Styling 4 seat flex pack

Currently reading:
Styling 4 seat flex pack

Pilot Ralph

New member
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
44
Points
19
Just had call from garage. The 4 seat flex Pack is no longer we an option ( at least for the 4x4) he didn't know why just that you can't get it anymore. So had to change the spec of car.
 
Thanks for the information Pilot Ralph.

Not sure what is going on with this sliding seat function though? Seems a bit of a shambles if you ask me. Took months after launch for it to become available and now it's done a runner almost as soon as it arrived!

Anyway, hope you manage to get your car's spec sorted. If you feel cheeky enough you might be able to get some more freebies to make up for it!(y)
 
I had the option of the 5 seat flex pack money back or extra options. Decided on the extra options and by my maths went a "wee" bit over the £500 cost of the flex pack but salesman said " ok that must be about £500 then ". ;)
 
Just had call from garage. The 4 seat flex Pack is no longer we an option ( at least for the 4x4) he didn't know why just that you can't get it anymore. So had to change the spec of car.

I wonder where that leaves my car then? We know at least one with this spec has made it to the UK (philboo's) so I wonder if they are honouring orders placed up to a certain date and rejecting any since? I'm getting a weekly email from the dealer, next one due this Friday...

:confused:
 
Hmmm. Not impressed! I particularly wanted the sliding seat option for the extra boot space it allows. Will be calling my dealer in the morning to see what's happening. What a joke ....
 
I wonder where that leaves my car then? We know at least one with this spec has made it to the UK (philboo's) so I wonder if they are honouring orders placed up to a certain date and rejecting any since? I'm getting a weekly email from the dealer, next one due this Friday...

:confused:

I can imagine the frustration 4x4Panda and triumph7. I can't imagine Fiat will have dropped it permanently having gone to the trouble to design and make it.

I guess it'll be a specific part issue (the missing strings off mine ;) that's causing this or a part re-design possibly ???
 
Hmmm. Not impressed! I particularly wanted the sliding seat option for the extra boot space it allows. Will be calling my dealer in the morning to see what's happening. What a joke ....

That's precisely why I ordered the 50/50 sliding seat option on my Trekking-
way back in January... (more room for my folding bikes)

I've never had a positive status report on its build since ordering,
despite Hartwells trying their best.

Why did Fiat ever tempt us with this option, if they weren't serious
about making it?



Chris
 
Think we need to stay firm and insist on the car as ordered. They let philboo's out, so no harm in making a few more, right :confused:
 
That's precisely why I ordered the 50/50 sliding seat option on my Trekking-
way back in January... (more room for my folding bikes)

I've never had a positive status report on its build since ordering,
despite Hartwells trying their best.

Why did Fiat ever tempt us with this option, if they weren't serious
about making it?



Chris

Hi Chris,

I feel for you and the others on here who've ordered it. Must be very annoying if that's what you really wanted.

I'll try to put a positive spin on it though! The 60/40 split seats and cargo box option could potentially work instead (we have both on our Panda) as they create a flat payload, plus you could still have one (or two skinny!) passengers in the back as well if you like.

Also, you can just take the cargo box out whenever you like to revert to the standard boot. I love having the flexibility to do whatever I want in our car; we also have the folding passenger table which, along with the cargo box and folded back seat, means I have got over 2 metres worth of flat payload to fit in things like ladders, single mattresses etc without having to break a sweat:D

I fully understand why you want the sliding seat functionality, but I hope you guys aren't too disheartened. What I'm trying to say is that you should be able to find a similar level of flexibility with other options.

Good luck anyway!(y)
 
Hi Chris,

I feel for you and the others on here who've ordered it. Must be very annoying if that's what you really wanted.

I'll try to put a positive spin on it though! The 60/40 split seats and cargo box option could potentially work instead (we have both on our Panda) as they create a flat payload, plus you could still have one (or two skinny!) passengers in the back as well if you like.

Also, you can just take the cargo box out whenever you like to revert to the standard boot. I love having the flexibility to do whatever I want in our car; we also have the folding passenger table which, along with the cargo box and folded back seat, means I have got over 2 metres worth of flat payload to fit in things like ladders, single mattresses etc without having to break a sweat:D

I fully understand why you want the sliding seat functionality, but I hope you guys aren't too disheartened. What I'm trying to say is that you should be able to find a similar level of flexibility with other options.

Good luck anyway!(y)
Good point well made.........Its not a deal-breaker for me, its just irritating. Am I right is thinking that you canot have the cargo box AND the skinny spare?
Anyway, I saw the dealer this morning and as far as they know, my car will be supplied as ordered. They have no info as to why the option has been withdrawn at this stage. If I find out any more I will let you all know
 
Well fingers crossed it all works out in the end.

Re the cargo box and space saver wheel - you're right, for some reason you can't order them together. Who knows why!:eek:

But I am fairly certain you can take out the wheel replacement kit (gunk) and put a spare wheel in just the same. The cargo box is just a giant bit of shaped polystyrene which slots into the base of the boot, there's nothing different about the boot shape other than that.
 
I've just been playing with the configurator - just to see what if anything has changed since buying my 4x4, only to find that the 4-seat sliding/folding option appears to have been dropped??

I know they were having parts supply problems earlier in the year, but it would be a real shame for future buyers if they can no longer order this option.

I use the versatility it provides on a frequent basis: for example I can place our glass-recycling-bin (literally a black plastic dustbin, with lid) upright in the boot, with the seat pushed forward and the seat recline angle set 'just so' to keep the bin from rocking forwards.

Hopefully this is just another minor blip and normal service will be resumed...

PS - sorry have not been posting much lately, I am just enjoying the car; I think you'd all get a bit bored of me continually singing its praises (oops - I may have just done that above...)
 
The slidey rear seat is listed in the brochure and price list that Fiat sent to me this week. Let's hope it is just a bug on the configurator.
 
Indeed, i hope it is just a bug with their website...

When I bought my car, the dealer could not tell me anything useful about this option nor had he ever examined it in the metal. The default option for FIAT stock cars is 5-seater, so FIAT are probably missing out on a lot of sales of this option simply because the dealers aren't well positioned to provide advice.

Also, it is a surprisingly cheap option (£200, i think) given all the clever joints and levers involved, so maybe the problem is that FIAT have under-priced it, hence removing it from the website? The acid test will be what the dealer can see on their system.

all the best :)
 
Indeed, i hope it is just a bug with their website...

When I bought my car, the dealer could not tell me anything useful about this option nor had he ever examined it in the metal. The default option for FIAT stock cars is 5-seater, so FIAT are probably missing out on a lot of sales of this option simply because the dealers aren't well positioned to provide advice.

Also, it is a surprisingly cheap option (£200, i think) given all the clever joints and levers involved, so maybe the problem is that FIAT have under-priced it, hence removing it from the website? The acid test will be what the dealer can see on their system.

all the best :)

I tried many dealers to see a slidy seat after ordering mine, but no dealers
had anything other than the standard rear bench or the 5-seat setup :(

In the end I had to wait until mine turned up (about 56 days late :confused:)

But it was definitely worth the wait, making the little Panda a really
versatile machine for carrying people or stuff :D

It really does seem that Fiat would prefer this eminently useful option
to just go away, whereas they ought to be hard-selling it :bang:



Chris
 
I tried many dealers to see a slidy seat after ordering mine, but no dealers
had anything other than the standard rear bench or the 5-seat setup :(

In the end I had to wait until mine turned up (about 56 days late :confused:)

But it was definitely worth the wait, making the little Panda a really
versatile machine for carrying people or stuff :D

It really does seem that Fiat would prefer this eminently useful option
to just go away, whereas they ought to be hard-selling it :bang:



Chris

Agree. Best option by far!
 
Just been on the configurator. I was able to choose a slidey seat for the Trekking but not showing as an option on the 4x4. Very strange.
 
Just been on the configurator. I was able to choose a slidey seat for the Trekking but not showing as an option on the 4x4. Very strange.

Just used the online chat function under "Contact" on the UK Fiat website:

The advisor there said the following when I asked whether the sliding rear seat is still available or not:

"The flex pack is available in the Panda - Easy, Lounge, Trekking and 4x4, the sliding rear seat is available".

So basically it is supposed to be available on all models apart from the Pop (which is what is supposed to be the case anyway).

(y)
 
That's good to know. Now let's hear about a few more owners that have ticked this option (y) As so many folk have bought stock cars (or so it would appear) and many folk probably think a 5-seater sounds more useful, think this is destined to be a very rare option on UK cars. Truth is the Panda is really a four seater unless the passengers are all little kids..

About ten years ago we had a similar-ish option on an X5: that had motorised rear seat backs that could be set to vertical, thereby liberating a much more useful load area when needed.

:)
 
Back
Top