Fiat Pandas

I'm not sure Formula 1 star Mark Webber is in the normal group of people who would buy a Fiat Panda, but having him test the car makes for interesting perspective.

It turns out that he likes the interior, but not the handling, raucous engine noise, or windscreen wipers lifting from the glass when following a truck closely.




Read the short report on Mark Webber testing the Fiat Panda on the Telegraph website

If the Fiat Panda has one design flaw, it's one that only becomes apparent when you try and use the car in Winter.

For some reason, the washer bottle and feed appear to have been routed in a way which means that it refuses to defrost, even when the car has been running for an hour or more...

Normally in the UK this wouldn't be an issues, but given recent weather it's becoming a necessity to carry a bottle of water with me to wash the windscreen every so often, or risk trying to drive whilst blinded by dirt smeared across the windscreen.

It's made me wonder whether all new-shape Pandas are similarly afflicted - and if so, surely the 4x4 model, for example, must be bought by a fair amount of people living in snowy areas?

The Motor Authority site has got hold of sneak pictures of the Fiat Panda test mule - showing how the car will look when it arrives in late 2010, to go on sale for 2011.

They claim the car will have a much more rounded appearance than the current model, with either front or all wheel (4x4) versions, a new range of lightweight aluminium engines, and possibly an electric hybrid. It's expected Fiat will only offer the four door option.


See the Motor Authority story for more pictures.

With a base model like the Panda, there are some really interesting and cool special editions in existance.

One that I can't find on the official site, and that launched before this blog began, was the Fiat Mamy limited-edition which went on sale in the UK earlier this year, based on the 1.2-litre Dynamic.

It's £8200, and has some female and family focused tweaks to the colours and features, with front seat covers, orange air vent surrounds, aubergine or orange paint, and Mamy logos. It's also got special carpet mats with a high grip mat in the back, and the great idea of a second internal rear-view mirror for keeping tabs on the back seats.

But it also comes with £1000+ of valuable freebies. Air-con, Bluetooth hands-free, a 50/50 split and sliding rear seat with Isofix (for baby seats) attachments, a height adjustable driver seat, a radio/CD/MP3 player, ABS anti-lock brakes, two front airbags and remote central locking as standard.

As a Panda-owning father, I'd say the split and sliding rear seat, the Isofix attachments, and the second internal rear-view mirrors are great ideas and additions.

Not so sure about the purple paintjob, though...

With the Panda being produced in it's original form from 1980 to 2003, and the new model existing for five years, you wonder if any of them will become as collectible as the Fiat 500, or other small cars like the Mini.

Two cars answer that question, for each of the models. For the old model, the 4WD variant gained a good following for a robust, rural car. And even the new 4x4 climbing hasn't replaced it totally, as it's seen to be too low for rough ground.

Meanwhile of the new generation Pandas, there's just one obvious future classic: The Fiat Panda 100hp (Pic by Daz n P on Flickr).

The 100hp features a 1.4 litre 16 valve FIRE engine originally from the Fiat Punto, and now tuned to develop 100bhp. Not only does it have a 6 speed gearbox, all disc brakes and a new suspension, but it's capable of 115mph, making it a far more fun and sporty car to drive. Which is perfect for anyone who has driven the normal versions and wants something with a bit more power.

Originally available in Black, you now also get the options of Grey, Blue, White or Red. The body coloured bumpers, dark tinted rear and side windows and 15" alloys also make it a far more attractive car, for £10,260. Options include a subwoofer and 6 speakers, CD changer, Skydome double sunroof, roof bars, window airbags, and front side airbags.

Certainly as the owner of a 2003 standard Panda I'm tempted to price up the changes to the body, suspension modifications and alloy wheels!

Interestingly, the 100hp seems to be much more of an enthusiasts car, with a far higher proportion of members of the Fiat Forum, for example, than you'd expect given by the amount you see on UK roads. It certainly suggests that it will be the one to treasure as it's far closer to the spirit of the best small cars of the past - at least until the Abarth version of the new Fiat 500. Even then, the 500 loses a lot of the practicality that makes cars like the Panda so attractive.

It may seem a strange car to devote a blog to - after all, it's not the most glamorous or sporty vehicle out there...

But the Fiat Panda is one of the unsung heroes of the car world - the modern version is comfortable, spacious, and if you have the 100HP version, even quite sporty. It's also surprisingly roomy, especially for taller drivers, and with the rear seats folded down you can fit a reasonable amount inside.

The dash mounted gear lever is easy to use, and you actually get quite a high up driving position for such a small car.

Plus I ended up with one, and I'm quite attached to it.

For the record, mine is a 2003 1.1 litre Fiat Panda in blue.