Fiat Panda 2009 1.1 Eco....possible purchase?
Discussion
Not very a very PH car .....but ....
I currently have an Alfa 156 JTDM 150 ( remapped) which is my daily driver, but has 120,000 on it. I have had some expensive bills recently ( ie rear suspension replaced, fuel lines replaced etc ) and the time has come to replace it. However much I like the Alfa ( and I really like it !) it is becoming too expensive to run as a DD. I also have a 1998 E36 BMW 318iS which is mint, and which is a keeper ( track days and weekends etc !).
So, to the topic. I have seen a 2009 Panda 1.1 Eco Active locally. Not yet driven but may well in the next few days. Local non franchised 'dealer' ie small local garage which is not at all impressive TBH. However, the car looks fine, white, and only has 29,000 miles on it.
Done some research on the model; 54 BHP (!!)....but should get about 55 mpg and Car Tax is £30 pa.
My commute is 70 mile round trip, mainly A roads and motorway to Newcastle.
They want about £2495 for this Panda, which is high but then again it is mint/low mileage.
Any advice welcome, if you have one of these or know anything about them. Parkers guide reviews are encouraging !
I currently have an Alfa 156 JTDM 150 ( remapped) which is my daily driver, but has 120,000 on it. I have had some expensive bills recently ( ie rear suspension replaced, fuel lines replaced etc ) and the time has come to replace it. However much I like the Alfa ( and I really like it !) it is becoming too expensive to run as a DD. I also have a 1998 E36 BMW 318iS which is mint, and which is a keeper ( track days and weekends etc !).
So, to the topic. I have seen a 2009 Panda 1.1 Eco Active locally. Not yet driven but may well in the next few days. Local non franchised 'dealer' ie small local garage which is not at all impressive TBH. However, the car looks fine, white, and only has 29,000 miles on it.
Done some research on the model; 54 BHP (!!)....but should get about 55 mpg and Car Tax is £30 pa.
My commute is 70 mile round trip, mainly A roads and motorway to Newcastle.
They want about £2495 for this Panda, which is high but then again it is mint/low mileage.
Any advice welcome, if you have one of these or know anything about them. Parkers guide reviews are encouraging !
I had a Panda as a courtesy car in 2011, so it would be same model. Not sure which version I had, but it would have been a base model with the smallest engine.
The driver's footwell was cramped, even for my size 7½ feet, & my leg was rubbing against the centre console.
As a motorway car, useless - on a slightly uphill stretch of the M67 it took about a mile to drag itself up to 70mph. I will say, however, that at 70 you couldn't hear the engine; unfortunately that was more a function of the horrendous tyre noise than a quiet engine. Lifeless (typically Fiat) steering, ride not too bad for a small car.
I really did want to like the Panda. In reality, & this is only my opinion, it's a nasty little car.
The driver's footwell was cramped, even for my size 7½ feet, & my leg was rubbing against the centre console.
As a motorway car, useless - on a slightly uphill stretch of the M67 it took about a mile to drag itself up to 70mph. I will say, however, that at 70 you couldn't hear the engine; unfortunately that was more a function of the horrendous tyre noise than a quiet engine. Lifeless (typically Fiat) steering, ride not too bad for a small car.
I really did want to like the Panda. In reality, & this is only my opinion, it's a nasty little car.
120k is nothing for the Alfa - my GT (same car underneath) has done 201,000 and is running fine
You'll never get m the Panda on an A road and motorway run and you'll REALLY miss the torque of the Alfa diesel
I'd suggest that you accept that ANY car is going to give you the occasional big bill - keep the Alfa until it falls apart
You'll never get m the Panda on an A road and motorway run and you'll REALLY miss the torque of the Alfa diesel
I'd suggest that you accept that ANY car is going to give you the occasional big bill - keep the Alfa until it falls apart
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