Panda 100HP - Buying advice

[Arun_D]

People of PH,

I'm starting to look for a Panda 100HP as a fun and frugal-ish 2nd car to my Exige. I've been doing some reading, including the EVO buying guide / checklist, and apart from cambelt checking and replacing, can't see too many things that I need to look out for.

Can any owners, past and present, offer any insight, advice or general ownership experiences (good and bad!)?

http://www.evo.co.uk/buying/buyingguide/289066/fia...

[Dan Friel]

Mine's now approaching 90k miles and has been perfect. Have a search of the forum, there's been a couple of threads.

[Arun_D]

Thanks Dan, will do.

Yours looks great in your profile piccy

[markcurtains]

Mine has just needed work on the front suspension to get through the MOT so pay attention to that on the test drive.

One downside I find with it - you know the red pad type speed bumps? It is almost impossible to get over those without slowing down completely, due to the width of the tyres, it's hard to avoid them. Bouncy on sleeping policemen too.

[Arun_D]

markcurtains said:

Mine has just needed work on the front suspension to get through the MOT so pay attention to that on the test drive.

One downside I find with it - you know the red pad type speed bumps? It is almost impossible to get over those without slowing down completely, due to the width of the tyres, it's hard to avoid them. Bouncy on sleeping policemen too.

Thanks, I'll be on the lookout when I see a couple at the weekend.

Oh, no worries about the speedbumps, I'm used to almost stopping for them in the Exige!

[Sline]

I LOVED mine! If you look at my garage I've had a wide range of cars but the HP pound for pound is the best/most fun car I've had.

[Highway Star]

Not much to add, but we love ours, bought a few months back. Sport mode really brings it alive, yet we did our place in Oxfordshire to Scotland and back at Christmas no problem. Even fitted everything in the boot as well.

[Frimley111R]

Keep a close eye on prices and don't over pay. There are a quite a few around and very few selling. I was looking around £3000 and that should get a low mileage 07 plate. There are loads of people wanting more for their cars but I think that the general car market is suffering hugely from the weather.

[Dan Friel]

I agree about 100HP pricing, it's all over the place and you shouldn't pay too much at a dealer.

[Arun_D]

Just to update,

I picked up this '09 car with the 'Pandemonium Pack' last night. Bought it off a fellow PH'er, lots of documented history and all the relevant servicing carried out. Can be considered 'high' mileage at 56k, but buying on condition, it's a great car.


Panda1 by Arunweb100, on Flickr

So happy with it, and just as much fun to drive as the Lotus.

[Dan Friel]

A wise purchase!

[markcurtains]

Lovely. I always wnated a black one, which is what mine is, then realised that the skirts/arch extensions (such as they are) don't show up as much as they do on the others. Oh well.

[Arun_D]

markcurtains said:

Lovely. I always wnated a black one, which is what mine is, then realised that the skirts/arch extensions (such as they are) don't show up as much as they do on the others. Oh well.

Funny you should say that, as black was the no1 preference in my head. If anything, it would be a great match to my other car! However I do like the contrast with the arch extentions. I love that on the MINIs as well.

Now I've got this, I do love the blue though!

[Highway Star]

Looks great. Ours has the Pandamonium pack also, but that isn't much in reality. It has the sky dome roof though which we really like.

[Soupie69uk]

Quite like the look of these. Might get one to replace the Lupo for a fun run around. Its amazing how positive the reviews generally are.

Think I like the grey best with red and blue closely behind.