Fiat Panda 100HP - Feed me your knowledge!

[Waugh-terfall]

My car is being moved on, I need a replacement on a 08-plate max basically (please do not ask why!) and I've always liked the Panda 100HP, so I need as much ammo as possible to successfully persuade my parents to let me have one over a Peugeot 207 Verve 1.4 that they're pushing (their money you see). I'd be quite prepared to sell my left kidney to have one... Obviously I need to know the downsides too, any common problems or ownership mishaps and possible servicing costs would be very greatly appreciated, so, without further delay, fire away, please!!

[James Dean]

I don't hope the 100hp have the same appetite for suspension bushes as the lower powered models.
Other than that, I belive they're quite robust, kinda easy on fuel and not that expensive services. Not that helpful, I know, sorry.

[robsco]

Tom, tell them that your fellow PHer Robsco works for Peugeot and the Fiat is as good on fuel, just as reasonable to insure, better looking, a better drive and more solidly built.

[Dan Friel]

Very few downsides, apart from the ride. How do the safety features compare with the 207? Might need to be aware of that when preparing a defence..

[Waugh-terfall]

robsco said:

Tom, tell them that your fellow PHer Robsco works for Peugeot and the Fiat is as good on fuel, just as reasonable to insure, better looking, a better drive and more solidly built.

Woah, the Fiat is cheaper Will do! The one I found earlier, looked nice but has too higher milage, whilst waiting for a salesman to come free so I could ask to look in it, I sat in a new Active Eco, the doors are very plasticky, a bit nasty really, but then it's completely different to my Megane. Despite this, it felt alot better put together than mine does, and the difference between my interior when I got it at 52,000mi to the 100HP I saw at 53,000mi was astonishing, it was as new still, mine's scuffed and scratched, loose and creaky...

Dan Friel said:

Very few downsides, apart from the ride. How do the safety features compare with the 207? Might need to be aware of that when preparing a defence..

3* NCap I think, 207 I think is 4 or 5, I'm coming from a 5*, I'll just talk to Mum about AirBags and stuff...

[charliedaker]

Points to note...

Nippy, cheap to run/maintain/insure

And the grip from the chassis is superb. You'd have to really overcook it to upset the thing.

I think the pug would be better screwed together and feel more quality but they're more of a girly car and im sure your parents dont want you becoming a cross dresser.

[Giulia Reg]

Had my 100HP for just over two years and love it to pieces. The Panda ticks all the boxes for excellent build quality, equipment, reliability, low maintenance cost, good performance and BIG GRIN factor! The 100HP is not at home in town where there are an abundance of sleeping policemen or speed humps. The combination of really firm seat squabs and minimal suspension will soon have your spine complaining! Yes, the ride is hard and unforgiving but on the open road there is simply nothing in its class to catch it!

[tjg123]

getting mine this weekend so i'll tell you then

[Waugh-terfall]

Giulia Reg said:

Had my 100HP for just over two years and love it to pieces. The Panda ticks all the boxes for excellent build quality, equipment, reliability, low maintenance cost, good performance and BIG GRIN factor! The 100HP is not at home in town where there are an abundance of sleeping policemen or speed humps. The combination of really firm seat squabs and minimal suspension will soon have your spine complaining! Yes, the ride is hard and unforgiving but on the open road there is simply nothing in its class to catch it!

Excellent, this is great, thank you! No problems or niggles at all? Hmmm, the roads around my uni house in Kent are terrible, badly lumpy and speedbumps and cobbly, but a few of the run NSL roads are newly laid, if it proves as fun there as I assume it will be, I'm sure I'll forgive it's ride on the residential streets!

tjg123 said:

getting mine this weekend so i'll tell you then

Much appreciated If you don't mind me asking, what age, milage is it and roughly what are you paying..?

[100HP all u need]

Had mine for 7months now and have loved every single minute of it

[Waugh-terfall]

100HP all u need said:

Had mine for 7months now and have loved every single minute of it

Was yours at the SS today with a private registration?

What sort of milage are you getting to a tank and most importantly, has anything broken yet?! My Renault, I don't think, has gone such a length of time without seeing a workshop!

[51mes]

Had one for 12 months - loved it to bits - didnt put a foot wrong in 12000 miles..

even took me the ex and her lad (16) to scotland and back in relative comfort..

Fully loaded it took me over snowdonia to Shell Island and back camping - total hoot -if a trifle harsh loaded to the gunnels.

seem to remember getting 40+MPG out of it no matter how hard it was driven..

more smiles per mile per pound than any other small car out there...

Only got rid of it with the divorce...

SImes.

[Waugh-terfall]

51mes said:

Had one for 12 months - loved it to bits - didnt put a foot wrong in 12000 miles..

even took me the ex and her lad (16) to scotland and back in relative comfort..

Fully loaded it took me over snowdonia to Shell Island and back camping - total hoot -if a trifle harsh loaded to the gunnels.

seem to remember getting 40+MPG out of it no matter how hard it was driven..

more smiles per mile per pound than any other small car out there...

Only got rid of it with the divorce...

SImes.

Great, thanks for that! I was on the Fiat Used Locator earlier, massive difference in prices. 20mi 60-plate, £9,000, 12,000mi 10-plate, £9,995... Fingers crossed I'll be able to pick up a Grey or Blue 58 to 59 plater for around £6k...

[Dan Friel]

Don't pay too much! Travel for the right car at the right price. A year with mine has been excellent, and no trouble at all. Fuel consumption not that impressive, but the car just encourages it..

[ChevronB19]

Just got an 08 plate with 17K for 5.5K, which I think is pretty reasonable, albeit not a bargain. There is a huge range in prices as mentioned - I nearly bought an 09 with 8K miles for 7K, however there were many of similar age/spec for around 9K.

[100HP all u need]

Waugh-terfall said:

Was yours at the SS today with a private registration?

What sort of milage are you getting to a tank and most importantly, has anything broken yet?! My Renault, I don't think, has gone such a length of time without seeing a workshop!

Yupp that was mine Its done 37,000 miles and nothing has gone wrong yet, its even been in an accident so i know about repair costs as well!!........today coming back from the SS to Norwich i got about 35mpg, considering i was doing above 90 pretty much all the way i dont think that is too bad and usually I get a bit under 200miles to a tank but Im not totally sure, i will have to check next time i fill up.

[Waugh-terfall]

100HP all u need said:

Yupp that was mine Its done 37,000 miles and nothing has gone wrong yet, its even been in an accident so i know about repair costs as well!!........today coming back from the SS to Norwich i got about 35mpg, considering i was doing above 90 pretty much all the way i dont think that is too bad and usually I get a bit under 200miles to a tank but Im not totally sure, i will have to check next time i fill up.

Aaah, I've definitely got it as a background on my phone I didn't make it today, but a friend MMS'd be a photo... 35mpg is good, that's at least what I get from mine now on a 70mph run...

[robsco]

Looks like your mind is made up Tom. Can I take the credit for the initial suggestion?

[Waugh-terfall]

robsco said:

Looks like your mind is made up Tom. Can I take the credit for the initial suggestion?

It's most definitely made up, though I'm yet to drive one... I fear my Dad may still push for a 207, as yesterday after sending him some examples from the Used Car Locator he came back with, "These look expensive in comparison to your Mothers car." He bought her a 1yr old 14,000mi ex-demo 308 SE almost 2yrs ago, £9,000, fully loaded bar leather, nav and xenons, it was £19,500 new... As far as I can see, all I can really get is 07, 08 S's, M:Play's and a couple of Sport's and Verves, but I'm not finding THAT many 1.4VTi's. In every which way the Panda looks the best...

How much do you lot reckon these can be knocked down by..?

http://usedcars.fiat.co.uk/vehicle.aspx?wflw=se_na...

http://usedcars.fiat.co.uk/vehicle.aspx?wflw=se_na...

GL58 BZE is in my ideal spec (Blue or Grey) but if I can get a newer (10-plate, 17k? on the clock) for around £6k, that'd probably be the one to go for...

Robsco, you may take credit

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Monday 14th March 11:53

[Dino D]

Waugh-terfall said:

"These look expensive in comparison to your Mothers car." He bought her a 1yr old 14,000mi ex-demo 308 SE almost 2yrs ago, £9,000, fully loaded bar leather, nav and xenons, it was £19,500 new...

False economy - French cars are sold cheap and built even cheaper so they can make the money back on parts on labour - they are st.

I did not listen to the 'band wagon' full of French st car bashers and bought one cheaper than the equivalent Jap, German, Spanish, Czech counterparts and paid half the purchase price on the French piece of st repairing it.

You say your Megane has been problematic so why would your dad want to buy another French st box.

All cars nowadays seem to have problems of sorts but French ones seem to have a load more than others.

Just my opinion and many on here swear by French st boxes - we all have our opinions, some based on fact some based rumours. Mine is is based on my painful financial experience.

It did go round corners great on 3 wheels though but that didn't make up for the financial pain..

Oh and the 308 is an ugly fat, slow thing, no surprise it was cheap - 'fully loaded' bar Leather, Nav and Xenons is actually very poorly specced as you get loads of kit as standard on French st boxes. Add in 14000miles of dealer thrashing and suddenly not such a bargain...