Fiat Panda 100HP - seriously want to test drive one of these at some point

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:12

975kg, 1.4litre twin-cam FIRE motor, 99 horsies @ 6000rpm and 97 lbs-ft @ 4250rpm. Stiffer, lower suspension, 15" alloys, and beefier brakes. I don't even mind the bodykit too much. Not quick by any stretch of the term (9.5sec to 60mph, ~115mph top speed), but it's also supposed to be pretty decent on fuel.

Apparently it still suffers from a couple of things I don't like about dad's MultiJet example - overly light steering, and brakes that are a bit over-sensitive on the first bit of pedal travel. Those problems are easy enough to adjust to though. Really would like to try one of these out sometime. That said, the new 500 coming out next summer will be based on the Panda floorpan....if they make a 500 with this engine and suspension setup, then that really would be fun

JediFragger · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:17

I quite like that too

Maz · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:26

I have one sat outside my house

I've had it nearly 4 weeks, done nearly 800 miles and this is an absolute hoot to drive

Very revvy little engine, very harsh handling but sticks the road well thanks to the Goodyear Eagle F1s, the steering ISN'T light - well not once you press the Sport button on the dash.

Bluetooth phone kit built in./

Edit : Oh it has Sports seats, 6 speed gearbox, red lines at 7k RPM, and rear windows are tinted.

JunkBot · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:26

looks like a nissan note?

Firestar_3x · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:26

I would rather eat my own arm

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:29

Maz said:
I have one sat outside my house

Git

Maz said:
I've had it nearly 4 weeks, done nearly 800 miles and this is an absolute hoot to drive

Git

Maz said:
Very revvy little engine, very harsh handling but sticks the road well thanks to the Goodyear Eagle F1s, the steering ISN'T light - well not once you press the Sport button on the dash.

Bluetooth phone kit built in./

Steering - yeah, read about that. Replaces the 'City' button on the standard cars. Think I'd leave it in Sport mode all the time.
Handling - sounds okay to me!
Bluetooth - that an option, or do they all have that? Can't honestly see the point in it....

***edit***

Firestar_3x -

Bri · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:30

Firestar_3x said:
I would rather eat my own arm

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to drive round in a roller boot

Maz · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:33

JRS said:
Steering - yeah, read about that. Replaces the 'City' button on the standard cars. Think I'd leave it in Sport mode all the time.
Handling - sounds okay to me!
Bluetooth - that an option, or do they all have that? Can't honestly see the point in it....

The Sport button stiffens the steering, and also makes the throttle more sensitive.

Handling is VERY harsh, it's only lowered 25mm but is a LOT stiffer than standard but the car has LOADS of grip.

Bluetooth kit (Standard) is quite handy because it's operated from the steering wheel, so you can ring/answer calls by pressing buttons on the steering wheel.

It's suprisingly quick, feels a lot quicker than 9.5 secs.

I need access to a G meter

JAMAL · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:36

That is one ugly car, and it isnt at all quick.

Is that your company car Maz, what do you do for a living at that fiat garage? wash the stock?

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:38

Maz said:
Bluetooth kit (Standard) is quite handy because it's operated from the steering wheel, so you can ring/answer calls but pressing buttons on the steering wheel.

As soon as I get in a car, my phone gets turned off anyway....

JAMAL said:
That is one ugly car, and it isnt at all quick.

a) Looks are subjective. Personally, I think it looks a lot better than, say, the C2 VTS.
b) It's quick enough to get out of it's own way, and that's just fine by me

Maz · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:54

JAMAL said:
That is one ugly car, and it isnt at all quick.

Is that your company car Maz, what do you do for a living at that fiat garage? wash the stock?

It feels quicker than it is, It's not aimed to be a Hot Hatch or anything.

It's just incredibly FUN to drive, it's got a biggish exhaust too and the engine makes a nice induction roar on acceleration.

Indeed it is my company car, I'm Sales Executive for the dealership I work at.

I got a choice of company car and this is what I chose, I've got my 5 series for comfortable cruising.

I've got this for thrashing about in, and that is what it's good at!

[TW]Fox · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:58

JRS said:
Bluetooth - that an option, or do they all have that? Can't honestly see the point in it....

You don't half post some strange stuff at times, can you honestly not see the point in a built in bluetooth phone kit? What do you do, have no friends/drive around with your phone in your hand instead?

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:05

[TW]Fox said:
You don't half post some strange stuff at times, can you honestly not see the point in a built in bluetooth phone kit? What do you do, have no friends/drive around with your phone in your hand instead?

JRS said:
As soon as I get in a car, my phone gets turned off anyway....

Just one of those things I do. If it's important, they'll get back to me later. But perhaps I should re-phrase: I don't see the point in it for me, which is why I asked if it was an option or if it was standard.

Matmulder · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:19

EVO magazine reviewed it this month - gave it 4.5/5 stars.

"Here is the first properly entertaining, properly developed small Fiat in years. Group 5 insurance too. Brilliant"

In summary they say:

"Most fun per pound on the market" with the only downside being "You can't turn the ESP off".

Personally, I think they look quite decent.

silversurfer · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:21

Bri said:
Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to drive round in a roller boot

Dont knock it till you try it, I wouldnt want to go any great distance in it but I bet it could be fun on short journeys. How much do these weigh, I do wonder why it has 6 gears though :confused:

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:31

silversurfer said:
Dont knock it till you try it, I wouldnt want to go any great distance in it but I bet it could be fun on short journeys.

Dad and I drove his MultiJet one down to southern France. I can see this one being a different ballgame though if the suspension is as firm as Maz says.

silversurfer said:
How much do these weigh

This one is 975kg.

TripleT · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:43

Matmulder said:
EVO magazine reviewed it this month - gave it 4.5/5 stars.

"Here is the first properly entertaining, properly developed small Fiat in years. Group 5 insurance too. Brilliant"

In summary they say:

"Most fun per pound on the market" with the only downside being "You can't turn the ESP off".

Personally, I think they look quite decent.

It has ESP?! With a 99bhp engine?! Seriously!

Small light cars are indeed fun though

JRS · 29 Nov 2006 at 23:51

TripleT said:
It has ESP?! With a 99bhp engine?! Seriously!

Small light cars are indeed fun though

I can see why they fitted it - short wheelbase, stiff suspension, light weight. Stable on a track (after a fashion), maybe less so in the Real World™. Pity it can't be switched off....must be able to disable it though, it has to be powered after all and if it's powered then that power source can be interrupted

Maz · 30 Nov 2006 at 00:04

Mine doesn't have ESP.

I'm pretty sure it's an optional extra dispite what EVO says.

We haven't had the options list through yet.

triggerthat · 30 Nov 2006 at 01:30

It probably feels fast because you have to rev the nuts of it or the cars you driven prior to it have been slower.

Quite interested to know what mpg it gets.