Hi Guys,

The Mrs (@rosieg) is looking at a 2013 Panda Trekking Twinair, and looking at the sale brochure book thingy, it says Height adjustable seat is a standard option on all models, but the one she's looking at doesn't have it.

Anyone shed any light on this?

Dom

Hi there, yes we have a 2013 panda trekking which i picked up just over a month ago & it doesn't appear to have height adjustable seat so must be an optional extra! It does seem to have adjustable steering wheel though.
I assumed it would have adjustable seat as it's supposed to be top spec.

That's crazy.... isn't trekking supposed to be lounge plus more!?

Well yeh thats the impression i got! & in some respects it is but then ya got like manual aircon instead of climate control! Its still a great car though & pretty much enough whistles & bells to cover most peoples needs.

I'm pretty certain that, from model roll out, a height adjustable driver seat was an optional extra in all Panda trim levels. It took me ages to get a test drive in one that I could comfortably drive for that reason, this was probably mid to late 2014.

Pretty sure that the height adjustable seat is now standard - it was added across the range coinciding with the revised engine power of the MJ (from 70 to 95 bhp) in about January this year?

Herts Hillhopper said:

Pretty sure that the height adjustable seat is now standard - it was added across the range coinciding with the revised engine power of the MJ (from 70 to 95 bhp) in about January this year?

Click to expand...

Currently standard on all except for Pop trim level according to the configurator, assuming this is still reliable. I can't vouch for the changeover date being January 2016 but do know that I had difficulty getting a test drive in a Panda with height adjustable seats prior to late 2014.

gazz_bee said:

Currently standard on all except for Pop trim level according to the configurator, assuming this is still reliable. I can't vouch for the changeover date being January 2016 but do know that I had difficulty getting a test drive in a Panda with height adjustable seats prior to late 2014.

Click to expand...

That's also my understanding, just the Pop that doesn't have it here in the UK. I can't confirm the exact date either but as you say pre-2014 cars generally don't seem to have it as standard.

I can remember discussing this with the Fiat salesman back in 2012 when we were buying our Panda. I got a few things chucked in as sweeteners, but I always remember chatting to him about how lame it was that the height adjuster was an option and that I wasn't paying for it. To be fair he agreed!

I have no idea why it was ever an optional extra, but suppose you have to give credit to Fiat for sorting it out in the meantime. Really all the cars should have it, but I guess there is a commercial argument for leaving it off the Pop version.

My experience of the height adjuster that I did have on my 2005 4x4 was that actually I always left it 'at the top', which seemed to make the seat level with the passenger one... so I suspect the adjustment is mostly 'downwards' from the 'normal' position...?

Drivers seat height adjust standard from March 2015 to my knowledge. Though as I've owned 3 (04-12) and 3 (12-) models, I would say the current model gave the impression of being sat a little lower (it didn't affect my knee anyway). I currently have a Twin Air 4x4 without it. My previous 65 plate 1.2 had it. A little comfier maybe. Hope this helps.

Herts Hillhopper said:

My experience of the height adjuster that I did have on my 2005 4x4 was that actually I always left it 'at the top', which seemed to make the seat level with the passenger one... so I suspect the adjustment is mostly 'downwards' from the 'normal' position...?

Click to expand...

On my 2012 4x4 the top position is so high I am almost eye level with the top of the windshield but can still only barely see the hood, and I'm a short bloke. At lowest, I can't see the road ahead over the dash.