Technical Leather steering wheel / gearstick option

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Technical Leather steering wheel / gearstick option

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Apr 14, 2014
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Hi guys, firstly, would someone be kind enough to upload a pic of their leather wheel and gearstick (or point me to an existing thread)?

Secondly, just wanted your thoughts on this odd situation. When we bought our Trekking last Monday, one of the options we wanted was the leather steering wheel & gearstick. The salesman told us it came as standard and therefore it would be on a ready-made car already sitting in Portbury. I was surprised at this, but assumed it was maybe a change in specification and so we happily bought the car.

Having read around a bit and checking the online configurator, I see it is not a standard option, so hubby called the dealer today. They confirmed it WASN'T standard, but called us back and said as we had been promised it they'd ordered the necessary parts and would fit it themselves when it arrived at the dealership.

Anyone else find this weird? Is there any reason I should be concerned that the fitting won't be the same as it would if done originally at the factory? Apparently it will only add a max 24hr delay in being able to collect our car. I hope this is accurate as I have a baby due in four weeks (less if he chooses to come early like my last one!) and I'd really like to have our new car by then.
 
100 % recommend the leather steering wheel . I asked the same question on here as you have and some kind forum members showed me the light!

It's a beautiful wheel and I would have been gutted if Id stuck with the plastic offering that comes as standard

Promice you won't regret it!
 
100 % recommend the leather steering wheel . I asked the same question on here as you have and some kind forum members showed me the light!



It's a beautiful wheel and I would have been gutted if Id stuck with the plastic offering that comes as standard



Promice you won't regret it!


Thank you. :) I was a bit saddened when the dealer confirmed it wasn't in the car we bought, but I'm glad they were kind enough to offer to fit it themselves. Looking forward to seeing how it feels compared to the regular plastic one in the car we test drove.
 
I love the Antarctica but detest the plastic steering wheel.

I'd happily swap the privacy glass or that black roof for the leather steering wheel.
 
Glad you like its a very soft leather much better than whats in my 3ltr twin cab hilux and are new top of the range ford ranger twin cab they both belong to the company i work for lol
 
Glad you like its a very soft leather much better than whats in my 3ltr twin cab hilux and are new top of the range ford ranger twin cab they both belong to the company i work for lol


I don't have much experience with leather steering wheels (can't think of a single car we've had with one actually), but good to know the Panda seems to have a good quality one. Thanks again for the pics. :)
 
I don't have much experience with leather steering wheels (can't think of a single car we've had with one actually), but good to know the Panda seems to have a good quality one. Thanks again for the pics. :)

Our Fiat 500 Lounge has quite a nice thick rimmed leather steering wheel.

I still have the gorgeous leather wheel that got fitted to my 1980 Fiat 127. Shame it can't be fitted to the Panda, though a lack of provision for an airbag is a bit of a minus point. :p
 
Any chance of someone posting a picture of the infamous 'plastic' steering wheel. It seems to be universally hated! & I've never seen one.. always specify a leather wheel whatever the car.
 
I love the leather wheel in my panda, if I hadn't have got it I'd have been annoyed at myself. This was highlighted when I had a 500 courtesy car with a plastic wheel and the feel of the thing gave me shivers. The way I looked at it was that it is the thing I'd be touching most in the car, so I wanted it to be right.


When we test drove it, neither myself or hubby noticed the wheel felt particularly nasty. Perhaps we've had cars with worse steering wheels up until now lol.
 
Changing the wheel wil not cause any problems so don't worry about that.

Are they changing the gear knob too? If yes, try one out 1st. I for one find the plastic one a lot more comfortable and would keep that one.


I'm not 100% sure, though when hubby spoke to them he did refer to it as the leather steering wheel kit so we rather assumed it was both. They should be ringing us over the the next few days to confirm a delivery date, so I'll find out what's happening then. They intend to fit it when it arrives at the dealership as far as I'm aware, so there should be time for us to check it out first.

I have read several comments elsewhere about the gear stick not being as nice, some even saying they wish they could choose one without the other. Seems I may be lucky and have that choice lol.
 
I've just shot some photos of the wheel on the Panda.

In the large shot it doesn't look too bad, but the close up reveals the plastic grain.

What I can't convey is the feel of it. :eek:

I enclose a shot of the wheel of the 500 Lounge as a comparison- there are already shots of the leather wheel of the Panda already up.








 
I'm not 100% sure, though when hubby spoke to them he did refer to it as the leather steering wheel kit so we rather assumed it was both. They should be ringing us over the the next few days to confirm a delivery date, so I'll find out what's happening then. They intend to fit it when it arrives at the dealership as far as I'm aware, so there should be time for us to check it out first.

I have read several comments elsewhere about the gear stick not being as nice, some even saying they wish they could choose one without the other. Seems I may be lucky and have that choice lol.

Personally I like the leather gear knob.....agree also that the leather s/wheel is streets ahead of the std offering....
 
I've just shot some photos of the wheel on the Panda.



In the large shot it doesn't look too bad, but the close up reveals the plastic grain.



What I can't convey is the feel of it. :eek:



I enclose a shot of the wheel of the 500 Lounge as a comparison- there are already shots of the leather wheel of the Panda already up.



















The 500 wheel looks really nice! I wish the Panda had more customisation options for the dash, there are some really lovely options on the 500.

I kind of wish we could have another test drive so I can feel that plastic wheel again lol.
 
An update and not a very good one....

The dealership called to talk about the steering wheel. They stated how fitting it at the showroom would normally cost £300+ and it and it looked like they wanted payment. They didn't realise we had been told it was standard by the salesman and that we weren't expecting to pay anything. In addition, they said they could only fit the leather wheel and not the gearknob.

We're now waiting for another call after the chap speaks to his manager. To be fair, I don't mind paying for it, but I feel a bit peeved that we're probably going to be asked to pay more than the factory fitted option and won't even get he gearknob. :/

I'm not sure why the salesman told us it was standard when it clearly wasn't. I should have questioned it further, but wrongly assumed it was a specification change that wasn't reflected on the website yet. I know they were keen to sell us the stock car, but it would have made them more money if we'd made a custom order because we'd have gone for several other add-ones as well.
 
Further update and good news - they're not going to charge for the wheel! Shame about the gearknob, but no biggie.

The car is at status 50, so awaiting transport from Portsbury. The dealer says there is a good chance it will arrive by the end of the week, but not to hold him to that.

Can't wait! I'm over eight months pregnant now and having a lot of trouble getting into our CRV lol.
 
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