Faults:

- Lower control arm needed to be replaced.

- Electric power steering unit is giving intermittent issues (not yet a major issue, but research tells me when it eventually goes it's going to cost a fortune).

- Engine warning light (intermittent with no obvious cause).

General Comments:

Bought this car at a bargain with exceptionally low mileage for the year (confirmed genuine).

The car has proven to be very light on fuel and a blessing to park (especially for my wife who struggles to parallel park).

For the most part I'd say it's a good daily runner which hasn't given any mechanical issues... HOWEVER, it is Italian and electronics are always going to be an issue.

The steering column (electric power steering) is starting to give light shudders and random deactivations (a known issue apparently). If it wasn't for the high cost of repair for this unit, I'd happily recommend this as a city daily.

Faults:

Injector replaced at 20,000 miles.

Turbo seals went at 29,000 miles.

Engine seized at 29,000 miles.

General Comments:

I bought a 56 reg Panda diesel from a main dealer in 2008. It had engine work done under warranty in 2009. The car was always serviced as and at manufacturers recommendation.

The engine seized and the cost of the new engine was £3200 + turbo £350, both plus VAT, so not worth repairing. I looked at an engine from a breaker, but it was only offered with 90 days warranty so I did not want to take the risk.

Spoke to Fiat but they did not want to know, so my advice is do not buy a Fiat diesel. In fact, do not buy anything from Fiat.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Well this is not actually my own car it was a courtesy car while my car is being repaired. Well I will admit when I saw I was getting this car as a courtesy car I was loke oh my goodness a Fiat Panda you are kidding right.

Actually I am 20 years old, but I am very impressed with this little car. the first thing I noticed was how nippy the little 1.2 engine is and it is always willing and is quite nippy as well. perfromance feels quicker than Fiats quoted 14 seconds. It likes the revs aswell, but it dies off at around 5,000 RPM and and after that you just get a lot of noise. Economy is quite good better than my other car average of around 45 MPG on the motorway and even when pushed it'll still give over 40 mpg.

Also what shocked me was how tall 5th gear is for such a small engined car it is doing 70 mph at 3,000 RPM and 90 mph is done at 4,000 RPM. so the engine never feels strained at higher speed.

The Sound system is rubbish, but it is good enough for a £6,500 car and you do get quite a good amount of car I must admit.

This car is a lot better than I thought when I got it as my courtesy on Monday morning. I am actually going to miss it in a way.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

With some trepidation, as an ex rally and track driver (not of any note), I recently rented a Diesel Fiat Panda at Bologna airport for use during a week in the Mugello region, based in the small town of Barberino di Mugello.

I need not have feared... the car was a revelation in almost every respect.

I put up some 6,000-km in six days, covering everything from city, motorway, highway, unsurfaced, high mountain passes with gradients and hairpins of every severity.

Once the tyre pressures were properly set, the car could hardly be criticised for handling dynamics... really very good, and amusing to watch much swifter, swisher and of course more expensive, machinery either trying to overtake or escape from this microbe of a device.

It was quiet enough when cruising at autostrada top limits and perfectly quiet at the limits on other roads.

Fuel economy was superb.

Criticisms..? Luggage space, 2nd / 3rd gear ratio and lights, both main beam and dip (but may have needed setting) otherwise nothing negative, for what the car is. It must be by far the best in its class.