I agree with you Ed, I was unimpressed when I drove the Panda back in the day. If I think further back, I remember driving a 306 GTi6 and thinking this was heaven!
You'd think for that much 'road' tax you'd have smooth roads, but I'm not sure you do?!
The roads are so bad in the UK, the government should be paying us...
Last September my local Alpine dealer offered me a GT for the weekend!
The good bits -
looks (especially in Thunder Grey)
exotic
more than quick enough
gearbox
decent mpg
very impressive roadholding
The not so good stuff -
almost no storage for anything
GT comfort seats for me looked great...