General Here it is, officially the new Panda

[PuntoHowTo]

Article linked above also said:

The Panda will remain available on the continent until the end of the decade, owing to its continued strong sales.

It’s not the first time fiat have binned off a model for uk sales, they’ve been doing it for years, they carried on selling the mk2 Punto as the “classic” till 2012 in other European countries while here they stopped selling it in 2005 when the grande appeared. No one should be surprised that when they bring the grande panda to the uk they are not going to want to arm sales of that car by offering a cheaper model.

Other countries such as those in Eastern Europe and especially Italy is full of people who would never splash out on the grande panda and so it’s stupid to loose those customers by not offering a car they can buy.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Yes, but any forum readers reading the post where it was linked might otherwise think that the model is actually dead as in, not in production anywhere. Important distinction. The title does indeed reference off the sale in the UK, but a UK publication / any publication could title it the same even if it were a complete end of production in other markets too. You know what the media is like nowadays with clickbait titles and the like.

...I wonder if given the Italian price being so much closer to earth, if it's actually cheaper to import a new one from there and still end up cheaper... steering wheel on the wrong side probably wouldn't be worth it mind you hahaha

An important update to those who didn't read the article and/or misunderstood the title which referenced the UK.

I managed to avoid both traps, fortunately, due to my old-fashioned proclivity for reading things

 

[SB1500]

I managed to avoid both traps, fortunately, due to my old-fashioned proclivity for reading things

You can never be too careful...

 

[The Pretender]

 

[The Pretender]

I've just found some images from the factory in Serbia.
Here is one of the actual Bambox upper storage in one of the first Big Pandas of the production line. Already looking better.View attachment 449683

All versions of the new grande Panda, will have exactly the same interior, no colour choices, or what so ever, so far I can see.

 

[The Panda Nut]

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My God! that thing is PURE UGLY! Panda? I think not.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

My God! that thing is PURE UGLY! Panda? I think not.

Look it up in brighter colours. Every inch a Panda - seems quite colour sensitive.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Yes, but any forum readers reading the post where it was linked might otherwise think that the model is actually dead as in, not in production anywhere. Important distinction. The title does indeed reference off the sale in the UK, but a UK publication / any publication could title it the same even if it were a complete end of production in other markets too. You know what the media is like nowadays with clickbait titles and the like.

...I wonder if given the Italian price being so much closer to earth, if it's actually cheaper to import a new one from there and still end up cheaper... steering wheel on the wrong side probably wouldn't be worth it mind you hahaha

I was just yesterday contemplating buying a euro Panda and getting it back here and converting it to RHD. I am going to start looking at this in more detail I need to go hire a Pandina and get a pile of photos. Think of it as a re-shelling job I could sell off the left overs as spares. I would prefer to spend £30K on this idea than the alternatives. In no small part it comes down to not wanting a great barge of a car. The Panda appeals because its small, and becuase its relatively simple and easy to maintain. The worry in the background is when the governments tax petrol out of business. No point investing if the fuel is priced out of reach.

 

[SB1500]

I was just yesterday contemplating buying a euro Panda and getting it back here and converting it to RHD. I am going to start looking at this in more detail I need to go hire a Pandina and get a pile of photos. Think of it as a re-shelling job I could sell off the left overs as spares. I would prefer to spend £30K on this idea that the alternatives. In no small part it comes down to not want ing a great barge of a car. The Panda appeals because its small, and becuase its relatively simple and easy to maintain. The worry in the background is when the gobvernments tax petrol out of business. No point investing if the fuel is priced out of reach.

Dash and pedal parts, and headlights and it would probably be a fun project. But do they change anything with the suspension / steering for our road position versus Euro side of the road?

When I bought a replacement headlight for my 2005 Panda, I was surprised how many of 'the real deal' parts were on eBay. People who lived here or mainland Europe who moved over for a few years, brought their car over and changed the lights and sold the original parts or no longer needed the replacements so listed them. Wouldn't have thought it was as common as it seems.

I remember there used to be a Fiat Punto with a blonde older lady driving it that passed the main road near my house back a few years ago, and it was a LHD Punto. Always woke me up a bit, for that second, looking at the passing car that initially looked like nobody was driving it! hahaha

 

[SB1500]

All versions of the new grande Panda, will have exactly the same interior, no colour choices, or what so ever, so far I can see.

I wish they would add the configurator and pricing to the UK website. We are currently Panda-less, when you read articles about 'the state of the UK', be rest assured, this is what they are referring to!!!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I was just yesterday contemplating buying a euro Panda and getting it back here and converting it to RHD. I am going to start looking at this in more detail I need to go hire a Pandina and get a pile of photos. Think of it as a re-shelling job I could sell off the left overs as spares. I would prefer to spend £30K on this idea that the alternatives. In no small part it comes down to not want ing a great barge of a car. The Panda appeals because its small, and becuase its relatively simple and easy to maintain. The worry in the background is when the gobvernments tax petrol out of business. No point investing if the fuel is priced out of reach.

While not impossible it would likely be prohibitively expensive as you’d have the choice of buying brand new RHD parts via fiat or fitting second hand parts of unknown origin to a brand new car.

Then there is the other main issue, insurance, getting insurance on a car that has been converted from left to right hand drive can be extremely difficult and there tends to be suspicion on it being a stolen Rhd car that has been driven out of the country then re registered abroad as a “new” car before being brought back to the uk. Also models made for other markets don’t tend to appear on uk insurance data bases

 

[The Panda Nut]

While not impossible it would likely be prohibitively expensive as you’d have the choice of buying brand new RHD parts via fiat or fitting second hand parts of unknown origin to a brand new car.

Then there is the other main issue, insurance, getting insurance on a car that has been converted from left to right hand drive can be extremely difficult and there tends to be suspicion on it being a stolen Rhd car that has been driven out of the country then re registered abroad as a “new” car before being brought back to the uk. Also models made for other markets don’t tend to appear on uk insurance data bases

I will add that to my to do list. Its a salutory warning. I wouldnt want to fall foul of this!
.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Look it up in brighter colours. Every inch a Panda - seems quite colour sensitive.

Ill take a look but it needs to feel deliggtful to drive to be worthy of the name. Im sceptical.

 

[Bundes]

All versions of the new grande Panda, will have exactly the same interior, no colour choices, or what so ever, so far I can see.

The hybrid ICON seems to have a "style pack" that gives you these interior differences and the exact wheels I posted last year. If I could order, I would!!!

 

[Bundes]

For anyone who has not seen the range of colours:

 

[SB1500]

For anyone who has not seen the range of colours:

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I love those utilitarian looking wheels. One way to stand out in todays sea of generic alloy patterns

 

[portland_bill]

I was just yesterday contemplating buying a euro Panda and getting it back here and converting it to RHD. I am going to start looking at this in more detail I need to go hire a Pandina and get a pile of photos. Think of it as a re-shelling job I could sell off the left overs as spares. I would prefer to spend £30K on this idea than the alternatives. In no small part it comes down to not wanting a great barge of a car. The Panda appeals because its small, and becuase its relatively simple and easy to maintain. The worry in the background is when the governments tax petrol out of business. No point investing if the fuel is priced out of reach.

Why not just leave it LHD. It is not like you are looking to overtake much, so the view is less important.
Having a passenger facing the traffic might be an issue, it is what stopped me buying a LHD Cinquecento years ago.

Making a few business trips to Belgium, when Cinqs were new, and I was contemplating my next car change, we daily passed a Fiat dealer, advertising new Cinqs. The price converted from Belgian Francs was about £5400, on the road, including their then 22% VAT. Price here was around £7k. The Belgian came without a radio. I think I could sort that for less than £1600. And our VAT was 17.5%, so as an export car, no tax to pay there, pay ours here, so even cheaper. Mentioned it to partner, a definite no, as she was not going to sit out there facing the traffic.

 

[The Panda Nut]

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as pretty to behold ⁸as a bmw X3.

Why not just leave it LHD. It is not like you are looking to overtake much, so the view is less important.
Having a passenger facing the traffic might be an issue, it is what stopped me buying a LHD Cinquecento years ago.

Making a few business trips to Belgium, when Cinqs were new, and I was contemplating my next car change, we daily passed a Fiat dealer, advertising new Cinqs. The price converted from Belgian Francs was about £5400, on the road, including their then 22% VAT. Price here was around £7k. The Belgian came without a radio. I think I could sort that for less than £1600. And our VAT was 17.5%, so as an export car, no tax to pay there, pay ours here, so even cheaper. Mentioned it to partner, a definite no, as she was not going to sit out there facing the traffic.

Nah, my driving advice ,( re your video was real advice based on current driving mode.Noops natural mode is .0001inches behind the audi in front in the outside lane. CANT SPOIL THINGS! LOL