Hi everyone my name is John, I have just placed an order for a 2018 Panda cross 4x4 in Tropicala Yellow with optional winter pack, parking sensors and tinted window. The estimated delivery time is 12 weeks.

I've had loads of Fiats in the last 20 years as I used to work for Automotive lighting manufacturer owned by Fiat, allowing me to have staff discounts on all Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep cars.

I was wondering if anyone had any useful advice on owning a Panda cross twin air? Particularly regarding servicing (as I intend to do my own servicing once out of warranty (particularly where the oil filter is located - I've watched a Fiat video on You tube showing the twin air engine and it looks like it might use a paper cartridge filter similar to my old Mito Veloce multi air). Are the twin airs reliable? My Alfas Mulit air unit packed up about 4 months out of warranty and Fiat wasn't interested in helping out and it cost me a little over £800 to put right.

Any insights to the Panda cross would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks fellas!

johncard007 said:

I was wondering if anyone had any useful advice on owning a Panda cross twin air? Particularly regarding servicing (as I intend to do my own servicing once out of warranty (particularly where the oil filter is located - I've watched a Fiat video on You tube showing the twin air engine and it looks like it might use a paper cartridge filter similar to my old Mito Veloce multi air). Are the twin airs reliable?

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Welcome.
I stuck a few photos from a TA oil change on this thread:
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/453574-there-twinair-oil-change-guide.html
The oil filter is not difficult to get at (from above), and I'm guessing it's much the same for a Cross.

I have had no reliability problems, but it's low mileage (about 6,000 miles per year). The only non-service work I have had to do was to repair a door mirror which someone twisted off (twice), and to replace the column stalks (which had a fault which was later identified as part of a manufacturer recall).

Thanks for the quick reply Chris, it is much appreciated, it looks like the filter housing is the same as on the Alfa Mito multi air.

No faults so far on mine, after 32k miles.

Oh, and lest I forget...

Yellows! Yellows!

(You will find that it attracts more than its fair share of bees and wasps in the summer, but that's a small price to pay IMHO)

johncard007 said:

Hi everyone my name is John

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Hi and welcome to the forum.

There have been some reports of multiair failure on the TA, but it's not happening in droves. Out of warranty replacement will be a similar cost to your old Alfa. The oil filter is a paper cartridge type which at the time of writing, costs about three times the price of a spin on can for the 1.2 and is more fiddly and messy to change. It's called progress . Using the correct specification of oil would appear to be essential with the TA engine.

But right now I'd say the most important thing to do is to enjoy your new car and stop worrying about potential issues. You've got three years of warranty and by the time that is coming to an end, you'll have a much better idea if this is a car to keep, or a car to trade in.

I thrashed my 500TA for 6 years and 100,000 miles.

No engine issues at all, all with just regular annual servicing.

D

rallycinq said:

I thrashed my 500TA for 6 years and 100,000 miles.

No engine issues at all, all with just regular annual servicing.

D

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Shows the benefits of actually using an engine. I thinky Murphy described it as an Italian tune up which I think is magic! I have had a string of company cars and have thrashed them all to death but ensuring the maintenance was on time and correct. Very very few problems ever in well over a million miles. My wife's cars are a different story, while perfectly driven I have had costs from things like seized braked and cables and choked up fuel systems. A good run at speed seems essential. I am sure it takes 10 miles and sometimes more to get the engine to full heat. My TA 4x4 seems to need working to get fuel consumption in line but has been OK reliability wise. I have had the clutch master cylinder changes at 5500 miles it started sticking and on one occasion the pedal had to be lifted by hand although it still worked - just - until changed under warranty. I also had a mirror glass changed as it started falling out when the mirror was folded. I think he ius going to earn his keep this week. Its already an inch deep in snow in Norfolk.

Thanks for making me feel better. I love the yellow colour! All my work colleagues think I'm knitting with only one needle for picking such a bold colour but I think it contrasts great with the black trim and tinted windows. I've been quoted 12 weeks with my selected options, I hope it arrives a little sooner. What sort of fuel consumption are you experiencing? I've heard the official figures are wildly optimistic, but it's gotta be better than the 22mpg I'm getting out of my Honda CR-V.

johncard007 said:

What sort of fuel consumption are you experiencing? I've heard the official figures are wildly optimistic

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*Puts feet up and opens popcorn*

MPG will depend on the sort of driving.
Nurse it on the flat at 50mph and it'll hit 50+mpg.

Drive it normally and you'll be looking at at something around mid 30's to low 40's.

My 4x4 TA averaged 37mpg over 17k, a lot of that was bumbling around London.

That's 1 mpg less than I get out of our normal 1.2, so not too bad considering it's 4 wheel drive.

Brilliant car. Miss my TA Cross, even though I replaced it with a brilliant 180bhp Abarth 595 Competizione.

Don’t expect economy though. My Abarth matches it or even beats it day in, day out.

And that’s driven Con Brio!

Jeremy Clarkson got better economy from an Abarth than a 500 TA. But that could be simply down to a third less gear changes. My TA 4x4 economy improved a little in really hot weather commuting 92 miles a day as I was. Got 48mpg one tankful. Early 40's most of the time averaging 65-70mph. At least it was relaxing. Handy at traffic lights in winter at top of a slope with the 4x4 on. Left a few things behind.

Our long term mpg is 40. Keep an eye on the oil, ours has always used a bit from new, but it's only a wee sump so would be easy to let it get too low.

26 months from new, 47500 miles (yikes!) brakes renewed at 44,000. new tyres at 32,000. 38mpg...up to 44mpg on M/way at 70mph. No other "problems". TA a unique engine, drives like a diesel re low torque etc...fun...fun go anywhere...be individual!

Seats are rubbish though, over long journeys. Have a coffee break after 1.5 hours.....!

Enjoy!

4x4 TA in mixed local driving (fairly hilly, twisty roads) has been 41 - 44 mpg. During the cold weather over the last fortnight, it's doing 38mpg - not all bashing through snowdrifts, either, so I think cooler temps impact on the mpg.

Panda Cross TA, 42 months, 51mpg averaged over 62,000 miles, new tyres at 48,000 miles (4mm tread left on old tyres at replacement), original discs and pads, oil usage zero. Serviced as per the Fiat schedule at dealer.

Squadrone Rosso said:

Brilliant car. Miss my TA Cross, even though I replaced it with a brilliant 180bhp Abarth 595 Competizione.

Don’t expect economy though. My Abarth matches it or even beats it day in, day out.

And that’s driven Con Brio!

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Shut up saying things like this you swine!!!!

Actually glad your enjoying the new motor.

rallycinq said:

I thrashed my 500TA for 6 years and 100,000 miles.

No engine issues at all, all with just regular annual servicing.

D

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Great to know, thanks.

I intend to be all over this like a tramp on chips once it's out of warranty.