Fiat Panda test drive since 2003 hatchback

Frosty Panda

Fiat bear cub is more cheerful than its biological relative
 
If you recall biology, then the animal of Panda belongs to the raccoon detachment, but is called a bear. And he was never particularly activity, preferring the extremely unhurried rhythm of life. But Fiat called Panda, on the contrary, is very cheerful. And so that during the test I caused real dizziness at the policeman who stopped cars on one of the winding streets of the sleeping area of \u200b\u200bMoscow.
 
The case happened as follows. Having finished photography of the car and returning to the car dealership of the car block, which provided this car for the test, I decided to go not in the shortest way, but by familiar winding streets that never differed in excellent asphalt. I think we need to check how Fiat Panda feels on bumps. The model is distinguished by a very short base, and therefore it should shake it pretty. It's good if the exchange rate retains
 
Head spin
 
So, just before the car dealership there is a turn of degrees at 120. The road there is wide, and therefore there is practically no risk of flying into the oncoming lane. I go into a turn of 50 km/h. The body tilted slightly to the side. Well, I think the demolition will begin now that among the competitors of Panda there is a standard reaction to such provocative actions. But - strange and pleasant - the car calmly passed the turn along the trajectory I have chosen. Okay, add speed. At 65 km/h, the FIAT body bent down a little more, choosing the stroke of shock absorbers that relies on it in such cases. I'm still waiting for at least some kind of drift. And it began, but, imagine, not at all the one I counted on. Panda crumbs related to class A, that is, compact city models, began to bring the stern. In other words, the car demonstrated a light excess turning inherent in theory by rear -wheel drive cars. Apparently, the Italians deliberately gave the character of Panda this peppercorn, which is why riding Fiat is able to cause puppy delight.
 
And even faster? The increase of the next 10 km/h did not change anything. The front endedly dutifully dawned in the turn, and the feed began an independent journey in the drift. Damn convenient chassis settings! It is very simple to extinguish the demolition - either by the addition of gas, or a small movement of the steering wheel, that is, it is absolutely safe and not at all terrible.
 
Frankly frolicing with the car and passing the turn for about the fifth time, I noticed that a foreign car was parked on the side of the side of the side. How, I think, I haven't noticed her before? Probably, he was so much convinced of the reliability of Panda that he even began to look around, and not concentrate on the trajectory of movement. The next entry, passing the turn in the absolutely boorish manner, that is, putting Fiat a little sideways, I was surprised to find that the owner of the foreign car was a traffic cop, who at the sight of me hurriedly got out of the car and waved a rod. I stop, prepare the documents, and the minister of the road law, going up to the car, fenced me with the phrase: listen, my head was already dizzy - how much can you ride here?. After listening to my explanations, sniffing at the breath, and having checked the documents for the Promise, the traffic cop favorably allowed me to continue my way. For my part, I cut a couple more circles and finally decided to return to the salon.
 
Baby with a big reward
 
In general, before starting the test, I assumed that Fiat Panda should ride well. I had no reason not to trust the opinion of the authoritative international jury, which recognized this model (as evidenced by the immodest sticker on the rear window). But that the situation is so good in my memory is the first budget car with such a carefully tuned chassis. Judge for yourself: the initial price of Panda is 9135 euros, or at the rate of mid -December 2004 $ 12 150. Of course, it is somewhat more expensive than Korean missions - Kia Picanto (funny, but this car is published in AI several numbers back, I I took in a car dealership located literally across the road from Fiat) and Daewoo Matiz, but the car seemed to me worth its money. And that's why.
 
Firstly, this is a modern European style, even despite the fact that the Uzbek Daewoo was also painted on appenins, but a few years ago. Secondly, do not forget that this is still Fiat - a company that owns the eminent Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia. Thirdly, Panda is already very comfortable in the basic configuration. I’ll start the story not entirely standard - with a luggage compartment. It is one of the most spacious in the classroom. In the standard factory position of the rear sofa, which can be moved back and forth, the volume of the cargo compartment is 206 liters. If you move the seat as forward as possible, then you get 236 liters. In the most understandable majority, this means that behind you can put a couple of standard sports bags without prejudice to visibility.
 
In general, the Fiat Panda salon is very bright and at first glance seems limitless. The interior literally merges with the street thanks to large glasses and a successful arrangement of the body racks from the point of view of overview, not preventing the surroundings of the surroundings. The main thing is not to look back. For example, I got the impression that I can calmly reach my back glass with my hand, although it is actually impossible to do. This dual impression was left by the geometry of the salon. However, with regard to free space for passengers, it is quite enough not to touch each other's elbows.
 
The materials of the interior decoration are deserve separately mention. In the auto center where we took the car, there were two Panda: blue and yellow. The interiors of both machines were decorated in the same color scheme as the body. Plastic panels, for nothing, which is hard, does not look cheap in texture. As for the driver's workplace, at first it seemed a little high to me. However, adjusting the chair for myself, I no longer experienced any inconvenience. The steering wheel (it is regulated only in height) and the gearbox lever, located on the tide of the central console, comfortably lay in their hands. A small complaint that arose during the test process is the shape of the knob of the KP lever, which seemed too thin.
 
Maxi in mini format
 
Panda, I repeat, is equipped with very richly. The list of standard equipment contains such convenient and necessary things as glass with athermal toning that does not produce heat from the passenger compartment, ABS, immobilizer, a driver’s pillow, rear window heating, a full -sized spare wheel, radio training (4 speakers and antenna). Plus, the original steering wheel power amplifier, which can be translated into the so -called urban position by pressing the button. This function is very convenient in close parking lots, when you have to work a lot of a steering wheel - the steering wheel becomes almost weightless. However, it is not difficult to twist it in standard mode.
Thanks to the Zhigulevsky 13-inch wheel tires, it is quite easy to turn the wheel. The base also includes front windows, a bumper painted in the color of the body, a fire prevention system in the engine compartment (a special valve instantly overlaps the fuel supply), as well as the Follow Me Home system, which leaves the headlights for some time, after the headlights How you put the car on the parking lot.
 
In the richest version of Panda Dynamic, which visited our test, the rear head restraints, the body of the body, a cigarette lighter with an ashtray, reellings on the roof, the color of metallic, electric regulatory mirrors with heating, air conditioning and a radio with a CD with a rustler are added.
 
As you can see, Fiat Panda is a vivid representative of modern small -leafers, which, despite compact sizes, are very, very comfortable. The design of the car is equally modern. The first thing I want to note is a rather frisky 1.2-liter engine. For nothing that he develops only 60 forces, but pushes the car forward very actively, and with any revolutions. The only thing I can’t say for sure is how the engine behaves at the full load of Panda. There is a suspicion that his ardor will have somewhat reduced
 
And as before the behavior on uneven asphalt, which I spoke of at the very beginning of the material, it is quite reliable. Say, at a speed of about 100 km/h, the shocks from the patch on the asphalt are almost completely extinguished in the bowels of the chassis. True, completely large waves make Fiat slightly scour along the trajectory, which is not very pleasant. However, there is no need to expect other behavior in such strict road conditions from a car with a length of the wheelbase of a wheelbase. The habits that she have are quite acceptable and even worthy of praise. Add here the ability to turn the head of others, and you will understand how good Panda is. No, not in vain this Fiat has become a car of the year.
 
Brief technical characteristics of Fiat Panda
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 1242
The number of valves for the cylinder: 4
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 60/5000
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 102/2500
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 14
Maximum speed, km/h: 155
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 5.6
Fuel tank volume, l.: 35
Dimensions, mm.: 3538x1589x1578
 
Sergey Ilyinsky
 

Source: "Automobile Izvestia"