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General Panda 4x4 Antarctica ordered - anyone else thinking of taking the plunge?

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General Panda 4x4 Antarctica ordered - anyone else thinking of taking the plunge?

I saw an Antarctica today when collecting my car, was very nice indeed. I do agree however the penguin sticker is maybe too much, but can understand why people may like them. It was by far the most striking car in the showroom, eclipsing the 500, 500l, punto and standard panda by a country mile!
 
One slightly frustrating thing- the aerial is too long for the car to go into the garage with our up and over door.

Is there a shorter aerial available?

Edit- found it!
 
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So, if i go into our local dealer tomorrow, will they be able to order the Antarctica bits for me - especially the penguins?
 
I hope that the OP doesn't mind me putting down some thoughts on the new car here.

I've just got back from town taking the back roads and it was a highly pleasurable experience.

The combination of not being wide, sitting high, good visibility, good gearing and compliant ride made it quite stress free.

I dislike taking my wide car running on low profile tyres down the same route as I'm concerned about things like wrecking the tyres in the ruts.

Shame I have to hand it back to my wife!

Oh, and I bought her this up in town; :D

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_974139_langId_-1_categoryId_255238
 
Just ordered an Antarctica MultiJet from our local dealer - for delivery "in two weeks" - so I thought I'd better joint the forum!

Placing the order was a bit of a hasty decision. I wanted a 4x4 - and my wife loved the penguins, so that clinched it. It's a nervous wait now, so I am much reassured that the "early adopters" on the forum seem very happy with their cars.

Now we're hoping the dealer's delivery promise comes good, and eagerly anticipating a snowy end to the winter...
 
There's a Multijet Antarctica hanging around at Westover Salisbury.

It might be for demo purposes.

I wouldn't say that our getting a Panda 4x4 was a hasty decision.

I'd tried one out last year but it was only when I heard about the Antarctica and I mentioned it to my wife, she got quite excited and went and got one the next morning.

It had been planned to pass on the 500 to our daughter- it just happened a bit quicker than we thought.

As far as I am concerned it's a great decision.

We have three cars (four at the moment) and it seemed sensible to have at least one that had a fighting chance with nasty weather if it came to it.

The Panda is ideal for the narrow lanes and tight parking we get round here.
 
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triumph7 said:
Yeah I think so too. I'll get them ordered ready for when I have the roof vinyled in black in the spring.
Still not brave enough to take off the roof bars and drop headlining to remove aerial!
Click to expand...

Having 2nd thoughts. I've seen a decent pic of them now and they are 90% white. I think it'll be a bit much on the orange car ...hmmmm
 
triumph7 said:
Having 2nd thoughts. I've seen a decent pic of them now and they are 90% white. I think it'll be a bit much on the orange car ...hmmmm
Click to expand...

I saw one in the showroom today. Looks nice. It's very penguin! Black and white with a wee bit of orange. Pity they can't be up-specced, but I suppose that's because there's only 300 of them. Very exclusive!
 
Oh my. She's giving us women a bad name. Have you not explained that the back of the car is the rear window? Lol. That's one of the last things I would think of for the Panda. Maybe something useful like the winter pack to heat your bum on a cold day would-be more useful. ;-)
 
Wee Smurf said:
Oh my. She's giving us women a bad name. Have you not explained that the back of the car is the rear window? Lol. That's one of the last things I would think of for the Panda. Maybe something useful like the winter pack to heat your bum on a cold day would-be more useful. ;-)
Click to expand...

What I would say is that the issue is what is below the eye line when reversing in a slightly higher car.

Even a minor prang would end up costing more than the cost of fitting the sensors.

I don't think you can retro fit bum warmers.
 
I had great fun in the Antarctica today on a longer trip going on A roads, including the dual carriageway of the A303, B roads and along a couple of dirt tracks.

Again the combination of compactness, highish driving position and high profile tyres made it a stress free and enjoyable trip.

I took my infirm mother out and she found getting into the higher seats easier than getting into regular cars.

I enjoyed it possibly more than my high performance estate.

The wife and I have some chatting to do! :p
 
Update: Well 500 miles and a week (or so) into ownership here are a few thoughts and inevitably comparisons with the 500 TA plus she replaces :)

First lets be clear I'm loving the car and the number of people who are interested in seeing it, riding in it, asking what engine it has - described as 'throaty' today by a female passenger! - has been overwhelming :eek:

Okay lets start with the good...

1. I'm already getting low 40's MPG and based on my experience with the 500 it's nowhere near run in :)
2. The hight adjustment on the drivers seat is great.
3. The radio reception and speakers whilst not fantastic are a big step up from the 500 :)
4. The wipers are significantly more efficient than on the 500 and they haven't once folded over and smacked the windscreen :)
5. Loving the look of the wheels.
6. The snow/mud tyres are outstanding, it's been below zero for the last few days here and the improved grip has been noticeable.
7. It's just fantastic fun to drive. I've been off-road and on road with a near constant grin on my face the car really just feels more relaxed to drive than the 500 :D
8. The fuel cap doesn't need the key and dexterity of a Rubik's Cube champion to access like the 500 did.
9. The single biggest surprise for me - the feeling I'm much higher up than in the 500.
10. Can't ever get over the look on the face of the driver behind (insert muppet driver here for example low spec golf inches from your rear bumper) when they realise you're actually gapping them after the tractor pulled in in front of you :D
11. Explaining to others that 'yes it really is only £30 a year for VED on a 4x4 that does over 40MPG and no I really won't be getting stuck in the snow this year' :D:D


Now for the bad/annoying - it's important to understand I love the car and some of these are really minor gripes but someone may find this info useful...

1. The tail gate sounds and feels like it's made of cheap plastic when you open and close it :(
2. Climate control is neither standard nor an option and I'm really missing that :(
3. The general consensus is the back end looks 'a bit numb' :(
4. Apparently someone at Fiat though it would be a good idea to replace the fuel tank with a thimble?!?!?!
5. WhyTF is the eco (Sport) button - something I use multiple times on every trip - hidden behind the gear stick and lots of other 'once in a blue moon' buttons are front and centre below the radio?!?!?!?!
6. WHY, WHY, WHY! does the lane change indicator flash 5 times???? Every other car I've ever owned (including the 500) flashes 3 times which appears to be optimum.
7. The cup holders are properly rubbish all either too big, too small or just plain the wrong shape - how many squirkle shaped drinks containers have you come across this year???

So that's my first impressions - feel free to ask questions now I've had a chance to play and please anyone else post your thoughts and opinions on your new purchase (y)
 
DismasX said:
Update: Well 500 miles and a week (or so) into ownership here are a few thoughts and inevitably comparisons with the 500 TA plus she replaces :)

First lets be clear I'm loving the car and the number of people who are interested in seeing it, riding in it, asking what engine it has - described as 'throaty' today by a female passenger! - has been overwhelming :eek:

Okay lets start with the good...

1. I'm already getting low 40's MPG and based on my experience with the 500 it's nowhere near run in :)
2. The hight adjustment on the drivers seat is great.
3. The radio reception and speakers whilst not fantastic are a big step up from the 500 :)
4. The wipers are significantly more efficient than on the 500 and they haven't once folded over and smacked the windscreen :)
5. Loving the look of the wheels.
6. The snow/mud tyres are outstanding, it's been below zero for the last few days here and the improved grip has been noticeable.
7. It's just fantastic fun to drive. I've been off-road and on road with a near constant grin on my face the car really just feels more relaxed to drive than the 500 :D
8. The fuel cap doesn't need the key and dexterity of a Rubik's Cube champion to access like the 500 did.
9. The single biggest surprise for me - the feeling I'm much higher up than in the 500.
10. Can't ever get over the look on the face of the driver behind (insert muppet driver here for example low spec golf inches from your rear bumper) when they realise you're actually gapping them after the tractor pulled in in front of you :D
11. Explaining to others that 'yes it really is only £30 a year for VED on a 4x4 that does over 40MPG and no I really won't be getting stuck in the snow this year' :D:D


Now for the bad/annoying - it's important to understand I love the car and some of these are really minor gripes but someone may find this info useful...

1. The tail gate sounds and feels like it's made of cheap plastic when you open and close it :(
2. Climate control is neither standard nor an option and I'm really missing that :(
3. The general consensus is the back end looks 'a bit numb' :(
4. Apparently someone at Fiat though it would be a good idea to replace the fuel tank with a thimble?!?!?!
5. WhyTF is the eco (Sport) button - something I use multiple times on every trip - hidden behind the gear stick and lots of other 'once in a blue moon' buttons are front and centre below the radio?!?!?!?!
6. WHY, WHY, WHY! does the lane change indicator flash 5 times???? Every other car I've ever owned (including the 500) flashes 3 times which appears to be optimum.
7. The cup holders are properly rubbish all either too big, too small or just plain the wrong shape - how many squirkle shaped drinks containers have you come across this year???

So that's my first impressions - feel free to ask questions now I've had a chance to play and please anyone else post your thoughts and opinions on your new purchase (y)
Click to expand...

Granted I don't have the 4x4 but my annoyances are largely similar, especially the eco button position. I tried to put my gym bottle in all the cup holders last night, and ended up having to use the big bin instead! Climate control isn't something I'm concerned about as the trekking is the first car I've ever had with aircon so that's a luxury to me anyway.

None of the annoyances are even slightly enough to tarnish the car for me though. In fact, it just adds to the character. I argue with the bluetooth woman almost every morning 'There is a bloody USB in there you lying hag!' which actually makes me laugh.

I also get what sounds like a wind buffeting towards the back at anything over about 30mph, not sure if this is normal? Couldn't decide whether it was Road noise or wind, and tbh I'm still not sure.

Acknowledging all the minor issues rather than blindly being madly in love is good though, as it helps others reading the forum deciding on a new car. I still think the trekking and 4x4s are two of the best vehicles ever made :D
 
I pretty much go with everything that has been said in the above two posts.

I'm back from another trip up to town.

I think that my wife will get to use HER car this afternoon. :D

Oh, and I reckon that in the 330 miles that has been covered so far it's getting around the mid 40s mpg.
 
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