Panda 100HP - Am I nuts?

Scottland

Scottland

Scottland

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
15,723
Location
North Wales
So my search for a new car to replace my Clio 172 led me to the conclusion that all bigger stuff in budget (Megane 225, Octy VRS) wasn't really what I wanted. They're fast, but not really much fun (IMO) - they're too disconnected and by the time you're working in the engine you're going too fast for most roads.
Eventually I started looking for an S2000, which I still want - but struggling to find a good one in budget (02 onwards, <80k).

By coincidence last weekend I drove a Fiat 500 Sport (1.4) and thought it was a blast, it wasn't fast but you could rev the nuts off it in every gear and not be going too fast to get you into trouble.

So, this has led me to a Panda 100HP. Not exactly manly, or cool, or even what I set out for in the beginning. But it is cheaper than everything else I've looked at to run, and good fun.

So, with all that in mind. Am I nuts?
 
Try driving one, then let us know.
If you enjoy it, and it fits your functional requirements, then don't worry about the willy wavers.
 
Test drive some smaller stuff, I preferred the swift sport myself.

Just get yourself to a few dealers and take some stuff out :)
 
Just think of how many times you will get the question - What car do you drive ? & Your answer will be a PANDA :eek: + :o = :p
 
They have quite a good reputation for being a fun car. Try the twingo 133 as well, it's the most similar car to the panda 100hp I can think of.
 
Muffin` said:
Nothing wrong with a Panda 100HP, apparently a total hoot to drive.
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[TW]Fox;21476236 said:
Just what I was thinking, EVO reckoned it was bags of fun.
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Yeah, read the review earlier. From what I can gather they're very similar to the 500 I drove.

ZG002 said:
Test drive some smaller stuff, I preferred the swift sport myself.

Just get yourself to a few dealers and take some stuff out :)
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Will look at the swift yeah.


dwarf said:
They have quite a good reputation for being a fun car. Try the twingo 133 as well, it's the most similar car to the panda 100hp I can think of.
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Twingo is out of budget, but I'm going to have a go in one anyway I think ;)

rG-tom said:
surely if you want a small, connected car that is underpowered then why look past an MX5?
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Drove an MX5 at the weekend, and although I liked it I couldn't help but compare it to the S2000 which I hugely prefer.
 
Scottland said:
Drove an MX5 at the weekend, and although I liked it I couldn't help but compare it to the S2000 which I hugely prefer.
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Ok, now this sort of sentiment is just annoying. You'll buy a deliberately inferior car, because the better car 'reminds you' of a car thats even better but isn't on the shortlist. Thats just stupid logic.


The MX5 is a brilliant, brilliant car and if you dont need the practicality of a small hatchback, buying a small hatch instead because the MX5 is similar to a Honda S2000 is just plain ridiculous.
 
[TW]Fox;21476373 said:
Ok, now this sort of sentiment is just annoying. You'll buy a deliberately inferior car, because the better car 'reminds you' of a car thats even better but isn't on the shortlist. Thats just stupid logic.


The MX5 is a brilliant, brilliant car and if you dont need the practicality of a small hatchback, buying a small hatch instead because the MX5 is similar to a Honda S2000 is just plain ridiculous.
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Ok let me rephrase, the MX5 didn't really do anything for me. Not saying it's not a good car, it plainly is. It just didn't float my boat. The 500 I drove I got out and thought it was loads of fun (so I'm assuming the Panda will be the same...)

Bare in mind that in the title is "Am I nuts", so it is possible that I am completely nuts and my rationale has no sense behind it whatsoever.
 
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, try the MR2 as well - I much preferred mine to the mx-5. Much the same overall storage space, no boot but remove the panels behind the seats and you can get a surprising amount in there - flip the wheel upside down in the front and it'll take some stuff too, handles better in the dry (much more precise) but you'd be silly to play with it in the wet whereas the mazda will be controllable, I prefer the engine but there isn't really much in it.

Needs to be a late car or had a recent replacement engine if you're paying good money for it, but it's worth having a drive of one.
 
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