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Technical removing roof rails.

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Technical removing roof rails.

If I 'Antarctica my Panda' I want yellow (or is it orange?) mirror covers, so I'm going to wait for those to be available, as I'm sure they will be.

As to the roof. Unless the car is a keeper until it is worth pennies, then the loss in resale value to the car will be even more than the cost of having the sunroof fitted. Also, you will need to find an insurer that will accept this modification. Much as I think it is a gross injustice that FIAT won't sell us a factory 4x4 with sun-roof, there's no way I'd consider this modification on a nearly new car for which it was simply not available at source. For all we know, there is a perfectly good technical reason why FIAT won't fit these at source...

As to the wrap to the roof, that could look really good. I assume that is exactly what is fitted to the Antarctica, rather than a different colour paint.

More importantly though chaps, we should all be holding out for the penguins!!
 
triumph7 said:
Good point. Have already decided to contact fiat before doing anything. Will report what they say.....
Click to expand...

It's this only a problem with the 4x4?

Would it work on a standard panda?

Was the quote you got from Autotrim in Ivybridge?

Thanks. Kevin
 
4x4Panda said:
As to the wrap to the roof, that could look really good. I assume that is exactly what is fitted to the Antarctica, rather than a different colour paint.

More importantly though chaps, we should all be holding out for the penguins!!
Click to expand...

I'd reckon it's painted myself. They wouldn't want people back with peeling vinyl like the door trim.

Forget the penguins (which incidentally may originate from Welsh- pen gwyn ( White head) every days a school day ;) ) and put a panda there instead.
Arctic special edition. :)
 
Bigredbus4468 said:
It's this only a problem with the 4x4?

Would it work on a standard panda?

Was the quote you got from Autotrim in Ivybridge?

Thanks. Kevin
Click to expand...

No.

Yes.

Yes.

The loss of opening is more lengthwise as the fabric of the roof has to be folded up. As far as I can measure, the actual opening (as opposed to the hole in the roof) doesn't go back much further than the front of the rear doors.

I agree that it's a bit worrying cutting a big hole in one of the chief structural members, and I'd need reassurance that the strength of the vehicle hasn't been compromised. On the other hand, Webasto have been doing sun roofs as long as I can remember, they cover a lot of 4x4s, and they insist that it comes up to German technical standards, so I'm half convinced. The twin roof that Fiat offer on other Pandas does leave that cross member between the B-pillars (is that the right term? the one between the doors) in place.
 
4x4Panda said:
If I 'Antarctica my Panda' I want yellow (or is it orange?) mirror covers, so I'm going to wait for those to be available, as I'm sure they will be.

As to the roof. Unless the car is a keeper until it is worth pennies, then the loss in resale value to the car will be even more than the cost of having the sunroof fitted. Also, you will need to find an insurer that will accept this modification. Much as I think it is a gross injustice that FIAT won't sell us a factory 4x4 with sun-roof, there's no way I'd consider this modification on a nearly new car for which it was simply not available at source. For all we know, there is a perfectly good technical reason why FIAT won't fit these at source...

As to the wrap to the roof, that could look really good. I assume that is exactly what is fitted to the Antarctica, rather than a different colour paint.

More importantly though chaps, we should all be holding out for the penguins!!
Click to expand...

I think the mirror caps are straight off the std Sicilian orange car?
Agree with most of what you say about the sunroof, on the other hand webasto have been fitting sunroofs for almost as long as there have been cars so should know what they are doing (!?) & if fiat say its OK then I think it will be fine. As u say I do intend keeping the car for min 5 years.
I might get a quote from my local body shop to spray the roof. He did a fab job on the alfa when it got scratched and could be cheaper than vinyl.... :)
 
To me it would be money wasted as I will be handing the car back after the 3 year PCP and getting another new car. Would love to see the 400 folding fitted then I might change my mind. :D
 
deeyup said:
When A VW Transporter is converted into a camper with a pop top fitted, they cut the roof cross bars out. The pop roof comes with a strengthening frame.
I would think these sunroofs would be a similar .

http://youtu.be/jqf1rjBgK-k
Click to expand...

I agree. These webasto sunroofs are the db's I will enquire but I'd imagine the strength they build in more than compensates for anything removed. The only issue I can foresee with fiat is their 8yr anti-perforation warranty for the area in question. I've asked them, let's see what they come back with.
 
Bigredbus4468 said:
To me it would be money wasted as I will be handing the car back after the 3 year PCP and getting another new car. Would love to see the 400 folding fitted then I might change my mind. :D
Click to expand...

I bought mine so its gonna stay for main 5 yes so worth considering. As I see it the only one worth looking at despite the cost is the 400 as the opening is so much bigger. The glass slots are a bit pointless imo.....:)
 
triumph7 said:
I bought mine so its gonna stay for main 5 yes so worth considering. As I see it the only one worth looking at despite the cost is the 400 as the opening is so much bigger. The glass slots are a bit pointless imo.....:)
Click to expand...

Yes - I intend to keep the 4x for a while, and I agree with you about the other alternatives - not worth doing I don't think.
 
NFU are supposed to be one of the best if not the cheapest.

Myself, I'm with "quote me happy"
This is an online only insurer which you amend cover details yourself.
I find this great as they don't charge you admin fees.
I've just logged in and added sunroof as a modification. Premium was unchanged.
 
Just had this email from NFU:

I have checked with our underwriters and can confirm that as long as the sunroof was fitted professionally there would be no implication for the policy.

Please let us know if you do decide to do this so that we can note it on your policy.
 
looking good then re the insurers :)

Deeyup - ref your post: from personal experience of listing all modifications (which these days includes listing out the options above the standard model) I have had insurers ask me if the modifications were all factory fitted or not? So to some this makes a difference.

Also (and sorry for the diversion) I have had factory fitted options cited by both Direct Line and Admiral as the reason they would not cover a particular car...

These days with squeezed bottom lines, it takes only the slightest thing now for some companies to say you weren't insured, because...
 
I think with my policy I'd be surprised if they tried wriggle out of a claim.
You can only amend your policy on line. There is no customer service dept to speak of. You can add all kinds of mods from the drop down boxes and I'd argue that the fact I added a sunroof 6 months after I took the policy would be obvious that the mods were done after the car was built.

I know what you're saying though. Not all insurance companies are the same.
I was once insured with RAC car insurance.
I called them to ask if I could have winter tyres on my 500.
After they checked with the underwriters, the result was "no" that would be a modification and they will accept zero modifications. The mind boggles!
They also wouldn't extend fully comp cover in Europe, only the compulsory 3rd party. Awful insurance company. Never again!
 
Last edited:
deeyup said:
I think with my policy I'd be surprised if they tried wriggle out of a claim.
You can only amend your policy on line. There is no customer service dept to speak of. You can add all kinds of mods from the drop down boxes and I'd argue that the fact I added a sunroof 6 months after I took the policy would be obvious that the mods were done after the car was built.

I know what you're saying though. Not all insurance companies are the same.
I was once insured with RAC car insurance.
I called them to ask if I could have winter tyres on my 500.
After they checked with the underwriters, the result was "no" that would be a modification and they will accept zero modifications. The mind boggles!
They also wouldn't extend fully comp cover in Europe, only the compulsory 3rd party. Awful insurance company. Never again!
Click to expand...

I wholly recommend your local NFU branch. You can actually ring them and speak to a human and call in and see them too - amazing! They are slightly dearer but not much. My 4x4 is £350 with £100 xs...... Tesco & churchill were not much cheaper for inferior cover.
 
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