simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Well, i booked that Suzuki Swift sport test drive the other week, and didnt get round to it. Anyway, have re-booked it for this weekend. Also, due to spending the last few days chucking a Ford Ka 1.3 around the back roads of Lancashire, i've decided to book me in a test of a SportKa. I know i know - they're a tad on the feminine side but i'm sure it's going to be a good car - the test will reveal all! Anyway, also decided to book a test drive of the C2 VTR and VTS models. (the VTS almost kept up with the Fiesta ST on top gear - despite being a good 5 or 6 insurance groups lower!) Been reading evo and evo seems to like all of the above cars - Swift, Ka and C2, giving the Ka and Swift 4.5/5 and the C2 4/5. Anyway, i've actually gone totally mad now - i've read the latest evo and have booked a test of the following: I can hear you all laughing already!! Yes yes, it's a Fiat. And yes yes, it's a Fiat Panda!! The new 100 bhp one though. Over the past few days i've decided that my new job will warrant either a cheapy diesel - i.e. a 2nd hand 307 or similar for around £6-7k, or something fun again like one of the above. The Ka has taken me back to the days of my 106 GTI and i want a bit of that again. Who knows, the Fiat might be sh!t but there's only one way to find out i suppose. A bit of me's said go mad and buy a Fiesta ST or a Clio 197 - ok not mad, but perhaps ellaborate and my current point in life. The new car will probably only last me 18 months to a year so the Ka/C2 will be ideal as if i get a 2 yr old model, i will be able to sell and not lose a great deal. After the 18 months or 2 years, i will decide. If i'm doing 5k a year, i will buy a Focus ST or Golf GTI or whatever (my new car allowance would allow me too), but if i'm doing 50k a year, i'll stick with the cheapy warm hatches or a good solid oil burner. Anyway don't laugh too much and i will let you know how i get on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Seriously mate... enjoy Why not get an audi 80 for about £1k or so, and spend the rest on a fun car for the weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Seriously mate... enjoy Why not get an audi 80 for about £1k or so, and spend the rest on a fun car for the weekend! [/ QUOTE ] there's laughing and there's laughing!! Where's Malagus when i need him!!? That's an option i suppose. Buy the C2 VTS for about £6k (got a trade contact with a lot of these for sale at the moment) as weekend toy, and a cheapy Audi 80 for work?? I need something reliable and an old Audi 80 might not be, but if i have something to fall back on old cold mornings etc then that might be a solution actually!! Cheers Danksy. P.S. I wasnt really gonna buy a Fiat Panda - well, not today anyway!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Report: [ QUOTE ] OK, those performance figures will hardly worry a Mini Cooper S. But cold digits really don't matter here. It's the fun you get from driving the Panda 100 HP that's important, and believe me it's huge. It's like rediscovering those lively little Fiats of the 1960s and 70s all over again, overlaid with (but not swamped by) all the things expected in a modern car. [/ QUOTE ] and this is what i want!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Personally I think that is a great idea. I reckon that little Panda will be superb. 100hp on little skinny tyres will be a hoot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I also think its a great idea... ive recently bought a Mini and I love it to bits! Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 HMM!! Its one of those cars people will see and probably cause you no end of tail gating and arrogant driving!! If you are looking for the modern 106 GTi type car consider the Suzuki Swift 1.6VVT. Business partner just picked one up for the same reasons as you and its really good fun. But its a seriously good car too. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zCJd45xBQk Looks good! You're right though Geoff - i'd forgotten about how annoying tailgating and people pulling out on you could be until i got the Ka on Tuesday! I had been thinking of an 'Mini' too Riz. But my mileage is likely to be high (not for sure as yet) and my mileage would kill off a classic such as a proper Mini and that's something i don't want to have to live with!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Sounds good: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I'd go for the C2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Yes yes, it's a Fiat. And yes yes, it's a Fiat Panda!! The new 100 bhp one though. [/ QUOTE ] Mate, that will depriciate like a Steinway falling off a tower block surely? Wait a year and buy one half price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 hehe - sporty fiats are not alwyas the quickest, but they are so much fun. I love the seicento, despite all its faults, and it would spank the crap out of my instructor's soot chucking polo. cheap, cute little motors, that do well on the petrol (reasonably), and always put a smile on your face - you may curse it when something goes wrong, but bowmbing down the b-roads you will love it. 20-60 thro' gears round corners is briliant stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossG Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Mate, that will depriciate like a Steinway falling off a tower block surely? Wait a year and buy one half price. [/ QUOTE ] I'm not sure about that - I think it's going to become a bit of a cult car. Already today, jimdiesel and Simon have mentioned it. If I ever have to commute through to Edinburgh for work then I would seriously consider this. I think it's a very funky little car - and will be a hoot to throw about the place. I always say it - but I loved my Punto Sporting. Quick enough for me at the time and plenty stylish too. There's no reason at all to look down our noses at Fiats. Not even reliability IMO. I beat the life out of my Punto for 4 years and it never ever missed a beat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I'm not sure on the depreciation thing. Just been thinking that to be honest - i've been for a blast in the Ka before it goes back tomorrow. I was thinking that there may be a few Panda 100HP's knocking around for £6.5-7k or so in about a years time (they're £10k new now), but like Ross said, they might hold their value. Saying that, there's one on Autotrader now for £9500. Hmmm - January could be a good time to bag a bargain me thinks!! Will see how the test drive goes first though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 In fact, just found one for £8995!! They're dropping like Steinway's already! Either that or Fiat UK are discounting them to stealers to get big sales so as to 'get the word on the street'!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Nowt wrong with sporty Fiats. I remember going silly fast in a Uno Turbo A mate of mine had a Punto GT (which was no slouch but broke down, a lot) with the numberplate R10 TKA which would look good on a modded Ka as R10T KA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Simon, I'm worried. You're talking about a Panda and a SportKa, and look at the colour of the background to your avatar. People might get the wrong idea ... don't be surprised if application packs for Stonewall membership start arriving.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyJon Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 I would just like to vouch for the awesomeness of the C2 VTS, I had one for a year and it was a fantastic little car! I bought mine brand new for £9999 including metallic paint and free insurance which I thought was pretty good. Running costs are very reasonable, only insurance group 8 (my snail-like Bora TDi is group 9!) mine did around 32 mpg over the time I had it and that was absolutely ragging it everywhere! Also, service intervals are 2 years or 20000 miles so depending on your mileage if you only keep it 18 months you won't have to fork out to get it serviced! Take one for a test drive chap and don't be afraid to give it the beans, great little car I'll post some pics up of my old one later I'll also point out that my mom has a Ka which I have driven a fair bit and the C2, despite being pretty much the same size feels completely different! feels much more planted and like a much bigger car. Interior is way better and you feel like you're sitting IN the car rather than ON it, which is how I felt in the Ka! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 I do know what you mean Jon. Sitting 'on' the Ka - dangerous really as it really does add to the go-kart like effect, and although it handles well, it's not actually a go-kart!! Looking forward to Sunday morning - just hope i can actually get a test drive in the C2's - something that i couldnt the other day. I like the look of the VTS, but the VTR might be better as i spend a lot of time sat on the M62 car park going to Manchester and it does start to hurt your clutch foot after a while. An auto-box might be the answer - plus, i've read some good things about the SensoDrive system. It has the paddles but they're fixed - i.e. don't move with the wheel when turning - which is a little odd but im sure something that i will get used to if i stump for that. The VTR is looking favourite at the moment as i've got a mate who can get them for £5k, 04 or 54 plates, all under 25k. I could run one for 2 year without losing too much. Although the fun factor of the VTS sounds good. As Hammond said 'the VTS is an iPod, the Fiesta ST is a duran duran LP' - not sure if that's good or bad! As good as the Fiat sounds on paper, the test drive will be crucial as i've never ever seen myself in a Panda - under any circumstances - it needs to be really good fun!! Patently - don't you worry yourself about me - i will change my pic back to Charlotte Church 'bouncing' if that helps!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurfette Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Have to agree, the VTS is a great little car. I had one for just over a year and really liked it, pity it didn't like me though! Only thing is, you will get a lot of attention from the modified corsa/saxo crowd trying to race you at every opportunity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4_sat Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Yep, and a pink smart fortwo is great for not attracting attention Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurfette Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Yep, and a pink smart fortwo is great for not attracting attention [/ QUOTE ] Yes but that's a different kind of attention! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4_sat Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v6tas Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 OH LORDY LORDY........Dont tell me your gonna shun a lift from Chipandpin in his R32 and turn up to the next York meet in that m8ty !!!! Burger WITHOUT fries for you if you do !!! By the way, Wifes JCW on the drive way and looking forward to putting 210bhp to the test at a meet near you soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudgun Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 I tried a Swift Sport, and loved it. Not enough to trade the Lupo though. I'd want to fit 16s or even 15s on a car that size, imo 17s are too big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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