1985 Fiat Panda Super 1.0

Summary:

A quality economy car

Faults:

Endemic rust at the base of both doors.

General Comments:

Cheap and reliable runabout - in black even the rust didn't show!

Ex-wife's car - she thought it was the bees knees too - cheap to buy, run, service and insure - lots of space and pretty tough. I reversed it into a parked car with no damage to either, and I was going at a fair lick - big soft plastic bumpers.

No idea how it ended - mileage finally covered as the little Panda took her away when she ran off with another fella in the early 90's - I miss that car, but not the ex ha ha ha!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th November, 2013

1985 Fiat Panda 4x4 1.0 petrol

Summary:

Why have they stopped making them??

Faults:

Snapped leaf spring.

Window fell out of the driver's door.

Engine blew up (no oil) and the fuel tank rusted through.

General Comments:

I bought the car off someone's driveway, as a joke for £150.

It turned out to be better off-road than a Vauxhall Frontera, a Jeep Wrangler and a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I took it on an Army vehicle testing track, and went everywhere they did!

It could do with a little more power and perhaps a longer 5th gear for motorway driving, but I wouldn't swap it for any other car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th September, 2000

1st Feb 2001, 15:06

I have had three Panda 4x4's, I am currently running an '88 model. I am looking for another 4x4 with twin sunroofs like my first one, as I think you get the best of both worlds - open top motoring and 4x4 safety.

14th Jun 2001, 20:14

Brilliant cars, I'm toying with having a new pair of gears made for 5th gear, as the engine howl on the motorway is a bit much, I don't want to kill the mountain climbing ability (comment from a landrover owner 'you drove it up there!?!?!'), should boost mpg too, anyone else interested? It will probably get cheaper to have a small batch made than just one pair...

17th Jul 2001, 15:55

I own E46 LFB and living in Devon has meant that I have been able to drive over some of the more harsh terrain of Dartmoor and all I can say is...

FANTASTIC!! (but bumpy).

17th Oct 2001, 09:39

I am now using my second 4X4 Panda and I love it! I am 6'4" and it one of the few cars I have enough head room in. Off road it can embarass a lot of larger 4X4's.

16th May 2002, 15:22

I'm 6'6" while it has got way way more headroom than a range rover (guess they were made for shorties...), not quite enough for me, so I hacked a maestro seat to be an inch lower and 2 inches further back on the panda runners, much nicer! Off road is amazing, really embarrases the big 4x4 posemobiles.

27th Mar 2005, 21:58

That is the perfect SUV I have ever had, it is 1985 model and it has 180000km on it,but still nothing can beat it off road. It is a cool fun-car!

In reply to 17th Jul 2001, 15:55

7th Jan 2012, 08:08

Dear owner of E46 LFB.

This is a long shot (your post being over 10 years old). I think I may have sold you this little beauty. How's she doing? Would you consider selling her back?

Thanks.