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Fiat Panda 100HP

Business as usual with evo's fleet Panda

Text: Richard Meaden / Photos: Andy Morgan

August 2007

Meaden’s still enjoying the Panda’s simple pleasures, and now a cure for its biggest flaw – its pogo-ing ride – is in the offing in the form of a set of Cobra springs

Had an interesting email the other day from the UK representative of Cobra Suspension. Seems he’s been following our Panda reports and noted our thoughts that the 100HP’s suspension is too punishing. To cut a long story short, he’s going to supply us with a set of springs to try with the standard dampers to see what we think. Cobra’s engineers are in the process of developing the new springs and we’re hoping to give some feedback. We’ll let you know how it all goes.


	With the Panda being pretty benign you can really take liberties without fear of any genuine lift-off oversteer nastiness

Otherwise, there’s little to report. No problems, faults or unexpected costs, but plenty of good, uncomplicated fun. I have noticed that in the recent deluges the Panda’s been a little more wheelspinny than usual out of roundabouts, but there’s plenty of meat left on the Goodyears. Maybe I’m just asking too much of the tenacious little Fiat’s traction.

Whatever, with the Panda being pretty benign you can really take liberties without fear of any genuine lift-off oversteer nastiness, yet the way a lift on turn-in brings the tail into play just enough to tuck the nose in can be hugely satisfying. It’s just a shame the ride is so uncompromising. Here’s hoping those springs are the first step towards a truly rounded set-up.

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