might go and visit the Fiat dealer again tomorrow, to see whats available

And the icing on the cake is that my daughter absolutely loves it, especially when the engine sings above 4k rpm. She's going to get me into trouble though as she keeps saying "More, Daddy, MORE" if I back off.

Chris

Had identical from my two when they were little - was 'test' driving a Supra 24 valve.

Nothing below 4k and then whamee

'Do it again, Daddy. Do it again, Daddy' accompanied by huge giggles and chortles

Same with my kids as well... they love the kick from the big torque shove of both my Fabia vRS and the Focus ST... They also like the pops and bangs on over run from the ST.. 'Again, Again'... followed by lots of giggles...

So I guess that proves we're still kids at heart

I also like the look of these Panada 100hp's I pass a white one on the way to work looks really nice. Shame they're just too small for what I need atm.

Enjoy the new car Chris

Although similar in design, i was behind a Nissan Note this morning, looked quite a nice car too..just above the price of the Panda though.

I did look at the 500 but was very disappointed by the interior which really let it down for me. Trying a bit too hard to be modern and retro and the red leather was a little eurgh. Still, what do I know, the salesman tells me they're flying out of the showroom!

Chris

Red leather in the 500 sport doesnt look very nice, too much Red, the standard 1/2 leather is better contrast.

The 1.4 sport is exactly the same chassis and engine as tha panda, but 500 has a sport button that sharpens the acceleration and steering, plus being lower to the gound give a Kart like feel.

My order is being kitted out with front + rear +side sport kit, and stereo upgrade of all round 40 W speakers, 45W amp, 100w Sub.

Some dealers will NOT penalise your warranty if you get a remap .

Will be intersting to see if you can crack the 40+MPG in the Panda.

Engine is loosening up nicely (covered just over 600 miles since I picked it up :eek:) and mpg is creeping up to the high 30's now, so hopefully it shouldn't be too long before it reaches the 40's. Sport button is also standard on the 100, but I'm not sure why you'd ever bother turning it off, tbh.

Interesting about the remap - it seems there are a fair few engine mods available for this engine already .... must .... resist ..... tuning!!!

Chris

Would be interesting to see what a remap does to the Panda.

Glad you thought my review made you go for a nosy at one. Underated car of the century right there. When my Fabia finally rolls over and dies, or i need a second car because the Fabia is always broken, this will be top of my list.

You can tune them now you say?

Foolish not to

Untitled Document

(just off the top of my head, of course!)

Chris

Untitled Document

(just off the top of my head, of course!)

Chris

Imagine 140 bhp in a crisp packet.......

Imagine it stripped out too.....

Power at Flywheel (BHP) : 140Weight without Driver (KG) : 800Power to Weight Ratio (BHP Per Ton) : 177.810 - 60 (Secs) : 6.280 - 100 (Secs) : 16.7460 - 100 (Secs) : 10.46Quarter Mile (Secs) : 14.74Terminal Speed (MPH) : 93.84Drag Strip Quarter Mile (Secs) : 14.54Drag Strip Terminal Speed (MPH) : 95.52

Chris

Check out this site as well if youre not already registered

The FIAT Forum - For Talk On All Things FIAT

Plenty of Useful info and quite friendly ( but no where near this one ).

Red leather in the 500 sport doesnt look very nice, too much Red, the standard 1/2 leather is better contrast.

The 1.4 sport is exactly the same chassis and engine as tha panda, but 500 has a sport button that sharpens the acceleration and steering, plus being lower to the gound give a Kart like feel.

My order is being kitted out with front + rear +side sport kit, and stereo upgrade of all round 40 W speakers, 45W amp, 100w Sub.

Some dealers will NOT penalise your warranty if you get a remap .

Will be intersting to see if you can crack the 40+MPG in the Panda.

I'm in a Quandry, as I drove a 500 at my dealer yesterday while trying to thrash out a deal for a 100HP for myself. Top little car, they had one fully loaded with the 1.3 multijet and we talked about mapping potential and they mentioned they had one mapped for a customer after it had a little mileage under it's belt.

The Multijet diesel if I read the taxation classes correctly would be exempt from road tax in 2009.

Just waiting on offers for my Octavia from "the trade" at the moment, some of the offers so far have been pretty poop though ....fingers crossed though

My own kung Fu Panda is looking like Grey or red, no ESP, sub and speaker upgrade, side / curtain airbags, sky dome sunroof. If I can get a reasonable offer on the octy

Chris

Check out this site as well if youre not already registered

The FIAT Forum - For Talk On All Things FIAT

Plenty of Useful info and quite friendly ( but no where near this one ).

I'm lurking on there, Chris has settled in nicely to that forum in fact, I may follow his wiper blade purchase

I'm in a Quandry, as I drove a 500 at my dealer yesterday while trying to thrash out a deal for a 100HP for myself. Top little car, they had one fully loaded with the 1.3 multijet and we talked about mapping potential and they mentioned they had one mapped for a customer after it had a little mileage under it's belt.

The Multijet diesel if I read the taxation classes correctly would be exempt from road tax in 2009.

Just waiting on offers for my Octavia from "the trade" at the moment, some of the offers so far have been pretty poop though ....fingers crossed though

My own kung Fu Panda is looking like Grey or red, no ESP, sub and speaker upgrade, side / curtain airbags, sky dome sunroof. If I can get a reasonable offer on the octy

You wont get anything on a 500 at the moment, My local salesman is a 500 nut and has an original told me that Italy have a waiting list on them, the factories are running 5 days 24 hr ( not yet weekend) to try and keep up with left hook sales, the UK have a limit of 16k units only.

The panda 100 is a good option specially if you want 1 quick and a deal.

The turn around from order to delivery of a UK spec 500 at the moment appears to be 4-6 weeks

I am just REALLY miffed that SUK have dragged their heels on a Fabia vRS mkII :( .

I am just REALLY miffed that SUK have dragged their heels on a Fabia vRS mkII :( .

Why be miffed mate, looking at the Mk2 Fabia, it's as attractive as Jade Goodey, the 500 is a fantastic looking car and incredibly roomy inside and very functional.

I'm lurking on there, Chris has settled in nicely to that forum in fact, I may follow his wiper blade purchase

Reminds me - I never took any pictures with them on

Chris

If the police got them, they would be called Panda cars................................

Nice car , I like the colour too!

O/T , I really like the look of the 500 Abarth.....

Fluffmeister, I wanted another Fabia vRS as the driving experience with my current car has been unparalleled.

Just looking forward to a nice sport drive, and waiting to see if Skoda do actually produce thst Joyster.

O/T , I really like the look of the 500 Abarth.....

I agree , might hold back and get one of those

I am just REALLY miffed that SUK have dragged their heels on a Fabia vRS mkII :( .

Why produce a car that will only sell in the UK - the rest of Europe aren't really interested... I'd be surprised if we see one at all.

Would be a shame if there wasn't one produced.

The more I see the Panda, the more I'm inclined to have one as the next car. Like the high postion of the gear change stick for a start, and doesn't feel too cramped. Would like to see the 2 cylinder eco-version if it gets released (in 64 and 100 bhp versions). As for the 500, top of the list if I decide to have a'weekend' car.

The more I see the Panda, the more I'm inclined to have one as the next car. Like the high postion of the gear change stick for a start, and doesn't feel too cramped. Would like to see the 2 cylinder eco-version if it gets released (in 64 and 100 bhp versions). As for the 500, top of the list if I decide to have a'weekend' car.

that new engine is on the way