My First Car!- Panda 100hp

[Yadizzle1]

Hello everyone, I finally managed to decide on what to buy for my first car and picked it up last Saturday. It's a 2008 fiat panda and I love it already!

Spent so much time driivng it that I've only really got one picture of it:





more to follow soon hopefully!

[Jonno02]

Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen a Panda look as good as that.

[clarkmagpie]

Cracking little car, enjoy

[SteBrown91]

Love these - very underated cars that never sold very well but are now developing a cult following

[Highway Star]

I'm driving my wife's 100HP for the next two weeks whilst she's away - really looking forward to it. Enjoy!

[selym]

Fantastic first car! I fancy one myself.

[Yadizzle1]

Highway Star said:

I'm driving my wife's 100HP for the next two weeks whilst she's away - really looking forward to it. Enjoy!

Thanks! I notice your from North Oxford? I'm around the Headington area most days so I hope to see you around. There are some absolutely brilliant roads around Wheatley and Water Eaton that you might find fun in the Panda. I still haven't seen another Panda 100hp since I've had mine!

[Yadizzle1]

SteBrown91 said:

Love these - very underated cars that never sold very well but are now developing a cult following

Having had one for a week I can tell you why they never sold well. The ride is absolutely attrocious, hit a minor bump at speed and your chucked into the air or bouncing about in the speed, if you want your suspension to last, you can't drive over a speed bump at more than 10/15 mph, any faster and you're asking for a burst damper or serious spine damage

It's all part of the fun of the car as I see it but would be seriously annoying as a daily driver.

[JFReturns]

Nonsense, the ride is perfectly acceptable for a daily driver. Ish.

Congratulations OP, they're cracking fun.

[snowley]

What a cracking first car. Congratulations and enjoy the freedom!

[crofty1984]

Everyone seems to rave about these. Having been in a standard non-100bhp one I can bet they're a load of fun. Good for you!

[Yadizzle1]

Thanks everyone!

Had a bit of time today to crack on with some work on the interior. The "leather" steering wheel and insert on the gearknob were looking quite shoddy after 44000 miles, so I took some soapy water and a scrounge pad to them and the results are pretty good!

Don't need any of that fancy leather cleaner

Steering wheel before:







And after:

[Highway Star]

Yadizzle1 said:

Thanks! I notice your from North Oxford? I'm around the Headington area most days so I hope to see you around. There are some absolutely brilliant roads around Wheatley and Water Eaton that you might find fun in the Panda. I still haven't seen another Panda 100hp since I've had mine!

We are in north Oxfordshire - up in the sticks between Banbury and Chipping Norton, but I work in north Oxford and am doing it in the Panda at the moment, so will keep an eye out for you. My missus takes the back roads around Islip and Bletchingdon to get to work in Headington, but is off on maternity leave at the moment. It's so much quicker on those roads than her old SLK, despite it only having half the power.

[Paraicj]

Great first car choice, it's a strong contender in my fourth car list!

[willmagrath]

Awesome first car buddy! Drove one a few years back and it was hilarious fun for something with just 100hp! Enjoy

[SebringMan]

Wow, what a great choice! I have been eyeing these up for some time! In the end I went with something vaguely similar but cheaper.

Enjoy chap .

[Arun_D]

Congrats! Looks like yours has the 'Pandemonium pack' like mine

Arun

[itcaptainslow]

These things are wicked fun, kind of wish I'd bought one new when I had the chance many years ago. Great first car

[CMYKguru]

The Fiat wheels really don;t last. I've seen a few Fiat 500 with the cream steering wheel worn through on cars with 15k miles.

Not even an experienced wheel shuffler could do that on a decent quality wheel.

[S2WYA]

Awesome little cars! Really do miss mine