A hoot to drive in town. Has the advantage of feeling significantly faster than a Honda Civic 1.4.
Many have commented on the 'shopping trolly' ride quality. But it is light years away from the original Panda which really did have Flintstones suspension system: you could feel every single ridge even on the motorway.
Another advantage: it is faster than any Aston Martin. At least in the multi-story car park it is.
If you have a real sense of humour, I believe there is a 4x4 option.
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I assume you work for Fiat or maybe get commission on their sales?
No offence meant !
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But Big Brother and about 5,000,000 couch potatoes are watching your every move.
HJ
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i cant wait to see the new fiat 500 in the flesh
hope it does look as good as it did in saturdays rag
abarth version mmmm lovely
in young parlance terms,,,,,,,,,,wicked i hope
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At the time of HJ's roadtest on the 4x4 Panda, I understand that the diesel version wasn't available. Does anyone know if it's available now, and has anyone on here tried it?
Cheers.
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Saw the 500 last week at a dealers in France (St Quentin). Really looked the business, they're onto another winner there I think. Looked chunky and funky! Got 5*s on channel 4's car website aswell, which is good especially for an Italian car.
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The Panda 4x4 is available wit the 1.25 Multijet diesel in Europe, but it's 1,800 Euros more than the 1.2 petrol and that's why FIAT does not market it in the UK.
HJ
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Thanks for clearing that one up, HJ.
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I assume you work for Fiat or maybe get commission on their sales?
I assume you never drove the old fiat panda with no servo brakes...? Need to use the brakes..? No problem, just make a reservation in advance..! Cost me 500 pds to get the brakes over-hauled and to find out they are MEANT to be like that..! And if like me you regularly did 200mile + trips in the old Panda, the new version would seem heaven-sent.
Actually I swapped my original Panda for a Rover metro, very few small cars can even come close to the ride/handling. And you could go beyond 4500rpm for more power.... a revelation if you came from a Panda.
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Actually I swapped my original Panda for a Rover metro very few small cars can even come close to the ride/handling.>>
Y' know, I used to enjoy driving SWMBO's old Metro - I just didn't dare admit it. Well done for 'coming out', Ziggy!!!
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yes but coming out in a rover
oh the shame
wonder if it was an ascot or a vanden plas or a vanden plas 500 or a city or an L
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yes but coming out in a rover oh the shame>>
There - I knew I shouldn't have confessed ;-)
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There - I knew I shouldn't have confessed ;-) >>
BTW (as if anybody cared) it was a 'Mayfair'. ;-)
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yes but coming out in a rover oh the shame wonder if it was an ascot or a vanden plas or a vanden plas 500 or a city or an L
Are you confusing Rover with 'Austin Rover'.
I meant the Rover. Great to drive in all respects. Crash safety was the fly in the ointment.
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According to today's Independent, 0-60 takes 120.3 seconds - sounds about right.
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I had a SEAT Panda 900 hire car once that would clock 160kmh. Only one, though. The others were nothing like as fit.
HJ
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"According to today's Independent, 0-60 takes 120.3 seconds - sounds about right."
I acclerate faster than that when running:-)
madf
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Is n't James May a fan of the Panda? Or did I dream that ........................zzzzz!
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No you didn't and yes he is, so much so that he bought and still owns one.
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Mr Clarkson gave it a v positive write up - His article was something along the lines of cars you could buy for less than your kitchen or holiday or something. Ie the idea that your car might not be the second most expensive purchase you make.
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