You may have seen the news recently that Abarth is reducing the list price of the 500e by more than £4,000, taking its electric pocket rocket below £30,000 for the first time in an attempt to kickstart flagging sales. It’s a significant saving, indicative of just what a muddle new sales are in right now.
Because the 500e is undoubtedly a fun little car, the ideal thing to scoot around the city in. But who has £30k, or whatever the monthly is, for something just to run around town? A small battery for low weight and good efficiency is laudable, of course, but people need and want usability ahead of those things. And a WLTP range of 164 miles isn’t enough.
Let’s hope the Abarth finds a way back into favour, because nobody does small fun cars quite like the Italians. The old 595s and 695s were hugely successful because they looked brilliant, sounded hilarious, and made every drive feel like a real-life game of Mario Kart. And before those cars, let’s not forget the Fiat Panda 100HP. Not quite as feisty as the later turbo tykes, but still a whole lot of fun.
At £9,995, the 100HP was fantastic value for money at launch in 2007. Even now, adjusted for inflation, that’s £16,500. Of course, that sort of price meant having to make do with a very back-to-basics cabin, but with money spent on the essentials it would have been daft to complain about ambience. Fiat fitted bigger brakes (including discs at the rear), wider tracks, new springs and dampers plus a six-speed manual gearbox for the 1.4 16-valve engine. For £10k!
And the Panda was a hoot, praised in period for its impressive composure for a car so small as well as the impish sense of fun expected. The six-speed meant it could just about cruise comfortably, and there was enough standard equipment to easily get by. It was another Fiat cult hero, even if rose tinted specs will suggest that more sold than actually did.
However many made it to customers, as a small, cheap Italian car many fell by the wayside. They were down to Shed money years ago. But this one, in case you hadn’t guessed, is some way from Shed spec. It’s been in storage for five years in fact, someone evidently quite keen on their shrunken supercar. As a 60-plated 2011 car, it’s one of the last 100HPs made, and boasts just 46,000 miles. The underside looks good (and has been Waxoyled), and in fact the entire car turns out really nicely for something so cheap to buy and so willing to be thrashed. It looks a perfect throwback to the simpler days of hot washed hot hatches - for just a little bit less than that famously affordable new price.
SPECIFICATION | FIAT PANDA 100HP
Engine: 1,368cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 100@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 97@4,250rpm
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 46,600
Price new: £9,995
Yours for: £8,995
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