Yeti..... Zzzzzzzzz

gar074 said:

Small world! I was a student in Aber in the 70s too, and I returned to teach there in 79. What was your subject?

Click to expand...

I got a BA (Hons) in Drama and Religious Studies. My claim is that I was the first UK student to study this combination of subjects for a degree.

So the jury here is in favour of the TA engine. I need to try one! Getting to a dealer when I'm not working is proving to be a bit of a stretch.....

Peter Rawlings said:

My claim is that I was the first UK student to study this combination of subjects for a degree.

Click to expand...

Nice one I was an UG from '74 to '77, but I can't remember anyone in my circle taking either subject, although I vaguely remember there being some religious studies students in Pantycelyn, where I lived, as there were perennial arguments about whether the Panty bar should open on Sundays. Happy days!

I had a Yellow Panda Cross behind my little Alfa Spider on Saturday in the Morriston area of Swansea.

Looked fantastic but sounded like a taxi with the Diesel engine

Hi Peter,
I can't comment on the MJ, however I am very impressed with my TA 4x4. 2400 miles touring holiday recently completed in Europe - average 42.3mpg.
I find it quiet and pleasant at 70 - 80 (and a lot of recent trip was at that on autoroutes and autostrada)
Yes the engine is different and takes some getting used to, but I love it now.
You might get more mpg more consistently with the MJ... dunno.
Either way the new panda 4x4 is a brilliant little car.

Thanks. It is taking me a while to decide as still getting used to the terrain in mid Wales and the track down to my house! Winter awaits and forecast is interesting, so need to buy soon. I also like my 2ltr Doblo Eleganza as great ride quality and useful load lugger....and quoted part ex has not been good...so maybe I keep the Doblo and buy a cross although the extra expense is, well, extra expense!

All the posts have been helpful and I have decided on the twin air as don't want to pollute too much! Have yet to test drive one....getting to a Fiat dealer is a challenge...so must look at my current work/life balance too!

Without trying, I get over 55mpg all the time from the MJ in my 4x4 - over 60mpg is easy to achieve. New Euro 6 spec MJ (with 95bhp too) which is around now in Europe (and I believe already over here in the UK?), will be cleaner as well. I don't find it to be too noisy (but not tried TA), and the low end lugging power (and usefully, rather more engine braking too for the down hill bits in winter than a petrol can offer) was more appealing to me.

Well, after ages of deliberation I've just ordered a red TA cross with winter pack. Never got to try the engine, just going on the recommendations and a hunch! And time to move over from diesel. Got a fair deal but long wait now until delivery (end of January). If I can afford to I will keep the Doblo as it is such a versatile and comfortable vehicle, even though the interior plastics are definitely van more than car....but it's proved to be very good all round except no 4x4. A couple of weeks ago I had use of a 1.4 500x. Lovely engine and finish and ride quality - just don't like the car as boot is too small.....so panda cross it is and the small boot is proportionately bigger! So I will get a towbar fitted and that will do the load lugging to some extent if I sell the Doblo.....thanks for all of the helpful advice and info...will post a picture etc when it arrives....

Good choice, Peter (though I have no doubt you'd be equally happy with a MJ). I think if you're keeping your diesel Doblo, the pep of the TwinAir will be a welcome but of fun. A towbar opens up many possibilities. I have one on my own Panda 4x4.
I think if the predicted harsh winter turns up, you'll be thankful of your purchase!

Part of me sort of hopes that it will be a harsh winter in order to test the Panda.

But only part of me!

Thanks. I drive an Antarctica MJ and liked it......now hope that winter does not start until February! I guess the one doubt I have about the Panda regards the comfort or otherwise of the seats.....but hey, I can stop for 5 minutes every 90 to stretch my legs and back!

I am looking forward to the 50% of my commute from home to Lampeter to Llandovery to Brecon to Abergavenny as it is lovely, quiet at 5.30 in the morning, and a steady 80kph due to its winding nature. I think it might be fun in the Cross as much as the off road stuff nearer my house.....

Thanks again.

TwinAir Newbie said:

Part of me sort of hopes that it will be a harsh winter in order to test the Panda.

But only part of me!

Click to expand...

I just want it (winter) to arrive in February!

Peter Rawlings said:

I guess the one doubt I have about the Panda regards the comfort or otherwise of the seats.....

Click to expand...

The seats aren't that good, and the driving position generally is poor (the steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach, and the footrest for your left foot is a joke as you have to twist your foot 30% to use it) but it's bearable.

Peter Rawlings said:

I am looking forward to the 50% of my commute from home to Lampeter to Llandovery to Brecon to Abergavenny as it is lovely, quiet at 5.30 in the morning, and a steady 80kph due to its winding nature. I think it might be fun in the Cross as much as the off road stuff nearer my house.....

Click to expand...

Know that route well - a brilliant drive through some of the most beautiful countryside. The sections along the river valleys are fantastic, especially this time of year when the leaves are turning. And my Cross is proving itself to be brilliant on slippery leaves!

On another thread called unloved twin air there is a question about why the twin air is not as successful as a 1.2 or 1.3. The first reply stated that the twin air engine breaks and then there is a £1000+ bill to fix the valves.

I'm worried now.

Anyone else know about this claim?

A lot of digging around , searching etc found next to nothing regarding a Twinair fault. As with any engine there's the small chance that you could get a lemon.....it happens lol

For what it's worth we've not had a problem with either TA engine, apart from one glitch that was my fault, and easily rectified.

Although a bit off topic, we hired a Fiat 500, a 1.2, in France last month.

Did I miss the TA!

Lack of torque, and thus urgency, was the main gripe. Going up longer inclines meant working it really hard.

Peter Rawlings said:

On another thread called unloved twin air there is a question about why the twin air is not as successful as a 1.2 or 1.3. The first reply stated that the twin air engine breaks and then there is a £1000+ bill to fix the valves.



I'm worried now.



Anyone else know about this claim?

Click to expand...

This is referring to the uniair module in the ta's, there were some reports of failures on early cars inc the multiair mitos but I think these were down to incorrect oils been used, this forum or the 500 forum are not exactly full of owners having problems so failures to date are very rare, time will tell when cars start hitting higher mileages whether they're going to be an issue, they are a potential single point of failure but so are turbos etc etc, I wouldn't worry about it, keep the car serviced properly with regular oil changes with the CORRECT factory specced oil.

Thanks. This background history is useful indeed. Helpful advice. With regard to oil I have sometimes had difficulty sourcing the correct oil for the Doblo and its long service interval of 22,000 (fab) sometimes means a bit of topping up so have learnt to get my oil from Fiat. I will do this with the Cross when it arrives but guess I shouldn't need it for a few years!

Thanks again.

Compared to the Prince engine in the older BMW Minis and in sundry Citroens & Peugeots (eg the DS3 1.6 THP), and some of the direct injection VW engines, the TA seems to be a paragon of reliability up to now. But common sense tells you that their complexity, coupled with the irresistible temptation to rev the nuts off them, will result in problems further down the line. Time will tell. I'll stop worrying when there are loads of problem-free examples with 100k+ on them. In the meantime, as Mercky says, keep a careful eye on the oil level, and always let it warm up properly before you get frisky with the accelerator.