The seats in my Panda are very similar to the pop seats in the 500 and they are certainly more durable.
Off Topic My 500 has been cloned...
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Off Topic My 500 has been cloned...
The seats in my Panda are very similar to the pop seats in the 500 and they are certainly more durable.
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Durability may have been the wrong word - I want something more resistant to whatever it is my wife, kids and dog manage to stain the current check fabric with. The seats are wearing fine - no signs of any wear at all actually, if you ignore the discolouration.
I actually like the Lounge seats too - really not sure i want to "downgrade" to Pop seats. Am I just being a snob? Will the seats look as nice?
It's not a downgrade - the fabric feels to be of a better quality & they are more practical - it's a more closely woven cloth, so is more resistant to pulling a thread if you catch one.
If I were ordering another lounge today, I'd specify pop trim in it.
As to whether they look as nice, you can be the judge of that.
I definitely wouldn't call the Pop seats a downgrade over the stuff they cover the standard Lounge seats in. There's gotta be a reason Fiat started offering Pop seats on the Lounge, and I'd bet a lot of it was down to demand from customers.
Our 500 Lounge has red & white Pop seats and they've not marked or worn at all after 15 months/13,000 miles. Neither should they, but the standard Lounge ones I've seen have looked pretty rough after a year, mainly down to the colours used - black and cream turns into black and grey of varying shades, not nice.
The Pop seats also have vinyl from around 3/4 of the way up the seat back, so this part can of course be wiped to keep it tip-top. I'd pick one of the Pop colours.
Frankly, I'd also order the blue and just tell the wife to be quiet & grateful for a new car being ordered, but that's just me!
Our 500 Lounge has red & white Pop seats and they've not marked or worn at all after 15 months/13,000 miles. Neither should they, but the standard Lounge ones I've seen have looked pretty rough after a year, mainly down to the colours used - black and cream turns into black and grey of varying shades, not nice.
The Pop seats also have vinyl from around 3/4 of the way up the seat back, so this part can of course be wiped to keep it tip-top. I'd pick one of the Pop colours.
Frankly, I'd also order the blue and just tell the wife to be quiet & grateful for a new car being ordered, but that's just me!
philboo
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Hi RobinPJ
Just been reading this entire thread and pleased it sounds like you've found a good deal and solution.
Only a couple of things I have to say. First on the seats. I ordered and owned a 500 lounge from when they were first released and even then I didn't want the checked lounge seats and preferred the pop ones. At that time the only way to not get the lounge seats was to spec leather so that's what I did. I didn't realise until I went to order my 4x4 panda they do the pop seat option in the lounge now and I still think they're nicer so I'd definitely go for them.
Regarding colour (and I know it may have been discontinued) but the beige with the chrome on the lounge looked really nice in the showroom (I'd never pick it normally) so maybe that's a possibility (looks naff on a pop though).
Finally, I know this is the 500 thread and I've had a 500 and A500 before running a previous model panda while I waited for my new 4x4 panda but, have you considered a pre reg new style panda ? I know they aren't a 500 (and I think 500's have aged really well) but a proper five door pre registered one has been picked up by members on the panda forum for £7500 ! That's not much more than you valuation so could almost cost nothing.
Just a thought regarding the panda.
They can be had for less than that now
.If you go here you can get a brand new car (not a pre reg) for less than £7000.
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I somehow doubt Robin's missus will accept the Panda as a substitute!
I somehow doubt it too.
But it's an interesting choice - a new 500, or a new Panda + £120 / month to spend on anything for the next 3 years.
I suspect I know what would happen if you gave most women the choice.
"Can I have both please"
But it's an interesting choice - a new 500, or a new Panda + £120 / month to spend on anything for the next 3 years.
I suspect I know what would happen if you gave most women the choice.
"Can I have both please"
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My wife would probably go for the 500 too, that said I think she quite likes the 4x4 as it's now her daily driver
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To some eyes, both of these do the same thing, one at a lower cost than the other. Others (including my good lady wife) may choose to disagree:
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Back on the topic of interiors: there is the alternative of "black/grey sail cloth" trim. Only available with black ambiance. Does anyone have this?
Great post and I almost posted something similar on this thread!
However - I have a funny feeling that the Panda is still having one or two issues with the Dualogic system (i.e. I don't know if it can be ordered again or not).
Also, you can't spec it on the 1.2 Panda either. So based on what RobinPJ's requirements are, sadly it's a no-go (aside from whether his wife would drive one anyway!).
Going slightly off topic, but everyone seems to dislike the chequered Lounge seats in the 500.
I can tell you for certain that there are worse ones - the beige ones in our Panda that we had no option to go for when selecting an Easy model in Sweet Dreams Turquoise. You should count yourselves lucky that you don't have to have them in the 500!
I don't even know what half the stains are on them to be honest!
Edit: back on topic RobinPJ, our old 500 used to have the black/grey sail cloth with black ambiance. Obviously it is much more of a "standard" internal combination, and if you are used to the ivory ambiance then you might want to have a look at one first if at all possible. But I don't remember thinking that stains showed up particularly badly. So in that respect they would be an alright choice IMO.
I can tell you for certain that there are worse ones - the beige ones in our Panda that we had no option to go for when selecting an Easy model in Sweet Dreams Turquoise. You should count yourselves lucky that you don't have to have them in the 500!
I don't even know what half the stains are on them to be honest!
Edit: back on topic RobinPJ, our old 500 used to have the black/grey sail cloth with black ambiance. Obviously it is much more of a "standard" internal combination, and if you are used to the ivory ambiance then you might want to have a look at one first if at all possible. But I don't remember thinking that stains showed up particularly badly. So in that respect they would be an alright choice IMO.
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Going slightly off topic, but everyone seems to dislike the chequered Lounge seats in the 500.
I can tell you for certain that there are worse ones - the beige ones in our Panda that we had no option to go for when selecting an Easy model in Sweet Dreams Turquoise. You should count yourselves lucky that you don't have to have them in the 500!
I don't even know what half the stains are on them to be honest!
Edit: back on topic RobinPJ, our old 500 used to have the black/grey sail cloth with black ambiance. Obviously it is much more of a "standard" internal combination, and if you are used to the ivory ambiance then you might want to have a look at one first if at all possible. But I don't remember thinking that stains showed up particularly badly. So in that respect they would be an alright choice IMO.
I'm pleased to say that there is apparently a 500 with the sail cloth interior at Glyn Hopkin so we can see that in the morning. Frankly I will push for it just to make it different from our current car!
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You'll need to change your Title Heading in that case.
True. Maybe "My 500 has been mutated"?
You wouldn't want a cloned 500 anyway, that copies across mutations.
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Actually if the insides are blackened maybe it should be "My 500 has been possessed"?
Nah, you've just joined the sensible side of the forum
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The dark side?
