Walking to the car one recent Saturday morning, I pressed the unlock button on the fob, heard the central locking activate and pulled the door handle.  It didn’t open the door, so I looked at the remote and pressed the button again, thinking I had pressed the wrong one the first time.  Still nothing.  That’s when I noticed the slightly odd angle the door handle was sitting at.

Yes, someone had tried, unsuccessfully, to break into the Panda, presumably to steal it as there was nothing of any value on display and the car still has the original head unit.  Crouching to examine the lock, you could plainly see where a screwdriver had been inserted and wiggled about with increasing force.  So much so, in fact, that the lock section of the handle has been lifted away from the door and left a dent underneath!

This has resulted in my being unable to open the driver’s door and therefore, unable to use the car until it has been repaired.  It couldn’t have happened at a worse time, as plenty of work and a business trip has made it impossible to take it to Fiat for repair.  Well, I say that, but wrong information given by the service centre saw us use the only time we had to visiting the wrong place.

The Panda is now booked for the 29th October at the correct location, where I imagine a hefty bill awaits.

Seeing as it was 2008 when I last updated the blog, I thought it was about time to add a little something about the Panda.  In the eight or nine months since the 20,000km service, I have completed another 5,000kms and had no problems whatsoever!  As always, I hope this statement doesn’t jinx my run of good luck!

As summer is now in full swing, I’ve noticed my tyres really are on their last legs.  Not because of available tread – of which there is quite a bit – but due to the poor tarmac quality robbing them of grip, especially under acceleration.  Seeing as I’m still on the originals, I can’t complain too much about the impending bill to change all four, but it will need to be done before the winter or any long journey.  I will probably go for the Eagle F1’s again, as I consider 25,000kms to be a decent figure for one set, and the performance they offer when at their peak is excellent.

In another 1000kms or so, it will receive the scheduled oil change, plus I really hope to get it professionally valeted, as the interior would benefit from a good clean.  Outside there is a scuff on the rear corner which needs to be addressed, but as I’m responsible for this one – rather than one of the millions of careless parkers in Athens – I’ll have to swallow my pride and take it in.

As the car is two and a half years old, I shouldn’t complain about a scuff joining a tiny parking ding on the base of the passenger door.  There are far newer cars in far worse condition here!  The Panda continues to be the best car purchase I’ve ever made, and it’s still great to drive.

It has taken a while to get there, but the Panda has finally amassed 20,000km’s under its wheels and with that figure came the message ’service coupon expired’ on the dash display along with a little picture of a spanner.  I had booked an appointment with Spicar in Alimos when the car was on 19,900, so only a few days wait was needed before the car went in.

Duly delivered at 08:30, we left the Panda and went about our days business.  Since we have had the car for well over a year now, it had a  minor service at 15,000 so it was running perfectly well, however the brakes had started to squeak and the tyres (still the original Eagle F1’s) have given up some grip thanks to a couple of very hot summers, so I was predicting the worst when it came to these two items.  The alarm had also begun to emit an odd sound a few moments after it was set – intermittantly of course – so this, along with the other two points were mentioned when we handed over the keys.

The car was completed at 4pm and upon collection we were told the brakes still had a good 6,000km’s in them, the tyres were fine and they could find no problem with the alarm.  Otherwise, the full service had been carried out and we paid just over 250 euro for the work, 100 of which was labour.  The experience at Spicar was far better than our first visit and I found them helpful and prompt.

Driving the Panda since them has been a different experience.  It has felt livelier, with more linear acceleration and considerably more punch.  The brakes have benefitted from their fluid change and feel far better under foot and my confidence in them has returned.  Prior to the service, the 100hp had felt less perky than it had, so clearly the service was much needed, despite my diligence when it came to oil changes and attention to driving style.

The alarm has continued its odd behavior and it will have to return again, but as the problem doesn’t occur each time it’s set, the chances are when I go, it will be fine.  Still, it doesn’t seem to affect its operation, so it’s not a big concern at this stage.  Spicar recommended a further visit in 5-7,000km’s time for an oil change and the next big service to take place at 40,000km’s.  A recent change in circumstances has seen the Panda used even less during the week, so it may be sometime before we head back to Spicar!

I know there has been a lack of updates on onehundredhp recently, but there is a very good reason for that; I simply haven’t been doing the mileage!  Since the service back in May I have done no more than 1000kms and all that has been made up by work runs – the same road everyday.  Of course, the massive cost of petrol here puts me off just driving about, as a tank now costs nearly 45 euros!

Despite this restricted use, the Panda is running fine but it does feel like it needs a good thrashing to wake it up.  A planned getaway in August may require a car journey, so perhaps it will be then.  Its friend the Suzuki Swift is away on a road trip in Europe at the moment, which the Panda no doubt is jealous of!

Anyway, rest assured the Panda is still great and problem free and this blog is still up and running!

This happened a while back, but work blogging has left little time for personal blogging so my update is a bit late.  Still, never mind it’s not as if there was much to say, which when it comes to a service – and a service at a Fiat dealer at that – this is a good thing!  Took the car in early and were asked by the service department what the car was in for, we replied it was the first year service and the car had done 15,000kms.

The service technician told us they would do the oil and filters and a few other bits, but the Panda would have to return at 20,000kms to have the air filter and something else done, it just wasn’t worth doing it at the present mileage.  It seemed odd at the time, but it does make sense, it’s just a pain to keep having to return.

Five thousand kilometres is a long way off anyway, I have barely pushed 500 in the month since it was serviced and don’t expect to have to go before the end of summer.  We picked the car up the following morning (it was ready before, but it was impossible to make it before their 4pm closing) and noticed an immediate difference when driving away, not only was the engine smoother and slightly more responsive, but the brakes had stopped their infernal squeaking!   It was something we mentioned when it was dropped off and they said they had a cure, but to be honest I didn’t expect anything much from them, and it was nice to be proved wrong.

Since then the car has been perfect and a just over 90 euro, the price was reasonable too.  Shame they didn’t clean it though.  So, a far better experience with Spicar Fiat this time.  I hope it will continue.