Ford Ka or Fiat Panda?

kitcatz · 18-10-2008 06:52PM #1

Hi there,
I'm just starting to learn to drive and I'm trying to decide between a Ford Ka or Fiat Panda. My first choice would probably be a Mini Cooper but a bit too dear for me at the moment, so for now it's between these two!

I really like the cute bubbly look of the Ka and I've been reading a few past posts, and I've read it's a good car to drive, cheap on petrol etc.

I've read good things about the Fiat Panda, nothing bad about it apart from the fact that some people think it's ugly! I think it's nice in red, but that's me!:o

Anyway, if anyone has any opinions, that would be great!
Thanks!:)

Berty · 18-10-2008 06:54PM

I hate both.

How about the Fiat 500?

http://www.fiat.ie/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_IRELAND/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1834480728.1224352430@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadefhffdmhgcefecejgdfkhdfjk.0&modelKey=500

maidhc · 18-10-2008 07:30PM

quirke_folder wrote: »

I hate both.

How about the Fiat 500?

http://www.fiat.ie/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_IRELAND/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1834480728.1224352430@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadefhffdmhgcefecejgdfkhdfjk.0&modelKey=500

How could you have both the Ka and Panda, and recommend a car that is intrinsically related to both the Panda and next generation Ka?

Berty · 18-10-2008 07:56PM

Next Gen Ka but made by an Italian company.

Anyway, the Fiat 500 is a beautiful super mini and has fantastic Italian design.

I first saw this car in January a trade show in Italy. It has soo many small details that the other two do not have.

Panda is bigger, I will give you that.

bazz26 · 18-10-2008 08:46PM

I'd take the Panda everytime.

The Ka is now almost 12 years old and it looks and feels it. The 1.3 litre engine originates back to the 1960s, on the plus side it has simple mechanics so easy to maintain.

The Panda however is a superior car to the current Ka, it is also more practical and just as much fun to drive. Neither car will win beauty contests and ignore the usual fix it again tomorrow chatter.

Wishbone Ash · 18-10-2008 08:50PM

kitcatz wrote:

Anyway, if anyone has any opinions, that would be great!

It's a bit like asking if one would prefer to be boiled or fried!

If a gun was put to my head, I'd probably go for the Panda even though I think the Ford would be a better car. I just hate the look of it!

L1011 · 18-10-2008 09:06PM

Panda is one of the top ten most reliable cars in the UK according to the Top Gear survey - the one that usually has Fiat as one of the worst - so theres proof to ignore anything about it being unreliable.

Its a far nicer car to drive than the Ka; you can get good, in-warranty and in-AA cover examples very cheap and out of warranty examples insanely cheap (http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Fiat/Panda/1.1-ACTIVE/1177472/ even in the colour you want...). Basic spec is also quite high for such a cheap car from that era - electric windows, dual airbags, CD player. The dual speed power steering ('girlie button') is also a nice feature to have.

Just avoid getting a UK imported one, theres a few around and the spec on them is abysmal, not even a cigarette lighter socket!

zilog_jones · 18-10-2008 10:10PM

bazz26 wrote: »

The Ka is now almost 12 years old and it looks and feels it. The 1.3 litre engine originates back to the 1960s...

The Endura-E engine went out of production in 2002 :rolleyes:

Mailman · 18-10-2008 11:43PM

Irish '07 Pandas will have the remainder of their 4 year warranty in place.

ytareh · 18-10-2008 11:51PM

While a new Ka had mind blowing handling ,better even than the Puma and it would take a lunatic to find the limit of one in the dry ,at this stage I would recommend against buying one .They age VERY badly and are often in poor condition by 40 odd thousand miles with shocks ,bushings and other suspension parts in tatters....engine is truly awful and fuel consumption is worse than most competitors also,tax high also...
By contrast the new Panda cant be rated highly enough by most reviewers although I have never driven one...Mini prices are in free fall (like all other cars now )maybe hold out for one if you dont drive far -they are heavy on fuel also.I never drove a Cooper but the standard ONE is/feels VERY fast and overlooked by most who want a 'fast' car ...I suspect the Cooper might just be faster at the top of rev band ...

Darragh29 · 19-10-2008 12:43AM

kitcatz wrote: »

Hi there,
I'm just starting to learn to drive and I'm trying to decide between a Ford Ka or Fi....

You takin da pi*s?

Savman · 19-10-2008 02:13AM

Ka.

ianobrien · 19-10-2008 10:23AM

zilog_jones wrote: »

The Endura-E engine went out of production in 2002 :rolleyes:

The Endura-E engine is an updated Valencia Engine, which came from the 771M crossflow as fitted in the first Fiestas. The 771M is a shortened 711M crossflow so that it would fit sideways in front wheel drive cars. The 711M crossflow came from the 681M crossflow, and the 711M was first used in the Mk1Escort Mexico. The 681M crossflow came from the Pre-Crossflow, which first appeared in the Ford Anglia, which appeared in 1959.

So, the Engine in the Ka comes from the late 50's!

(Oh, as a useless piece of info, another engine, based on the 711M crossflow block made 700bhp plus in competition, the BDT, which came from the BDA, which was a twin cam conversion of the crossflow)

zilog_jones · 19-10-2008 05:03PM

Yes, but the Endura-E still has not been in production since 2002, when it was replaced by a SOHC 70bhp Duratec 8v aka Zetec Rocam. It may still have roots with the Kent, I'm not sure exactly, but is very much a different engine.

The OP was comparing it to the Panda (2003 onwards), so any comparison to a Ka with the Endura-E engine is pretty irrelevant for this discussion.

Bluefoam · 19-10-2008 06:24PM

Panda: much better car, more up to date

Ka: more girly and cutsie

Drexl Spivey · 19-10-2008 09:10PM

MYOB wrote: »

Panda is one of the top ten most reliable cars in the UK according to the Top Gear survey -

I wouldn't trust Top Gear surveys. They are inconsistent and unreliable
- no explanation to back up ranking, why 2 stars instead of 3 for ex ..
- magazines give different rating than web site, ex megane is given 4 stars in the top gear mag and 1 star on the website..
- Also I don't see any NCAP indice.

I personally prefer the Fiat 500 but would choose the Fiat Panda over the Ford because of the look and the reviews on the car handling.

A cheap and fun car to run would be the Aygo (or C1, 107 as they are the same cars)

L1011 · 19-10-2008 09:56PM

NCAP - Panda is 3* - model that was tested was below Irish standard safety spec but not enough to add a star I would imagine.

Ka is also 3*

kitcatz · 19-10-2008 10:05PM

Thanks for all the replies!
Fiat 500, looks nice but too dear!
People don't seem to like the look of Ka's?

I think they're really cute!
Thanks Myob for the link. Someone who's into cars keeps telling me to go for a ka, that they're great to drive.
Yeah I heard the mini cooper is bad on fuel, they're gorgeous though! Thanks for the advice yter, I did read of problems with the ka. It looks like I should forget about getting a Ka then!
Jeff, thanks, had a look at Aygo, I don't think I want to spend more than €5k though.
So the general thoughts are that the Ka will cause trouble down the line, and the Panda is a good reliable car but ugly!

Maybe in certain colours the Panda doesn't look good, but I pass by a red Panda every day and it's lovely, I think it has tinted windows at the back, and the black rim around the windows against the red (I think it's more of a wine red) is really nice! Well, that's just me!

Thanks, I appreciate all your replies!

L1011 · 19-10-2008 10:08PM

Tinted windows at the back - assuming from factory - with the richer red is a Panda 100HP (which is what I have, but in slate), they're a lot more expensive than a normal Panda and there's bog all around. They're also a lot faster and a lot more fun to drive than any Ka is

Wouldn't recommend a 100HP as a first car, though. Insurance is quite high as its seen as a 'boy racer' version compared to the normal editions.

kitcatz · 19-10-2008 10:27PM

Ah, thanks Myob, I didn't know that! Glad you told me that! I've been looking up carzone and looking at the red ones knowing they're not as nice as the one I see, and I keep hoping I'll see one in a darker red with tinted windows... thanks for letting me know!

Drexl Spivey · 20-10-2008 07:37AM

don't listen to what other guys have to say on the look of the Panda.

If you like it, then that is what matters.

Most people are brainwashed into liking the looks of the Golf + Ford Escort and that is pure marketing imo.

Perfs are not majorly imprtant for a first car because you will have fun anyway and it can only go up after (you never downgrade to a lower standard)

My first car was a 2 cv. Poor specs but looooadz of fun and the girls liked it

Lumen · 20-10-2008 08:15AM

In my opinion, the 100HP is a great car spoiled by concrete damping.

If I never had to go near a speedbump, I'd buy one. Unfortunately, speedbumps are everywhere, and require of the 100HP driver an unnatural slowing in pace (i.e. toddlers will overtake you, laugh and point).

FWIW this trait is shared to a degree by the Mini Cooper S, but that's no doubt out of contention for a first car.

Not sure insurance on an 100HP is ruinous. Compared to other warm hatches, it should be cheap to insure. But then this is Ireland.

kitcatz · 20-10-2008 11:15PM

Thanks Jeff! Just googled cv 2, they're cute! I love the old Volkswagen Beetles.. don't worry, I wouldn't consider getting one though!
That's true.. the perception people have of things is all to do with the marketing. No, I'm not put off, I still like the Panda, it has to be red though, not as nice in other colours, I don't think!
Thanks Lumen. I'll probably end up going for the normal Panda, 100hp too dear and don't see any for sale on the internet.

spav · 22-10-2008 05:37PM

Lumen wrote: »

In my opinion, the 100HP is a great car spoiled by concrete damping.

If I never had to go near a speedbump, I'd buy one. Unfortunately, speedbumps are everywhere, and require of the 100HP driver an unnatural slowing in pace (i.e. toddlers will overtake you, laugh and point).

FWIW this trait is shared to a degree by the Mini Cooper S, but that's no doubt out of contention for a first car.

Not sure insurance on an 100HP is ruinous. Compared to other warm hatches, it should be cheap to insure. But then this is Ireland.

I have a 100hp and I really think people exaggerate about the damping. It's true that you have a slow a little more for speedbumps, but it's so nippy that it's not a problem at all - it just gives you an excuse to accelerate some more

It's worth it for the handling - I get more excited than is decent when presented with a roundabout. I think speedbumps are a problem as much as a result of the length of the car as it is due to the damping. It's OK over potholes, for example, it's certainly not as 'crashy' as some reviews suggest.

The insurance is UK Group 5, which isn't bad. I'm a 28 yo male with no NCB living in Swords, and it's costing me around €550 fully comp. I'd estimate that a bog standard Ka would cost €400 ish.

The 100hp is a fantastic car imo. I'd definitely consider the Panda Active, smashing little cars that are way better built then you'd imagine.

kitcatz · 04-11-2008 10:47PM

Thanks spav.. sorry meant to reply. I haven't completely settled on a Panda, I've been looking up the car websites, seeing if there's anything else worth considering. I've been thinking of a Toyota Yaris, but I kind of think I'll end up getting a Panda!

Thanks for your help.

macroman · 04-11-2008 11:53PM

500, new KA and Panda all share the same chassis and engine built by Fiat in the same factory in Poland. Of course Ford deny all knowledge :rolleyes:

Rookie145 · 31-01-2009 09:32PM

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd take the Panda everytime.

The Ka is now almost 12 years old and it looks and feels it. The 1.3 litre engine originates back to the 1960s, on the plus side it has simple mechanics so easy to maintain.

The Panda however is a superior car to the current Ka, it is also more practical and just as much fun to drive. Neither car will win beauty contests and ignore the usual fix it again tomorrow chatter.

The Panda is now available with the marvelous Multijet 1.3 diesel engine.

L1011 · 31-01-2009 10:04PM

Rookie145 wrote: »

The Panda is now available with the marvelous Multijet 1.3 diesel engine.

Now available? The January 05 registered one on my drive might disagree with the "now" bit, its been available since then!

Rookie145 · 01-02-2009 12:31PM

MYOB wrote: »

Now available? The January 05 registered one on my drive might disagree with the "now" bit, its been available since then!

As far back as that?....What did you think of it? I believe they are very economical.

galwaytt · 01-02-2009 02:46PM

Panda. More modern.

My first new car was also a FIAT, and I never regretted buying it. I do regret selling it, but that's a different matter entirely..........

L1011 · 01-02-2009 05:08PM

Rookie145 wrote: »

As far back as that?....What did you think of it? I believe they are very economical.

Great engine, the soundproofing in the car isn't as good as in the bigger cars with it so when you've got the radio off or quiet at idle you are very much aware its a diesel there though - at least compared to in a Grande Punto with the same engine.

I'm willing to sacrifice the fuel efficiency for the more level power output and better spec I've got on my current Panda though, which is why I'm driving it and not the diesel!

Ford Ka or Fiat Panda?

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