Hello All!

Just taken delivery of an 08 Panda 4x4, it's going to be a little winter run around while my SLK goes into hibernation. Just a small matter of getting used to 60hp instead of 268hp!

What I'll miss most are the heated seats, so that's a likely mod over the winter. I see Fiat even left a nice blank button for e on the central console!

Hi, I bought this one
a few months back, before the prices started going back up in the winter, for the same reason. My other cars are rear wheel drive so wanted something for the winter when the snow comes and the salt is on the roads. I must confess I do actually like the car a lot, it puts a smile on my face when I drive it. I'm actually considering buying a new 4x4 when they come out in the UK. If you think 268hp down to 60hp is a step change, you want to try 350hp down to 60hp, now that can be scary

Enjoy it, theres plenty of people on here seem to have fun in theirs, and after a few months of ownership I can see why.

Hi

Your 4X4 looks really good. What plate/miles/price etc. Will give me a guide please.

Derek

Samba 4x4 said:

Hello All!
.......

What I'll miss most are the heated seats, so that's a likely mod over the winter. I see Fiat even left a nice blank button for e on the central console!

Click to expand...

I`d be interested on how you wire the blank switch. Not too interested in heated seats but possibly wire up daylight running lights, to switch on or off as the need arises.

hollis said:

Hi

Your 4X4 looks really good. What plate/miles/price etc. Will give me a guide please.

Derek

Click to expand...

Derek,
It's 2005 car (on NI plates, as that's where I bought it from), it's one previous owner with 57K miles on the clock. The car cost £2900, after you dial in flying to NI and getting the ferry back. I think it was a bit of a bargain to be honest as I've seen others pay similar amounts and then having to spend money on getting them in tip top condition. Mines had had new rear shocks, drop links, full service inc timing belt before I got it.

The only job I've had to do was fit 2 new front shocks as one was leaking, so replaced both of them.

I think the going price for others like this are more like £3500-£4000.

Mike

Hi Mike

Thanks for the info. It certainly looks like you got a good deal.

Derek

I paid 1925 for a 56 plate 4x4 with 80k miles on the clock

306maxi said:

I paid 1925 for a 56 plate 4x4 with 80k miles on the clock

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Yeah yeah - nobody likes a show off. That was an Olympic record for lowest Panda 4x4 price ever. Can't get a Sisley for that money now.

It's heartwarming to know that a few folks with powerful cars have gotten used to the 4x4s modest performance.

Jerseywurzel said:

I`d be interested on how you wire the blank switch. Not too interested in heated seats but possibly wire up daylight running lights, to switch on or off as the need arises.

Click to expand...

I think they're called headlights. DRLs should be on all the time during the day

Samba 4x4 said:

I see Fiat even left a nice blank button for e on the central console!

Click to expand...

Wheres that?

The blank button to the right of the red hazard light button, above the front fog button. I guess there is a PCB behind there which could get fiddly, plus a single button would be an extra hassle to program for off/low/high for repeated presses.

I'm thinking a better place would be next to the wing mirror and cigarette lighter. It's next to the seats, and cabling under carpet will be easier then getting behind the dash. Plus it allows for two conventional switches for driver and passenger.

Anyway, newer style big wing mirrors are now a higher priority. Both for safety and it's an easy bolt on part.

After that I'm musing on height adjustable passenger seat, my head is hitting the roof because we have a skydome and that chops off a good inch of headroom. The drivers side is fine. Should be another simple bolt on part if I can get hold of a LHD driver seat. Easier said than done!

....

As for price, we looked a few times in the summer but only saw high mileage cars. Ended up with an 08 with 20k for £6k. The dealer put on a new exhaust and delivered it from Newcastle, so that saved me a day of travel and train fare.

The 4x4 is tricky to price. There is some silly high pricing due to limited supply and panic demand. It was scary seeing older models with higher mileage advertised on autotrader for £7k to £8k. I enquired about them out of curiosity and they were all sold, or under offer pending finance so some people are prepared to pay those prices.

Also the car guides say lack of data means they assume the price is the same as the standard, but the actual sales prices are clearly a lot higher due to limited supply. Also 4wd always have a premium compared to 2wd. It's simple to plot a graph of price against age then you can easily see the proper market price.

Heh ho, mine was £1k to £2k less than others of the same age with more mileage, and £1k premium over the standard 2wd. There are probably better deals out there but having passed over so many high mileage cars at higher prices I snapped up this one. I'm happy and my wife is glad to end several months of prevarication!

You won't (easily) be able to use the hazard switch bank blank, and btw they're door mirrors, or wing mirrors, they haven't been for about 4 decades