Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 22 February 2013, 09:42:46

Title: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 22 February 2013, 09:42:46
What's your thoughts? TG seem to like it. And I am being tempted by a 70mpg drive :y
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: henryd on 22 February 2013, 09:51:29
Not too bad to drive,better than a Ka as at least it shouldn't rust away before your eyes :o
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Del Boy on 22 February 2013, 10:00:04
If you honestly believe that you'll get 70 MPG out of a Punto 1.2, then don't. You'll struggle to get 35. I had 6 of these delivered all at one time, 12 plates, five were 1.4's and one was a 1.2 honestly one of the slowest cars I've ever driven, and fuel consumption was just sh1te.
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 22 February 2013, 10:02:07
Not too bad to drive,better than a Ka as at least it shouldn't rust away before your eyes :o

 ;D

Thing is we literally only ever town drive. With the occasional motorway stint. the only thing that concerns me is these thing s on the motorway. i've always loved the mig for that power to get you out of trouble if needs be. but cars like trhis... are they dangerously slow?

also, if i SORNd the miggy, what sort of maintenance should i do? say like start it once a week for 15 mins etc? to keep it in tip top condition whilst SORNd?
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 22 February 2013, 10:40:04
If you honestly believe that you'll get 70 MPG out of a Punto 1.2, then don't. You'll struggle to get 35. I had 6 of these delivered all at one time, 12 plates, five were 1.4's and one was a 1.2 honestly one of the slowest cars I've ever driven, and fuel consumption was just sh1te.

now that is very interesting. i got those figures from Whatcar
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: henryd on 22 February 2013, 11:07:59
If you honestly believe that you'll get 70 MPG out of a Punto 1.2, then don't. You'll struggle to get 35. I had 6 of these delivered all at one time, 12 plates, five were 1.4's and one was a 1.2 honestly one of the slowest cars I've ever driven, and fuel consumption was just sh1te.

now that is very interesting. i got those figures from Whatcar

As Del says take the official consumption figures with a pinch of salt,the 1.3 diesel is the only one which will crack 50.
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Lazydocker on 22 February 2013, 14:51:40
I disagree to some extent, although it's unlikely to average more than 50mpg... We've got an 09 plate 1.2 that I bought SWMBO brand new on a deal. We've now had it 4 years and it's been superb for what she does, which is mostly town driving. In town it will average high 40's fairly easily but on a run (unless you're willing to sit at 50 or so) it's not good ::) Mid 30's at best! My omega on LPG is cheaper on a run ;)

It's not the quickest thing but works well enough for a town car :y

Only issues with it have been a window regulator, LCD backlight on dash being temperamental and a rubber seal on the front brakes being trapped when it was assembled :y

We've been really pleased with it, for what it is, but it does do less than 10k/year ;)
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 22 February 2013, 15:54:05
so it actually uses more on a run  :o
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Lazydocker on 22 February 2013, 16:28:54
so it actually uses more on a run  :o

It's a town car and geared as such... I'm talking about driving at the same speeds... At, for example, a constant 70 my omega will be doing 30 mpg (which is in cost terms nearer 47 mpg with LPG ;)) the Panda will be doing mid 30's at absolute best and screaming it's nuts off at 4k RPM whereas the Omega will be sat at just under 3k RPM ;)

In Town I could get the average over 50 mpg on her car but I had to drive like a saint ::) It was actually when I was driving it out from town to my unit because the front brakes were U/S so I wasn't braking ;D ;)
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: tunnie on 22 February 2013, 17:10:14
so it actually uses more on a run  :o

It's a town car and geared as such... I'm talking about driving at the same speeds... At, for example, a constant 70 my omega will be doing 30 mpg (which is in cost terms nearer 47 mpg with LPG ;)) the Panda will be doing mid 30's at absolute best and screaming it's nuts off at 4k RPM whereas the Omega will be sat at just under 3k RPM ;)

In Town I could get the average over 50 mpg on her car but I had to drive like a saint ::) It was actually when I was driving it out from town to my unit because the front brakes were U/S so I wasn't braking ;D ;)

Like the Top Gear test of an M3 vs Prius.

Prius told to do a lap of the track as fast as possible, M3 told to just keep up.

Prius averaged 17mpg, the M3? 19mpg!
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: omega3000 on 22 February 2013, 19:54:53
Aye , get a PUG :P
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 23 February 2013, 21:10:44
thing is we hardly ever go outta town.... and 40-50 mpg sounds AWESOME!!!! for toon driving. i heard theyre reliable too  :y
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: JesterRT on 25 February 2013, 13:45:04
I have a 1.1 Panda - and it's ace!  I bought it a couple of years ago with only 7,000 miles on the clock.  It's just shy of 60,000 now and so far I've changed oil, spark plugs and tyres, and that's it.  I do a 120+ mile commute during the week and it doesn't get much use at the weekend.  I get low to mid 40's in fuel consumption, and I don't particularly drive with economy in mind.  I'm pretty sure I could push this up with some more 'careful' driving.
It's pretty basic motoring - the seat position isn't for everyone (my wife hates the way your foot ends up on the accelerator pedal, but I went through an old Punto which was exactly the same, so hasn't bothered me).  It's noisy at speed, it rolls like a ship in a storm and the road holding is as good as the cheap tyres I put on it (£120 for all four tyres the last time I changed the set).  It tends to wear the front tyres excessively on the inner edge, but only when you use the 'city' button.  I left that on for ages and the tyre wear went through the roof - this set (of identical tyres) with no geometry changes - had it checked every time, has been fine.

I really like it - on windy roads you can drive nearer the edge going slowly (so it all comes back and doesn't land you in a ditch backwards).  It worked brilliantly in the snow - I just drove up and down hills that loads of others didn't.  Think that might be to do with the weight (NOTHING to do with the tyres, because they were the crappest cheapest tyres I could get).

Spark plugs are nice and accessible, oil is easy to change (and barely holds 2.5ltrs), oil consumption has been fine, insurance is cheap (group 1) and tax is 30 quid a year.

All in all, it's turned out really cost effective :)

The bad bits are...
- seats, comfortable enough, but the fixed, hard headrest is quite annoying
- seat is only adustable backwards and forwards - no height/rake in base - obviously the back tilts back/forth.
- city button chews tyres if left switched on
- power.  It's gutless past 20mph, but as long as you're not on a mission to break land speed it'll pull itself up to 85mph (on private roads, of course)
- torque.  It's got none.  Knock many seconds off your 0-60 for every passenger you add.
- low speed, crawling in traffic in 1st.  It's really, really notchy.  It just never seems to want to smoothly put in that first bit of power, and given I spend my life commuting on the M6, that's quite annoying (as it's mostly crawling and stationary).
- rear legroom.  Is fine for short journeys, but pretty poor.  Kids seats fit, BUT they will smear the backs of the seats with the crap from their feet (unless you make them only travel in your car in their socks, like I do - much to the bemusement of the missus)
- boot space.  Hahahahahahaha
- dealers.  They'll charge the earth to service it (so I bought the parts and did it myself).

Given the choice, I'd have another one when this one goes bang.  It's due it's first MOT next week, so I'll see what that brings (but I'm not expecting much - possibly the rear drums/brakes as 60,000 miles, it's still on the originals.
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Broomies Mate on 25 February 2013, 13:50:56


The bad bits are...
- seats, comfortable enough, but the fixed, hard headrest is quite annoying
- seat is only adustable backwards and forwards - no height/rake in base - obviously the back tilts back/forth.
- city button chews tyres if left switched on
- power.  It's gutless past 20mph, but as long as you're not on a mission to break land speed it'll pull itself up to 85mph (on private roads, of course)
- torque.  It's got none.  Knock many seconds off your 0-60 for every passenger you add.
- low speed, crawling in traffic in 1st.  It's really, really notchy.  It just never seems to want to smoothly put in that first bit of power, and given I spend my life commuting on the M6, that's quite annoying (as it's mostly crawling and stationary).
- rear legroom.  Is fine for short journeys, but pretty poor.  Kids seats fit, BUT they will smear the backs of the seats with the crap from their feet (unless you make them only travel in your car in their socks, like I do - much to the bemusement of the missus)
- boot space.  Hahahahahahaha
- dealers.  They'll charge the earth to service it (so I bought the parts and did it myself).

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Andy B on 25 February 2013, 14:04:01
I have a 1.1 Panda - and it's ace!   ...

It sounds very similar to my daughter's 1100cc  Seicento. She thinks it's great - independence etc, better than walking & better than the bus and does everything she wants it to. I find the offset pedals a bit awkward, but I only drive it every now & then.  :y
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 February 2013, 18:00:16
That's perfect and just what I was looking for on the info side.

I only have one more question regarding the Panda....

Did I read correctly that it's a non-interference engine? That would be a MASSIVE selling point to me
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: albitz on 25 February 2013, 18:06:28
The 1.2 Punto of around 10 years ago was non inteference.Bloody strong little cars to,surprisingly.
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 February 2013, 18:13:10
The 1.2 Punto of around 10 years ago was non inteference.Bloody strong little cars to,surprisingly.

I've read on the Fiat Forum that the Pandas that are fitted with the ''FIRE'' motor are non-interference.... but as there's a billion different models I can't seem to find out if that applies to all of them  :-\
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: omega3000 on 25 February 2013, 18:21:31
I have a 1.1 Panda - and it's ace!   ...

It sounds very similar to my daughter's 1100cc  Seicento. She thinks it's great - independence etc, better than walking & better than the bus and does everything she wants it to. I find the offset pedals a bit awkward, but I only drive it every now & then.  :y

Same on the pug , cant drive in boots but can forgive it for that  ;D
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: JesterRT on 25 February 2013, 20:07:04
yup - FIRE engine, so when something goes snap, nothing goes bang (supposedly).

Was a selling point for me too :)  Not that I'd push my luck on the cambelt mileage (honest)!!
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 25 February 2013, 20:08:19
yup - FIRE engine, so when something goes snap, nothing goes bang (supposedly).

Was a selling point for me too :)  Not that I'd push my luck on the cambelt mileage (honest)!!

thanks jester... is that on all pandas?
Title: Re: Fiat Panda 1.2 Petrol (2004-present model)
Post by: henryd on 25 February 2013, 22:51:47
yup - FIRE engine, so when something goes snap, nothing goes bang (supposedly).

Was a selling point for me too :)  Not that I'd push my luck on the cambelt mileage (honest)!!

thanks jester... is that on all pandas?

Most of the petrols but not the diesels.