I fancy the 500 Abarth in 2008

I fancy the 500 Abarth in 2008

Seconded:thumbup: , as long as they do it right. I hope its fun, cheeky, nimble and a blast to drive:D . But I hope it isn

Power and residuals aren't everything - you only live once

Must be a similar power:weight ratio as my old Nova SR then - definately a hoot to drive but I love the Fabia's refinement and the way you don't feel exhausted after a long journey

I tried to drive a panda, but actually couldn't get into the drivers seat :o:o

I guess that sums up the leg room really. :(

A lot better than they used to be by the sounds of things. A relatives other half has one and I don't recall it breaking down.

Of the FIATs owned by people I've known in real life:-

1) Comedy gearbox, where the fact of declutching and waving the lever was more relevant to forwards speed than what direction you waved it in, Failed an MOT due to severe rust in the rear damper turrets.

2) Died at 60_000 miles, having run the main bearings (and had been sensibly serviced).

3) Hated by owner after he'd had it about 6 months, and the only car I've ever known where the bonnet catches both failed in normal driving.

I tried to drive a panda, but actually couldn't get into the drivers seat :o:o

I guess that sums up the leg room really. :(

i had read what you'd said in Shiftys test about legroom and when i went to test drive it i was half expecting no room ,but it was OK for me , and i'm 6 foot , no foot rest by the clutch pedal though , so foot room is a it narrower than the Fabia

even where i had the seat there was still enough room in the rear seat for an adult

well the salesman at Fiat is very keen to get me in their demo Panda 100hp , hes just phoned me now to offer me

well the salesman at Fiat is very keen to get me in their demo Panda 100hp , hes just phoned me now to offer me

well the salesman at Fiat is very keen to get me in their demo Panda 100hp , hes just phoned me now to offer me

I'd go for it. Small sporty Fiats have always been a hoot to drive, proof indeed that driving fun isn't all about out and out power.

If the rumours are true that standards of build quality are far removed from the day's of old then you have even more reason.

Plus I bet that engines a total peach and will lap up being taken to the red line at every oportunity !!!!!!!!

well the salesman at Fiat is very keen to get me in their demo Panda 100hp , hes just phoned me now to offer me

I like the swift sport, still not decided on the looks, looks a little out of shape personally, however coming from a Fabia I can hardly turn my nose up at any other cars looks. Only has 3 doors however, and for the price a Clio 197 will soon be able to be bought (remember they depreciate vastly).

The Panda IMO looks poo, but again given the above I can't comment, also the power appears to be somewhat lacking.

Anyway, just IMO.

Those of you knocking Fiats without any experience of them - YOU drive Skoda's ffs.

PMSL :rofl:

Standard car sales tactic when they are desparate to sell the demo car, perhaps because a revised model is making an appearence or its now reached the end of its demo life. I wouldnt let that persuade you though.

they've got a blue one in the showroom which will be the new demo car on an 07 plate , AFAIK the one i looked at is less than 3 months old , with 2k miles when i drove it

Id be tempted to avoid the demo car. I know how I drove the local one, and you know how you drove that one. Other test pilots may not have been even that sympathetic lol.

They are such fun, and Johnwg, YES they love the redline.

Engines have always been the strongpoint of Fiat, and now finally the rest of the package lives up to requirements.

Those of you knocking Fiats without any experience of them - YOU drive Skoda's ffs.

the problem with not getting the demo car is that they won't budge on the new price of

Many moons ago I owned a 'classic' Panda 4x4 - complete with Porsche developed switchable 4wd system, bull bars, 1.0 engine and 50bhp of raw power. It was an absolute hoot to drive!

Did fall in bits though :thumbdwn:

I understand recent Fiats are significantly better though

and they've taken the first years depreciation hit as well if i get the demo:)

Its more complicated than that. When you come to sell the car you will be the second owner, and will take another hit because of this. If you bought new it will be easier to sell later as the car will be a one owner car. Another way to look at it. The car has already lost 1K maybe more in 2 months, hence apparently better trade in. You need to consider how much it will lose over the 3 years you will need to keep it.

If you must buy a dealer car then I would still go elsewhere. looking on autotrader there are far better 100HP sporting pandas available. I found a brand new unused pre registered one with 10 miles on the clock for the same £8995.

But saying the above, I dont know how important resale is to you down the line. Things dont look promising when looking at the parkers guide.

Although the 100BHP model is new, the previous sporting model isnt doing very well.

Original Price £8,977

Franchised Dealer £5,935

Independent Dealer £5,830

Private Good £5,460

Private Poor £4,665

Part Exchange £5,245

These figures are for a 12 month old car with 10K on the clock.

A pre-reg is also 2 owners come sale time though - that said there's no way I'd buy a demo over a pre-reg. If it's been driven by anyone like me it WILL have suffered :thumbdwn:

Just thinking what you could do to a vRS with 2000 quid.....Certainly breathe a lot more life into it!

Perhaps you should test-drive a fellow Briskodian's more-modded vRS and see if that isn't better than changing it and taking the biggest depreciation loss so far.

Perhaps this might help make your mind up?....

Good Luck whichever way you decide to go!

Bas

Mannyo , do you have a link to the one you've seen in the Autotrader ?

my current VRS is an ex demo car , and i've not had any problems at all , (famous last words) i'll edit this out at a later date

i see your point with the figures Mannyo , and lets face it we all buy cars so we can get enough at trade in time to afford a better car , so maybe the Fiat Panda as good as it is , is not really a car i should be buying for the future purchases of better cars

I would keep the fabia or go for something else and thats not the Panda, It's a great car, But goin from a Fabia to a Panda is a bit wrong, the Fabia is a bigger and more grown up car in many terms, If you really want to change you can get a Suzuki Swift Sport or a Fiat Punto? thats a difficult decision though!

well i decided earlier today to stay with the Fabia , which will mean paying for a service and an MOT :(

Not ruled out a future Fiat Panda purchase or even the new 500 when its out in the summer

The Fiat may have 100 BHP but you would miss the torque of the Fabia.