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At the heart of the Panda beats a 1000cc OHC Fiat fire engine, (not the red type with blue lights) a capable little engine it was and when coupled to a five-speed gearbox and 4-wheel drive it gave an adequate, off motorway performance. The downside was the noise it produced, it was a high ... Read review
Advantages: Cheap Disadvantages: Noisy, attracts tin worm. leaks oil
...Panda beats a 1000cc OHC Fiat fire engine, (not the red type with blue lights) a capable little engine it was and when coupled to a five-speed gearbox and 4-wheel drive it gave an adequate, off motorway performance. The downside was the noise it produced, it was a high revving engine and it soon gained the nickname Pandermonium. Even the radio couldn’t drown the appalling racket at anything over 50 miles an hour. Mind you at that sort of speed it ... ...the road as it bounced around on suspension reminiscent of an up turned pram. An experience not to be missed, believe me.
The interior was Spartan to say the least; the seats were only bettered in the padding stakes by deck chairs off Blackpool prom. No luxuries like glove boxes were to be found where you could hide your goodies from prying eyes only a shelf was provided to store your goodies. Due to the frisky suspension everything ... more
If ever there was a car that resembles a chicken coup on wheels then monster has to be it. I never actually owned this car, it was a company car, don’t ask just don’t ask but she was an experience to drive.
At the heart of the Panda beats a 1000cc OHC Fiat fire engine, (not the red type with blue lights) a capable little engine it was and when coupled to a five-speed gearbox and 4-wheel drive it gave an adequate, off motorway performance. The downside was the noise it produced, it was a high revving engine and it soon gained the nickname Pandermonium. Even the radio couldn’t drown the appalling racket at anything over 50 miles an hour. Mind you at that sort of speed it was all you could do to keep the thing on the road as it bounced around on suspension reminiscent of an up turned pram. An experience not to be missed, believe me.
The interior was Spartan to say the least; the seats were only bettered in the padding stakes by deck chairs off Blackpool prom. No luxuries like glove boxes were to be found where you could hide your goodies from prying eyes only a shelf was provided to store your goodies. Due to the frisky suspension everything would fall of very rapidly so you soon learnt not to leave anything breakable on it.
Steering is not power assisted but was surprisingly precise and light, even the brakes were good but not outstanding. The brakes however did have an alarming tendency to seize up on the front callipers, the first sign of which would be a strong burning smell welling up. Brake callipers she ate, 4 sets in the two years we had her.
The ignition system was a nightmare, true she never let us down, she always started first time (except when the petrol tank developed a hole) but she did have a tendency to break a small wire in the distributor. (The part that sent the spark to the spark plugs) When this happened it would manifest itself when you navigated around a tight corner such as an island, the engine would cut out as the halves of the wire parted company and as you straightened up they would rejoin. The engine would then pick up again and the unburned petrol in the exhaust would explode causing a terrific backfire. This I found most entertaining.
I once had occasion to travel to see a new wind farm that at been opened in Blyth Northumberland. Heavy rain had been falling and I had to cross some open ground that resembled a quagmire, other people had obviously come to see the same thing, as there were a number of other cars abandoned in the mud or digging in deeper as their drivers tried to extract them selves. The Panda, no problem reach down by the gearlever and pull up another lever to engage 4 wheel drive and away she went with no hesitation at all, boy was I a smug bunny.
Carrying capacity wise she would carry 2 adults and 2 small children no problem, but where she excelled is in what she could carry. I remember one occasion where I, a mere 14 stone, and my mate Skippy the Barst*ard (again don’t ask), 19 stone of pure wind went to carry out some machining work on a truck engine. We carried with us two cylinder heads (more than one man could lift) a set of pistons and a boring bar (a two man job to lift it) and assorted tools. We set off with misgivings as the area we were going to was 20 miles away, all up hill. The little panda, for once didn’t roll, as the suspension was bottomed, but she excelled on the hills up she went with no hesitation once she got there with no hesitation and little effort, she went up in my estimation that day.
Economy wise she was poor, only getting about 28 miles to the gallon, which didn’t seem to alter wherever or however she was driven. She was also prone to infestation by rampant tin worm (rust), which provided much needed air conditioning. Oil leaks from the drive shaft oil seals were also a reoccuring problem
On the whole she was an experience to drive, sometimes amusing, sometimes frustrating but on the whole I’m glad I had the chance to drive her. There are still some of the 4 x 4 versions around and if you want a cheap, fun, basic frustrating vehicle that can be easily converted to a chicken coup then this machine is for you.
Advantages: Value,looks,full sunroof,cheap to buy and run Disadvantages: ride,handling,safety, reliability,
I was lent a Fiat Panda 1000cl for a few months after the Nissan Micra packed up. I was planning on using this car only for a few months while I was looking for a new car. In the 4,500 miles I covered in the time I had the Panda I had a very strong opinion on the car. What is a Panda?
The Fiat Panda is a city/town car, which was made to rival the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Austin Metro. The Panda was in production from 1982 up to 1995 (M reg). ... ...Exterior.
The earlier Fiat Pandas rust very badly which is one of its worst enemies. The Fiat Panda sold well in its earlier days (around 1984). Fiat Pandas on a C- plate are very rare, as most were taken off the road due to rust. The Fiat Panda is a very small boxy car, yet it’s quite high which is one of the reasons its road holding is UN steady.
Interior.
The interior on the Panda in the front is quite spacious as it’s the rear ...
wilsam00 01.02.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Fiat Panda 1000
Advantages: Pennies to run, safe, excellent handling, cool image and a fantastic car! Disadvantages: Finding a decent one that isn't riddled with rust.
I was 17 when I got my first Panda. My parents brought the car for me as my first car and at first I was a bit dubious but once I drove it I fell in love. Mine was a1986 E-reg and was immaculate without ay rust or scratches. It was the 1000Super and I found it to be pretty quick and economical. The isurace was cheapin comparison to a VW Polo of the same engine size and age. My car had a choke which took a while to get used to. Unfortunately I ran ... ...HOWEVER a year later I brought a gorgeous 1000 Selecta with 33k on the clock from new - it was in showroom condition. I loved this car it was amazingly quick for a 1.0ltr and because it didn't have a clutch I was always beating much faster cars away from the traffic lights. The handling of my car was brilliant - it would go around corners on 3 wheels istead of loosing grip and not once did I ever feel like I was going to lose control.
With very ...
Samuelcard 23.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Fiat Panda 1000
Advantages: cheap insurance Disadvantages: everything that could go wrong with it........did
I had a Panda 4x4 when I was 17. Cheap insurance was the best reason I can think of. Suprisingly for a 1 litre car of 1987 it had 5 gears, and the interior was quite bare apart from a big plastic drives dash.
The seats were very uncomfy after about 30 hard driving and the handling very sloppy although the steering was light and so the back came round many times. Very unreliable it needed choke to start every time and if it was foggy I'd have to ... ...I wasnt going anywhere. I seem to remember a very heavy bonnet lid which came down on my head many a-time. I remeber this because it was open every day with me trying to work out the problem.
The one time I used the 4x4 mode was when it had snowed and as usual I had spun off the road and was stuck in deep snow. Luckily just this once she didnt let me down and I was back on the road again. Expensive for parts aswell, full exhaust cost me £150. ...
zef 26.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Panda 1000
Advantages: It has character, cheap to run and tidy Disadvantages: Very Small, Little Boot Space, Slow and Uncool
...an M reg 1995 black fiat panda 1000cc engine. A panda was the last thing I ever saw myself driving a 17 year old teenager with a Panda? Come on people would be sure to laugh. Anyway I took up the offer of receiving the panda as I was desperate to drive. It had no tax or mot but it didn't cost me a penny.
So the car arrived one evening after I came home from college and my god it was worse than I imagined. It looked like an old mans car, horrible ... ...was a fan of the fiat panda assured me it wasn't that bad. It didn't take long before people were looking at me in my car and probably thinking I looked like a clown or that I had stolen the car.
A week after I had got the car my perception of the entire vehicle changed. I realised that the Fiat Panda wasn't such a bad car after all but instead it had a lot of character. It got to the point where my car was seen as Retro amongst my friends and I ...
joeyjonesyuk 01.03.2006 (10.04.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Panda 1000
Road Handling
Comfort
Features
Looks
Quick review of Fiat Panda 1000
I have recently hired a fiat panda and although it was cheap i didnt expect the level of plastic and cheapness that came with the price!!
I think it was the most appalling hire car i have ever had and it isnt even that good on petrol consumption.
O and dont try any hills in it ...
ribena27 28.07.2007
Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Panda 1000
