New Fiat Panda

[FarmerPug]

There is a new fiat dealership a few miles up the road so i stopped off and had a look at the new panda. They even gave me a test drive in the 1.2 8v model. Compared to the old one its more comfortable to sit in, the dashboard is nicer even on the basic model, its nice and quiet, there is room for 3 in the back and a bigger boot.
Although some of the magic has gone, its a bigger car now and feels bigger, it feels refined, the engine is hushed, it doesn't seem to be as willing to rev as my old 1.1, the suspension is nice between it and the seats is nearly as smooth as the 406 on a bumpy road, the old one made plenty of noise and let you know exactly what was happening.
They have no Twin Air engined ones in yet but hopefully its a bit more exciting to drive.

[lozz]

ive not looked at the pandas, tbh ive not seen any on the road either,
the 500s look cool tho, had a glance over one, idont think its something iwouid drive, there just too small,
ibet the free road tax is tempting for alot of people tho

[FarmerPug]

The mk2 panda wasn't very common round here, they were very rare. Ive seen a few of the new shapes bumbling about this new fiat dealership seems to be shifting a few.

[lozz]

on topic of small cars iseen one of these the otherday see link. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Daihatsu-Mate ... 2a1bb39ef3

not fiat iknow but theyre about the best small car ive seen

[lozz]

ive just been on the singapore french car forum,

and according to them theyve just got the fiat pandas 85bhp twin airs, http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newca ... Code=11143

[sirwiggum]

Haven't seen that many Pandas around NI, Farmerpug.

See more 500s for the trendies.

I fear that it is becoming too complex a car. A Panda should be honest basic motoring, like a Dacia Logan or Skoda Felicia.

[FarmerPug]

Haven't seen that many Pandas around NI, Farmerpug.

See more 500s for the trendies.

I fear that it is becoming too complex a car. A Panda should be honest basic motoring, like a Dacia Logan or Skoda Felicia.

It does have a few more luxuries than the old one, but looking around it the overall construction of the car looks like its as easy to mend as the old one, except perhaps for the twin air engines they sound great now but lets see in a couple of years it could end up being the next k series

The worst mistake with the new panda is the size its not a small car anymore its about the size of a polo, the old panda was a properly small car which was really easy to fit into small spaces, the new one is easy to park if the space is big enough but it needs a bigger space.

[sirwiggum]

Mind the old old Panda had a Seat Marbella version. They also sold a van of this which was popular in Spain.

Seat are going to have a new version of the VW "UP!" which will be a competitor to the Panda.

[FarmerPug]

Seat and skoda will both have a version of the UP! Seat will be the Mii and the skoda will be a citigo

The exclamation mark at the end of the up, is that VW's way of giving it a bit of character

[sirwiggum]

Seat and skoda will both have a version of the UP! Seat will be the Mii and the skoda will be a citigo

I thought the wee people you make on the Wii were called Mii? Wonder will there be any trademark fun and games?

Seems Skoda is moving their model range up, They're also bringing in a sub-Octavia car as the Octavia has gotten bigger.

The exclamation mark at the end of the up, is that VW's way of giving it a bit of character

Yes, as the one I saw was a white featureless clinical design. Like an iPod without a clickwheel.