Slow car on the Nürburgring. Is that even fun?

So, I'm taking a (really) slow car to the ring... Is that even fun? I say YES! You be the judge.
More or less ignore me talking in the video, as this was to be part of a mini documentary I was planning to do, about bringing a slow car to the ring on a tight budget.
The rear hatch was not closed properly, so the little engine is easier to hear in this video. I also experimented with my old smart phone pointing backwards, which is good fun to see imo, but I turned the image stabilizer on which was a mistake as it was totally overwhelmed, so the video got very shaky.
This lap was the first i drove on this trip. It was late friday afternoon where the track was open for two hours. I had to get a feel for the new tires, so didn't go crazy at all, and still I was only four seconds off my best time. Sadly I didn't get a chance to go after my record as all my three laps saturday had passengers along, and sunday was wet all day.
The car is a 2005 Fiat Panda 1.2 with 60 Hp minus the back seat and 176.000km on the clock. Newish budget tires 165/70r13 - Falken eco on Fiat 850 sport coupe 13x5" steelies, and NOS Fiat 127 hub caps :)
A hi-five to my Panda for taking me there and back, and for being my motel at night.
INCREDIBLE little car!

[@samuelstrcula1246]

I drive 1.1 54HP panda and its so much fun because you driving on the limit all the time basicaly

[@pappiricki]

It’s more satisfy to drive a slow car fast as possible than a overpowered supercar you can’t get all out of it.

[@testacorsa150]

I 100% agree!

[@pappiricki]

Testacorsa I got a Panda too.... Turbocharged 2 cilinder

[@testacorsa150]

@@pappiricki Sweet. Take it to the ring!

[@be4tnl]

is that a bicycle helmet you are wearing? you got skills, I never thought a panda could be that fast

[@testacorsa150]

It's a skater helmet, but probably very similar to a bike helmet. And thanks for the compliment 😊

[@That89_Vn]

If u want my opinion , it's way more fun to drive slow cars then fast cars, idk tho I've never drivin a fast car

[@ryoto_w12]

Captain Slow loves this car

[@adlibbed2138]

no joke, he even makes his final TopGear magazine article about how cars like these we're disappeared over the times

[@Randomhomieboi]

Slow cars arw fun because you can oush the shit out of the car and listening to the engine is enjoying plus a lower chance of going fast meaning slim chances of dying in a crash

[@Jimtard]

I like when i see regular daily cars in circuits! I really enjoy your videos because i had the same feeling when i raced my seicento in serres racing circuit in greece. Nurburgring is on my list too! I hope seeing you there soon! Cheers

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks! I totally agree with you. To me the best part of racing a regular car, is that they are so soft and forgiving on the limit, and feeling the limits of a car is one of the most satisfying things of racing to me! Hope you get to go to the ring soon! It´s worth the long trip, no doubt. It would be cool to meet you there :)

[@CARdasians]

pote pame?

[@Jimtard]

@@CARdasians Ετοιμος ο rallye(1.3) killer

[@iomtilt]

Red Porsche driver slowed you down. I will never look at a Fiat Panda in the same way again, awesome driving. 🇬🇧👍

[@testacorsa150]

He did a little bit, didn't he :D Thanks a lot for the compliment, that means a lot :)

[@kawaaski]

steering of panda is like F1 dont forget panda haves city mod brake good and steering is too good enought to take apart most cars whit big engine 1.6 1.8

[@SkywalkerTibor]

It is fun absolutely. Not power makes you feel good but the free spirit itself.

[@dimitris.4484]

Yes its not nessecary to have a fast car to have fun on a racetrack. Also power and speed kills if you are inexpierienced racer.

[@lorenzozenzo6050]

Skate's helmet +30hp

[@shitboxsGarage]

lets take a second to apreciate that 3rd gear, absolutely killing it

[@EurofighterTyphoon1976]

Sei un mito 😅 You are the best

[@stadzioq2684]

Nice! Kunos simulazioni should to add Panda to Assetto corsa ;D

[@80n3y4rd]

Moral of the story, Fiat Pandas are great

[@joffreyverbeeck1640]

That's an impressive lap time for that Panda. I'm sure there are people out there who fail to beat that in a more powerful, faster car. Goes to show that either a car to match your skill level could be much more rewarding, or in the hands of a good driver, even a slow car can be fast. Or just the fast cars are slow because the location doesn't allow them to show their full potential.

[@testacorsa150]

Thank you :) The Panda isn't too bad for what it is. It is all understeer, with a sprinkle of 4 wheel sliding; very predictable and trustworthy on the limit. The track is very fast (118 km/h average in my good old Panda), so just knowing the layout, will give you a better lap time compared to a driver who doesn't know the track, probably even if he drives a car with twice the hp. That guy will most likely brake for some blind corners that are flat out, and be generally slow, because he is unsure of what comes up next. So I think you are definitely right about that part. Come to think of it, a lot go out on the nordschleife without knowing it at all, and I never understood that. In the past they didn't have a choice, but today, you can wacht endless hours of youtube, and drive it on a simulator. Anyways - I'm rambling - thanks for the kind comment again.

[@AlexDraghina]

Awesome video! Kept a smile on my face from start to finish! I kind of miss my old Citroen C1 - sooo slooow, but so easy to toss around twists on a mountain road (at WOT :D). I've never owned a proper sports car - but I agree with the one lap heroes - take whatever care you have and enjoy it (responsibly)! It's still fun!

[@AlexDraghina]

*car :)

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks man! Glad the video put a smile on your face. I was so close to getting a C1. They sound so nice with their 1/2 V6 :) I have had a few nippy cars, but my love for small slow cars will never disappear, or momentum cars to use a nicer word. As you wrote, there is just something about being able to drive with WOT most of the time and getting away with it :D

[@Roadrage-oq5js]

It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

[@hernandezrivas]

This Bloke is Danish He has a Danish accent... Fiat Panda 1,2 is ZE CAR!! I have the same Car and its AWSOME!!!!

[@testacorsa150]

Ze car haha :D You heard right, I'm Danish. Hi five for driving Pandas :)

[@hernandezrivas]

Testacorsa he he ... min Panda har 175000 km på tælleren. Ze car!!

[@testacorsa150]

min mangler lige 35km, så runder den 190.000. Mange af dem runder 300.000. Stærke som en bjørn ;)

[@ipenelope8344]

Just because Cars are Slow dosent make them not fun to drive, every car hgas its kinks and quirks, and even the smallest cars can suprise anyone. Also those cars usualy have alot more SOul into them than any sportscar could ever have

[@krabbe969]

Panda and a bmx helmet😂😂

[@nikolac290v7]

Sensazionale ...

[@edombre4637]

fiat ❤️

[@MR5er1]

I have a panda but it's 4x4, so the gears are much shorter and I redline in 5th gear at 130km/h 😂

[@LamantinoElettronico]

I drive a 2008 Panda, 1.2 petrol, 60 hp. These things are as wicked as an A-segment car gets in the hands of a skilled driver. I can't imagine what you could pull off in the 95 hp diesel version of this car or even in one with 4WD

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks for the input, and kind words :) They are just lovely little cars aren't they? They tick more boxes than most cars, fun, practical, economical, reliable, cheap to run, etc. I just took my panda 100hp to the track this summer - so you can check those videos on my channel too, if you like.

[@ronsimpson261]

good man you beat the bikers , in a panda !!!!!.

[@hernandezrivas]

ZE CAR 😎😎😎

[@2010HarleyDynaFXD]

Nürburgring in a Peel P50 would be fun!

[@fadzlenkadir6014]

Imagine if that was a multipla....

[@testacorsa150]

One can only dream 😄

[@christianocampos158]

if you put it at 2x speed, it would be the ID R time lol

[@testacorsa150]

Haha :D

[@rohitdalvi9361]

Its not that boooring slow man its fun slow

[@Knackebrot]

I find it really interesting that cars with more than 10 times the power still can't complete this circuit even twice as fast. edit: typo

[@sfh594]

Every car is fun to drive if u push it to the limit

[@guts9888]

it is faster than my suzuki grand vitara 2.0td with 350 000 km, 0-100 kph (takes 20 seconds) ...im always driving it full throttle xD

[@landongendur]

That red Porsche 911 wasn't going much faster than you! :)

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks :) Yep, and what a surprise that was, especially because he is one of the regulars on the track. Even though I was a bit annoyed with him at the time, for actually holding me up in one corner, and braking early, I really enjoy watching that back now :D

[@landongendur]

I'm actually taking a flight to Budapest in mere hours (although won't be arriving in the city until 2018/01/08). It will be my first time outside of North America & part of me wants to buy a cheap mid 90s VW Polo outright instead of renting a car. Travel Europe & take it to Nürburgring. It would probably break down, but what's life without some risk... right? Lol.

[@testacorsa150]

Good for you man! I've never been to Budapest, but I hear it's beautiful. If you are staying for long, absolutely buy a car! Renting is far too expensive. And as you say, what's life without a little risk. In risk lies the adventure. And if it breaks down - so what? You will probably meet some people, and have some experiences you wouldn't otherwise have had. I picked up a miata from england just last summer and drove it home through europe, and visited the ring. It was an adventure, even though I had no breakdowns :) Have a good trip!

[@reptilev8625]

@@landongendur did you do that?

[@landongendur]

@@reptilev8625 I actually didn't. The parking availability in Europe is much less than of Canada. Mass transit was much easier & economical.

[@cecasander]

As a fellow Panda owner (same make, just a couple years younger) I thought this was a treat!

[@testacorsa150]

Cheers. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@susumutamura5036]

I also ride New Panda!❤

[@bozambo.]

Hai guidato bene Bravo!

[@testacorsa150]

Grazie mille!

[@tornsage6380]

you did fine!

[@tornsage6380]

so fun!

[@robertbidochon7949]

10 minutes of pure pleasure ! bravo

[@subz3r0]

Sorry but, is it methan engine panda?

[@testacorsa150]

No, it's just slow, and getting worn down at this point.

[@kltsoi5860]

Kudos to your bravery and patience! Enjoy this much more than typical fast sports car lap

[@hankscorpio6924]

Got a 1.4 Fiat Grande Punto a few weeks ago as a in between car after I returned my courtesy car and waiting for things to fall in place and OMG what a blast it is on the A roads and around town.

[@fusemalaysia840]

I think my front suspension holder already bent since there have no reinforced bar....all the windows seam to fell off and not align to body...just like mitsubishi colt chassis I think...hope it can hold for few more years or month. -:I think if for circuit people should install 2 reinforce bar to make sure the chassis can last longer...

[@Vedad1944]

James May approves

[@JYKDutchYT]

You sir must be James May's son

[@hernandezrivas]

Viva ZE LiTTLE CAR 👍👍👍

[@VuferoMat]

Great ! I think that if you put on panda 165/65R14 is better. I put on mine panda since two weeks 6,5" wheels also in the same tyres. I have very good stability. Sorry where you have mount GoPro for the front view?

[@testacorsa150]

Thank you :) I think you are right. A bit lower profile tyres would be good. I just enjoy my 850 sport coupe wheels so much, and a set of used 165/70r13 tires came to me for the right price. The mount for my camera (Sony az1) is home made. It is basically two pieces of wood that sandwich the two holding pins for the headrest. The two pieces are then just held together with screws. It's hard to explain, so maybe I will do a "show and tell" video if I find the time :)

[@testacorsa150]

Nice! The fondmetal 5700s look very nice on the Panda! Dampers and exhaust looks good too. Bilsteins are tested on the ring, so your car is ready, so off you go ;D

[@marquesdeportago1596]

I think Kevin Estre can do a 7 minute lap on this

[@hernandezrivas]

Min er 14 år og rustfri. Har kørt over hele Europa med den. ZE CAR!!!! Altid husk at skifte tandremmen for hver 80.000 km ca. og benzinpumpen samtidtigt. He he...ZE CAR!!! Sælger aldrig min. Har haft den fra ny 😎

[@testacorsa150]

Fedt du har haft den fra ny. Kan godt forstå du aldrig vil sælge den! Hvis tandremmen springer sker der ingen skade for det er en "no interference motor". Men du har ret, det er bedst at skifte i tide, sammen med vandpumpe, og andre vitale dele. LÆNGE LEVE ZE LITTLE CAR!

[@im8980]

Am I dreaming or the Honda Cbr can't follow u or the biker is just cruising on his bike, lolz...

[@testacorsa150]

Haha :D He was just cruising, waiting for the other bike.

[@im8980]

@@testacorsa150 Haha, it's so fun to drive these cars on track. Hats off for the drive 😉

[@testacorsa150]

@@im8980 It really is, and thanks!

[@hernandezrivas]

Min bedste bil jeg har haft. Kan sagtens runde 400.000. Min har kørt175.000 km. Og den har aldrig efterladt mig strandet. Hvor stærkt kørers der her? 180? Min kan nå 170 kmt...

[@testacorsa150]

Jeg kan sige det samme :). Det er også den bil jeg har haft i længst tid - næsten to år nu, og små 40.000km. Min er brudt ned én gang med en defekt benzinpumpe, ellers har den altid kørt, inklusiv 13 runder på nürburgring! Jeg vil tro jeg kører ca. 170 ja. Speedometret viste ca. 190 km/t

[@thomassopp532]

Any chance of you doing a new lap?

[@testacorsa150]

Sadly no, as I sold it :,( But Hopefully I'm going in my "new" panda 100HP this summer :) Why do you ask? :)

[@thomassopp532]

@@testacorsa150 I really enjoyed the video, because you can learn the course and the turns are more realistic for us amateurs:-)

[@Neonblue84]

60HP is enough to have much fun👍

[@Auraxium]

This left a smile on my face, you drove it hard! Well done.

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad it made you smile. It made me smile as well :)

[@SpalaczBenzyny]

very good driving!

[@98matheusalles]

That's not that slow actually haha

[@judomanX]

please drive a Toyota Carina E 2.0! I want to see how. Danke!

[@testacorsa150]

I would love to, but I don't have one.

[@dondidi9340]

I know exactly how you felt driving this. Pure understeering

[@testacorsa150]

Yes, the Panda produces the finest and purest of understeer :D

[@vincenzolamberti4507]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@robertsmith2046]

Hey man when are you uploading the one with the corsa and Bmw on the 23rd of April?

[@testacorsa150]

Hey man. I should have some time this weekend to edit and get them up.

[@AustriackiMalarz39]

You can go there to watch nice cars ;)

[@db8707]

Nice video mate, it's all about fun isn't it?:) Whats the top speed you achieved on the track?:)

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks. You bet, it's all about the fun! The most my speedo read at the bottom of the fox hole was 195 km/h. That was with smaller tires than original, so the speedometer was ca. 8-9% off. So around 180 km/h. Not that fast, but for a car that was stated to do 155 from the factory, it's not too bad. The elevation change is the main reason why a small car like this is fun at the ring. Down hill it's hugely fun, but you pay the price uphill of course, but luckily most of that is dealt with at once with a steep 3km climb all the way to the top at "hohe acht".

[@Arpocrates2012]

1.2 cc ?

[@SuPeRbOmBeRmAn4]

whats the helmet for ? the ring is the best track in the world. i would be having fun in any vehicle, even if it only had a 25cc engine.

[@spirostsangarakis8065]

Give me a real fast car.and give Hamilton's these car.guess the winner.hamilton of course.if you don have skills it's harder instead a good car.and you can have fun even in these slow cars.

[@kristenburnout1]

Wonderful video! Makes me miss my little Punto with a whopping 80hp... So many people underestimate the fun of driving a slow, small car quickly! BTW, is the Panda a good car to live with? Has it been reliable?

[@testacorsa150]

Thx :) Whopping 80hp haha. I thought about putting that nice 1.2 16v engine in mine. I drove a 6 speed punto sporting with that engine and that was quite buzzy - really liked it, but I think I'll stick to my good old 8 valve. You are right. So many people just don't get it, but driving close to the limit is what's doing it for me; feeling the car on it's toes, so to speak. Right at the edge of what the tires and the car can do. I have had my Panda for 1,5 years now - the longest I've ever had a car, and it's been great! 34.000 km, and the only defect was the fuel pump. No rust as the chassis as it's galvanized, and it's super practical too. Love that little thing! Go get one, and I'll race you on the ring ;)

[@kristenburnout1]

Testacorsa Haha, challenge accepted! I think the 1.2 16v is a great engine, it's weird it never got into the Panda in the first place! It would fit neatly between the 100hp and the 60hp.

[@testacorsa150]

Cool. That could be such a fun race i'm sure. Yeah it is weird that the 1200 16v didn't make it into a panda, especially since there was a 1,1 version with 54hp as well. Not exactly a huge gap to the 60. I would love a 100HP, but they are just too expensive for what they are, here in Denmark.

[@kristenburnout1]

Yeah, same here in Norway. They only imported the 4x4, although several 2wds are appearing as imports. Pandas in general are quite rare (like real pandas...) and surprisingly expensive up here. That's why I got a dirt cheap mk2 Punto instead, though they are a bit more temperamental, and mine was a bit rough around the edges so to speak... Ah memories, really want to rejoin the small italian car club soon :D

[@santiargon38]

I JUST LOVED THIS VIDEO

[@testacorsa150]

Thanks mate :)

[@DashCamSerbia]

But is it faster than my 1.4 Dacia Sandero?

[@BenjaminVci123]

Hvordan har pandaen det i dag?

[@testacorsa150]

Tak, den er still going strong! Lidt gigt i leddene, men starter hvergang 7-9-13 ;)

[@eithneboyle4706]

0

[@testacorsa150]

1

[@LostBeetle]

At least you were sub 11. lol

[@Benito-Musolesi]

Is competitive like a f1 Williams

[@retractablehybrid6110]

8.32 BUCKLED hahahahaa

[@wilsrecreations450]

The guys with the bikes must be disgusted...

[@That89_Vn]

Why does the interior look like it's a van

[@Benito-Musolesi]

Have seen his helmet? 😂

[@ContasYT]

This is de Diesel Version right? My grandad just lend me his Gasoline Fiat Panda for a few months and its a really fun car until like 3th gear or so xD

[@claudiofiero8523]

This is 1.2 petrol version, but I agree with you that small cars with turbodiesel engines are quite fun to daily drive

[@joelclarke4275]

3th is where the problems start lol

[@mariomabel8131]

1.1 54 CV o 1.2 60 CV?

[@sergiojimenez3445]

which day and time was? looks pretty empty

[@testacorsa150]

Yes, it was pretty empty - lucky me! Time and date is in the description ;)

[@MiataMods]

Very fun video to watch and I like the second camera in the back! Funny to see the view from the back as well! Maybe next time you can add a clip of you giving your opinion if it's fun with a slow car! That will make the video a bit more interesting to watch!

[@testacorsa150]

MiataMods I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for your comment. Yep, you have a good point, and as i wrote in the discription, this was actually going to be part of a mini documentary of bringing a slow car to the ring on a budget :)

[@gigi-of2tu]

8 or 16 valves?

[@testacorsa150]

13 if you count the ones on the wheels :D

[@gigi-of2tu]

@@testacorsa150 ahahahaha spare wheel included right?

[@DanThyme]

Cazzo ma la Panda batterebbe anche una Koeniggsegg Agera