Fiat Panda: brilliant 3D website

[Johann]

http://www.fiatpanda.it/3d/default.htm

Click on the doors etc to open... you can even move the seats backwards and forwards... lower the windows one by one and open and close the sunroof... BUT you can't open the glovebox! hehehe

__________________________________________________ __________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

[Kaine]

very cool. other manufacturers should take note.

[Kaine]

just realised what i said - by no way did i want to imply the panda was cool - only the site :):)

[runboy]

Actually, the Panda is getting a darn good write up in the motoring press. Solid, well equiped car. The 1.3 diesel is the best pick.

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit

[Kaine]

Steve,

Unfortunately Fiat have already failed with me. Have owned a Coupe, Punto and Bravo in the past - all of them had key quality problems, and awful dealer service. (Before you ask, I used to get Fiat employee discount so deals were always too tempting)

Kaine

[Johann]

I LOVE the Panda! It will be as cool and classless as the original Mini I think... anyone can drive one and it will be cool... The top one even has climatronic!!! Add that full length sunroof and you have a brand new mini A2 for less than £8000... and most test say even the quality is good... I've been in quite a few of them at the Frankfurt motorshow and was well impressed... but then you still need to use the useless dealers... grrr

__________________________________________________ __________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

[Rob Earl]

I would be tempted but after having a Punto for 3 years with the standard build quality and dealer service issues - never again.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a 1.4SE petrol. http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk14.htm http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/safety.htm
New A2 - Ebony Black, Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.

[runboy]

Fiat have had it hard recently on the financial front. Maybe the beancounters said "come on, either we build something people will want or we're doomed". Let's hope so-there is always room for cheaper, decent new motors.

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit

[deheld]

Fiat : Fix It Again, Tony !

Dennis de Held

Amulet Red 1.4 Tdi

[Kaine]

Johann,

Have you ever owned a Fiat? Its the little things like £750 (or something like that) for a replacement KEY and then as you said the dealers are ..grrrr. One of many experiences I had;
Paint started to flake of the small grill on my Bravo HGT. I took it too the dealer who opened up the bonnet and concluded that I had been in a crash, had the whole front end repaired and that the paint was flaking due to a bad re-spray. I tried to show him that non of the bolts had ever been removed since the paint on them was untouched since the original factory paint, however he refused to accept that as an explaination. To cut a long story short, I had to get an independant assessor, and Fiat UK rep to vist me at another dealer (my choice, as I couldn't keep my calm at my local dealer) to check the car over. They concluded within 2 minutes exactly what I had said, and the work was carried out under warranty.

This was just one of many many problems, that I cant believe Fiat would have improved.

Other probs;

Coupe:
Paint flaking off from around boot key mechanism
HVAC Blower Motor failure (replace TWICE!!!)
Faulty Alarm
Creeks and rattles
(however I still love that car - engine note is fantastic)

Punto:
Passenger seat runner mechanism failed (wouldn't lift up and forward)
Seat Belt failed (Driver)
Battery replaced (cant say for sure, however believe they fitted a used battery - dealer disposed of old one before I arrived at garage.
Creeks and rattles

Bravo (Wait for it.......)
Exhaust replced TWICE (whole system) since they could solve a rasp noise eminating from beneath car
Paint flaking from grill (as above)
Boot Lock failed intermitantly - always worked at dealer (however they replaced it)
Engine power lost intermitantly - many other people I new with Fiats had this same problem (one person actually parked his car directly outside dealer main doors and refused to drive it until they fixed it - he got authorities involved I believe) - never resolved
Creeks and rattles (of course)

Kaine

P.S. I got rid of the Bravo and bought my A2!!!!

[Johann]

hehehe... nope never owned a Fiat, but my best friend at work has her second Punto, the current one a Y and NOTHING has ever gone wrong on it... nor on her Punto before... so it can happen!

__________________________________________________ __________________________________
[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

[Kaine]

Agree - some cars must be ok, however I knew many many people with Fiats from my last place of work (due to Fiat employee discount, everyone had one) and I can say the majority of people had problems. I sincerely hope Fiat have got the new Panda right, if only for the sanity of the people buying it.

Kaine

[runboy]

Well if Fiat don't make a break this time, how much longer can they last? I've heard the new Punto is out and about testing, but the medium size cars don't sell that well. So it's down to the tiddlers.

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit

[Kaine]

Steve,

The difference with Fiat is they have a government supporting them. I'm not hot on my Italian politics, however from memory Fiat have been saved twice in the last decade or so from going under - I wish we could say the same for our own Motor industry.

Kaine

[runboy]

Kaine
Pity it couldn't happen to a lot of the UK industries!

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit