General Worth buying a brand new panda?

[JD82]

Thinking of getting one on scrappage but the idea is it will be nearly as cheap as a used car so need to keep things cheap. I was thinking of getting a 1.1 Eco in blue.

Have most people here had good experience with their Pandas?

How easy will it be sell in 3/4 years time? I would imagine there would be a flood of used Pandas due to the scrappage.

 

[Advanced Driver]

I personally wouldn't want to buy any car at the moment because prices are really high. Pandas are good cars though and very good value compared to the other cars out there. 12 months ago you could have got a 1.1 Panda for £5000 (that was before the scrappage scheme). I think you're probably looking at

If you get a new one then you will have the 2010 facelift.

 

[pandaforest]

If you want to take advantage of the scrappage scheme then do it, ASAP I guess as it is due to run out. 1.1 Active is a neat motor, misses a few extras that I think are worth having. Split folding rear seat with head restraints (essential in my mind) aren't available as option. Extras on Dynamic Eco include Air con, remote central locking, rev counter, MP3 CD player. All stuff which you don't need but nice to have.

Advanced - Out of interest, facelift model, when and where did it come too. Mine is due in 2 and a half months and I'm confused now as to which version I will get. 1.2 Dynamic Eco.

 

[Scrogg]

...Out of interest, facelift model, when and where did it come too. Mine is due in 2 and a half months and I'm confused now as to which version I will get. 1.2 Dynamic Eco.

2010 model (facelift) has been in dealers since November 2009.

There are a few "old" model still kicking about unregistered at dealers (mainly 1.3 MultiJet Dynamic and 100HP) but no 1.1 or 1.2 ECO, so yours will be a 2010.

 

[scottie1979]

Mmmm this makes me think. From my earlier post you can see that i have ordered a Panda on scrappage. I thought it would be a few months to get one but it turns out i can get it for the 1st march (obviously stock car). So i would be very interested what the 2010 facelift model includes so i can quizz the dealer tomorrow when handing in my scrap car docs.

 

[59 Panda]

They are still available on for scrappage £4995 but you need to be quick, when I ordered my Panda Active only yellow or white was available if you wanted any other colour it was I think an extra £300. They are great cars cars ive had my one since September 09 and the only thing thats gone wrong is the rear window washer has stopped working. if it wasn't for the scrappage I would have bought a second hand car for about £3000, It was worth paying a little bit more for new car which with the mileage I do (8000) should last me for years.

 

[Retty]

I personally wouldn't want to buy any car at the moment because prices are really high. Pandas are good cars though and very good value compared to the other cars out there. 12 months ago you could have got a 1.1 Panda for £5000 (that was before the scrappage scheme). I think you're probably looking at

If you get a new one then you will have the 2010 facelift.

The prices are very high at present - I was shocked by some of the price rises at Fiat Supasaver (which is usually excellent).

The price of a new Panda seems to have risen more sharply than many other cars within the Fiat range and other makes.

When all is said and done - and if you don't mind the relative lack of power - then they are very desirable cars.

But the price is making them look less good value for money than even a few months ago.

 

[trackdayqueen]

I would go for a dynamic if you can because the poverty spec active doesn't have the creature comforts that are very useful in day to day use, like central locking etc.

Also aircon is a very good option as the glass area is quite large.

 

[Geddes]

The Active does have central locking, just without the remote.
Would be nice if they'd stuck a keyhole on the passenger door though...

 

[trackdayqueen]

The Active does have central locking, just without the remote.
Would be nice if they'd stuck a keyhole on the passenger door though...

I do think remote central locking is very, very useful. When I look back it's a very long time since I've had to physically open a car with the key. But I do admit that I would not buy a car without remote central locking and aircon.

 

[JD82]

Bit of background.

My current car is a ten year old Corsa and the MOT is close to expiring. It is now showing symptons of head gasket failure and tbh I have just had enough for all the constant garage trips.

The problem is my Corsa is fairly high spec, it has electric mirrors, windows, PAS etc so in one way a new Panda is a down grade. I drove my mates 1.1 Eco and it is a very nice car to drive (in the city) and due to finance reasons my choice my come down to the 1.1 Active or a second hand car. I only do city driving mostly and I do about 70 miles a week so the Panda seemed ideal. I like the fact it is so narrow so I will be able to squeeze in gaps easier.

 

[Geddes]

I used to have a Corsa Elegance with all the trimmings, followed by a Vectra more of the same. The Panda Active is refreshingly basic and after a few years all the toys are just more things to go wrong.

Aircon is nice though if you don't want to drive round with the windows open in summer.

 

[Scrogg]

Mmmm this makes me think. From my earlier post you can see that i have ordered a Panda on scrappage. I thought it would be a few months to get one but it turns out i can get it for the 1st march (obviously stock car). So i would be very interested what the 2010 facelift model includes so i can quizz the dealer tomorrow when handing in my scrap car docs.

Have a look at this thread.

 

[JD82]

Just been down to the dealers and I have a little problem.

Hyundai said no problem they will give me £2k for my 10 year old Corsa against an I10 (though they don't know I have a suspect head gasket problem) and the base car does not have electric windowes. It does have five year warranty though.

The Panda drives better and is better built but due to delivery delays and the fact my car won't qualifty for ages I won't be able to get until June.

I also looked a C1 and the quality seemed lacking compared to the Panda.

If I do get the Panda I have decided to get a base spec 1.1 in Blue, I have decided I really don't need aircon and I drove my mates 1.1 last night and it was more than fast enough.

 

[Scrogg]

...but due to delivery delays...

What delays?

Panda 1.1 Active ECO is available in any colour for late March delivery.

...and the fact my car won't qualifty for ages I won't be able to get until June.

Won't qualify for what, Scrappage?

Anything registered on or before 28 February 2000 (so 'V' plate or earlier) qualifies. If your car is a June 2000 it will never qualify.

Or do you mean you won't have owned the car for 12 months until June? In which case you will never qualify as Scrappage finishes on 31 March (or sooner if the money runs out first).

 

[JD82]

My car qualifies on the 27th of March and the dealer seems to be pretty sure there will still be money in the scheme by that date.

The delay is that they said delivery times are about 10 weeks as they have completely sold out and all cars have to come from the factory in Poland.

 

[Retty]

Just been down to the dealers and I have a little problem.

Hyundai said no problem they will give me £2k for my 10 year old Corsa against an I10 (though they don't know I have a suspect head gasket problem) and the base car does not have electric windowes. It does have five year warranty though.

The Panda drives better and is better built but due to delivery delays and the fact my car won't qualifty for ages I won't be able to get until June.

I also looked a C1 and the quality seemed lacking compared to the Panda.

If I do get the Panda I have decided to get a base spec 1.1 in Blue, I have decided I really don't need aircon and I drove my mates 1.1 last night and it was more than fast enough.

You really should not go for a 1.1 unless you are *really* strapped for cash or subscribe to a political ideology which requires you to reduce your carbon footprint to silly (and insignificant) proportions.

You should go at least for 1.2 on the basis that it is a good town car and if you can the Panda diesel engine is best.

As for build quality. It is very hit and miss with all Polish made Fiat cars I am afraid. There is a reason why they are made in Poland. It is cheap.

My Eleganza is lovely (luck of the draw) and the best car I have ever driven. My Dynamic has a dash rattle which despite the 4 year 15,000 mileage means that the car cannot be sold - or traded in for a sensible amount.

A local Fiat dealer talked me out of insisting on a warranty repair on the basis that it was not a significant mechanical problem. Will the same dealer now accept it at a reasonable trade in?

An old (could not afford to run it) Evo VII handled worse than my Pandas and was less profound in 0-20 mph acceleration away from lights than the 1.2 Panda.

But a 1.1 Panda. No - that's silly. I'm surprised Fiat still make it.

 

[Scrogg]

My car qualifies on the 27th of March...

It doesn't work like that.

All 'V' plate cars qualify. They don't have to be exactly 10 years old to the day.

..and the dealer seems to be pretty sure there will still be money in the scheme by that date.

They're wrong.

All manufacturers are already setting their exit strategy in place. It could be as early as this week that each one gets their final allocation of the remaining fund.

If you wait until 27 March to place an order you will miss out, I can assure you.

The delay is that they said delivery times are about 10 weeks as they have completely sold out and all cars have to come from the factory in Poland.

For a full factory order they are around 10 weeks, but as you are after a standard 1.1 they will be able to get one from pipeline stock, which would be with them before the end of March.

My suggestion, if you have decided the Panda is the car for you, would be to find yourself another dealer, one that knows what they are talking about and actually bothers to take the time to see what stock is available rather than just quoting standard lead times.

 

[JD82]

I've driven the 1.1 and its perfectly fast enough for my needs. I am only doing 0-30 stop, 0-30 stop, 0-30 stop.

The reason my car dosn't qualify is I haven't owned it a year until March the 27th. If I miss out I miss out and its back to square one though the dealer has insisted that the offer is running until the 31st.

They have spent quite a long time with me so I can't see them doing that if they didn't think the scheme would still run.

It really has come down to a choice of:-

Having a new head gasket, timing chain etc fitted to my Corsa, getting it through the MOT (a total cost of around £800), buying another banger, or the i10 or Panda. The panda is the cheaper option and the group one insurance makes a big difference due to circumstances.

I am just a little wary of getting a bad one, but it seems the Hyundai can suffer from the same issues.

If used cars wern't so high that would be the obvious solution but with my local dealer wanting £7 for a three year old Fiesta the Panda suddenly makes a lot sense.

 

[59 Panda]

I do not find my 1.1 Panda to be slow, its much quicker than the 1.3 Fiesta I had before and cruises quite happily at 70 or 80 on the motorway. I had a very limited budget and found the Panda Active ideal car and very cheap to buy and run.