Tue 20 Dec 2005 10:47 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Jase

Hello, Does anyone have any experience of running either a new Panda 1.3 diesel or (long shot I know) the new Rio diesel. I am considering both these cars as the solution to my commute! Thanks in advance Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 14:05 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Jase

Well I'm off to test drive a Panda 1.3multijet at the weekend and I'll report back. Looking forward to it. I am still interested if anyone has any real world experience of either of these cars (mpg, good things, faults) particular on their ability to handle motorways. Thanks again Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 14:10 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

I looked around a new Kia Rio, in the showroom only, while my VW was in for its MOT. Visible quality, fit trim, comfort were excellent. Sounds a bargain at £8k for the diesel.Looks very like the recent Mazda 323F. -- I wasna fu but just had plenty. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 14:36 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Happy Blue!

I'm sure someone on this site bought the Rio on HJ's recoomendation and was delighted with it, but can't remember who. It may of course have been a DT reader. -- Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 15:13 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - jase1

There are a couple of guys over at Parkers who have test-driven this car and rate it highly, as does HJ. I've had a look around it at the dealer myself and it does seem to be beautifully screwed together for something so cheap, if the mechanically-identical new Hyundai Accent is the same they could end up selling a lot of these between them. The only thing I'd be a bit concerned about is how noisy the diesel is; Hyundai diesel designs have historically been a bit rough-and-ready. This one is chain driven which bodes well for longevity. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 15:35 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Aprilia

I may be wrong, but I think this Diesel engine is basically a VM design - which bodes well IMHO... Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 16:00 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Jase

I may be wrong, but I think this Diesel engine is basically a VM design - which bodes well IMHO... The Rio I presume? Do you know anything about the 1.3 Fiat diesel, you seem to be a knowledgeable techie person Thanks for all your posts by the way. My train of thought has been this so far.. I like the Panda but if the Rio was also available on 4yrs interest free (worth £500+ over the 4yrs and lower initial outlay of course) then I think it may win the race (subject to driving them both of course). As it is the Panda is cheaper to insure, tax, fuel and service albeit it by small margins. That said I need to factor air-con (£550) and the essential split fold rear seat (£200) into the Panda cost. Therefore I need to knock the dealer down. What-Car target price is @£7250 so I remain hopeful that I can put a Panda diesel on the road with my options for approximately the £7895 list price and pay for it over 4 yrs. I will report back post Panda drive! Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 16:56 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - madf

You can buy ex demo Multijets considerably cheaper than list. 2005 54 Reg Fiat Panda 1.3 litre Dynamic, T J Vickers Fiat 5 Doors, Manual, Diesel, Choice, 1 Owner(s), Electric windows,Power steering,Trip computer. These super economical cars are in very short supply new so dont miss the chance to buy one of these ex FIAT . . . . (trade) Fiat Franchised Retailer £6,000 31miles *multi-photos 2005 54 Reg FIAT Panda 1.3 Multijet Dynamic TJ Vickers & Sons Ltd 5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 6,317 miles, Yellow. airbag double, Balance Of Manufacturers 3 Year Warranty, Power-Assisted Steering, ABS, Electric windows, Best part exchange allowance, 4x4 option . . . . (trade) £6,000 36miles *multi-photos 2005 55 Reg FIAT Panda 1.3 Multijet Dynamic Moss Rose Motors 5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 1 miles, Metallic Silver, 1 Owner. ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Central locking, Cloth upholstery, Colour coding - Body, Computer, Driver . . . . (trade) £6,995 9miles 2005 55 Reg FIAT Panda 1.3 Multijet Dynamic Moss Rose Motors 5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 5 miles, Bossa Nova Blue, 1 Owner. ABS, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Central locking, Cloth upholstery, Colour coding - Body, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric . . . . (trade) madf Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 17:11 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Xileno {P}

I think the Corsa uses the same 1.3 diesel engine as the Panda. So maybe another option? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 18:08 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - carl_a

The Rio is no longer an 8k car, the diesel is now 9k and the petrol 8.5k Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 5 Jan 2006 18:14 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - bimmer-driver Its true, they've just upped prices due to demand so the derv is now not the same price as the petrol. As for the Panda, my mates got a 2004 Corsavan with the 1.3 cdti in it and its broken down 3 times- twice the gear linkage went south and then most recently its needed a new alternator. But on the plus side its quiet, nippy and exceptionally frugal- regularly gets 60 mpg. Ben Reply | Report as offensive | Link Thu 5 Jan 2006 23:08 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - barchettaman Jase, just to check - did you see HJ´s test drive of the Kia Rio? If not, here´s the link. www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=189 Have fun testing, report back how you get on. Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 08:58 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Jase Jase, just to check - did you see HJ´s test drive of the Kia Rio? If not, here´s the link. www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=189 Have fun testing, report back how you get on. I did and it seemed very impressive. However it sounds like its gone up by £1k overnight from people are posting! Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 15:08 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - Jase HJ (or anyone with experience) - can you provide any more information on the £200 split/fold and sliding rear seat arrangement for the Panda. I see this a a key option but my local Fiat dealer in Bournemouth can't find any cars locally with it specified. Did you play with it on the road test per chance? Is it a case of the top is hinged and the seat back and base slide back and forth on rollers? I am keen to know if it means you can make enough space for an adult in the back at one extreme or make the boot reasonable at the other. Thanks again people. Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 00:26 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - oilfilter --- Its true, they've just upped prices due to demand so the derv is now not the same price as the petrol.--- If the above is true than Kia should be taken to the Advertising Standards Authority as on telly tonight (06.01.06)they claimed in their adverts (cowboy style cartoon)that petrol and diesel cost the same.. or is it me just being dim? Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 16:46 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - artful dodger {P} I saw this advert a few days ago and it clearly stated that the petrol and diesel models were the same price. According to the Kia web site the prices are: www.kia.co.uk/riopriceoptions.asp This shows that the petrol is now £8495 and the diesel is £8995. Maybe they were too much of a bargain as HJ stated last year. Everyone seems to think the car market is tough at the moment, but price hikes like these are not justified even with a popular model. I had been considering the Rio as a likely replacement for my wife's car, but raising the prices like this makes me less inclined to bother visiting my local Kia dealer. -- Roger I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say. Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 17:01 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - carl_a Its not the populaity of Kia's in this country but abroad thats the problem, I read that orginally 17500 Rio's were heading here for 2006 but due to supply problems its only going to be 6000 now. It must be the largest supply chain screw up since one of teh large super markets a few years ago. Marketing a product and then changing the unique selling point just as you start to advertise it. Crazy I think Kia sales may be steady or actually go down this year in the UK, same with Hyundai. Reply | Report as offensive | Link Fri 6 Jan 2006 16:54 Panda 1.3 Diesel / Rio 1.5 diesel qry - dylan The Rio is no longer an 8k car, the diesel is now 9k and the petrol 8.5k Actually if I remember HJ's report correctly the only non-metallic colour available is white, which means the prices are effectively 8.8k and 9.3k. The way to kill this irritating practice is for the media to start specifying car prices *including* metallic paint by default - showing the 'discount' available for non-metallic where appropriate. What about it HJ? Any chance you'd be interested in getting the ball rolling on this? Reply | Report as offensive | Link