General Panda 4x4 A long wait!!

Currently reading:
General Panda 4x4 A long wait!!

RUdeaf

New member
Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
5
Points
1
Ordered my wife's Panda 4x4 with sliding rear seats on 9th Feb 2013 (nearly 14 weeks ago)
Still waiting, the dealer (Hartwells) has no idea when or if I will receive the car and can give no updates or any information whatsoever. Other than its the seats causing the long delay.
I telephoned Fiat customer relations on 20/5/13 and still awaiting their response.
Is anyone else out there having a similar problem?
 
Fiat Have just called me, Guess what..It has not yet been built:bang:
Sliding rear seats are the issue, they said it might be being built next week. But will update me.
 
Hi RUdeaf,

Welcome to the forum too.

As deeyup says, 4x4Panda is definitely the person to speak to!

What you've experienced is unfortunate though. However it seems as though there was some sort of delay in the specific parts for the sliding seat being available. Nobody on here seems to know why though, it's just bad luck I'm afraid(n)

Not sure how proactive your dealer has been, but in their defence there really isn't an awful lot they can add in terms of when your car is coming. They will probably only find out at the last minute anyway.

However - I did a bit of digging on the 4x4 thread for you, and if you take a look at post 294, I believe 4x4 Panda placed their order back in January (am sure this will be confirmed).

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/307686-panda-4x4-20.html

So I guess it's not out of the question that your car may indeed be built in the next week or so given that 4x4 Panda's is on the way.

Try and stay positive though, I have a feeling you've probably got through most of the waiting now - unless another spanner gets thrown into the works:eek:
 
Hi Guys - and Welcome RUdeaf :)

I just checked the paperwork and we actually placed our order with Westover Salisbury on 12th January 2013.

As you will see from my signature our car went all the way through to the dealer thinking it had been built before it suddenly went to the back of the queue again!

The area rep was able to confirm the sliding /folding 4-seat option as the source of the problem, after which we had a bit of a wait before the car finally crept back up the build queue to the point where it has actually been built and is somewhere in the UK right now.

I would ask your dealer to provide you regular updates (mine are every Friday, and when the order system reports a change) of the actual status code for your car as that is really the best information they can give you.

Stay strong and please be patient (i found this very difficult!!) and your car will eventually be built.

I think FIAT has really under estimated demand from the UK for the 4x4 and this is compounded by some teething trouble around certain options. We've had reports of CBC and Orange paint - as well as the 4-seat option - all causing delays...

all the best (y)
 
Sorry to hear people are still experiencing delays. Abnormally long build times aren't typical of Fiat and some manufacturers including VW Group and the Korean makes can take 6 months for a factory order quite routinely, so Fiat are not bad in this respect.

However, it would be fair to say, as has already been mentioned, that Fiat probably never expected this demand for the Panda 4x4. The previous 4x4 probably sold 1 example in 10 to the regular Panda. The new 4x4 seems to be selling at least 1 to 5, and if you only go by this forum it could be concluded that they're selling more 4x4's than regular Pandas, which I wouldn't imagine they ever anticipated. This, along with the various reports of parts suppliers mucking them around (it's been in the motoring press regarding items fitted to the 500) would all add to making it quite difficult for Fiat to get the cars out and given that their communication style is an acquired taste at the best of times, communicating the issue & giving customers an option of modifying their order seems a bit beyond them, unfortunately.

There is hope though - as far as I can see, those who have taken delivery have received their cars exactly as ordered, which makes the wait more bearable I suppose.
 
Yes, keep the faith- I now have my TwinAir Trekking exactly as ordered from Hartwells(with sliding rear seat) after an almost 17 week wait...

It should eventually show up!


Chris
 
That's very interesting. The slider/foldy seats have different rear plastic trim panels among other unique parts.
 
Fiat is engaged in a bitter dispute with a supplier - Selmat - that makes plastic and trim bits - Fiat says they're behind on component deliveries and Selmat says that they're not. Not sure if this affects the Panda but it has stopped production on some models in several plants - and of Maseratis.

Thanks for the info on that.

My sister-in-law took her 500 to her local accident repair centre to get the front bumper/panels repaired and replaced almost two months ago now after a small accident.

She has only had her 500 back for about two weeks, the repair centre kept ringing her every few days to tell her about the delay as they were waiting for the parts to be delivered. Based on what you've said here, that's probably the reason why!

So from experience I would have to agree that this is having an impact on day-to-day operations.
 
Good news ny dealer rang me and said my car has a chassis/vin number and was built on 21st May. He thinks we may have the Panda by Mid June..fingers crossed. Thanks to everone on here who responded to my comment. Great site :eek:
 
Updated>
Arrived in UK (Bristol) 2/6/13 expecter arrival ETA at dealer 17th June
thumb.gif
 
Good news after 19 weeks it looks as though my wifes panda will arrive at Hartwells next week. Ordered on 9th Feb expect pick up 29th June. keep you all posted. Anyone for the record wait time?
 
Back
Top