USED Fiat Panda Hatchback (04 - )

My car

Just sold my Panda after 5 years of trouble free driving,I only got rid of it because a slightly bigger car was needed. I would be happy to recommend this car for anyone who is after a cheap runabout. I would'nt buy a new one though there's plenty of decent 2nd cars about.

The good things. Plesant to drive, economical, very easy to park, room for 2 tall adults in the rear, more practical cheaper and less girlie than the 500, resonable performance on the motorway for a car of its size.

The bad things It came with a cassette deck instead of a CD player , yellow seats which are'nt very practical, condensation caused rust to appear on one of the seat runners, the boot release keep operating as I drove along. ( to be fair these 2 problems occured when the car was 5 years old )

My car

The cabin is light and airy and from the driving seat all controls are clear and within arms reach. I'm over 6 foot I've got adequate head and leg room and I can fit in a few mates too. My only gripe is that I find the boot a bit too small for everyday use but having 5 doors makes it easy to use the back seat as an overspill. There's a good level of equipment too including a body kit, tinted windows, climate control and bluetooth.

Generally the reliability of the car is good. There were a couple of premature wear and tear issues that were sorted under warranty. However last year the slave cylinder went which was costly to repair and from looking around mine isn't the first Panda to have issues with the clutch. It isn't the cheapest Panda to run either, I've managed to obtain the manufacturers average mpg of 43.5 by driving carefully for a couple of weeks whereas if I drive the car the way it was intended to be driven I average closer to 35 mpg.

There’s a great response from the accelerator which and can be boosted by using the sport button (which also weightens the steering.) The ride isn't the smoothest as the lowered and stiffened suspension picks up every blemish in the road, but the set up of the car gives the driver good feedback.

Overall this is a cracking little car; you’ll buy it because you want something that’s small, not run of the mill and fast. It’ll put a smile on you face and the downsides of the car are far outweighed by the fun you’ll have.

My car

I have had a Fiat Panda 1.2 Dynamic Eco 5dr car for just over 13 months. It has done just over 13,000 miles - c. 9,000-10,000 of them in motorway conditions - and I have enjoyed driving it having had no trouble with it until now. Two days ago the clutch 'burnt out'. I am told by the dealer from whom I bought it that this has been due to 'wear and tear' and therefore a new one was not covered by warranty. When I asked for clarification, I was told that I had driven 'on the clutch' for most of these miles...

Is the honest truth that this car is not suitable for long motorway journeys?

Has any other driver experienced this problem with so few miles on the clock in similar conditions (c.1,000 miles per month, 750 of them motorway)?

Have I bought, unknowingly, a 'Friday night' car?

My car

I've acquired the baby Fiat as a runabout after several years of living in London and not driving. It's a hoot to drive and surprisingly well made and refined.

Practicality: The interior, while narrow, has good head and leg room, and easy access. The boot is quite good (200 litres) and a useful square shape. The back seat folds forward to reveal a small van-like load area. Easy to park anywhere.

Performance: It's not why I bought a small engined city car, but surprisingly refined and responsive. Takes an age to reach 60, mind. Road roar gradually intrudes but engine noise is well suppressed.

Economy: The small fuel tank (7.7 gallons) doesn't make for a Grand Tourer, but at 45-50 mpg, the Panda has a 300+ mile range and sips rather than swigs petrol. The fuel gauge appears to move down faster than you think, until you remember that brimmed it's got a mere 35 litres in it!

Build quality: The Panda is a solid little beast. The four doors close with a nice heavy thunk, the panels are thick and strong, the whole car feels very sturdy for such a light city car (840kg). The only exception being the rather small and tacky wing mirrors.

Reliability: Hasn't let me down yet. Gone are the "Fix It Again Tomorrow" days, apparently.

Comfort: The seats are small, with limited adjustment, but comfy. The high gear change adds to the ease of driving.

I expected to trade the Panda in after a few months. I intend to keep it for now. It's that good.