General Signs that Fiat are wrapping up production on the current Panda?

[FullMetalPanda]

I mentioned this on another post but I thought it was worth starting up another thread. I was browsing on Fiats site today and was looking around the 100HP configurator. Although the Fiat site is never bang on it now appears that the only option is the Pandemonium kit. More importantly the only colour options are now black, grey and white. So if you have a red or blue 100HP your cars could become more exclusive.

I am not sure what changes have been made to other Panda models. Although the Cross does also seem to be down on options. So it certainly appears that Fiat are wrapping up production on the current gen Panda unless its a website fault.

 

[Ulpian]

Well, we know there is a new model coming next year. However, since Fiat hasn't yet decided which factory, or even country, to build it in I doubt very much it will arrive here until 2012. I hope I am wrong and they really do get it here sooner though.

The thing is, the Panda is getting a bit tired now, and most punters in this market are just looking for a value small five door car with cheap running costs. Various Kias and Hyundais, and even that neat little Chrysler with the five year everything free I saw on TV last night, fit the bill better for the majority, not least because they have better warranties and don't have the residual legacy of poor quality still carried by Fiat.

I see lots of 500s on the road, but very few other new Fiats, and the marque is rapidly becoming a one-model company, at least here.

I am hoping that the new Panda, the new Twinair engine, and some new 500 based models will revive sales, but given we are entering a period of yet greater austerity Fiat will soon have to start being competitive on price and warranty: very soon!

I was in a 100 the other day, and it felt well built; it was also very noisy and the ride was terrible. The replacement had better improve on that. Sorry enthusiasts out there, but motor sales times are tough and Fiat seems to be distracted by refurbishing Chrysler and setting up in the US. And there are big problems with unions in Italy. Fiat wants, stupidly, to outsource. This is a problem of all the west and will result in the collapse of our economies, but this is not the place for this debate

No, Panda sales are falling behind the competition Europe-wide, and so doubtless the company is, while working furiously on the replacement model, consolidating the current product.

 

[JD82]

The Panda active seems to be very popular here in Manchester, seen loads of ten plate ones. I agree its dated but look at the competition you don't even get central locking on most of its competitors!

 

[JTD_Liam]

Im with Ulpian that Fiat need to get their act together, but the Panda does seem to still sell okay. I saw 5 2009-2010 Pandas last week in the space of about 5 miles. 3 Actives & 2 Dynamics (in free white or yellow though), seen a fair few other 2008-2010 ones recently, which says to me sales havn't died off like is typical with a car that was introduced several years ago. Proves how good the Panda was to begin with i think.

I also see alot of 500s, but the Evo doesn't seem to be selling much considering how bigger seller the Grande Punto was. Maybe the Feelin' Good advert will help that. However what Fiat are gonna do with the Bravo, Qubo and new Doblo is anyones guess. I've seen 4 Qubos since it was launched, no new Doblos and no Bravos newer than 58 plate. And i drive all over the Country. I don't think the cars are that bad that they should sell in such small numbers, the problem is more likely to be lack of familiarity. The Qubo & Doblo have had no TV advert and the Bravo's not been advertised for about 2 years. A new Bravo ad and a joint Qubo/Doblo ad like the Meriva/Zafira one would be good. Until then Fiat look on very shakey ground in the UK.

On the note of the Panda production, i believe from the other thread about this that the models with non Euro 5 compliant engines are having production ended. Therefore the Eleganza, 100HP, Cross and 4x4 are going to be discontinued. However the Dynamic and Active models (with Euro 5 engines) are set to continue for the forseeable future, so no need to panic unless youre after one of the discontinued models.

 

[T14086]

I've seen 4 Qubos since it was launched, no new Doblos and no Bravos newer than 58 plate.

all publically advertised cars aswell......along with the croma!

(qubo with 1.3 diesel engine is actually quite good)

 

[JTD_Liam]

all publically advertised cars aswell......along with the croma!

(qubo with 1.3 diesel engine is actually quite good)

But not advertised on telly, except the Bravo but that was 2 years ago. Theyve all been advertised in car magazines, but you've gotta be interested in cars to buy car mags, and many potential purchasers of Fiats won't be interested in cars. They need to advertise to the masses & not muck around with the magazines.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Wrapping up of the Panda is all but Active Eco is it not, not due to the model coming to an end, but the introduction of euro5 emissions I was led to believe.

 

[306maxi]

But not advertised on telly, except the Bravo but that was 2 years ago. Theyve all been advertised in car magazines, but you've gotta be interested in cars to buy car mags, and many potential purchasers of Fiats won't be interested in cars. They need to advertise to the masses & not muck around with the magazines.

Yes but that would require someone in marketing to have a double digit IQ....

 

[306maxi]

Yes but that would require someone in marketing to have a double digit IQ....

If Fiat is still making the Seicento and Punto Classic I somehow doubt they're going to completely stop making Panda's........

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

If Fiat is still making the Seicento and Punto Classic

Where are they doing that

 

[306maxi]

Seicento's are made in Tychy, look at the MY2008 car and you'll see the 500 style chrome whiskers
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Seicento[/ame]

Punto Classic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Punto#Punto_Classic Note the red badge

 

[Ulpian]

Quick update: I saw a brand new, yellow, Panda 4X4 this morning, and it looked simply stunning. The colour, the proportions, the detailing - everything about it spelt style, and cuteness.
It was being driven with real brio too.

A few more of those on the road would get people looking.

Another expectation: that they will keep the present Panda for a while in some markets as a cheap starter car - like the Seicento - and price the replacement higher.

With decent advertising, tweaked specs and a decent warranty any of Fiat's cars would sell well of course.

 

[SurreyAlan]

maybe it's all down to price. When I bought our Pandas they were very much cheaper than anything else, now they seem to be a bit closer to the opposition offering long warranties the equation changes, but, on my holidays I always hire a group A car and so have driven most of the similar offerings (not the I10 or C1) and still think the Panda holds up against them.

 

[T14086]

But not advertised on telly.

thought you would be used to my sarcasm by now mate....never seen bravo advertised on TV to be honest.....was that at 3am on monday on the quiz channel+1 ?

 

[FullMetalPanda]

Well personally I only like the smaller Fiats so the Panda and the 500. The Bravo and Punto Evo just dont do it for me. I do like the Abarth Punto though. The only new Fiats you see are the Panda and the 500. The Punto just doesnt seem to be selling anymore and neither is the Bravo. Even the Multipla doesnt look as freaky as it used too so its lost all of its character. I see a few of the bug eyed Multiplas about but I have never seen a new one. There is one Qubo I have seen and just one Sedici (spelling?) that doesnt even appear on Fiats site anymore. I do think that Fiats current model line up is very poor. The sales are propped up by the very popular 500 and a few Pandas. I find it curious that Fiat are carefully planning to launch in the US with such a poor line up. The only car that the Americans are interested in is the 500.

I plan on keeping my 100HP for at least 5 years. After that the only thing I am interested in from the Fiat family is an Abarth 500. Maybe that or the Abarth Coupe if they make it. It will also be interesting to see what the next Panda is like. And mainly if they build another sporty Panda and if its any good.

Oh and as for the 100HP being noisy with a harsh ride thats right it has both. And those things are its best features!! I love the hard sporty suspension and its noisy throaty zorst. If Fiat had made the suspension soft and the engine silent then it wouldnt be nearly as popular.

 

[306maxi]

thought you would be used to my sarcasm by now mate....never seen bravo advertised on TV to be honest.....was that at 3am on monday on the quiz channel+1 ?

They did advertise the Bravo a few years ago but not anymore.

 

[T14086]

They did advertise the Bravo a few years ago but not anymore.

the snappy advert and soundtrack obviously stuck in my memory then

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

They did advertise the Bravo a few years ago but not anymore.

Yeah, just when it had 5 year warrentee iirc.

And the GP on the trampoline.

 

[JTD_Liam]

Yes but that would require someone in marketing to have a double digit IQ....

Quite. How knowone in Italy have cottoned onto this shambles is anyones guess. I know theyre abit slow on the uptake at times but this has been going on for years. There seems to be adverts for their other cars on European telly so it can't be a company-wide problem

thought you would be used to my sarcasm by now mate....never seen bravo advertised on TV to be honest.....was that at 3am on monday on the quiz channel+1 ?

It went right over my head fella, i must be losing my sense of humour

They did advertise the Bravo a few years ago but not anymore.

the snappy advert and soundtrack obviously stuck in my memory then

Yeah, just when it had 5 year warrentee iirc.

And the GP on the trampoline.

Correct on all counts. It was quite a dull advert, just a black shell of a Bravo that all the various parts attached themselves to, indicating that 'Every Part Works Beautifully', hence the 5 year warranty/farce. Quite true i suppose, since it's a pretty decently-made car. If they'd pulled that advertising stunt on the Grande Punto i'd have choked.

Definately need a new Bravo advert though. Maybe when (or if) they put MultiAir under the bonnet for the UK.

 

[FullMetalPanda]

They do have a new campaign on TV at the moment though. Its difficult to explain but its about dolls of people hanging from rear view mirrors. The people then move around like the doll does as it swings around. Its very eye catching but the advert is more eye catching than the car. Thats because I cant remember if its about the Punto Evo or not.