Fiat Panda 1.1 Active

I bought this little car intending it to be a temporary runabaout in 2009 for £1900. I intended to buy a "bigger and better" car a few months later, but nearly nine years later, I still have it, and it has never let me down in any major way.

It's easy to park, easy to drive and inexpensive to own. I've put 40,000 miles on it and yes, while I have had the brakes, tyres, shocks, battery, and timing belt renewed, these are all consumer items and at 75,000 miles the extremely modest 54 bhp engine is still pulling well enough to have hauled me up and down the motorway and A roads where it has no right to be.

I've averaged 47 mpg over that time, largely in fuel-sapping stop-start urban traffic and motorway dashes.

The best part of the vehicle? It's very easy to park, and just as easy to drive. The gear change mounted high makes it easy to shift. The worst part? Well, it's a little dated now - no air conditioning, ABS, or even rear head rests etc., but the new Panda has all these toys and more.

Would I have another? Absolutely. Fiat used to have a reputation for "Fix It Again Tomorrow", but based on my experience(including Toyotas, Hondas and a BMW) I would say the Fiat has been the most reliable and cheapest to run car I've owned.

I bought a panda 2004 with 17000 miles for 2500 euros. Great value. Nothing went wrong with it , absolutely fine , does 55 mpg good car

Always my car of choice for rental when on holiday. Now have purchased one and its even better. Im absolutely thrilled with it. I liked my Ford KA (owned 10 years) but now realise it was like driving a tractor in comparison. Only thing I dont like is key opening is on drivers door only and key open for boot. Door lock does not open boot and no inside button to open boot. Potential nightmare problem - if you end up leaving keys inside boot and shut it without having unlocked drivers door first!!!! This is why I marked Practicality as a 4.

i like the handling and acceleration on the Fiat Panda not to mention how cheap it is to run. it cost £30 to fill up the tank and you could do about 300 mile off that

The Fiat Panda 1.1 Active is great value. Drives well. Very practical. 100% reliable. Very lucky to have a first rate supplying/servicing dealer. Have done over 26K miles in two years from purchase new so any niggling problems would have shown up by now.

Brilliant cheap package.

I am more leased with this car than any of the other 56 cars I have owned, except for the 1979 Silver Shadow. Talk abourt value for money. My Fiat is on an 08 plate, brand new, diesel, aircon, computer etc for £6500!

Beat that for value!

We have 2 Pandas. A 1.1 Active and 1.2 Dynamic sound. The 1.1 is a great town car. It's so easy and fun to drive. Well packaged and looks good in metallic pale blue. It is very well put together and after 3 years and 26,000 miles does not rattle, squeak or drop bits on the road like some Fiats of old. The servicing is very cheap and it's group 1 insurance so it will not make a hole in your wallet. Performance: It runs out of puff on the dual carriageway and the motorway - if you do more driving on the open road then consider the 1.2 petrol or the excellent 1.3 diesel. If you want something sportier still then the 1.4 100 bhp may be worth a look.

On top gear my Fiat Panda 1.1 Active was beaten by a guy on foot so I think that could be a better option or a nice bike could be good. Cheap insurance is the best thing