A year with the Panda

murphyv310 · 22nd January 2018, 21:16

Hi.
It's nearly a year since I saw MFL depart from my home.
I was in a once in a lifetime situation to take money from a pension and buy a more recent car.
I did lots of research but didn't want a car from the far east. OK they are generally well put together and reliable but the spares prices are way OTT even for simple things.
I decided on a 2014 Fiat Panda lounge 1.2 with the bullet proof FIRE engine.
A couple of niggles were fixed which was down to the poor dealer (Parks, just ask Jim Jameson) I put the issues right for little cost.
There has been no problems since and the car passed it's second MOT today with no problem.
I also had to use the car in really bad conditions last week and because it is quite narrow I could squeeze between other cars that were stuck due to driver incompetence and poor traction.
I'm more than happy with the Panda and would recommend it, also a recent drive in a Cross version I would say it is a very capable 4x4 and in many ways superior to a Discovery.

Darcydog · 22nd January 2018, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphyv310

Hi.
It's nearly a year since I saw MFL depart from my home.
I was in a once in a lifetime situation to take money from a pension and buy a more recent car.
I did lots of research but didn't want a car from the far east. OK they are generally well put together and reliable but the spares prices are way OTT even for simple things.
I decided on a 2014 Fiat Panda lounge 1.2 with the bullet proof FIRE engine.
A couple of niggles were fixed which was down to the poor dealer (Parks, just ask Jim Jameson) I put the issues right for little cost.
There has been no problems since and the car passed it's second MOT today with no problem.
I also had to use the car in really bad conditions last week and because it is quite narrow I could squeeze between other cars that were stuck due to driver incompetence and poor traction.
I'm more than happy with the Panda and would recommend it, also a recent drive in a Cross version I would say it is a very capable 4x4 and in many ways superior to a Discovery.

Glad your car choice worked well. Always a gamble when you change - that why I keep my good cars for long periods.

And I know what you mean about the Cross vs a Discovery - I had LR’s for many years and was humbled once on the Pink Elephant off road course in Glos. by a lightweight Suzuki Vitara. Whereas my Discovery was very capable it could get bogged down whereas the Vitara was so light it seemed to skip ovor the obstacles

Quite a revelation.

One very capable small 4x4 I have been told about is the Daihatsu Terrios.

Have to admit to being quite tempted. Love the ZTT but the wet weather of late and us out in the sticks can make things tricky.

rustymotor · 23rd January 2018, 06:25

The car is doing a good job for you! The early FIRE engines were none interference too..

The Fiat diesel in the corsa is prone to cam chain failure and it looks a real nightmare to renew, sump off etc.

murphyv310 · 23rd January 2018, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustymotor

The car is doing a good job for you! The early FIRE engines were none interference too..

The Fiat diesel in the corsa is prone to cam chain failure and it looks a real nightmare to renew, sump off etc.

Hi.
Indeed I have read about the timing chain issue on some 1.3 Multijet engines.
Allegedly the problem has been sorted with a couple of modifications, also Fiat have said that the use of the correct oil is a must and most cases have been put down to non franchised service garages or DIY types using the wrong oil and of course not doing the oil change within the mileage or time. At least with a chain it gets noisy rather than a belt that gives no warning.
The MG3 too has a chain issue and again it was modified about three years ago, it has a specific oil requirement as well and our dealer was very good in telling us the importance of using the right oil when Emma bought hers even down to any topping up.

This version of the Fire engine has VVT so sadly is an interference type, it runs over 11:1 compression ratio, I'll be fitting a belt kit this year for piece of mind.

murphyv310 · 23rd January 2018, 12:54

See this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgn2AG3WY-8

NigelOBB · 23rd January 2018, 16:47

I bought a Panda 4x4 from an auction in the 80s, to use when I went fishing. It was very niffty off road.. it replaced a Mitsubishi Colt 4x4 that dissolved. It even had a low range box lol..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

22nd January 2018, 21:16	#1
murphyv310 This is my second home Hyundai i10 998cc Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 6,602 Thanks: 2,088 Thanked 2,298 Times in 1,349 Posts	A year with the Panda Hi. It's nearly a year since I saw MFL depart from my home. I was in a once in a lifetime situation to take money from a pension and buy a more recent car. I did lots of research but didn't want a car from the far east. OK they are generally well put together and reliable but the spares prices are way OTT even for simple things. I decided on a 2014 Fiat Panda lounge 1.2 with the bullet proof FIRE engine. A couple of niggles were fixed which was down to the poor dealer (Parks, just ask Jim Jameson) I put the issues right for little cost. There has been no problems since and the car passed it's second MOT today with no problem. I also had to use the car in really bad conditions last week and because it is quite narrow I could squeeze between other cars that were stuck due to driver incompetence and poor traction. I'm more than happy with the Panda and would recommend it, also a recent drive in a Cross version I would say it is a very capable 4x4 and in many ways superior to a Discovery. __________________ Cheers from Trevor MM0KJJ

23rd January 2018, 12:54	#5
murphyv310 This is my second home Hyundai i10 998cc Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 6,602 Thanks: 2,088 Thanked 2,298 Times in 1,349 Posts	See this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgn2AG3WY-8 __________________ Cheers from Trevor MM0KJJ

23rd January 2018, 16:47	#6
NigelOBB This is my second home 04 Rover 75 Contemporary SE - 53 Rover 75 Connoisseur -94 Mercedes W140 - 72 VW Beetle 1300 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sunderland Posts: 4,767 Thanks: 1,379 Thanked 493 Times in 429 Posts	I bought a Panda 4x4 from an auction in the 80s, to use when I went fishing. It was very niffty off road.. it replaced a Mitsubishi Colt 4x4 that dissolved. It even had a low range box lol.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to.

23rd January 2018, 06:25	#3
rustymotor Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: May 2017 Location: Hull Posts: 1,848 Thanks: 216 Thanked 432 Times in 340 Posts	The car is doing a good job for you! The early FIRE engines were none interference too.. The Fiat diesel in the corsa is prone to cam chain failure and it looks a real nightmare to renew, sump off etc.