Unbalance. What number Thule fittings did you use to attach the bars to the rails?

Ubba, sorry, predictive text, NOT “unbalance”

MuddyPaws said:

Unbalance. What number Thule fittings did you use to attach the bars to the rails?

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Its 4026 fitting kit

Had a run out to Norfolk in my new to me 16 plate 4x4 M-jet, wanted to see how the camping kit would fit especially the tent on the roof rack, hopefully my mini expedition setup will work well although I'll have to remove the rear seats to get all the room needed for a big trip...

Proper little 4x4 camping setup looking forward to some trips now time permitting.

It's also the only one I have ever seen in beige, (sweet candy beige) well more of a creamy white!

That's a pretty sweet setup you've got there!

Bought it. .

1.2 Pop, Red. 14 plate.

My real car is an X1 with bells and whistles and things which i like. I just know im gonna LOVE the panda.

Poppy68 said:

Bought it. .

1.2 Pop, Red. 14 plate.

My real car is an X1 with bells and whistles and things which i like. I just know im gonna LOVE the panda.

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What year X1 is it? I really enjoyed the old 3 series based model despite the interior being lesser than the equivalent 3, but could really feel the weight in the corners.

I sold my steel Barchetta wheel set and the original 15" LM wheel set.
I have decided that i will change to 16" wheels this winter.
Tires will be 205/45R16" ContiWintercontact TS860.

Popoffchris said:

Proper little 4x4 camping setup looking forward to some trips now time permitting.

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That's a very neat setup! Seen similar but larger-all-round solutions used with Landrovers... and you may know that Autotrder describes (as a complement) the 4x4 Panda as being like a Landrover that shrunk in the wash.


So, two questions: what's the tent, and is the 'tray' on the roofbars a standard item? I have a Vango inflatable tent which suits us well for now, but I do like how the open tailgate can sit under your tent's awning.

What did I do? well, with my third 4x4 Panda in three months* (!), I decided that the two week old one deserved a quick wash. Then I removed the wheels and applied a thin smear of Copaslip to the mating surfaces on the hubs where the wheels fit -- this will prevent the alloy/steel corrosion from welding the wheels into place as the winter salt gets to them (planning ahead here!) and hopefully make a wheel change (using the spacesaver spare the new car came with) a smoother operation. So, I have guaranteed that I will never need to use it now!


Noted in passing that the 'silencing bolts' (used to stop the rear disc brakes on the 4x4 models from making groaning noises) are already fitted to the car - I guess at the factory?


* Three in three months? At the end of May I part exchanged a 63 plate 4x4 MJ for a 17 plate which was one year old but only had 2500 miles on it, and was a very good price. This gave me metallic paint, the winter pack and the 3 seat split rear seat too. That new one, 1000 miles later, was written off after a truck ran into the back of it. The payout covered all but £1000 of a brand new but well-discounted (pre-reg) 4x4 MJ which I collected two weeks ago: Tuscany Green and just 4 miles on the clock. Winter pack and space saver spare included. Very happy.

Herts Hillhopper said:

That's a very neat setup! Seen similar but larger-all-round solutions used with Landrovers... and you may know that Autotrder describes (as a complement) the 4x4 Panda as being like a Landrover that shrunk in the wash.


So, two questions: what's the tent, and is the 'tray' on the roofbars a standard item? I have a Vango inflatable tent which suits us well for now, but I do like how the open tailgate can sit under your tent's awning.

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Hi the tent is an Oz-tent Rv1, it's a unusual design with a internal frame so it just unfolds in one quick action (called the 30 second tent), and yes once out of the bag it's that quick to put up the tent! Bit longer for the canopy though! (also has sides and front that zip into the canopy) It's made for camping in hot weather ie Australia where there made, so the ideal thing when it's hot but also great when wet, as in the photo being able to access the car boot under the canopy
The rack is like the tent really made for the expedition market, can't remember the make but ideal for the panda at 3 x 4ft (I had it and the tent on my V8 Jeep)

Carl05 said:

I'm told the shocks are not due for a week so I Put £20 gas in the loaner Friday AM.
Friday PM the garage calls to say the cars finished as the shocks came early ?
When I picked it up there was no apologies for the delay and when I mentioned the extra £20 petrol in the loaner I was told flippantly " you should have kept it and used the extra petrol " :bang:
Fiat service sucks
Anywho it is still nice to be back in my own car.
I'll keep the Panda for now but I've got my eye on the new Picanto X line turbo out later this year

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It's been a bad year all round, what with my fathers long term illness and his resent passing, cars haven't been on my mind, until now.
The Kia dealier remembered my experience with the fiat dealer earlier this year and rang me to let me know they'd just got there first Picanto turbo demonstrator ( GT line S ) I was the first to drive it, needless to say I have put my name down for one and it should be here at the end of the month
Sad that the pandas going but i did feel the need to change and I couldn't bare the thought of the panda out of warranty and dealing with my local fiat garage ever again.
So it farewell and thanks for all the fish.

Checked tire pressures, did not do that for a while, they needed filling.

Thought I'd share my just fitted centre armrest got it from 'micks garage' fitted a treat but was about 3/4cm to high so out came the saw... Certainly makes for a more comfortable drive

Popoffchris said:

Thought I'd share my just fitted centre armrest got it from 'micks garage' fitted a treat but was about 3/4cm to high so out came the saw... Certainly makes for a more comfortable drive

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But right in the way of operating the handbrake ?

chr1s said:

But right in the way of operating the handbrake ?

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Yes it's in the way but with the funky handbrake it's still usable as it's easy to reach over or around the armrest, also the top will slide back little, or you can just fold it up out of the way, it's really comfortable being able to rest your arm on whilst changing gear as it's just the ideal hight (now!)

Replaced my iffy boot lock with a used item sourced from Poland. £25. Works fine....for how long....

Replaced my front DRL's with can bus friendly LED's. The "analogue" ones popped for a past time.

Popoffchris said:

Thought I'd share my just fitted centre armrest got it from 'micks garage' fitted a treat but was about 3/4cm to high so out came the saw... Certainly makes for a more comfortable drive

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I fancy one of these where did it fix to? Did you have to drill anything? Looks a great idea to me. Somewhat like the old Renault R16 arm rest.