General New member, potential Antarctica owner

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General New member, potential Antarctica owner

DesmoStu

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Aug 25, 2017
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Hi guys, how you all doing?
Newbie to the forum and hoping to become an owner of all goes well. Always been a fan of pandas since growing up in Spain, though I was used to the SEAT variety!
I am in the market for an Antarctica 0.9 TA model of one is around and suits me so no doubt will be seeking advice on what to look for etc when checking out potential cars.
I currently own, and don't hate please ?, Audi S3 which I love but thinking it may be time to give it up. It is my second one I have owned and I still have a bike for those thrill speed moments ;-)
Anyway, hope this is ok and look forward to chatting around.
Lurked a bit before registering and enjoyed some of the threads about ?
 
Make sure you can live with it.

The 4x4 TA has a very low first gear and this can make it a bit painful to drive around town.
Pulling off in second is possible, but you do need to flog the clutch a bit.

Not only does it require a quick change into second (it hits the rev limiter in a blink of an eye) but they can hook up and automatically power the rear axle quickly and easily in first gear too.
This can cause a less than slick or quick gear change.

The best way to get them off the line is just to get it rolling in first with just a whiff of gas, then snick quickly into second, it should change into third, fourth and so on smoothly (well, nothing really smooth on one of these, but you get the drift) even at full bore.

The 4x4 TA (including the TA Antarctica) are 6 speed.
Diesels are 5 speed.

Once away you can really hang on to higher gears and chuff around, it'll shudder and shake, but they do still manage to drag themselves around, you can almost count the piston strokes!

The rear brakes can groan and howl, it's common on all rear disc braked Pandas.
It can sound pretty bad particularly when reversing.
There is a damper kit available from Fiat, but keeping the calipers clan works for a while.

The Alloy wheels are fairly soft and it's easy to catch the kerb, so check them out carefully.

I don't think there were many options available, though a leather steering wheel and gearknob were an option and I think were well worth the money.

Off road they are pretty good, mainly due to the lack of weight.
I've never had a problem with grip on any surface even on the factory tyres but the front bumper and the little splitter under there does ground out easily, luckily the splitter is quite flexible.
 
Hi guys, how you all doing?
Newbie to the forum and hoping to become an owner of all goes well. Always been a fan of pandas since growing up in Spain, though I was used to the SEAT variety!
I am in the market for an Antarctica 0.9 TA model of one is around and suits me so no doubt will be seeking advice on what to look for etc when checking out potential cars.
I currently own, and don't hate please ?, Audi S3 which I love but thinking it may be time to give it up. It is my second one I have owned and I still have a bike for those thrill speed moments ;-)
Anyway, hope this is ok and look forward to chatting around.
Lurked a bit before registering and enjoyed some of the threads about ?

Try and get one with leather steering wheel and winter pack - front screen defrost and bum warmer. It's colder here than Spain. Good luck.
 
These comment all good. I did not get on with the TA at first as it is so different to anything else I have ever driven - including many miles in a two pot Honda in the 70's. The engine however is getting better and better with use and I now like it but its hard to get sensible fuel consumption. I am now getting over 45 average and its going up at 4700 miles on the clock. I think the engines are short lived and will be selling mine when it gets to 110000 as a freind has one that expired at this mileage. there is a thread on here about the engine life span that's worth reading. The cost of renovation on said friends car was over £5000 so really she should have sold it for spares and started again. My advice is to go as low miles as you can manage. The car stops steers and handles very well and it is great fun to drive. Seat are poor though - for me - so try a good run before committing. Good hunting.
 
I'm not aware of any issues concerning the longevity of the TA engine in either the 500 or Panda, particularly if maintained and the correct oil used. It's certainly an engine with character, and one or two quirks that take some getting used to. I like it a lot, especially the flat torque delivery starting at low revs. In this regard I find it rather like a diesel. I'm rather disappointed that it is soon to be superceded by new three and four cylinder units.

Economy is an issue for some drivers. I've never had problems with it. From new my Cross TA has averaged over 50mpg. The last 24k miles the average consumption has been 52.5mpg, and the last 4.5k miles 53.5mpg. This covers a range of driving, though rarely if ever, is any of it in traffic. Average speed as recorded by the trip computer is 30 to 31mph. Journeys include long runs through France, to the west Highlands of Scotland, Northumberland, the Peak District, Wales and so on. I've used it off road, mostly gravel and rocky tracks rather than mud. The current mileage is 51k miles.

The cars been serviced at the recommended 9k mile intervals by the main dealer. There have been zero maintenance issues, apart from the rear brake dampers being fitted to cure the brake squeal. Tyre wear on the Goodyear Vector tyres is incredibly light. I fitted a new set at 48k miles because of cuts in one front, and one rear tyre. Tread depths, however, were still 4 to 4.5mm all round.

This is my second Cross, the first being the previous model with the 1.3 mjet. I sold the car with 150k miles on the clock. Both cars have proven to incredibly capable and reliable, full of character.
 
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