General Panda vs 500 reviews

[Advanced Driver]

I've got a got a 'Which Car' magazine, and it seems to be pretty rubbish IMO. What I can't understand is how the Panda is so different to the 500.

The Panda gets 3/5 for breakdowns, but the 500 gets 5/5. What is the difference?

On the Panda, after 4 years 34% of faults are with the brakes. Are brakes really that unreliable? I don't think I've heard of any brake faults on the Panda. They also give the 500 5/5 for the brakes, and only 3/5 for brakes. I thought that they were pretty much identical?

They seem to think the 500 also has better 'Boot & storage' :stupid: The boot in the Panda is much more practical IIRC, and if you fold the seats down it's even better still. The 500 has a few additional storage places, but that's no substitute for a good boot.

Heating and ventilation is better in the 500, but isn't it 100% identical? The controls look identical, and they even share the same pollen filter.

I don't like this magazine. There are other things that I don't like about it too. They seem to think that you NEED stability control on a small car.

 

[Polypedates]

Which Car magazine is utter dross - I'll read most things about cars but that magazine managed to bore even me. I reckon it is written for OAPs with no knowledge of cars at all and would assume it was a washing machine if shown a car with the wheels removed.

Car do good comparison tests but personally I only get Evo these days but they don't rate the 500 anyway as demonstrated when the 100HP beat the 500 Abarth in their last supermini group test.

 

[jrkitching]

I've got a got a 'Which Car' magazine, and it seems to be pretty rubbish IMO. What I can't understand is how the Panda is so different to the 500.

The Panda gets 3/5 for breakdowns, but the 500 gets 5/5. What is the difference?

On the Panda, after 4 years 34% of faults are with the brakes. Are brakes really that unreliable? I don't think I've heard of any brake faults on the Panda. They also give the 500 5/5 for the brakes, and only 3/5 for brakes. I thought that they were pretty much identical?

They seem to think the 500 also has better 'Boot & storage' :stupid: The boot in the Panda is much more practical IIRC, and if you fold the seats down it's even better still. The 500 has a few additional storage places, but that's no substitute for a good boot.

Heating and ventilation is better in the 500, but isn't it 100% identical? The controls look identical, and they even share the same pollen filter.

I don't like this magazine. There are other things that I don't like about it too. They seem to think that you NEED stability control on a small car.

I've got one of each in 1.2 form. They're basically the same car - if I could drive them blindfold, I doubt if I could tell the difference. (a terrible way of expressing this but you get my drift).

You could describe the 500 as a stylish 2 door Panda; equally you could say the Panda is a practical 4 door 500 estate.

They're built in the same factory out of essentially the same parts, with identical quality control & dealer support. How anyone can say that one is inherently more reliable than the other is beyond me.

The current price differential between the two cars, particularly when you consider the discount you'll likely be able to negotiate, in no way reflects the difference in build cost or quality between the cars. It's down to FIAT charging what the market will bear, pure & simple.

Now that should start a lively discussion...

 

[Geddes]

I've got a got a 'Which Car' magazine, and it seems to be pretty rubbish IMO. What I can't understand is how the Panda is so different to the 500.

The Panda gets 3/5 for breakdowns, but the 500 gets 5/5. What is the difference?

On the Panda, after 4 years 34% of faults are with the brakes. Are brakes really that unreliable? I don't think I've heard of any brake faults on the Panda. They also give the 500 5/5 for the brakes, and only 3/5 for brakes. I thought that they were pretty much identical?

It sounds like these figures come from a readers poll or something.

So there are two possible causes:
1. Sample size. Maybe one of the three Panda owners they asked had a brake problem.
2. Consumer reviews are written by idiots. For example I was looking at a review on Amazon for the Nintendo Wii which was given one star because DHL failed to deliver it.

 

[paul100hp]

The 500 is just a posh looking Panda.

I like the 500 but would much rather be driving the Panda, I saw a bloke driving a Pink 500 the other day, it just didnt look right.

Now that the 500 is being used by that driving school you see them everywhere, ive only seen 2 other 100HP 's in Bournemouth. In fact ive seen more 500 Abarths than ive seen 100HP's.

My missis wanted a 500 next year but says she would rather keep her 8 year old Focus, as the 500 is to common, and thats coming from a focus driver.

Personally i think 500's are brought by people who like to be seen in there cars. Panda's are brought by people who want a cheap reliable car and 100HP's are brought by people who like to Drive there cars. And there is nothing wrong with any of those options.

As for saying 500's are more reliable than Pandas, i dont see how, unless of course the Panda bodywork is prone to falling off, its the only diffrence after all.

 

[JD82]

In my Auto Express magazine with a survey in it suggests the Panda is more reliable as they tend to be simpler.

500s have more equipment for people to complain about if it goes wrong.

I did do the survey for the Auto Express 2011 (will be published mid next year) and I rated the Panda highly.

I actually canceled my Which subscription when I got that Which Car magazine reliability survey through my door

PS I was reading a book today by Richard Hammond called not what to drive, and in it he suggests that if you're in the market for a supermini the Fiat Panda is the best buy, I am not sure how old that book was though.

Personally I really love the 100hp and if they make a new one with slightly better ride that will be my next car. For now I will make do with my Active.

 

[LeanMeanRacing]

The 500 is just a posh looking Panda.

Agreed!

Personally i think 500's are brought by people who like to be seen in there cars.

I'm awaiting the response from one forum user inparticular!

 

[JD82]

I actually love the looks of the 500 and in New Orleans Blue (the same colour as my Panda) or black it dosn't look too female.

For though I needed five doors and the Panda was cheaper so the choice was obvious. If I wanted a second car though for shopping then I might have bought the 500 purely based on its image and looks.

I have always loved the original 500.

 

[306maxi]

I'm awaiting the response from one forum user inparticular!

Me? Personally I agree. People on the 500 forum bitch and whine when other 500 owners don't wave back to them Then back when the 500 was new the typical post on the forum was "OMFGWTFBBQ I saw this Bini (The name the Mini inexplicably used to get on the 500 forum ) and the woman looked and me and almost crashed!!!LOL!!!!!! U could see that she woz soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo jealous that she didn't have a 500 and she was crying" and so on and so forth.....

Two main reasons why I bought my 500

1) It's a Panda underneath so you know it's good

2) The wife didn't like the look of the Panda and wanted the 500. An extra 3k for a 500 with nice alloy wheels, leather seats, blue&me, solid residuals and a nicer interior seems very good value to me

 

[306maxi]

I should also mention that the wife agreed in principle to buy a Panda 4x4 sometime in the next year if we take the Subaru off the road to get it fixed up as it's in a bit of a sorry state at the moment.

 

[paul100hp]

Two main reasons why I bought my 500

1) It's a Panda underneath so you know it's good

2) The wife didn't like the look of the Panda and wanted the 500. An extra 3k for a 500 with nice alloy wheels, leather seats, blue&me, solid residuals and a nicer interior seems very good value to me

There is a third reason i can think off:

You can get steel wheels and winter tyres for the 500, i am getting nowhere with Fiat in trying to get the part number for 100HP steelies. :bang:

 

[306maxi]

I really don't think you'll need different steelies.

The 500 handbook lists the following for the 1.4

5 1/2 J x 14H2 ET35 which is exactly the standard Fiat 14" wheel

Now of course it could be different for the 100hp but I reckon it'll be the same.

 

[paul100hp]

5.5 x 14 ET32 with 185/55 tyres for the 100HP.

 

[306maxi]

5.5 x 14 ET32 with 185/55 tyres for the 100HP.

Whilst I'm always one to tell people to RTFM I would certainly suggest that you try some Fiat steelies on the 100hp, I reckon they'll probably fit. If you were nearer I'd happily lend you a winter wheel for 5 minutes to try

 

[paul100hp]

Whilst I'm always one to tell people to RTFM I would certainly suggest that you try some Fiat steelies on the 100hp, I reckon they'll probably fit. If you were nearer I'd happily lend you a winter wheel for 5 minutes to try

There are plenty of POP's around where i live. I'll nip out one night and borrow one, see if they fit.

 

[babbo_umbro]

....

I have always loved the original 500.

So have I - and the rear-engined Nuova 500 (which I assume is the model you mean) - which is why I so dislike the latest 500.

 

[306maxi]

So have I - and the rear-engined Nuova 500 (which I assume is the model you mean) - which is why I so dislike the latest 500.

Yay! The ramblings of babbo umbro Whenever there's criticism of the 500 he's sure to be there.

So let me get this right, the Panda is a good car, but the 500 which is based upon the Panda and loved by most people and probably preferred over the Panda by most people is not a good car?

You really are a good laugh

Most people in the Panda forum recognise that the 500 is a good car aside from the fact that some of the people who drive them are poseurs, because it's a bloody Panda that looks like a 500!

 

[hmallett]

The only thing that I can think of that would make the Panda rank lower (as far as mechanicals is concerned) is faulty boot handles, and squeaky brakes when reversing on the 100HP.

I've got one of each in 1.2 form. They're basically the same car - if I could drive them blindfold, I doubt if I could tell the difference.

I reckon I could - I find the ride on the 500 far less settled than on the Panda. Panda seems to float over the bumps more - 500 follows the bump, then keeps on bouncing for a second after.

 

[babbo_umbro]

Yay! The ramblings of babbo umbro Whenever there's criticism of the 500 he's sure to be there.

So let me get this right, the Panda is a good car, but the 500 which is based upon the Panda and loved by most people and probably preferred over the Panda by most people is not a good car?

You really are a good laugh

Most people in the Panda forum recognise that the 500 is a good car aside from the fact that some of the people who drive them are poseurs, because it's a bloody Panda that looks like a 500!

Unfortunately I haven't conducted the same extensive amount of opinion research as you obviously have, so I've no idea what "most people" prefer or love. However, I do know that I've never made any comment that infers that the 500 is in any way technically inferior to the Panda. I've stated several times that I dislike the 500 - I find the retro styling unconvincing, the overall proportions bulbous and ugly, and the interior fussy in the pursuit of styling rather than function, it's over-priced, the general character seems to me not to fit in to Fiat's history of functional small cars. These are personal opinions that others may or may not share - perhaps you'd be good enough to let me know how the majority of forum members react.

Oh - and thank you for your technical insight and revelations about the similarities between the Panda and the 500, which had completely escaped me.

 

[Polypedates]

I dislike the 500 - I find the retro styling unconvincing, the overall proportions bulbous and ugly, and the interior fussy in the pursuit of styling rather than function, it's over-priced, the general character seems to me not to fit in to Fiat's history of functional small cars.

Exactly why I drive a 100HP and not a 500 Abarth, the Panda is just more honest. Personally I dislike anyting retro that throws out the engineering principles that made the original great in the fisrt place. That said a friend has just bought a 500C and she loves it, never seen her so possessive and protective of a car.

Each to their own.