Fiat 500 or panda
 

Ok so i was thinking about some cheap high mpg runabout for the motorway, i signled it down to 2 cars really, fiat panda new model or a,fiat 500 twinair or the 1.2 , the 500 costs a bit more as its stylish, i was thinking ofmthe following extras

Automatic yeah i know it will effect the mpg slightly but for motorways i do makes it easier
Microsoft blue and me bluetooth
Maybe leather but thats it.

Firstly anybody driven either and views, not bothered about anything really other than good mpg and fun to drive.
Cant really think of anything else
On finance the panda is about 100 quid a month has no road tax and insurance is 30 quid a month
The 500 is 160 a month

Views

Would something with such a small engine be that economical at m-way speed? Assuming that you would be cruising at 70-80?
I recently had a fabia 1.2 for a couple of days and only managed 34mpg (calculated) when i was sat at 80mph :(

Drive a 500 to see what you think first, I found it to be a little "crashy" on the suspension side and my arm kept hitting the door (and im 5ft 10 and not fat).
The Panda has more room, but does it have to be a Fiat or are you open to look at other cars?

Tony:)

If you are a man, panda.

If you are a lady, 500.


Simples!

Of the wo I would prob go for the panda but have you looked at the Suzuki swift? Nicer looking car IMO.

my 172 clio averages 40mpg on motorways but i drive it carefully

polo bluemotion?

:luxhello: im getting the wifey one good shout:thumb:

definitely the best pick if going eco, the only one that actually achieves its quoted mpg figures! i think they've been known to achieve 70mpg haven't they?

Massively overpriced ^^^^^

Go with a polo match diesel, better spec and only slightly inferior mpg but cheaper to buy!

Ps I work for Vw!

Ive got a swift sport , as a second car its mint its doing 40mpg , but its a 1.6 , the new 1.2 swifts are doing 47.7 mpg and the diesal doing 60-65 mpg on a run.

Fair shout, i could imagine you can pay a lot for the badge, i've just always been impressed with the figures lol!

I have a Panda 100hp as my daily car and love it (Spec C for weekends), check the mpg on the twin air cars, people say they drink alot more than published figures. I didnt like the 500, felt heavy and slower than Panda.

Thanks guys panda looks ok, i do use the wifes mariva 120turbo and i get 42 mpg but if i drive the scoob in i mode at 65 to 71 ish i get 34 to. 35 on the motorway which mean just over 300 to a tank where the meriva is about 400 420 but its a 60l my scoobs 50l

I suppose a diesal will be best for motorway trogs, but i think they stopped making the panda diesal, polo could be ok but i expect quote expensive

I would look at these 3 cars, either the 1.4 or the 1.6ltr diesel engine, that will be the Peugeot 207 hdi, Ford Fiesta tdci and the Citroen C3/C4 hdi (though the c4 is a 1.6 only).
All have the option of automatic and if you look around you may find a good bargain or 2 out there (its a joint PSA/Ford engine and very good :D) it can achieve its figures, I quite happily get 70mpg out of mine (even made 80mpg ;) and thats working it out the proper way, not the trip computer)

Tony:)

How to the mpg figures stack up on the autos?

They are 1-2 mpg down on the manuals which is pretty good :)

The wife has a 500 1.2. She does 4-5 miles a day around town and averaged 36-37mpg. On the odd occasion it goes on a motorway cruise it reduces to 34-35mpg.

The Ford Ka and Fiat 500 are built on the same platform. Have Ford got an Eco model to compare the 500 to?

Yeah I found that, the 500 has really poor small bump compliance. It's like stiff damping but soft springs. Nice interior though with leather seats.