1992 Fiat Panda 1000 CLX 1.0 FIRE petrol

Faults:

Clutch spring went, causing clutch pedal to sag to floor... new clutch required.

Ignition coil needed replacing.

Various irritating faults with electrics - i.e. fuses & bulbs randomly blowing, and battery light often stays on.

General Comments:

Pleasingly nippy around town - steering is very direct & gives lots of feedback.

Since ignition coil was replaced it starts faultlessly from cold. Plenty of headroom. Height allows you to fit lots in the boot too.

Downsides... sloppy gearchange, odd driving position and scary lack of stability at high speeds. Also becomes Slugmobile from 55mph onwards... square shape means that it is an aerodynamic disaster!! Is affected a lot by winds etc.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th February, 2000

1992 Fiat Panda Selecta 2.0

Faults:

Everything to do with starting the car went wrong particularly when it got slightly cold or damp, the automatic gearbox broke on a motorway.

General Comments:

I hated that car, buying it was the worst mistake I've ever made in my life except for wasting two years on some girl, which incidentally, I did at the same time as owning the Panda.

I'm over it now but please heed my warning - for gods sake do not buy a Fiat Panda, or go out with my ex.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 31st January, 1999

16th Dec 2000, 18:50

I totally disagree with this review of the Panda Selecta. I bought mine second hand in 1996 (it is a K reg) and it has been a faithful companion since then. I have had absolutely no problems with it apart from replacing the exhaust once and a window seal once.

I bought it and get it serviced in a garage in St Fergus where I get excellent service from the owner of the garage and his staff.

The car is good fun to drive and the automatic transmission is great in the snow.

The author of this review sounds fairly bitter about something, but with my experience of Fiats (my dad has had 2 Pandas and now has a Cinquencento Sporting, and my mum has had 2 Puntos and is now on to a Siecento Sporting) it is probably not due to his Panda.

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