General 2012 New Panda - all comments here please :)

[FullMetalPanda]

It certainly does have a side profile of the Ignis. Funny thing is years ago I was looking at buying an Ignis Sport as I really like them. I really didnt like the new Panda until I looked at the black one on display at Frankfurt. Personally I prefer darker colours and I think the new Panda looks better in dark paint. I really do think they have overdone it on the square theme though.

 

[Fang]

Roll on the 500 Giardinera.

 

[cartledge_uk]

I would take anything the media say with a pinch of salt. IMHO there's every change the Abarth could have a 1.4 t-jet.

To be honest, I don't care about the Abarth, I posted it here for the benefit of others. Its all about what engine is going in the 4x4 (hopefully the diesel) and if we (the UK) will get all the trick bits onthe std models like europe did with the last Panda.

 

[RuSZ]

Why is It the more i look at the side profile of the panda it reminds me of this...

The C3 Picasso..

 

[tarbyonline]

agree with the above poster RE:the C3 picasso. Also, it also reminds me a bit of the Note and Twingo for some reason.

Personally I like it, and in 18 months time when I plan to replace my current Panda I am still in the market for a small city car I would seriously consider it. Hopefully it will also retain the current models driving "character" - yes the steering doesnt have a lot od feedback but its the best fun I have ever had in a car when on a country lane.

However at the moment I am thinking more along the lines of a Fiesta or Fabia - I just dont like the Punto Evo and think Fiat ruined a gorgeous car (not that I would have bought a Grande either as I dont like driving them) by trying to go for a family look. No point in the posh frock either - it might be nice to look at but it IS smaller than the Panda which is the opposite to what I want!

 

[babbo_umbro]

agree with the above poster RE:the C3 picasso. Also, it also reminds me a bit of the Note and Twingo for some reason.

Personally I like it, and in 18 months time when I plan to replace my current Panda I am still in the market for a small city car I would seriously consider it. Hopefully it will also retain the current models driving "character" - yes the steering doesnt have a lot od feedback but its the best fun I have ever had in a car when on a country lane.

However at the moment I am thinking more along the lines of a Fiesta or Fabia - I just dont like the Punto Evo and think Fiat ruined a gorgeous car (not that I would have bought a Grande either as I dont like driving them) by trying to go for a family look. No point in the posh frock either - it might be nice to look at but it IS smaller than the Panda which is the opposite to what I want!

I'm not so sure about the new Panda - the video on the Quattroruote web site makes it look very heavy, especially round the wheelarch eyebrow area that's very Ford-esque, whereas the current model has a lighter look to it. Have to see it in the metal but I don't see me swapping my current 100HP for the new model.

Quite agree about the Punto though - they've ruined a good-looking car by elaborating where it was pleasingly simple before.

 

[tarbyonline]

I'm not so sure about the new Panda - the video on the Quattroruote web site makes it look very heavy, especially round the wheelarch eyebrow area that's very Ford-esque, whereas the current model has a lighter look to it. Have to see it in the metal but I don't see me swapping my current 100HP for the new model.

Quite agree about the Punto though - they've ruined a good-looking car by elaborating where it was pleasingly simple before.

I know what you mean about seeing it in the metal, I reckon the C3 Picasso is worse than in the pictures! Im happy with the Panda and would be replacing it to get better than the active spec and a bit more power (my finance ends in 18 months) - tho the 1.1 is surprisingly capable in most situations. Plus the car will be 7 by that stage and im expecting the bills to start piling up.

 

[tarbyonline]

Any details of spec levels yet? Will Fiat be meeting the equipment levels of the competition (eg Kia) or doing it on the cheap?

 

[babbo_umbro]

One detail I've noticed is that the sliding rear seats - very useful and quite expensive option on current model - is supposed to be standard on the new one. Have to say that the interior looks horribly gimmicky - a bit like the 500 only more so.

 

[Nitrogen]

Any details of spec levels yet? Will Fiat be meeting the equipment levels of the competition (eg Kia) or doing it on the cheap?

the ones I saw on the stands in frankfurt weren't loaded down with features.
most didn't have aircon or climate control
didn't have adjustable seatbelts, etc...
the only extra thye were interested in pushing was the add-in GPS.

 

[Super Uwe]

the ones I saw on the stands in frankfurt weren't loaded down with features.
most didn't have aircon or climate control
didn't have adjustable seatbelts, etc...
the only extra thye were interested in pushing was the add-in GPS.

Not a great surprise in my opinion.

All of the base ranges for the 500, Punto Evo etc don't have aircon, so it wouldn't surprise me if that turns out to be the case. Personally I don't understand why cars built in 2011 don't have aircon, but that's just me (I suppose you can add it as an option).

My guess is that the base model for the new Panda will be pretty similar to the base spec of the current 500 Pop.

 

[306maxi]

Not a great surprise in my opinion.

All of the base ranges for the 500, Punto Evo etc don't have aircon, so it wouldn't surprise me if that turns out to be the case. Personally I don't understand why cars built in 2011 don't have aircon, but that's just me (I suppose you can add it as an option).

My guess is that the base model for the new Panda will be pretty similar to the base spec of the current 500 Pop.

Well if you leave it off it's just another way of making the car look cheaper.

 

[Super Uwe]

Well if you leave it off it's just another way of making the car look cheaper.

Well that is true but I still think it's a bit "cheapskatish" in today's age in my opinion. Generally speaking, if you look at the 500 Pop you don't get Blue and Me, alloys, split/fold seats, leather steering wheel etc, so you already get a fair bit less.

Anyway, you never know - the new Panda might have aircon throughout the range and the one shown at Frankfurt was just a red herring!

 

[Nitrogen]

Be thankful for the Seat Mii and Skoda CitiGo. They'll be coming in at around 800 to 1000 euro below the price of the Up!
Their pricing is going to force FIAT to keep prices low on the Panda, otherwise they'd have been pushing for prices like a 5 door 500.

 

[deeyup]

Be thankful for the Seat Mii and Skoda CitiGo. They'll be coming in at around 800 to 1000 euro below the price of the Up!
Their pricing is going to force FIAT to keep prices low on the Panda, otherwise they'd have been pushing for prices like a 5 door 500.

Agreed there. The up prices have been announced with the cheapest £8000.
It looks great, has a modern economical motor, and the vw brand.
With the other group cars even cheaper then Fiat will have to be very keen to compete

 

[JFalck]

VW's UP(!) was first driven about a week or two after its unveiling, we've been waiting well over a month to hear how this new, new Panda drives... Anyone got any info on this? I am looking forward to hearing about it, hopefully FIAT is ironing out any 'pre-production' flaws so this Panda doesn't suffer unfair critism that the new Ypsilon got. It has to be good.

 

[JFalck]

VW's UP(!) was first driven about a week or two after its unveiling, we've been waiting well over a month to hear how this new, new Panda drives... Anyone got any info on this? I am looking forward to hearing about it, hopefully FIAT is ironing out any 'pre-production' flaws so this Panda doesn't suffer unfair critism that the new Ypsilon got. It has to be good.:idea:

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

The 4x4 will be the only 6 speed with a crawler gear for first for better off roading :slayer:

 

[Nitrogen]

Forget about the Up! as a competitor. Here is the new Panda's biggest competitor:
blogautomobile.fr/fiat-panda-2-devient-classic-134138#axzz1fsplsccn

the current generation panda will reportedly continue in production to prevent the likes of Dacia making inroads in to established markets.

Since the current panda and the new panda are very similiar, especially the ones carrying the 1.2 litre engine one will have to think long and hard before paying an additional 2k euro for a car that dynamically appears to be no better than the car it is replacing.

The Tychy plant has the capacity and Dacia will be inheriting the Twingo floorpan in 2014 or 2015 putting still more pressure on FIAT at the bottom end of the market. The Sandero will be facelifted in the new year and replaced in 2013 or 2014.

 

[minardirule]

Extremely positive first impressions from Autocar but they say the new 4x4 was the best they drove but no pics or specs for it!

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Fiat-Panda-0.9-TwinAir-85/260458/