Pandabuyer's guide

The Gen 3 Panda is one of the most common city cars in Europe and carries a reputation for being cheap to keep — which is true when it has been maintained. Timing belt and wet-belt service history is the single most important thing to verify before any offer. Gearbox judder on automatic variants and emissions faults from short-trip diesel use are the next risks. Get those three things right and the Panda delivers on its promise; miss them and the repair bills arrive quickly.

This guide covers ten documented issues: timing belt, chain or wet-belt service risk, DSG and automatic clutch judder, AdBlue, DPF and EGR emissions fault, coolant leak or water pump fault, infotainment and software electrical faults, suspension knocks and tyre wear, brake corrosion or EPB fault, panoramic roof or boot water leak, ADAS and radar calibration fault, and the full recall and campaign status checklist. Each fault has a field check and a real repair-cost range.

There are excellent Gen 3 Pandas on the used market — low mileage, full service history, one or two owners, clean on diagnostics. This guide gives you the tools to find one and the confidence to walk away from anything that falls short.