FIAT Panda Mamy 1.2

Could be great but dangerously unreliable

We have suffered 4 complete brake failures on this car whilst driving it: once on the motorway and three times around town. Thankfully no-one hurt and no damage but the FIAT dealer hasn't fixed the problem - despite assuring each time it had - and it was only on the last occasion that they realised how life limiting it could be for us and any road or pavement users.

And that's not all: we had to have a new gearbox fitted within the first year and bits of trim kept falling off it. But it was only once the brakes failed that we lost our sense of humour and are currently asking a pretty disinterested dealership for either the retail value of the car or a replacement which won't potentially kill us each time we get into it.

All of which is a real pity as this really would otherwise be the most wonderful little car. Its angular edges make parking a breeze, it's well equipped and fun to drive, economical and looks cheeky just sitting on the drive.

So maybe we were just unlucky. But don't look to us to recommend it!

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