General Fiat Panda for a new driver after passing their test.

[The Panda Nut]

Wlecome to Panda world. I hope the car goes well. Im sure its a great first car for a young lady.

My daughter has one that is a stalk that goes in the cigarette lighter socket( if you have one).
I have a blutooth device that clips to the sun visor for calls in my wifes car. I ended up with a windscreen job as the solution I could find, but get a decent one the cheap ones are no good in the main.

Do post some pics of the new car!!

 

[ugiannini]

Wlecome to Panda world. I hope the car goes well. Im sure its a great first car for a young lady.

My daughter has one that is a stalk that goes in the cigarette lighter socket( if you have one).
I have a blutooth device that clips to the sun visor for calls in my wifes car. I ended up with a windscreen job as the solution I could find, but get a decent one the cheap ones are no good in the main.

Do post some pics of the new car!!

The car does have a 12dc power socket, I will upload pics of course

 

[ugiannini]

I use an mpow holder. It inserts into the cd slot and holds very well. I presume a 19 yo won't know what a CD is??

ha ha actually she does because i used to DJ so i still have a music room for of Records/Tapes & CD's, but you're correct. Most teenagers only know spotify or apple music.

 

[ugiannini]

There you go, we had from new a seicento in the 90's and it was exactly the same colour. as a test i've also taken out the phone holder from my car and it fits perfectly, so she can keep it.
Thanks to everyone that's replied so far.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RRQW9CD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[ugiannini]

Wlecome to Panda world. I hope the car goes well. Im sure its a great first car for a young lady.

My daughter has one that is a stalk that goes in the cigarette lighter socket( if you have one).
I have a blutooth device that clips to the sun visor for calls in my wifes car. I ended up with a windscreen job as the solution I could find, but get a decent one the cheap ones are no good in the main.

Do post some pics of the new car!!

 

[Yolanda]

Looks good hope she gets plenty of trouble free miles out of it. Just remember to check the underside periodically and keep up to date on the servicing.

 

[Yolanda]

undertray obscuring

Meaningless

Just means it's not checked because there's a bit of plastic in the way that they aren't going to remove it

They do the same with brake pipes. If they have grease protecting them from the elements some testers will advise them as rusty covered in grease.
I once asked a tester why he recorded that after saying that he was impressed by the condition of the car, (a Jag I had) and he said it was just to cover his bottom as they are no longer able to wipe off the grease to check the condition of the pipe.

 

[The Panda Nut]

That looks like a real gem!

 

[ugiannini]

Looks good hope she gets plenty of trouble free miles out of it. Just remember to check the underside periodically and keep up to date on the servicing.

will do, before she drives it away for a new life where she will be at UNI, i will make sure the car gets a full service. as mentioned in a previous post, having owned in the past many Fiat's old and new and even an Alfa33, this does look like a really good example so fingers crossed.

 

[rmjbn1]

Body coloured door handles! Posh Panda! Hope your daughter enjoys it

Is this the one with an advisory on the rear axle? If you don't fancy getting mucky underneath it, a garage might be prepared to spray something over it to keep the rust at bay. Maybe an outfit dealing with older / classic cars.

Is the temperature guage reaching half way? Thermostats can leak when they get old, resulting in running cool.

Apart from a service I would:
Clear out 'duckbill' scuttle drains below the windscreen.
Check gearbox oil level, often ignored and I'm certain ours was low when we got it. (Nowt wrong with an oil change, of course.)
Clean battery negative post and connections. A few glitches can crop up (including the electric power steering) without a good earth connection.

 

[rmjbn1]

Alfa 33 was always on my wishlist, I do love a boxer. A friend had one for about six months, until the next MOT got in the way. You'll be used to dealing with rust then!

 

[ugiannini]

Body coloured door handles! Posh Panda! Hope your daughter enjoys it

Is this the one with an advisory on the rear axle? If you don't fancy getting mucky underneath it, a garage might be prepared to spray something over it to keep the rust at bay. Maybe an outfit dealing with older / classic cars.

Is the temperature guage reaching half way? Thermostats can leak when they get old, resulting in running cool.

Apart from a service I would:
Clear out 'duckbill' scuttle drains below the windscreen.
Check gearbox oil level, often ignored and I'm certain ours was low when we got it. (Nowt wrong with an oil change, of course.)
Clean battery negative post and connections. A few glitches can crop up (including the electric power steering) without a good earth connection.

yeah it's a really nice example with electric door mirrors as well. Just checking all the paperwork, it looks like the thermostat was replaced in 2022 and after a couple of days on our drive, i'm also pleased to note that there are no leaks from the underside either. Just a quickie, i will need to get a replacement key, do i need to go to Fiat? i want a replacement key that operates the ignition and all the doors.

 

[koalar]

Mechanical key open and start, from around £70, cloned

Remote £250 upwards preprogrammed and added

If you only have one key and loose it, it a right pain to sort, do a search for all keys lost,

 

[The Panda Nut]

yeah it's a really nice example with electric door mirrors as well. Just checking all the paperwork, it looks like the thermostat was replaced in 2022 and after a couple of days on our drive, i'm also pleased to note that there are no leaks from the underside either. Just a quickie, i will need to get a replacement key, do i need to go to Fiat? i want a replacement key that operates the ignition and all the doors.

Google Auto locksmiths. I bought a Panda recently in Norfolk. Iwas told they can get a bon Fiat remote controler key / plip for a lot less than Fiat. I will ask for a supplier name. I have had a key made and coded locally while I wait for £60. New keys need coding to the car with a lap top and software. MES users on here can do this.

 

[koalar]

£60 sounds like a cloned mechanical key?

Which should need adding

If you add a preprogrammed key using MES any key no presented at the same time is permanently blacklisted, the only option is to unblock a key is to remove the body computer wire to the memory directly, read the memory, manual adjust the files and upload it back, which not many people have the expertise

 

[The Panda Nut]

£60 sounds like a cloned mechanical key?

Which should need adding

If you add a preprogrammed key using MES any key no presented at the same time is permanently blacklisted, the only option is to unblock a key is to remove the body computer wire to the memory directly, read the memory, manual adjust the files and upload it back, which not many people have the expertise

Yes. Basic key.. You are of course right about programming keys. MES instructions are very good and clear on this point. I re did them all without issues. A bit scary the first time!

 

[Terry899]

But

thanks everyone for your replies so far, i thought i'd left the murky world of Fiat's now i'm back again. In short, i'm currently looking at a 2011 1.2 petrol with very low milage, car seems ok and is well spec'd however, on it's last MOT it had an advisory on the subframe stating light rust. I know going forward, this will only get worse and i'm not a Mechanic and i don't have a ramp! Even if i get an aftermarket unit from ebay it's a 300 quid garage bill all day long. Should i avoi