General preparing a panda for a big trip!

[John H]

Agreed it's almost certainly Plymouth to Dakar.

http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk/

As you say, a number of Pandas* went (one way only) to Dakar in 2004.

This year there are no cars shown (yet) for the 2005 run on the site - I doubt there will be any UK Pandas though, as I understand the rules were changed to be lefthand drive only - so they would be more useful/less of a liability when used full time in Dakar.


Regards

John H


* as far as I can tell this was the complement:
205 Team Pandamonium - (2x4)
230 Desert prats - (4x4)
316 Team Madmac - (Sisley)

 

[Jaff_Fox]

http://www.desertprats.com (i'm shocked this has not been posted before here) That new left hand drive rule is stupid! Basically they said "no british allowed". Its Dakar, the locals will buy anything left or right hand drive!! Even a fiat panda!

Because every fox needs one!

 

[Enzo]

Another Panda is waiting for a trip...around 180miles each way.But before it leaves my garage I want to check some items that could be a problem in a month far from my 1st house...shocks,front suspension arms,whell bearings,front pads,play in the steering,oil/water leaks,inboard/outboard driveshafts boots and...can you suggest anything more:I?Then I noticed the wheel is turned of A FEW degrees on the right when driving straight...I know 20'000km from the last wheel alignment are a lot, but could it be a problem??

<--Ihihih!

 

[pandafan]

Hi, your steering wheel alignment might not be a problem. If, during any of your more recent M.O.T's, you have had a track-rod end or ball-joint replaced this could explain it. Most garages don't bother these days to re-set the 'wheel. If this is the case, unscrew the horn from behind the 'wheel (two screws), unscrew the central nut (but leave it on the shaft a couple of turns) and knock the 'wheel forward. Reset it on the splines and re-do everything.
If you havn't had things replaced recently, please get it checked tomorrow, or earlier !

HHmmmmmmm

 

[John H]

Originally posted by pandafan
Hi, your steering wheel alignment might not be a problem. If, during any of your more recent M.O.T's, you have had a track-rod end or ball-joint replaced this could explain it. Most garages don't bother these days to re-set the 'wheel. If this is the case, unscrew the horn from behind the 'wheel (two screws), unscrew the central nut (but leave it on the shaft a couple of turns) and knock the 'wheel forward. Reset it on the splines and re-do everything.

IME moving the steering wheel on the splines is quite a coarse adjustment - I tried on the newer CLX:
from a few degrees out one way, to a few degrees out the other.

YMMV

 

[Enzo]

The problem's been solved this morning, with the front tyres replaced, all wheel balanced and laser alignment.I hope I can post here in August, as I don't have a computer at my 2nd house...btw I'll be in Naples again at the beginning of September[8D]!


Enzo

<--Ihihih!

 

[pandafan]

Enjoy

HHmmmmmmm

 

[bumcheeks]

well i got to say... with 4 people and a s**t load of gear, suspension completly bottomed out we made it a 500 mile round trip and not a problem, the panda just kept going and going... on one tank of petrol and i was even cheeky enough to crank it up to 95mph whilst fully loaded on the way back.

joy!

 

[John H]

Truly in the spirit of Panda motoring [8D]

I can't say I've ever got 500 miles out of a tankfull, though.

According to Porter the biggest tank on a Panda is 40 litres, or about 8.9 UK gallons which comes in at about 56 MPG for your 500 miles if you'd used every drop.

PandamanPaul would be proud of you He got 57.8 mpg on his Lands End to John O Groats round trip. (1766 miles)

 

[PandaManPaul]

Originally posted by John H
PandamanPaul would be proud of you He got 57.8 mpg on his Lands End to John O Groats round trip. (1766 miles)

But I drive in my slippers!*

Good to hear that the Panda made it alright Although 95mph would be scary when it's heavily loaded [:0]







*Not strictly true

 

[bumcheeks]

Originally posted by PandaManPaul

Originally posted by John H
PandamanPaul would be proud of you He got 57.8 mpg on his Lands End to John O Groats round trip. (1766 miles)

But I drive in my slippers!*

Good to hear that the Panda made it alright Although 95mph would be scary when it's heavily loaded [:0]



which is why i only did 95 for about 5 seconds!!!

 

[Latman]

Well, I'm back from my great epic journey. I can report that the Sisley had no problems en route, either way. About 1,500 miles each way. I did undertake the journey without a working engine cooling fan though! Just didn't have time to fix it before departure. Had to avoid any traffic backups as a result. Once in Riga though, the rear engine mount caused problems with the gearbox(?) starting to knock against the underside of the car. I had the mount replaced with whatever the garage could lay their hands on. They also did some welding for me on the rear bull bars - all for the sum of about £30! The exhaust box disconnected itself from the front exhaust pipe and hit the deck just as I was driving out of the courtyard, that I kept the car in. Fortunately, I had some octopus straps with me and I lashed it up long enough to get around to the garage again. Again, for about £30, they fixed the exhaust back and did some more welding of some rust spots under the back seat and in the luggage compartment. They also spotted that the CV gaiter was on its last legs and replaced it with another one that most closely resembled the existing one, topping up the gearbox oil in the process. Another £30.
Enquired of the garage how much it would cost to tidy up the old girl paintwise and was told about £300. So, I may be driving there again. the only drawback was the cost of the exercise. It cost me about £400 in total there and back. Fuel was about £100 each way. Ferry about £160 and about £60 for 5 Star cover (I did think the old girl deserved it). Fuel in Poland and the Baltic States was about 55p/litre (a hell of a lot more expensive than it used to be!). Anyway, I've got a photo to prove I was there and you'll just have to believe that I made it back again.

 

[Sei-Mad]

Ah, c'mon....what could possibly go wrong.........?

HHmmmmmmm

When I took my panda 1000cl out for its first 200+ mile journey since it was inported from Jersey the clutch burned out.. Good job i got RAC covered sorted 2day before and it failed 15 miles away where I wanted to me.... typical