Replacing a Fiat Panda... with another

Noffles

The Panda that the missus has, has lost it's power steering and we're advised it'll be around 800+ euro, as it has 100,000 on the clock we've decided to get rid of it. Since the missus likes it we're looking at getting another one... looking at this one, any comments as this would about what we want to spend as it is the second car and it really is just for nipping about in..

http://www.ranelaghcarsales.com/Fiat_Panda_2007-f-160.html

alfaromeo84

Why spend €5k on a 07, which will have high road tax, when you can by a 09 for little over €6k and lower road tax, full warranty etc.

Noffles

alfaromeo84 wrote: »

Why spend €5k on a 07, which will have high road tax, when you can by a 09 for little over €6k and lower road tax, full warranty etc.

A little over 6K... where??

For a Panda??

unkel

Noffles wrote: »

A little over 6K... where??

For a Panda??

Brand spanking new ones are €6995 with the scrappage scheme.

colm_mcm

Scrappage won't work with a new model Panda (thats 2003 at the oldest.)

Noffles

unkel wrote: »

Brand spanking new ones are €6995 with the scrappage scheme.

What is the criteria for the scrappage scheme, the car we have to trade in is an 04, I thought they had to be a certain age before they are in this scheme?

colm_mcm

have you tried getting the steering control unit for the Panda (presume that's whats gone) second hand

* Duration: The Car Scrappage Scheme will run from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010.
* Relief Available: VRT relief of up to €1,500 will be available to qualifying purchasers of new vehicles.
* Qualifying New Cars: The VRT relief will be provided where a new Category A car is purchased which is emission classified in Bands A or B (i.e. with CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less)
* Qualifying Scrapped Cars: Things get a little trickier when it comes to the “old” car that must be scrapped, but here are the main conditions. The scrapped car:
o Must have been registered in the State in the name of the purchaser of the new car for at least 18 months previous to the date of scrappage;
o Must be 10 years old or more from the date of first registration;
o Must be scrapped after 9 December 2009;
o Must be scrapped within 60 days of the date of the new car being registered, OR have been scrapped within the previous 60 days of the date of the new car being registered provided the date of scrappage is after 9 December 2009;
o Must have a valid NCT certificate of roadworthiness, OR one that has expired no more than 90 days prior to issue of the Certificate of Destruction OR documentation to indicate that it has been presented for and failed an NCT roadworthiness test in the previous 6 months;
o Must have been insured for use on the road for at least 12 months in the 18 months prior to the issue of the Certificate of Destruction;
o Being ‘scrapped’ means that the old car has been taken to an official End of Life Vehicles (ELV) authorised treatment facility and a Certificate of Destruction is issued by the facility in respect of the car. Further detailed information on the operation of the scheme will be posted on the Revenue website in the coming days.

Noffles

colm_mcm wrote: »

have you tried getting the steering control unit for the Panda (presume that's whats gone) second hand

* Duration: The Car Scrappage Scheme will run from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010.
* Relief Available: VRT relief of up to €1,500 will be available to qualifying purchasers of new vehicles.
* Qualifying New Cars: The VRT relief will be provided where a new Category A car is purchased which is emission classified in Bands A or B (i.e. with CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less)
* Qualifying Scrapped Cars: Things get a little trickier when it comes to the “old” car that must be scrapped, but here are the main conditions. The scrapped car:
o Must have been registered in the State in the name of the purchaser of the new car for at least 18 months previous to the date of scrappage;
o Must be 10 years old or more from the date of first registration;
o Must be scrapped after 9 December 2009;
o Must be scrapped within 60 days of the date of the new car being registered, OR have been scrapped within the previous 60 days of the date of the new car being registered provided the date of scrappage is after 9 December 2009;
o Must have a valid NCT certificate of roadworthiness, OR one that has expired no more than 90 days prior to issue of the Certificate of Destruction OR documentation to indicate that it has been presented for and failed an NCT roadworthiness test in the previous 6 months;
o Must have been insured for use on the road for at least 12 months in the 18 months prior to the issue of the Certificate of Destruction;
o Being ‘scrapped’ means that the old car has been taken to an official End of Life Vehicles (ELV) authorised treatment facility and a Certificate of Destruction is issued by the facility in respect of the car. Further detailed information on the operation of the scheme will be posted on the Revenue website in the coming days.

Looks like we're not in the scheme then...

We have looked at getting a new unit but the car has a number of things going or causing issues so we've decided to get rid..

Mailman

price drops on new pandas haven't filtered in to the secondhand market yet.

http://www.partfinder.ie shows a fair few scrapped panda's from which you could reclaim the parts you need to fix yours. If it is a bolt on element then it might be an easy DIY fix. If it is the column then you'd have to think again.

As few changes were made over the years you are not getting much from upgrading unless you go for a 1.2 litre Emotion spec.

colm_mcm

the older Puntos with electric power steering had problems with the control units, I presume it's the same thing here.

Mailman

same problem but not interchangable part.

if it were you driving then disconnecting power from the powersteering and driving unassisted would be fine.
CANBUS signal to the head unit would need to be switched off.
Panda is sold without powersteering in other markets.

Noffles

Cheers folks, not really looking to upgrade really, just replace with something newer that will have a lot less problems for the next few years...

A 1L is fine for the driving she does and as she's used to the Panda would just want to go and get another, simple as, the one I put on the initial post would suffice... what sort of offer should I make if i want to get rid of my own also??

colm_mcm

Mailman wrote: »

same problem but not interchangable part.

if it were you driving then disconnecting power from the powersteering and driving unassisted would be fine.
CANBUS signal to the head unit would need to be switched off.
Panda is sold without powersteering in other markets.

Re: driving unassisted, there's still a good bit of resistance from the motor, steering will be heavy. had to do this on my Punto

unkel

colm_mcm wrote: »

Scrappage won't work with a new model Panda (thats 2003 at the oldest.)

Indeed, but the prices under the scrappage scheme mean it is reasonable to expect to buy a second hand '09 one for about €6k as alfaromeo84 suggested.

Mailman

colm_mcm wrote: »

Re: driving unassisted, there's still a good bit of resistance from the motor, steering will be heavy. had to do this on my Punto

which is why it isn't an option for non-bodybuilding wives.

pburns

I can't see that being the cheapest garage in the world, a fairly central and leafy part of the city, I'd shop around, maybe outside the pale...

Also, there may be a better selection around in early '10 as people trade in their old motors...

colm_mcm

unkel wrote: »

Indeed, but the prices under the scrappage scheme mean it is reasonable to expect to buy a second hand '09 one for about €6k as alfaromeo84 suggested.

Ask anyone who went looking for an 07 520d after the VRT changes in July 08 how that works

Scrappage deals don't directly affect prices like that. if you don't qualify for scrappage then you're not in a position to buy the 10 reg with the government bonus, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to pay the same amount for an 09 without the gov scheme as you would for a 10 with the scheme. I'm not saying it's fair.

The 09's have to actually come from somewhere, they won't be trade-ins against 10 reg ones anyway, so they'll either have been traded in in 09, or are pre-regs or hire cars. I don't see how Fiat would pre-reg models that would qualify for the scrappage in 09 rather than hold them off for 2010.

unkel

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ask anyone who went looking for an 07 520d after the VRT changes in July 08 how that works

Touché

Noffles

Ok so the situation is that we are going to see the car that I attached at the original post to see what kind of price we can negotiate... as it's 10' then how much should I be looking at dropping the price? I'm also wanting to get rid of the current Panda so what should I do with a trade in or scrape in....?

Mr Benevolent

OP this doesn't make sense. An €800 (dealer price) part goes belly up so you decide to spend another €3000 to replace the whole car? That makes no financial sense. The '03 and '07 Pandas are exactly the same, so what exactly will you gain from buying the '07?

Mailman

mp3 player and passenger side airbag added along with different interior fabrics.

If it were me I'd be searching in the scrapyards for the parts needed.

L1011

www.ecu-testing.com do rebuilds of the older Fiat's PAS ECU's which fix this problem - they may be able to do Panda ones also, I'd suggest dropping them a mail.

Also, theres a few crash damaged Pandas in the scrapyards around me (Kilcock had 2 and Enfield had 1 about 18 months) which should have an intact PAS unit if nobody else has grave-robbed them yet.

KrodMandoon

I remember seeing this ad on donedeal..could be worth a shot

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1042443

colm_mcm

doesn't make sense to get rid of the car over something so small.

Noffles

I disagree... the car has 100,000 miles on the clock, the internal heater has gone, the interior is an absolute shambles and now the power steering has failed... we spent 800 euro 2 years ago on the suspension and now this wants another 800... coupled with the fact we require a replacement car within the week as we live in the middle of nowhere...

Financial sense is all and well but situations dictate that we do something quickly and cheaply, we don't have the time to mess around finding parts etc... all I'm looking for is advice on what I should offer for the car now.. The original Panda is f*cked and that's it really, need a new one and will get one..

Noffles

KrodMandoon wrote: »

I remember seeing this ad on donedeal..could be worth a shot

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1042443

Actually, thanks for this post... but I really don't want to spend anymore on this car... it's had enough... getting another for 4 grand would give us another 3 years at least and I'm almost certain the original would need that in four years.

beachlife

If your interior heater is gone then it could well be the head,so I think your on the right track just to change it.Are you trading in you panda of the other one?