Was the Panda 100Hp Fiats best hot hatch
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- Опубліковано 27 бер 2024
- Finally we get a panda 100Hp on the channel
A car that we absolutely love
Does it handle better than a Abarth 500?
And why didn’t they call it the Panda Abarth.
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These things are a giggle, every drive. Love mine to bits. As Ant says, it's like an exuberant puppy - always up for play. James' reaction to the first corner is what the car is all about.
Got a 2007 example in 2020, and have experienced very few unexpected problems. However, most seem to suffer from not being very well looked after - and mine is no exception (had no service history, which is not unusual). So, expect to have to 'catch-up' on general servicing.
First thing is make sure of is the timing belt/water pump. Both MUST be changed every 36k miles or 4 years. First thing I got done - the water pump was just starting to weep! Engine is a tight fit, which puts the water pump right up against an engine mount. Not sure if my garage detaches the mount to get at it.
The only big problem has been 3rd gear synchro wear. Apparently common, but then all sorts of cars suffer from this - inc BMWs and Porsches, etc.
A rebuild is the best/‘cheapest’ route. Expect approx £1.2k, inc clutch. The 'box is rare, so a pre-restored off-the-shelf unit will set you back approx £2.7k+. None of it cheap, I'm afraid. Well worth doing, tho'. The gearbox is one of the car's main features. I’m also told, by the guys who rebuilt mine, that you absolutely must use ONLY the factory spec gearbox oil: Petronas Tutela Technyx 75W-85. Apparently, 75w-90 is a more common trans’ fluid, and some use it, but the Tutela Technyx oil is specifically for that ‘box.
Many reviewers claim parts are cheap ‘…as it’s a Panda…’. They’ve clearly not done their research. I’m afraid you’ll find most parts and servicing, while not hideous, are not that cheap either. If it were a 1.1 or 1.2 model, things like rear brake callipers are £40. For a 100HP, they’re £200 each. Fiat dealers want £750 for a steering wheel! (it’s not even real leather, remember). I did find an official French Fiat parts supplier with a new rim, but they wanted 328 Euro for it - I hesitated for a few days and it went.
Nearly all seem to have over-tired suspension, too. Results in a crashy ride and a slightly 'wavey' rear end. Expect to at least replace all 4 dampers.
Most of the 'factory' understeer can dialled-out by some (very effective) front geometry mods. I can confirm that the car remains fully predictable and fun - and gains a much greater passive safety margin.
You need an Italian car specialist like Auto Sportivo to advise you on front geometry mods. The outfit who overhauled the suspension on mine did a superb job. I don't want to give away any 'IP' in the work they did, but I'm sure Auto Sportivo will know (better than me) the sort of mods I'm on about.
Tyres are the next thing. Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 is the factory spec tyre - made in that size, specifically for the car, by Goodyear in Germany. Stick with them - they're an integral part of part of the handling package. Good in wet and dry. Others are cheaper, but a lot of them are ditch-finders. Some fit 50 profile side-walI too, which opens-out further options, but I'll bank on Goodyear knowing more about tyres than me. At 8k miles per year (on the low-side, I know), I find the fronts last 2 years (with modded front geometry) and the rears over 4 years - while firmly 'tickling' the odd corner along the way.
The big mechanical Achilles heal on this car is that rear beam axle - same design as used on most vans. It's a strong unit - mine's over 17 years old, and still going strong, but those spring cups will rot one day. £250 or so if it was a 1.1 or 1.2 model, but know it's a lot more for a 100HP. Can't seem to get a straight answer on how much more, though. Think it’s around £800-900 (?). Seems it might also be a special order item, too. If someone out there knows for sure, please let me know.
Have found Lanoguard a good underside rust prevention prep’. Re-apply every year. It's made from Lanolin, which is the grease washed off freshly cut fleece. Will not stain or break-up a tarmac, brick or concrete driveway, like oil does. Any drips and/or stains on your driveway will fade inside a year.
Don’t fill the coolant level beyond half-way. That engine bay gets bloody hot and the coolant expands alarmingly - even though the engine is a good order. A few months after I topped it up to max, the expansion tank developed a fracture at the top. Had the coolant flushed and the expansion tank replaced. Kept the coolant at half-level since and all’s been good for the last 12 months. Coolant still expands a lot, tho’.
That gear knob is a cheap plastic thing, and will break when removing it to replace the shift gaiter, as it's glued to the shift shaft. Don't feel too bad about it coming off, James. Recommend replacing it with a Richbrook Speed Top (£28, Halfords). Machined from aluminium billet - even the shift pattern cap. Very smart. Put a small smear of resin glue on the shift shaft splines, before fitting the rubber sleeve that the fixing collar mounts to. This allows the rubber collar to properly grip the shift shaft splines. Without the resin glue, the rubber sleeve will lose its grip inside 12 months and the shift knob will end-up rotating on the shift shaft. The sleeve needs cutting-down to 00mm before fitting.
The vinyl shift gaiter always splits, after approx 5 years of use. Recommend replacing with a leather one, from Italy. Go to: www.lartepelle.com
The steering wheel, and shift knob, are covered with faux leather. After approx 8 years, or more, UV damage causes it to delaminate. The top-most layer wrinkles-up and starts to peal off.
Getting the steering wheel re-covered with real leather in the UK is a bother - your car is likely to be off the road for weeks. Seems the main business of leather trimmers over here is fitting-out entire classic car interiors, etc, (understandable). So a steering wheel gets put to one side until they get a mo'.
Had to use an outfit in Germany, in the end. Go to: www.autofun-extreme.eu (think they’re currently updating the website).
Excellent job at a good price. Cost £210, inc shipping, 3 years ago. A huge range of covering options, inc adding thumb rests.
They use a recovered wheel, cover it and send that to you. Don't remove/fit it yourself unless you know what you’re doing - the centre boss is an airbag unit. Be sure to type a note, using the website contact page, when ordering, detailing your order and that it's for a 100HP, so it needs to feature the button controls. As it's a recovered wheel, you might find the mounting points on the button units themselves broken or fractured. Keep your original button controls to one side, just in case.
Most recently, the lower-lumbar area of the driver's seat developed a lateral split. Apparently, this is common on cars approx 10 years old or more. Unfortunately, Fiat have no fabric spare parts left - just the plastic bits. You'll have to find a donor seat from a breaker in good condition, which will take time and may have to come from some way off. You will probably have to use a professional upholsterer to cannibalise parts of the donor seat, as I had to. Annoyingly, the fabric in mine is A1. You'll struggle to match that now.
The upholsterer found one arm of a wire lattice behind the lumbar area bolster had broken, and this is why the seat frame had ground through the bolster and seat back fabric. It’s ludicrously flimsy.
When re-fitting the seat, be careful to locate a 'finger', by the inside-front bolt cup, into a slot in the floor. Otherwise, you'll crimp the floor panel, and the seat will not properly bolt-down on that corner.
If the car is left unused for more than 3 or 4 days, the ECU might flag a message to have the steering checked. This could partially be due to steering system wear, but I've found it actually seems to be about power. If the battery is very low on charge, I recommend changing it (to a Yausa HSB012 Silver, £97, Halfords). Most of the time, though, the fix is simply to take the car for a run every few days.
I would love to add a little naturally aspirated tuning, but things like porting, cams, a programmable ECU, and a proper professional map (not a stupid £500 download) would add-up to a big 4-figure sum, for an extra 20-30hp. Significant on 975kg car, but I’ll have to dream on about that, for now.
Despite being cleared for E10/95RON fuel, I do find it runs noticeably better on E5/99RON fuel. Whether this is due to any cleaning properties of E5 petrol, etc, I can't be sure yet. Am still experimenting. Will next try E5 fuel every 4th week next.
Sorry I went on a bit. The boys at Auto Sportivo will know all of the above, of course, but I wanted to be sure to pass-on what I've learned about the car to anyone who owns or is considering a 100HP. There are a few other very minor things, but the above are the main ones.
After 4 years, I still love it to bits. I’m still going through it, tho’, catching-up on its (previously lapsed/skimped) servicing. I’ve always been this way about my Italian cars - I think they respond to a bit of TLC.
It’s the sort of car that reminds why you got interested in cars in the first place. Even those used to huge horsepower exotics like 'em - ask Harry Metcalfe (of Evo mag).
With many thanks to Auto Sportivo for the channel.
I reckon everyone is ill at the moment, I've been absolutely ruined this week. I wish more companies made cars like this, simple, rugged, fun and SMALL. Cars are massive these days.
I agree cracking car, I love the 4x4 versions.
Get well soon!
Here's a thought, if people were properly educated about supplements, gut health, etc and we had cost effective air filtration in public places, Eg Drs surgeries, schools, dentists and the government didn't insist on spreading viruses via certain medical interventions, we'd all be well more often. Also less time would be lost at work and school, but the WEF et al want this country on its knees and subservient.
Why insurance has doubled. Paying for others stupidity. (1.3 Mazda 2 2010 de rusted it)
Have it for almost 10 years now and not willing to part with it. Best daily: zippy&nimble, easy to maintain, cheap parts and a great fun on the way home after the supermarket run. Installed Bilstein B6s, 500 Abarth front brakes and some 195/50/15 rubber for adding comfort. Can't think of something with so much character at this price tag.
Owned one, many years ago. Added a Ragazon exhaust. It was wonderful .
It replaced a very old and tired Alfa 145 cloverleaf. Didn’t regret the change.
As with all low powered cars, you really had to work with the machine to get the best out of it.
Sadly FIAT no longer makes such characterful vehicles.
Hence I now own and enjoy an UP GTi which drives with the same eagerness as old classic FIATS.
Thanks for sharing!
Used to own one, had a few cars since, and of all of them the Panda is still my favourite car. Wish I never got rid of it, especially given how much they've gone up in value since then
I had a blue one. Whatever speed you were doing, it felt 50% faster!
Impossible to not love. A member of our family. Almost human...sorry IS human! Loveable Pup
I’ve driven one and I loved it! Really really fun little car 😁
I totally agree!
Best car I ever had
Living 100km from Italian border, having found examples from 5200-7000E, it makes me cry hearing you saying ".... 2.5k Ł for better ones...." :/ Now lets check for some MiTos
Ajde Panda, ajde Mito🇮🇹🇮🇹
in England lowish mileage cars are similar in value to what you found i saw
We got the std Panda in NZ but don't think any 100hp made it here as they thought low spec Abarth too close in price. Would be fun on NZ roads where the Abarth is a bit firm riding at times!
A classic example of it's more fun to go fast in a slow car than slow in a fast car. The 100HP is a lot of fun at the speed limit
I owned two of these. Great cars, but only if you have the money to keep up the maintenance. The most fun down a country road though!
Had mine for 5 months now. 2008 plate. Unfortunately it had been sat around for a bit and so its needed fair amount including clutch, master and slave cylinder, water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, 1 ignition coil, wheel bearing, shock absorber, tyres, prop shaft seal, gearbox (too much play within the gearbox which causes prop shaft to leak). Last week the blower stopped blowing warm air and just this morning the coolant/water temp sensor has gone. But I still love it! :P Ive only ever seen 3 in the flesh. Tend to give a toot on the horn when passing.
Uno Turbo, Punto gt?
Never driven one, not seen that many about, but watching this has given me the itch to have a go in one.
I've got a 100hp in Bedford as well 😁 mines not exactly standard though 🤫🐼🇮🇹
Owned one for the last 5 years, honestly dont think theres anything better to drive for the money. I plan to tjet convert it as some point in the future
Not a 100hp but I bought a 4x4 as a cheap runaround and that’s a lot of fun which has definitely got me intrigued on a 100hp
I came so close to buying one of these back in 2007. Got a Fabia vRS instead. I regret and don't regret that decision. Love the 100HP.
Currently own one here in Northern Ireland, blue with yellow wheels. I've owned it for 6 years having bought it in Sunderland. It's so much fun to drive and has so much grip, give me the driver seat any day 😋 I love the fact that they are rare, adding that bit of exclusivity.
I had one from new and only paid 8k for it. Had the sweetest gear shift, handling was incredible. I think the standard suspension needs a little something as it’s a bit bouncy and could get scarily unsettled under heavy braking… I’m already on Autotrader looking!
I loved my Panda 100, it was just like driving a Jack Russel puppy, you could not be sensible in it. Pushing BMWs out of the fast lane on the M40 at 90+ but it was in the bends that it excelled, just so useable and if you did over cook it would go into a nice controllable slide that would scrub the speed off. Going into Kineton in Warwickshire on a quiet summer evening I hunted down a Porsche Boxster S, he tried to get away but scared himself in a fast right and he went into "I am going to drive at the speed limit mode" rather than be humiliated by my "puppy".
At least rust convert the beam lol even that doesn't last lol especially on french/Spanish cars! Lol all jokes aside this flue has literally wiped out everyone. I hate been at home but it is doing the rounds! And I would love a 100hp panda!
I've got a 2007 fiat panda 100hp pandamonium pack and it's such a fun little car, mines got a k&n air filter and raggazoon exhaust so it's got a lovely sound to it, and you don't hear much obout them seeing that there quite rare. I've got the abarth 500 seats in mine aswell and they do look nice.
Very nice!
Cheers 👍
Not sure if THE best but it’s surely up there.
I refer them to the 500 Abarth, it’s got that Golf Gti type hot hatch style, better wheels than standard Panda, but more power than a standard, enough to stand above normal Panda, none of that look at me Abarth styling, some power mods would make that a fun drive
What did you use on the rear axle? I need to redo mine on my Abarth as the first attempt has only lasted 6 months and the rust has come back with a vengeance?
Even a 1.1 panda is fun around town, you can use all of the power all of the time in a small car and have fun instead of a big car using half of its power some of the time
First car was a 2004, 1.2 panda dynamic…. Used to drive it to St Andrews a few times a week for work and gave it the full send at all times (a wheel flew off at one point … luckily at low speed😂) so light you can chuck and pull yourself out of about anything! Often with 2 wheels off! and although I’ve driven some spicy cars since and my current daily is a tts with 320hp…… Nothings been quite as special… and terrifying! Always arrived places with a real sense of … ‘I fucking made it!’ Absolutely love em! Wouldve loved to try the 100hp version!
It was one of the contenders to become my first car, but bought a 205 gti instead. I would still love to own one now though 😊
Would love to have one but sadly was never sold here, only base models.
I like the generation of Panda that James May owned.
Panda 💯HP RULES🇮🇹🇮🇹
Panda 100hps (which was going to be the first Abarth badged car until the last minute when Fiat changed their minds) are excellent cars but the one on test does not remind me of my late bought from new one at all in terms of how it should perform and handle, mine with four adults up on a steepish incline on the motorway accelerating strongly in sixth and corners on rails on its original spec goodyear f1 tyres in the dry, which have been changed because of the age of the original tyres, not mileage! Also try finding a low mileage (under 20000 miles) at all. Prices for three owners cars with lowish mileage (25-45000 miles range) were 5000+ pounds when I last checked a few years ago and my own car with 7000 miles from new is on an agreed value.
The thing with smaller sports models is you can use a greater % of the performance more of the time.
What about the t jet puntos…love mine
❤❤❤🎉👍👍👍
That ones rare on a 10 plate
Ant is the one understanding what makes a car fun to drive 👍 but that muppet 'James' absoluteley doesnt.
😂😂😂
UNO turbo i.e.
Obviously james doesn't what a good nippy car 100 hp Is mine has done over 110 k still great fun just the paint has lost lacquer
Definitely not fiats best hot hatch not when you consider the Punto GT was pretty much the same weight but with over 30% more ponies packed into the engine.
That generation Panda was Polish built and felt cheap and flimsy. There was a 1.4 16v Fiat 500 Sport when they first came out, don’t think they quite made 100 hp… the Stilo Bravo and later Tipo were rated at 90hp….
Luke warm at best.
No it wasn't...The best by far was the MK1 Fiat Punto GT Turbo...
They are too uncomfortable to be great.
Terrible ride quality.
Suzuki ignis sport is miles better