My Mondeo TDCi has been pretty reliable, once the Ford people had sorted out the usual camshaft position sensor trouble and had dealt with an auxiliary belt tensioner that has broken up at 32k miles. It was nippy enough, too, for a 2-litre diesel, averaged 45 mpg and had a decent (Zetec) spec.
But...
1) I was getting increasingly fed up with it sounding more and more like a tractor (it never actually went wrong but had a knack of sounding like it was about to);
2) I was also conscious that through a change of role at work I was no longer doing regular, lengthy motorway trips, and now that B Jr. has minimal need for his pushchair the only thing that went it that huge boot most of the time was the shopping;
3) I was using this big ol' car just to drive by myself to work and back, 60 miles a day on country roads which have never been where it gave its best economy;
4) I was bored of being "family hatchback man".
So at the weekend I went to see my friendly Fiat dealer (hats off to PDH in Hassocks) who sorted me out with a pre-reg Panda 100HP (57 plate) in New Orleans blue metallic.
Am I mad? Probably.
Do I like it? Ohhhhhh yes. It reminds me in all the good ways of my '00 V-reg Mk II Punto Sporting - but with more poke, way better brakes and even sharper handling.
I didn't think in this day and age any car could put a silly grin on my face just driving to work and back, but this one does.
That is all :-)
------
Edit: I know what date it is, and no this isn't.
Edited by paulb {P} on 01/04/2008 at 01:20
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I saw this car was available recently - 100hp in something the size of a wheelie bin, its got to be a good pairing.... Do let us know what the fuel economy is like though.
Must admit a Fiat Panda isn't top of my list - never been a supermini fan, but with the cost of motoring its either something smaller for me to do 40K a year in (and a big car for the weekend) or get a company car...
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James May (the sensible one from Top Gear) runs one.
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Evo were very complementary about the Panda 100hp when they tested it a few months back, for exactly the same "grin inducing" characteristics you describe. They gave it 4.5 stars, only docking the 0.5 because you can't turn the ESP off!
Let us know how you get on with it.
Cheers
DP
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Both EVO and Top Gear also found the SportKa "grin-inducing".Similar power/weight ratio.
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Right. Initial fuel consumption, as requested, is 219.4 miles on 26.8 litres, which I make 37.2 mpg. Trip computer isn't far off - said it was doing 39.5.
To my mind, considering that the total mileage is only 380 and the engine is still pretty tight, that I have been running it in Sport mode (= sharper throttle response and less steering assistance) and, um, enjoying the nice snarly Italian noise it makes when accelerating, that's not too bad. I should expect it to improve to around 40 when it's run in.
Given that the tank is only 35 litres I think the practical range is only going to be about 250 miles or so, so I shall be getting used to more frequent visits to filling stations. But somehow, paying £28 or so a go (albeit more often) seems (quite subjectively) less painful than £67 every other week. The extra fun makes it worth the lower MPG, also - as does the peace of mind in having a comparatively simple engine with no CR injection to worry about.
Plus this runs just fine on 95-octane unleaded (as opposed to the BP Ultimate Diesel that was necessary for best results on the Mondeo) so I'm paying about 14p a litre less than I was.
Built-in Bluetooth works very well indeed - really impressed, actually.
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With diesel near to me being about 9p more per litre than petrol, a good small petrol might be as cheap to run mpg than a diesel. Without the diesel gamble of turbo, DPF, CR injection, etc.
For me in a company car the diesel big car still makes more sense. Sounds like the Panda is fun. My wife quite likes to look of the 500 (=Panda) and so do I ;-) Will have to save up first.
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It is a tempting car, Paulb, but do you have another car or cars to drive as James May does?
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Actually it's another Panda - Mrs B's Multijet diesel, which does a nudge under 60 mpg on my commute - so if the 100HP is getting through its gas a bit handy-like she and I can swap for a week (her weekly mileage is only about 50 or so as opposed to my 300+). The normal Panda wheels and suspension make for a surprisingly comfortable ride, even on long journeys.
This was part of the idea behind my getting a smaller car - the ability to swap as needed. Mrs B (being only 5'2") disliked parking the Mondeo (even though it had parking sensors) to the extent that she refused to drive it at all.
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I think you've cracked it. I've been vaguely looking at a Panda for ages (along with lots of other cars). The sort of mini Range Rover look works really well and the thought of one that could go side-ways at highish speed did make me think. Mrs O, however, has used her casting vote to say that we need something bigger for long journeys than a Panda or her Micra so I'm keeping my Almera for the time being. Unless James May wants it.
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