USED Fiat Panda Hatchback (04 - 12)

My car

I have now owned my car for 20 months. It has to be about the best small car on the road. I wrote my first review in November 2004 and the car has never failed to amaze me with its ease of driving, ride and general comfort.

I average 43-45mpg on super unleaded petrol. I would highly recommend any petrol owner to use a higher octane fuel, as it makes a big difference. Tesco sells 99 octane - I used it for the first time yesterday, and it's even better that Shell/Esso. Nothing rattles at all.

What Fiat has to address is the clutch problem on Puntos and Pandas. Mine is just about to have its second clutch at 17,500 miles. Don't get me wrong, it really does not bother me, but right is right. I need a bigger car with an automatic gearbox, as I am fed up with traffic and need more space.

I have test driven numerous cars costing up to £25,000 over the last five months, but when I have got back into my car and driven off, I always thought how good the Panda is in comparison to Audi/VW/BMW. Honestly, if the diesel came in automatic form, I would seriously consider it and sacrifice a bit of extra space.

My car

I have owned my 1.2 Dynamic SkyDome for seven months and it is the best car I have ever had! It's great fun to drive, especially with the position of the gearstick slightly higher up.

It's cheap to insure and running costs appear to be quite low. The "SkyDome" is brilliant - a whole roof of glass, or so it seems. I would thoroughly recommend this car to anyone. Brilliant.

My car

When I arrived at the airport and the rental company gave me the keys to a Panda, my heart sank. A five door with air-con was what I had booked - and that was what I had got - but a Panda!!!

I had owned a 1983 vintage Panda twenty years ago in my student days, but as the owner of a Jaguar X-Type and a Saab 9-5, I wasn't enamoured at the prospect.

What a belter though. For a small car, it seemed very big, even for my 6'4" frame. Luggage space was poor however, but as there were only the two of us, the back seat accommodated the second suitcase.

It was good to drive as well. Nippy and very economical, light but well balanced, we covered over 500 miles over mixed terrain from roads below 'B' class standards to cart tracks. The little Panda was great.

Yes, it has got acres of grey plastic and seats which would look more at home in a funfair but when the first number is only a 6, what more can you ask?

I have driven many cars in my time, and this is one which I would be more than happy to drive again.

My car

A truly stunning car.

Probably one of the best cars on the market, ever.

It's fun, incredibly well built, composed and never fails to put a grin on my face when I jump in and drive off.

The gear change is smooth and slick. Potholes and bumps are soaked up with German aplomb. On Motorways and A-roads it glides away in Lexus-style hushed tones up to 70mph and keeps up with all sorts of traffic.

Running costs are downright hilarous - £300 or so to insure and £30 will fill up the tank for a month.

If you only need a car to drive in the city and venture out for 100 miles or so on a motorway every now and again and don't need to ferry around more than 4 people at any one time, it does make you think twice why on earth you should be paying a penny more than 8k for anything else.

Driving this car must rate as one of the happiest motoring experiences ever.