Used Fiat Panda
If you ask most people to think of an affordable city car, one of the first that’ll spring to mind is the Fiat Panda. It’s a true legend and has been right at the front of the pack for many years. The Italians certainly know a thing or two about motoring, so why not invest in the best and reap the rewards?
The Panda seems to have been around for ever, but in fact it was only released in 1980. After decades of success, Fiat unleashed the ‘New Panda’ in 2003 as a car for the modern era. Every manifestation has held true to the original aim of creating a cheap car for the people that was easy to use and maintain.
While the original Panda offered unambiguous ‘no frills’ motoring, there’s actually a surprising amount of kit on the new models. It looks cute and friendly too, which is exactly what you’d expect from a car of this genre. While it is well built overall, you can’t help but notice a few flimsy bits, but then again who cares for such a low price?
Despite being very small, the Panda has always had a reputation for being large inside, and it’s as true today as it was back in the 80s. It’s certainly not cramped and 2 adults can sit in the rear with no trouble. There’s enough room in the boot for a good amount of shopping too. With big windows, you certainly get a great panoramic view, so spotting a gap in the traffic or a parking space is simple.
Economy and affordability have always been hallmarks of the Fiat Panda, and the tiny engines mean running costs are almost non existent. As a city car, you don’t need a lot of power and in fact the Panda can out perform much more expensive cars on busy streets. Cruising around country roads is also a breeze, but don’t expect to blitz 0-60 by any means.
The Panda isn’t expensive to buy brand new, but that doesn’t mean you should. Motors.co.uk has a massive range of used cars for sale, so really it’s very easy to get your hands on a second hand Fiat Panda with a serious price discount in tow. This means you’ll pay a lot less for a car that strives to give you more. It’s the ideal situation.
The simple fact is that if you’re looking for a small city car that looks good, doesn’t cost a lot to run and is a lot of fun to drive, then the Fiat Panda is the sensible choice. The Italian company has built its legacy on exactly those characteristics, so you can expect its cars to excel. They certainly do and the Panda is a prime example.