Needs a quick answer so perhaps fccuk is not the place to post it but here goes.

6 months ago I bough a Smart for Two car for £1200.00 2004 75k miles with he intention of towing it behind the motor home.

Now on 80k it is overheating. Took it to a Smart Car specialist (supposedly) it was water pump failure, plus leaks to matrix and renew hoses (matrix ins in front of car - engine in rear (thats about 4ft apart lol) £530.00

Decide to have it done but part ex for a more practical car - get offered a grand against a panda. Pick it up tomorrow.

Take a call from the Smart dealer ten mins ago Smart needs an alternator too - completely seized. - £230.00 and can only be done in the new year.

So that's £760.00 to gain a 1k part ex. (I'm currently committed to £105.98p)

Should i see what fiat will reduce the panda price by for no part ex?

Take the Smart back for £105.98 and scrap it?

Have the repair done and sell it privately - best I'd get is £800.00 ish I reckon.

Have the repair done and ask Fiat if I can bring the part ex vehicle to them in the new year ? I's still want to collect the panda tomorrow as I need a car (coop off the road would you believe )

Sorted. Saved by the lovely people at Fiat. Told them the story, asked what my options were dn they said - Just pay what you need to get the car back now and we'll collect it from them today. Part ex still stands. Yey thank you Fiat

Result!
That's a stroke of luck.

What’s the betting that the seized alternator was causing the overheating problem? Seized alternator, slipping belt, lack of water pump motion.

That sounds likely MRS .Tell the truth they were complete numpties at that garage. It turned out to be part of a nationwide fast fit centre with different branches "specialising" in different marquess! Fiat were not impressed by them when they turned up to collect the car. There was only one young lad in a hoodie knocking about and that was it. They hadn't done anything but start to strip the car and I should have been collecting it all done and dusted today!

Blimey, C2D, you've had some terrible car luck this year! I hope 2018 serves you much better...

Older Smart cars are such a no no they should be avoided!

Make your own luck and buy better first time

You'll be saying you bought the 1.2 Panda next

Nothing wrong with the panda! I have 3... and only one of them is broke at the moment

What did you do in the end Chris?

Pleased to see your snow Panda tug of war made it onto Car Throttle Sam!

I have fallen in love with the mk3 4x4 panda. Its slow, its ugly. its got no features at all.

But, it just works, its easy to drive its not uncomfortable, its predictable and for a panda goes around a corner quite well.

Its exactly what you need a car to be when you just need a car to get to B from A with no fuss, Its cheep to run, easy to fix, practical. The heaters are working in seconds with nuclear rated heat. Its easy to park and has good visibility all around the car.

I was loving it before the winter came, now, ill never sell it. Its been simply amazing in the snow/ice and put everything else to shame. More to the point its nearly impossible to make it do something stupid in the snow. With a set of winter rubber its been running rings around everything up here. Its been quite funny to be honest as people see a little panda trundle up a hill and though the snow and then follow. This doesnt work out well for most people.

Er... I did! It seems fine, basically as Sam says in the snow around the Cotswolds...

The 1242 Fire is a legendary little mill. Nowt wrong with that. They love to rev.

The secret is the winter rubber. I feel confident I could have followed you in an E Class on winter rubber.

The downside with winter rubber is the wet concrete grip rating (only C rated). I’ve just ordered CrossClimates for the Merc to replace the winter tyres as they are rated A for wet grip and still stamped M&S and snow is pretty rare in the south whereas rain is common around here (and mud is far too common).

As a late member of the Fiat Car Club of Queensland used to say when driving his 128 in motokhanas, "the numbers were put on the tacho to be used!"

Well just to be different I went with the two cylinder 850cc twin-air lol. It's the quickest in the line up believe it or not and It seems flipping fab. Front wheel drive with traction control. (gets pretty good reviews) So hopefully will see me right

Got some mates with twin air Pandas and they are all happy with them.

Unfortunately, the Panda has been discontinued here by Fiat Australia.

They sound good too. Twin cylinder turbo... now that is a refreshing change.