Panda Jess The Panda

[MrMagoo]

Panda looks very smart in white.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Welcome to the forum. Lovely looking wee Panda and I agree that white suits them well - ours is white (2010 1.2 Panda dynamic eco called Becky) - What year is yours and what trim and engine size? Here's a picture of Becky taken a few years ago, but she still looks much the same today although she's got a wee bit of winter grime on her just now which reminds me I must give her a really good going over before her MOT in about 3 weeks time.

 

[TheBritishMatt]

Welcome to the forum. Lovely looking wee Panda and I agree that white suits them well - ours is white (2010 1.2 Panda dynamic eco called Becky) - What year is yours and what trim and engine size? Here's a picture of Becky taken a few years ago, but she still looks much the same today although she's got a wee bit of winter grime on her just now which reminds me I must give her a really good going over before her MOT in about 3 weeks time.

View attachment 461545

Many thanks
They really do look good in white, but maybe I'm slightly bias because I have another white car lol
My little Panda is a 2009 59 Reg 1.1 Active Eco Manual.
As I remember the story, it was bought through the scrappage scheme in place of a K reg Polo that was as rusty as the Titanic.

Maybe its just me, its not often you see the dynamic eco in white. That or I really can't find many white painted Panda grilles online

Always makes me smile when I see another Panda 169 on the road, especially white ones!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Many thanks
They really do look good in white, but maybe I'm slightly bias because I have another white car lol
My little Panda is a 2009 59 Reg 1.1 Active Eco Manual.
As I remember the story, it was bought through the scrappage scheme in place of a K reg Polo that was as rusty as the Titanic.

Maybe its just me, its not often you see the dynamic eco in white. That or I really can't find many white painted Panda grilles online

Always makes me smile when I see another Panda 169 on the road, especially white ones!

Oh yes, that different grill was one of the things I really liked about her when I first saw her. She's also got the glass sun roof which many think is desirable but, now that she's old, I don't open any more just in case I can't then close it again!

On most cars when newly acquired, if they haven't recently had a cambelt fitted I would be advising you do that but you'll know about yours given it's family history. Also, being a 1.1 it's a non interference engine so if the belt jumps or actually breaks all that happens is it stops and a new belt will get you running again, it doesn't wreck the engine. - although breaking down may be very inconvenient depending on where it happens. There are a few things I could mention but two easy to check ones are the rear axle, especially around the spring pans and the engine sump. Both are prone to serious rusting. The sumps can get so bad they actually leak like sieves! Also keep a close eye on radiator coolant level and top up and investigate any loss of fluid. The engines are robust wee units but really really don't like loss of coolant and consequent running hot (blown head gasket is the likely outcome if ignored). I think white goes so well with the black bumper trims, mirrors etc. Enjoy yours, and if there's anything we can help with please do post.

 

[rmjbn1]

Well that's an excellent gift
"perfect for the weekends and little trips.
If I can help it, it's not a car I will ever sell, and it always has a little home in the garage to keep it protected over the winter."
I knew 169s were going to be collectable classics one day!

 

[Bipedalmale]

Be careful, they get under your skin (so others tell me...)

 

[DaveMcT]

Do get a look under the front wheel arches behind the shock absorbers. You will find what looks like a box section. However its actually an upturned flange that attracts mud and dirt. They can fill up flush and hide away while the metal beneath goes rusty.

I scraped mine out and sucked out the debris with a 90 degree bend pipe duck taped to the vacuum cleaner. There was some rust starting but nothing nasty. I cleaned it up and soaked in ACF-50, followed by some ACF grease some time later. LanoGuard or similar offer similar stuff.

In my opinion, it's a design fault. The bumper rail box section is made with a flanged channel, closed by a cover plate. It's really as it has to transfer crash loads from the front bumper bar into the body shell. BUT Fiat put the flange on the outside so it traps dirt leading to rust and eventually a weak crash frame. Had the simply made it fit the other way around there would be zero problem. Sadly, mass production lines are so expensive to change, the fix never got done. Uno was the same and it's likely the new Pandas are no different.