Faults:

The micro switch in the boot release kept firing the boot open indiscriminately.

Very rattly interior and very poor quality trim / plastics.

Strange loose sounding rumbles from front and rear suspension.

Engine smoked badly and used a lot of oil.

General Comments:

I loved the look and character of the Panda, but was bitterly disappointed by it's poor quality.

The refinement of the turbo diesel engine is superb, especially at motorway speeds, but there is an awful dead period of turbo lag at low speeds (worse in cold weather.

Once moving the performance is great, but the initial poor throttle response is verging on dangerous in my opinion.

Horrible horrible tacky plastics used for dash and door trims.

By contrast the seats are well upholstered, durable and very comfortable.

My Panda replaced a much loved and respected Fabia TDI, and happily has been replaced by another Fabia TDI.

For cheap economical quality transport, look no further than the series 1 Skoda Fabia.

Faults:

Condensation in near side headlamp - replaced under warranty.

Covering for Air bag cover/ horn push on steering wheel began peeling off - replaced under warranty.

That's it in 28500 miles.

General Comments:

I was a bit reluctant to buy a Fiat due to the company's reputation and after-sales, but I have had no cause for concern and have been very happy with the overall purchase.

I love this little car. I bought it to use for commuting to and from work and needed a reliable cheap car to run, that was also practical. My intention was to use my no-claims insurance discount on a second older and more powerful car for pleasure only, but I haven't bothered as this little Fiat has been good enough for me to enjoy and get pleasure from.

Its good to drive. The car is happy to take on any road and despite a bit of body roll the car handles well. Being small its great in town and visibility is good. The gear change is one of the best I've tried and the electric power steering which is already light can be made lighter at a flick of a switch. The car is also fine on the motorway. OK its not fast by any means, but the 1.2 is nippy enough for me to spend most of my time in the fast lane and will keep up with the traffic with no difficulty. Good sound insulation also make long motorway journeys easy, as does a good sound system.

The cabin is well thought out and roomy with comfy front seats and a good driving position. The dash is unusual in having the gear lever sticking out of it, but its very easy to use and adds character, which I feel the panda has loads of.

The running costs are as expected very good and despite getting driven hard, the car has yet to average less than 50MPG on a tankful of fuel. The insurance is only group two and road tax £105. Dealer servicing costs are expensive, but I doubt Fiat are any worse than others and if I decide to run it into the ground I will go independent.

In the time I've owned it, I've been very satisfied with my little panda. It's a great city car which offers more and you can get a new one in the UK for less than £6000 if you shop around. It makes me laugh to see people spend twice as much and often more on some cars which are in my view rubbish.