General Panda vs hyundai i10 1.2 vs fiat 500

[Ricardo Silva]

Hello people, i want to know your honest opinion if the difference of horse power is really important in the real world driving conditions! I will buy one of this 3 cars in near future and im more inclined for the panda because is more practical and cheaper but i am afraid of the 60hp because i have a punto with that motor and in inclined roads sometimes i feel more power would be a bless...

 

[dave]

hyundai are a clowns car an have no soul

 

[Ricardo Silva]

i agree with that and i love fiats!Panda and 500 are my dreams but the lack of power of the panda makes me think twice...

 

[KozmoNaut]

Despite only having 60hp, the 1.2 in the Panda is rather torquey, leading to better performance than you'd think, and it likes to rev. Give it a test drive.

If you find it's still low on power, the 1.3 Multijet has 70hp and almost 50% more torque which is available almost from idle.

Also please give the 100hp a test drive. It's a hoot

 

[ScoobyChris]

The only answer is to drive them all and see which you like best and which meets your needs!

The comprehensive 5 year Hyundai warranty is not to be sniffed at

Chris

 

[mtsw]

[FONT=&quot]Having owned Fiats new and second hand, from a 126 127 panda mk1, s Uno’s Tipo’s right up to our latest panda 100 hp.
I think I am in a position to advise you.
Over the past 22 years our fiats were great little cars, but never without electric faults (without doubt fiats biggest problem).
Back in 2002 I purchased a brand new punto 1.2 ELX (the worst car I have ever owned). In the 18 months we owned the car.
It required 3 clutches (because of clutch judder) 1 water pump (leaking) and many many electric gremlins. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It spent more time in the dealers than out on the road[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Fiats customer service was b****Y useless.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The final straw was it got broken into (Not fiats fault this time)

so after 18 years of fiat ownership, I changed to Hyundai and bought a new getz 1.1.
This was a fantastic reliable car in the 3 years we owned it , never once did it so much as creak or cough.
But it was completely gutless and characterless.
So we traded it in for a KIA Picanto 1.1 SE
which is what the i10 is based on
In 3 years of ownership it as been with out doubt the most reliable and nicest fun car we have owned, economical and nippy around town.
We have now past the car on to our eldest daughter.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Our latest car is a 2007 Fiat panda 100 hp.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Why, you might ask. Simply because little fiat’s have a
character no other car as.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And the Fiat panda seems to be a very reliable car According to the motoring press.
So the choice is yours
if you want a reliable economical car go Kia or Hyundai (same company)
or spirited driving it’s got to be Fiat.
(Just don’t expect any help from fiats customer services).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I hope this helps you to decided and good luck with what ever you buy.[/FONT]

 

[dipole]

If it is just yourself in the car then the Panda would probably be the best choice as it is fun to drive. If you are carrying people regularly then the larger interior of the i10 would probably tip the balance in it's favour. If you are doing loads of motorway driving the more powerful 1.2 litre Kappa engine in the i10 might be preferable.
No discounts of note available on the i10 while the Panda Dynamic Eco can be had for 5100 or 5200.
The Panda isn't the class leader any more but it has more charm than anything else in the class and when it's just yourself that you have to consider it's hard to overlook it.

 

[pondweed]

i10 and fiat 500 arent really in the panda bracket either... more expensive, considering the 5500 you'll pay for an eco 1.2.

 

[Ricardo Silva]

Don't forget that i live in Portugal and our rreality is a bit different mainly in the prices...Besides that here we don't have the 100hp panda, only the 500 has the option of the 16 engine. I made a test drive in the panda multijet and in the i10. The panda is an hell of a car, i loved it cornering, pushing inclined roads,etc. The exterior and the interior is lovely and it has a lot of space considering the size of the car but here in my country de difference between the 60hp (11000eur) and the diesel (14000eur) is incredible. The i10 is ugly, doesn't have "personality", the seats feel cheap, the clutch is too hard and difficult to control but the kappa motor with 80hp is a devil with a lot of strenth and is quite fast. The driving in general is worst than in panda because we feel that is a little car and in the panda i felt like i was in a bigger and confort car. I do some motorway and for experience with my punto i know that 60hp claims for more even if my7 motor is well worked and goes up to 160km/h (when i'm not going up . And yes, the sound of reving is good but in this chapter the kappa motor also is very pleasing to hear. Once again sorry about the english.

 

[Suasexed]

I had the luxury of sitting on all three of the cars mentioned yesterday and although I didn't drive them the interior quality was vastly different between the 3. The i10 had a mess of different textured plastics and just generally felt really cheap. The Panda is a step up and felt a fair bit nicer, although all the plastics are still quite hard. The 500 is by far the nicest interior, but you'll be paying a few grand more for that and whether it's worth it is up to you.

 

[doctorchris]

I don't know much about how these cars are actually designed but, sitting in a small Fiat, I get the feeling that the car has been designed by somebody who wanted to actually spend a lot of time in that car.
I feel that a lot of Far Eastern cars are designed to keep the accountants happy.
Superior handling in the small Fiats compensates for a lack of power in the city and on country roads, as you can corner quickly. On motorways, especially in countries like Portugal, where you have some very steep motorway inclines compared with most of the UK, a lack of power can be an issue. However, it can help you avoid speeding fines and keep your licence.

 

[citroends21]

hyundai first if they did make a good car still are hyundai. fiat is the most prestigous name in the city car category because they have been at it so long. i know hyundais interiors are made of dull crappy plastics and their handling and noise is also boring. the panda has nice seats nice high position for dirving, and the handling is superbly fun like the old mini. and the engine screams with all its heart using all its effort. i thought if the power issue in the panda was a problem get the 1.2 16v from the punto and put it in the panda.
what worries me is the reliablity, im a long term peugeot diesel driver and know that cars like it are described as very unreliable but if properly serviced can do over 300000 miles.
could a new shape panda do this many miles

 

[Trimdoner]

im a long term peugeot diesel driver driver and know that cars like it are described as very unreliable but if properly serviced can do over 300000 miles.
could a new shape panda do this many miles

My previous 1996 Peugeot 106 diesel - sold to a friend - now has about 220,000 miles on the clock. Engine is completely untouched, it's had one clutch at 98,000 miles, and a couple of drive shaft joints and wheel bearings. (wear and tear items like brake pads, exhaust and tyres not included) No alternators, starter motors or other major components.

I hope my MJ can do the same.....

 

[306maxi]

I had the luxury of sitting on all three of the cars mentioned yesterday and although I didn't drive them the interior quality was vastly different between the 3. The i10 had a mess of different textured plastics and just generally felt really cheap. The Panda is a step up and felt a fair bit nicer, although all the plastics are still quite hard. The 500 is by far the nicest interior, but you'll be paying a few grand more for that and whether it's worth it is up to you.

This really is it. With the 500 you are basically paying for the looks of the car and the nicer looking interior. I've got a 500 and it really is a nice place to be. The Panda wasn't as nice but is stll perfectly fine IMHO and with the Panda you get the added bonus of more rear headroom and 4 doors. The i10's interior just looks plain nasty IMHO.

If you can afford it and don't need 4 doors and the rear headroom, then buy the 500 if not then buy the Panda.


I wouldn't want to sit in this for any longer than I had to......

This is a 100hp so a little nicer than a 1.2 Panda but I really quite like it

and finally the 500 which for obvious reasons is a bit nicer yet again

 

[trackdayqueen]

Here is a pic of the interior of my old MJ Dynamic which would be a bit more respresentative I guess, as the 100hp has a much higher spec:

 

[ultrageek]

The Panda maybe just 60hp, but trust me, it feels like it's got more than you think it has. I've revved my 2nd gear all the way up to 50++km/h; 3rd gear to 90 plus and 4 gear without knowing, 120! 5th gear... let's not go there... he he

Everyday, I have to pass through this toll booths and they are at a foot of a hill. I've raced up against some much higher capacity engines, and boy, you should see the look on their faces when they see this little petite car chasing them!

And no. This car is 100% stock. Only tires were changed... So. ONLY 1.2 and 60HP? Be careful. This baby can surprise you. A ... LOT.

 

[Geddes]

The Panda maybe just 60hp, but trust me, it feels like it's got more than you think it has. I've revved my 2nd gear all the way up to 50++km/h

Pfft. You're not trying. I've had my 1.1 up to 50MPH in second

 

[Ricardo Silva]

after all this months i bought one 1.2 panda! And its true, the car is a litlle devil and a lot faster than my punto and the engine is the same...i struggle to keep it in the speed limit and its so safe in highways!this little car is amazing, cheap, tough and lovely at the same time! congratulations fiat!

 

[306maxi]

after all this months i bought one 1.2 panda! And its true, the car is a litlle devil and a lot faster than my punto and the engine is the same...i struggle to keep it in the speed limit and its so safe in highways!this little car is amazing, cheap, tough and lovely at the same time! congratulations fiat!

Congratulations you!

 

[tarbyonline]

Pfft. You're not trying. I've had my 1.1 up to 50MPH in second

ditto!