem, it might go in the future.
Me: er, yes It quite possibly could, as it could any any car.
Idiot: has the power steering been replaced?
Me: er...power steering fluid?
idiot: No, the power steering
Me, er...not that I am aware of, but equally I wouldn't expect it to have needed to be replaced
idiot. I don't want a blue one.......

So, that's was the tone of most of the enquiries, and the car didn't make the reserve.

The wife surprised me when she asked if it had sold, and I sheepishly admitted that it hadn't, by announcing that she was pleased and hoped we'd be able to keep it, so it looks like the little blue knacker is staying a little while longer!

InitialDave

12,204 posts

125 months

Sunday 18th June 2017
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Random question, does it allow left-foot braking? Or does it cut/limit throttle if the brake's applied?

HorneyMX5

5,410 posts

156 months

Sunday 18th June 2017
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Glad I'm not the only one making drunken car purchases on eBay.

Looks ace, always fancied one of these.

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Drunken car purchases should be encouraged, it helps the economy on so many levels!

With regard to the handling, it's far too unsophisticated to have any nannying brake/throttle software, so you can left foot brake to minimise understeer to your hearts content.

On a damp, deserted roundabout near me I had understeer on the way in, a throttle lift had mild lift off oversteer, with a big stamp on the throttle had a little drift as it pulled itself straight again. At probably between 20-30mph. Great fun.

I read a lot of criticism about the steering being too light, but I think it suits the chuckable nature of the car. It weights up in sports mode but I then find the response a bit inconsistent once you've got around a quarter of a turn on.




stugolf

473 posts

209 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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I agree with you OP

Had mine around 18 months now and keep meaning to get rid of it but I cannot part with it!

Handling is just superb, so chuckable! It probably the slowest car I've had but I find myself getting frustrated with other road users as they are taking the bends too slowly!

Revvy little engine, easily keeps up with traffic, I park it where I want, its cheap to fix, tax and service, what more could you want?

Juts don't catch your reflection in a passing shop window, unflattering!

M1C

1,888 posts

117 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Well, i thought mine was mega cool.

Wanted one in electroclash grey ever since they were lauched in 2006/7. Eventually got one a couple of years ago. Loved it....bit...hard to live with day to day (but i knew that beforehand so didn't let it put me off)

To start with i drove everywhere in Sport mode..which felt right for the car, sharp throttle response etc (steering was TOO light in non-sport mode)

BUT!!! After a while, i found myself staying in standard mode for the commute, and using Sport for proper drives. Great little car, miss it a lot!

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Yeah, I think I would have chosen one in grey tbh, but this one came up and I'm beginning to like it in blue.


Mike335i

5,198 posts

108 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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f1nn said:
Yeah, I think I would have chosen one in grey tbh, but this one came up and I'm beginning to like it in blue.
I really like the blue, so many black / grey / white cars that blue is just a little different. I think it looks ace

BlimeyCharlie

926 posts

148 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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I don't envy you after hearing your Ebay antics.

I sometimes get slightly paranoid, wondering if people are just trying to wear down my resolve when I'm selling anything by asking these questions.
But I have concluded they are just idiots.

Hope that helps!

TheJimi

25,626 posts

249 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Giving serious consideration into swapping my tweaked EP3 for one of these smile

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Ebay, on this occasion, has attracted nothing but timewasters.

I'm in a weird position with this car...I don't really need it, but I don't need to sell it either.

The family have become attached to it, even the dogs seem to like travelling in it, I've got two scotties and the low window line mean they can see out easily. It's fun, cheap to run and has proven useful.

It needs nothing, and is definitely one of the better examples out there, so I think I'll run it on a semi permanent for sale basis, where by if some one wants a good example at a sensible price I'd let it go, but otherwise I'll continue to enjoy it.

Great little cars though that get under your skin, definitely please to own one.

Usget

5,426 posts

217 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Kind of tempted to take this off you to replace my FN2...

But I must admit I'd want the aircon to be ICE COLD hehe

f1nn

Original Poster:

2,693 posts

198 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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Hahaha, don't you start!