2011 mk3 panda (169)

[calecosse]

This may be really stretching what was intended by this section of the forum but who doesn't love a panda and I feel she kind of follows the ethos of retro rides.

I bought her as a daily driver for a cheap commuter and sensible family car. Although she's by far the newest car I've owned (only the second one of the new numbered reg type) I've become really attached to her and she's been affectionately known as Pamela Pandason. 

This is how she arrived on day one.



Not much has been needed so I added some wheels.



Then today I added some lows with a set of kw coilovers.





Apologies again if she's too new! Future stuff will be just commuting in her and possibly making an exhaust cus the standard one is fairly rusty and I don't think they last very long on these!

[Rich]

Funky colour - Check
Kinda oddball blobby cute car - Check
Brilliant wheels -Check
Lows - Check

Top stuff, Carry on!

[stealthstylz]

I really like the small Fiat range, they suit retro style modifications better than any other modern imo

[ballbagbagins]

KW coilovers. Great choice.

[Jonny69]

Who have you got it insured with, out of interest? I need to get a new modern daily pretty soon and I need think about insurance which will allow lowerage etc.

[Rich]

Aug 8, 2022 13:44:03 GMT Jonny69 said:

Who have you got it insured with, out of interest? I need to get a new modern daily pretty soon and I need think about insurance which will allow lowerage etc.

My 2 pennies, my brother and I have both used Sterling for modified cars, his 2003 Mazda is with them with all mods declared, worth a look.

[calecosse]

Thanks rich stealthstylz . I do think fiat still make some pretty cool stuff, the wife has the shape panda after mine and I think that could even be made to look pretty cool.

ballbagbagins yeah the kw's weren't the cheapest but I've ridden in stuff with terrible coilovers before and as I'm dailying her I wanted at least some ride quality, and although still not set up it rides actually really nice! Better than some standard suspension stuff I've driven.

Jonny69 I've insured this with brentacre, can pretty much do anything that doesn't add big power (kind of impossible 🤣) for just over 300 quid which works out about 70 quid more than I paid with Churchill when standard. Obviously you only know how good an insurance company is when the worst happens but the guy was dead polite and helpful on the phone. I've used sky (think they're called safely insured or something weird now) and they were good. Had an imported cedric on that with an rb and a few modifications and that came back at sub 500 quid.

[pedalcarjoe]

I have been looking at them instead of a VW Up,

just got to find another one close enough to test drive, tried one but it hadn't been that well looked after

[calecosse]

pedalcarjoe I'd definitely recommend one! I don't have any experience with ups but I don't think you can go far wrong with one of these! They have an awesome 80's/90's simplicity to them. She really puts a smile on my face plodding about but is also good fun on the lanes. The post (I think) 2009 ones with the euro 5 FIRE engined ones are £30 to ensure and do over 50 to the gallon.

There's a couple of things to look for, the back axles do like to rot and the spring cups are only welded down one side so can crack, a good wire brush and paint can sort them if caught early but a whole axle is only about £100 and easy to fit. Definitely worth checking.

If its a climate control model then there's a little plastic gear on the control flap that is pretty much guaranteed to snap which keeps them on hot permanently, they are only available as a complete unit and I think cost nearly a grand and it's a dash out job. I avoided this by getting one without but all the 100hp's have climate control.

The exhausts like to rust and even oem ones only last 5 years or so so worth checking, it's a dead simple system though so stainless ones would be cheap enough.

The dampers also tend to wear (coilovers sort this out 😉) but replacements are cheap and a piece of cake to do.

Everything on it is about as cheap as a car gets to replace and the fiat forum is really friendly with a few really knowledgeable people on there! The bodies are galve as well so rust shouldn't really be an issue outside of the axle stuff. I love mine way more than I ever thought I should.

[Kron]

I can't recommend them enough. I purchased one as as a stop gap and it's the longest I've ever owned a car at 5+ years and put 150k miles on it.

Conversely it was still on its original exhaust and battery when the cam chain snapped at Christmas and that's the only thing, other than tracking and consumables, that went wrong.

Mine was the 1.3 turbo diesel and I would recommend it, surprisingly quick and I reckon real world its better than the 100hp for a turn of speed 😉. I know I certainly annoyed a few people 😀. Can't wait to get another and do a diesel/chip tune.

[grizz]

You have certainly done this car justice, love the wheels, lows and especially the colour.

Had a 1982 Cortina pickup that colour as a student.

[pedalcarjoe]

Aug 12, 2022 19:49:05 GMT calecosse said:

pedalcarjoe I'd definitely recommend one! I don't have any experience with ups but I don't think you can go far wrong with one of these! They have an awesome 80's/90's simplicity to them. She really puts a smile on my face plodding about but is also good fun on the lanes. The post (I think) 2009 ones with the euro 5 FIRE engined ones are £30 to ensure and do over 50 to the gallon.

There's a couple of things to look for, the back axles do like to rot and the spring cups are only welded down one side so can crack, a good wire brush and paint can sort them if caught early but a whole axle is only about £100 and easy to fit. Definitely worth checking.

If its a climate control model then there's a little plastic gear on the control flap that is pretty much guaranteed to snap which keeps them on hot permanently, they are only available as a complete unit and I think cost nearly a grand and it's a dash out job. I avoided this by getting one without but all the 100hp's have climate control.

The exhausts like to rust and even oem ones only last 5 years or so so worth checking, it's a dead simple system though so stainless ones would be cheap enough.

The dampers also tend to wear (coilovers sort this out 😉) but replacements are cheap and a piece of cake to do.

Everything on it is about as cheap as a car gets to replace and the fiat forum is really friendly with a few really knowledgeable people on there! The bodies are galve as well so rust shouldn't really be an issue outside of the axle stuff. I love mine way more than I ever thought I should.

thanks for the info very much appreciated

[BiAS]

Aug 12, 2022 19:49:05 GMT calecosse said:

pedalcarjoe If its a climate control model then there's a little plastic gear on the control flap that is pretty much guaranteed to snap which keeps them on hot permanently, they are only available as a complete unit and I think cost nearly a grand and it's a dash out job. I avoided this by getting one without but all the 100hp's have climate control.

fyi: I repaired the one in the wife's Abarth 500 Essesse, which is exactly the same unit, without having to take the dash out and only minimal dismantling. To take the dash out the doors have to come off and I really wasn't up for that!

[calecosse]

Aug 14, 2022 12:16:12 GMT BiAS said:

Aug 12, 2022 19:49:05 GMT calecosse said:

pedalcarjoe If its a climate control model then there's a little plastic gear on the control flap that is pretty much guaranteed to snap which keeps them on hot permanently, they are only available as a complete unit and I think cost nearly a grand and it's a dash out job. I avoided this by getting one without but all the 100hp's have climate control.

fyi: I repaired the one in the wife's Abarth 500 Essesse, which is exactly the same unit, without having to take the dash out and only minimal dismantling. To take the dash out the doors have to come off and I really wasn't up for that!

Thats handy for people to know, did you manage to repair the existing unit as well or fit a new one?

[calecosse]

Aug 13, 2022 16:59:22 GMT grizz said:

You have certainly done this car justice, love the wheels, lows and especially the colour.

Had a 1982 Cortina pickup that colour as a student.

Thanks grizz . It's definitely one of my favourite colours for sure. I also have a chevette in a not too dissimilar colour!

[grizz]

How mine was, started as just blue with silver wheels.

Added the cream lower section, wheels and trim rings.

Known as “Leisure pack”



Yup….. yours are lovely.

[BiAS]

Aug 14, 2022 16:20:02 GMT calecosse said:

Thats handy for people to know, did you manage to repair the existing unit as well or fit a new one?

I did a how to on Abarthisti
Here

[calecosse]

Aug 14, 2022 16:32:44 GMT grizz said:

How mine was, started as just blue with silver wheels.

Added the cream lower section, wheels and trim rings.

Known as “Leisure pack”



Yup….. yours are lovely.

That is absolutely lovely. The cream 2 tone really did set it off!

[tom13]

Looks great this well done. I had a 100hp and liked it but a few things I thought felt a little too cheap. I know they were made to a price.

[calecosse]

Aug 15, 2022 13:19:53 GMT tom13 said:

Looks great this well done. I had a 100hp and liked it but a few things I thought felt a little too cheap. I know they were made to a price.

tom13 do you mean interior wise? I've weirdly thought it feels way better built than I had expected, but I have had my fair share of 90's suzuki's so I have a low bar 🤣.