Just to say "Hello"
Brand new today 4x4 Panda Twinair 90 after 9 years driving a VW Polo ...... big change but I like it, despite all the 'confusing' buttons for various driving modes, and the totally different engine sound.
Paid extra for the 'Winter Pack' which for some reason, that totally baffles me, comes with a 'refrigerated storage unit' - why and where?

Hi. And welcome.

The twinair motor is great..

Mpg..results from your right ankle

But once run in they are lively little things..

Charlie

The refrigerated storage unit is probably an air conditioned glovebox - if you look to the back of the glovebox there may be an opening or a plug covering the opening, which you can open/close to air condition the glovebox whilst the aircon is running - good for keeping bottles/cans of drink cool in the Summer. In the early Alfa Giulietta's they even fitted a wine bottle holder inside the glove box!

Hi JTD_Liam
Although I haven't looked (yet) for any air conditioning outlet in the glove box I can see the advantage of having that facility in hot weather to keep things cool ........ but why do you have to go for the 'Winter Pact' to get it, when that covers heating everything else?
Mind you from other omission of things that are (supposedly) in the spec and are in the handbook but no longer exist I wouldn't be surprised to find that the glovebox has no mods.

OldYorky said:

Just to say "Hello"
Brand new today 4x4 Panda Twinair 90 after 9 years driving a VW Polo ...... big change but I like it, despite all the 'confusing' buttons for various driving modes, and the totally different engine sound.
Paid extra for the 'Winter Pack' which for some reason, that totally baffles me, comes with a 'refrigerated storage unit' - why and where?

Click to expand...

Enjoy! My TA Cross new January 2016, just over 3 years now, 71,000 miles. Mpg around 38-42. Press the eco button and adapt driving style for 50 mph A roads, strangely different yet satusfying, though only slight improvement in mgp - that improves a bit when climate control is off). No problems apart from intermittent squeaky rear nearside wheel (dealer very helpful, fixed it mostly but still get it for the odd five minutes and then dont hear it for a week!), nothing replaced apart from brakes, although expect something due to mileage. Totally dependable, excellent motor, fun to drive (not so much on long journeys but put up with that). Helpful 4x4 but I am not hardnosed off roader...! Perfect little car with an 80 litre top box, especially here in mid Wales. Mine is Cancan red once the mud has been washed off!

In short, a good buy!

OldYorky said:

Just to say "Hello"
Brand new today 4x4 Panda Twinair 90 after 9 years driving a VW Polo ...... big change but I like it, despite all the 'confusing' buttons for various driving modes, and the totally different engine sound.
Paid extra for the 'Winter Pack' which for some reason, that totally baffles me, comes with a 'refrigerated storage unit' - why and where?

Click to expand...

Hi there!
I have the twin air cross in yellow with winter pack, privacy glass and rear parking sensors. I have had it for nearly 12 months bought from new. I didn't know anything about a refrigerated glove box so I will have to check that out with my car. I assume that there is some kind of vent in the glove box somewhere so I shall investigate further.
It will take a short while to get driving a twin air as though they are not spinning fast enough and your instinct is to change gear much later (being a two cylinder engine sounds like it's not spinning that fast) which means you drive a little like a diesel engine. I still enjoy the looks my car gets on occasion as people wonder what it is, that and the wave from other cross drivers on the rare occasion that you cross paths!

Hi johncard007

You are quite right about the TwinAir engine sound throwing off the gear changing learnt from previous vehicles over the years - I drove Discos for 15 years and a Polo for 9 and I'm wondering how long it will take my ears to adjust to the TwinAir. I have driven a few times in Eco mode, which tells you/suggests when to change up/down and many times my ears have disagreed.
As for the looks my Panda gets - my next door neighbour also has a Panda 4x4 and the other neighbours are bombarding us with questions to find out what we know and they don't, along with making very complimentary comments on both the outside and inside looks of the Panda.

johncard007 said:

Hi there!
I have the twin air cross in yellow... I have had it for nearly 12 months bought from new. I didn't know anything about a refrigerated glove box so I will have to check that out with my car. I assume that there is some kind of vent in the glove box somewhere so I shall investigate further....

Click to expand...

I think this only appears in Pandas post mid-2018, coinciding with the demise of the USB socket inside the glovebox, but I may be wrong. Certainly it was not mentioned in the specs until quite recently. My (built) May 2018 4x4 (bought as 'new' pre-reg in August 2018) doesn't have a cooling vent in there, but does have USB and Aux sockets mounted in the corner of the glovebox. I have a hunch that the vent takes the place of these sockets.

Herts Hillhopper said:

I think this only appears in Pandas post mid-2018, coinciding with the demise of the USB socket inside the glovebox, but I may be wrong. Certainly it was not mentioned in the specs until quite recently. My (built) May 2018 4x4 (bought as 'new' pre-reg in August 2018) doesn't have a cooling vent in there, but does have USB and Aux sockets mounted in the corner of the glovebox. I have a hunch that the vent takes the place of these sockets.

Click to expand...

Strange isn't it? I ordered mine as a special build to have the winter pack (which is great - heated seats and front windscreen) privacy glass and rear parking sensors. I picked it up on the 1st of June 2018. It only has the one USB socket on top of the dash (data transfer for music etc) no usb or AUX socket in the glove compartment or cooling in there either. I was considering buying a Pure Highway 600 DAB adapter for it but I think that as the windscreen has a heating element in it the windscreen mounted aerial might not work.

Seems the 'refrigerated storage unit' has gone again from the (not so reliable) Fiat Configurator website... so maybe was never supposed to have been there? (this option is available on the 500 though).

Conversely, the 'high central console' (that was standard on both the 4x4 and Cross) is now added as a £60 extra on the regular 4x4 when the winter pack is spec'd (as it is needed to house the heated seat switches)... which again may or may not be correct? Certainly it is now not shown in the photo of the 4x4 interior... https://lb.assets.fiat.com/vl-picke...arge&width=2032&height=1080&background=e4e8eb but does show if you add the winter pack option... https://lb.assets.fiat.com/vl-picke...arge&width=2032&height=1080&background=e4e8eb


Those photos are not always accurate though - it doesn't show any rear headrests either, but does if you add the 3rd rear seat belt option...

However, page 52 of the official Fiat Price List (https://www.fiat.co.uk/content/dam/fiat/uk/business/Fiat_Price_List_April_2019.pdf) shows the 'high centre console' as 'standard' on the 4x4, but a £60 extra on the 'lesser' models. All models are now shown with only 4 speakers, and no longer mention of the 'aux in'. Suspect the info in the price list is more accurate.

Hi Herts Hillhopper
Interesting re 'Refrigerated Storage Unit' ....... I got my car only 3 weeks ago and was charged £60 extra for it.
Did get the high centre console - which is a farce, because if you try using either of the 'cup-holders (?) included in it the gear stick will knock the cup out.
I object to all the Fiat websites describing the Panda as "the most compact 5 seat off-roader on the market", and it is still shown as a 5 seater, at no extra charge in 'configurator, when it legally isn't unless you pay £100 extra, which you only find in "safety & security options', for the 5th seat belt. I've asked Fiat how they can get away with this, when without the optional upgrade the Panda is only legally a 4 seater but have had no reply.

Hi again Herts Hillhopper

Thank for the information about the 'refrigerated unit' I've checked and haven't got it.
Dealer contacted and refund agreed.

OldYorky said:

Hi Herts Hillhopper
Interesting re 'Refrigerated Storage Unit' ....... I got my car only 3 weeks ago and was charged £60 extra for it.
Did get the high centre console - which is a farce, because if you try using either of the 'cup-holders (?) included in it the gear stick will knock the cup out.
I object to all the Fiat websites describing the Panda as "the most compact 5 seat off-roader on the market", and it is still shown as a 5 seater, at no extra charge in 'configurator, when it legally isn't unless you pay £100 extra, which you only find in "safety & security options', for the 5th seat belt. I've asked Fiat how they can get away with this, when without the optional upgrade the Panda is only legally a 4 seater but have had no reply.

Click to expand...

Please also take it up with Fiat customer services. I have and I am also pretty irritated about the inaccuracies and misinformation. I did get a nice phone call from Italy and they said they appreciate the feedback. Try configuring a Panda Waze and get directed to the Panda City Cross. If we com-lain about the poor quality of info provided they just might eventually take note. There are multiple Fiat websites that you can connect to. Interesting that the one that on here offers 10% member discount on accessory purchases is WAY WAY ore expensive than other versions of the site linked to dealers and the Fiat.co.uk site. Its poor at best and ,might lead one to suspect a degree of dishonesty at worst! When are they going to learn that leather originates from an animal not a roll of canvas....

Even the salesman had a job on the computer finding it when I ordered my new 4x4 Waze a few weeks ago. Eventually found it, then went to a different just page to check something, then had a heck of a job even finding it on their system again!

How do you contact Fiat customer services? I haven't fathomed that one out even after 13 years of owning one!

Seems Fiat have fixed their website, as this link now does take you to the Waze in the configurator (it was previously going to the CityCross - which, to be fair is pretty similar and what the Waze - in 2WD spec - is based on). To select the 4x4, choose the 0.9litre engine...

https://www.fiat.co.uk/panda-range/panda-waze-configurator/#/version

OldYorky said:

Just to say "Hello"
Brand new today 4x4 Panda Twinair 90 after 9 years driving a VW Polo ...... big change but I like it, despite all the 'confusing' buttons for various driving modes, and the totally different engine sound.
Paid extra for the 'Winter Pack' which for some reason, that totally baffles me, comes with a 'refrigerated storage unit' - why and where?

Click to expand...

If you are who I think you are, welcome to here.

If memory serves, I convinced you to buy a Panda 4x4?

Edit: Just seen your photo, you are who I think you are.

Hi The Panda Nut
I've taken it up with Fiat customer services Italy and they now appreciate that they should not be advertising the Panda as a 5 seater, unless it comes with a fifth seat belt as standard, at no extra charge, to make it legal.
They said that they would pass the information regarding 'misleading' advertising on to the 'relevant department'.

Didn't get anywhere trying to get back the extra £100 I paid for the fifth seat belt.

pandared said:

How do you contact Fiat customer services? I haven't fathomed that one out even after 13 years of owning one!

Click to expand...

Hi pandared
The number that I was given to contact Fiat customer services in Italy was :-
0080034280000 option2.

dombooth said:

If you are who I think you are, welcome to here.

If memory serves, I convinced you to buy a Panda 4x4?

Edit: Just seen your photo, you are who I think you are.

Click to expand...

Hello dom
It was your enthusiasm for Fiats that made me have a look at the Fiat Panda 4x4 when I was thinking of changing cars, and after that I was sold.
You were the first person I thought of showing it to.

OldYorky said:

Hi The Panda Nut
I've taken it up with Fiat customer services Italy and they now appreciate that they should not be advertising the Panda as a 5 seater, unless it comes with a fifth seat belt as standard, at no extra charge, to make it legal.
They said that they would pass the information regarding 'misleading' advertising on to the 'relevant department'.

Didn't get anywhere trying to get back the extra £100 I paid for the fifth seat belt.

Click to expand...

Well done. I hope everyone on here will start giving it back to them - politely of course - and then the very poor quality misleading information might be improved. Clearly there is something going wrong in the UK as the Italians couldn't be nicer and I don't believe there is any intention to mislead. Why Fiat UK are so poor is a mystery. I would write to customer services as well and ask for a gesture of goodwill...

I have already tried the advertising standards agency but what a bunch of wofflers they are!

I am waiting to see if my new Panda is 5 or 4 seats. Its unclear... as ever.

Once I have said car in hand I am going to write in detail to Fiat pointing out 4 seats means its a four seater and that leather only comes from cows, and that floor mats means floor mats and correcting all the other blunders in their brochure and advertising.

Surely an accurate brochure and an up to date web site are basics for any manufacturer selling retail???? The abject failure of Fiat UK to deliver such basics says volumes about them and their attitude to business. Fiat Italy should wake up to this. The products are good and if they cant expand sales and provide the impetus for new products something is very severely wrong with their setup in my opinion.