Project Panda, the bargain 100hp
Discussion
I was looking for a new daily, better on fuel than my 530i and it needs a bit of tlc, really fancied a Fabia VRs but trying to find an unchavved one for decent money was proving difficult.
Long story short, spotted on a Facebook sales group, listed as ‘needing some work’ in the cooling and clutch department’s. Paid a three figure sum for it, drove back from Stafford to Lincoln without issue. A too honest advert by far!
It’s cosmetically challenged, but nothing a couple of hundred quid could sort. Drives spot on, starts, stops and runs lovely. And being 6ft 5 I can fit in it. Win!
Plans are to daily it, and keep on top of any issues that arise
Probably the first car I’ve owned where the tax is more than the insurance 
Long story short, spotted on a Facebook sales group, listed as ‘needing some work’ in the cooling and clutch department’s. Paid a three figure sum for it, drove back from Stafford to Lincoln without issue. A too honest advert by far!
It’s cosmetically challenged, but nothing a couple of hundred quid could sort. Drives spot on, starts, stops and runs lovely. And being 6ft 5 I can fit in it. Win!
Plans are to daily it, and keep on top of any issues that arise
Probably the first car I’ve owned where the tax is more than the insurance Edited by swampy442 on Friday 28th January 10:35
It was sold with a thermostat problem which, so far has been absolutely fine, and a clutch cylinder issue. Granted the clutch is a bit high but perfectly liveable.
Quick survey reveals it needs a passenger side ball joint and a drivers side top mount, other than that it’s mint. Everything works, even the AC. Someone in the past stuck in a 500 steering wheels so the buttons don’t work as they should, but hardly an issue
Quick survey reveals it needs a passenger side ball joint and a drivers side top mount, other than that it’s mint. Everything works, even the AC. Someone in the past stuck in a 500 steering wheels so the buttons don’t work as they should, but hardly an issue
Really wanted one of these a few years back but couldn't find a decent one so ended up with a corolla t sport instead. Really like them though.
Either you have the best garage on the world or a job in the aero industry ?
If you can grab yourself an abarth 595 steering wheel, near perfect on every way
Either you have the best garage on the world or a job in the aero industry ?
If you can grab yourself an abarth 595 steering wheel, near perfect on every way
swampy442 said:
I was looking for a new daily, better on fuel than my 530i and it needs a bit of tlc, really fancied a Fabia VRs but trying to find an unchavved one for decent money was proving difficult.
Long story short, spotted on a Facebook sales group, listed as ‘needing some work’ in the cooling and clutch department’s. Paid a three figure sum for it, drove back from Stafford to Lincoln without issue. A too honest advert by far!
It’s cosmetically challenged, but nothing a couple of hundred quid could sort. Drives spot on, starts, stops and runs lovely. And being 6ft 5 I can fit in it. Win!
Plans are to daily it, and keep on top of any issues that arise Probably the first car I’ve owned where the tax is more than the insurance
Very nice. I remember on 5th gear when they took one of these around a go kart track. Great fun. Long story short, spotted on a Facebook sales group, listed as ‘needing some work’ in the cooling and clutch department’s. Paid a three figure sum for it, drove back from Stafford to Lincoln without issue. A too honest advert by far!
It’s cosmetically challenged, but nothing a couple of hundred quid could sort. Drives spot on, starts, stops and runs lovely. And being 6ft 5 I can fit in it. Win!
Plans are to daily it, and keep on top of any issues that arise
Probably the first car I’ve owned where the tax is more than the insurance Edited by swampy442 on Friday 28th January 10:35
Great car. I love my little 100hp. The thermostat problem is probably that it is stuck open so not getting up to temp. I had the problem on mine where the gauge never got to the mid-point. The part was about £35 from Shop4parts (brilliant for original parts BTW) and it took about 30 mins to fit on my drive. Now it gets up to temp nicely and stays rock solid with the added bonus that the limiter is now at 7k not 6.5!
MartinM said:
Great car. I love my little 100hp. The thermostat problem is probably that it is stuck open so not getting up to temp. I had the problem on mine where the gauge never got to the mid-point. The part was about £35 from Shop4parts (brilliant for original parts BTW) and it took about 30 mins to fit on my drive. Now it gets up to temp nicely and stays rock solid with the added bonus that the limiter is now at 7k not 6.5!
Mine gets up to temp quickly and is stable at the half way mark, the previous owner said it randomly dropped coolant. Not happened to me yet, but I’ll look into it if it does 😊Lincolnshire’s rough and ready road infrastructure quickly exposed a symphony of knocks from the front end, so a lower arm, a top mount later and it’s 90% sorted. Expect there’s an anti roll bar link that’s shot somewhere but it’s much better than it was.
Obviously the first bolt I tried to undo sheared, turning a half hour job into a 2 hour job…
Obviously the first bolt I tried to undo sheared, turning a half hour job into a 2 hour job…
Other than that it’s an absolute blast to drive, whipping round town is a hoot, corners dispatched with ease, the brakes are great, I’m certain to get a speeding ticket for 40 in a 30
Even on the open roads it holds its own, momentum is the key. I bet with some super sticky rubber it would be hard to beat on a twisty road
Even on the open roads it holds its own, momentum is the key. I bet with some super sticky rubber it would be hard to beat on a twisty road
I love mine too, brings a smile to my face every day on my B road commute.
I have had it just over a year and just had the cambelt and water pump done.
My temperature is just under the halfway mark so I have ordered a new thermostat to hopefully cure this.
It's had oil and filter, new rear brake pads, a pair of front tyres the original Goodyear F1's in this first year.
I uprated the rather puny horn, headlamp bulbs and fitted Abarth 500 Seats. Cracking little cars
I have had it just over a year and just had the cambelt and water pump done.
My temperature is just under the halfway mark so I have ordered a new thermostat to hopefully cure this.
It's had oil and filter, new rear brake pads, a pair of front tyres the original Goodyear F1's in this first year.
I uprated the rather puny horn, headlamp bulbs and fitted Abarth 500 Seats. Cracking little cars
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