General 4X4 what are they like to drive

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General 4X4 what are they like to drive

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I am interested in a Twinair 4X4 and wonder if they are much different on normal roads to the two wheel drive cars.

I am looking for a more secure drive for my wife on muddy and often icy Norfolk back roads.#

Also can anyone shed light on how many mpg you get from the twin air 4X4 in real life please??

PS Please don't tell Sir Percival I am thinking of changing him. I feel like a murderer even for thinking of it.
 
Economy wise, tests say 43 urban and 60 odd in ideal conditions on a TA 4x4. Assume 29 round town and mid 40s doing 50 to 55mph. Eco button cuts torque by 80 percent and power by 8bhp, feels like 20. Economy could improve, unlikely though. Smaller fuel tank than 2wd. Expect to refuel every 200 miles to be on the safe side. Cheap tax and insurance. Would have to tell you about off-road ability after the snow has been. Good for diving up verges out of the way on narrow lanes when buses and lorries appear though. Several very knowledgeable people on here who go off-road will add something I'm sure. Squadrone Rosso and Babba Umbro, any thoughts gents?
 
Economy on my "15 reg" 4x4 is steady between 42 and 44. My wife's Trekking "15 reg" is steady on 46.7 - never varies. Both are used on short journeys that rarely hit motorways.

Brilliant little cars but the 4x4 is the better drive by far due to the 6 speed box.
 
I'm getting a 37-38 mpg mixed driving in and around London/Kent, just a few mpg's better than both our 1.2's over the same trips.

On a long motorway/fast A road run I get 44-45 mpg out of my TA 4x4 without really trying, which is a little less than the 1.2's manage on a steady run.

Have some fun and hammer it down country lanes, low 20's if not 20 it's self, quite a lot less than the 1.2's!

They do drive better and give better mpg if you ignore your natural senses and hang on to higher gears as long as possible, even though it sounds and feels like you're flogging the engine to death.
This can make them sound and feel a bit juddery, breathless and you can often count/feel each piston stroke, but the turbo soon spins up and it's back to it's normal mentalness.

They do require a lot of cog swapping around town, first gear is painfully low and it's very easy to spin up the motor and hit the rev limiter and look like a right plank without troubling the speed limits.
You can get them off the line in second, but you do have to abuse the clutch a little, best just to get them moving off in first and short shift into second quickly for smooth progress.

There can be a bit of driveline shunt between reverse and forward as the 4x4 system loosens up a bit and rear discs have been known to drag when mucky with dirt and brake dust, just like the 100hp's do.

The 4x4 ability is great even on the standard mud/snow tyres, mine regularly pulls me out of muddy fields and down farm tracks while the likes of X5's and XC90's just dig in the soft ground and beach without touching the ELD button.

I reckon it's off road grip is better than the old Disco I had.

The only drawback of the normal 4x4 is the front bumper lip/splitter can catch on rutted tracks, mine's took some abuse, but it's quite flexible and hasn't yet broken. Fiat seem to have sorted this on the Cross version with different bumpers.

On the road it has a little bit more corner roll, but it's hardly noticeable at normal speeds.
Drive it back to back with the 1.2's and you can sense when the rear axle starts to kick in and power up when provoked. On a wet roundabout you can sense the back end sorting it's self out and driving you around, it feels planted and right without being too noticeable or intrusive.

Hammer it around like a loony and the body does swing and sway a bit on corners, it's not scary but you can easily sense the 4x4 and stability control sorting things out.
I tried this on a snowy (private) road last winter and the way in clung on in there totally amazed me, my trailer over took me twice!

All in all I love mine, but too much city commuting does pain me because of the low first (but I do live in central london) and all the gear changing, but you can live with it if you can modify your driving style a little.
 
My Cross TA is being serviced this week (36k miles). I use it 80% of the time for a 25 mile each way commute to Norwich using Norfolk back roads and lanes with the occasional long trip (Norfolk to Islay, Norfolk to south Brittany, and many Norfolk to Peak District trips). Over the 36k miles I've averaged 52 mpg. If you adjust your driving style to the high torque available at just less than 2k revs then excellent economy is readily achievable. Drive with a more spirited style, or in traffic then economy suffers as others have noted. I've noticed a 5 to 6% average improvement in economy in eco mode once the engine is well run in (15k plus miles) with the obvious loss of performance.

Apart from the excellent economy the most pleasing aspect of the car is just how solid it feels. It, well mine at least, is well put together with no squeaks or rattles. The rear brakes had dampers fitted at 6k miles and there hasn't been a murmur since despite being regularly caked in mud.

I think the 4x4 is about the most versatile and complete car one can buy for driving on Norfolk lanes and back roads! If you can restrain from using the full performance potential of the TA engine then diesel like economy is achievable.
 
I am interested in a Twinair 4X4 and wonder if they are much different on normal roads to the two wheel drive cars.

I am looking for a more secure drive for my wife on muddy and often icy Norfolk back roads.#

Also can anyone shed light on how many mpg you get from the twin air 4X4 in real life please??

PS Please don't tell Sir Percival I am thinking of changing him. I feel like a murderer even for thinking of it.
My Cross TA is being serviced this week (36k miles). I use it 80% of the time for a 25 mile each way commute to Norwich using Norfolk back roads and lanes with the occasional long trip (Norfolk to Islay, Norfolk to south Brittany, and many Norfolk to Peak District trips). Over the 36k miles I've averaged 52 mpg. If you adjust your driving style to the high torque available at just less than 2k revs then excellent economy is readily achievable. Drive with a more spirited style, or in traffic then economy suffers as others have noted. I've noticed a 5 to 6% average improvement in economy in eco mode once the engine is well run in (15k plus miles) with the obvious loss of performance.

Apart from the excellent economy the most pleasing aspect of the car is just how solid it feels. It, well mine at least, is well put together with no squeaks or rattles. The rear brakes had dampers fitted at 6k miles and there hasn't been a murmur since despite being regularly caked in mud.

I think the 4x4 is about the most versatile and complete car one can buy for driving on Norfolk lanes and back roads! If you can restrain from using the full performance potential of the TA engine then diesel like economy is achievable.
 
Just clocked up 44000 miles in three and a half years with my 4x4 TA, including seven extended trips to Umbria, which make up half the total mileage. We do some white road driving every day in Italy as "our" village is up a steep gravel track, plus a fair bit nearby around the recent earthquake area of the Sibillini mountains on the borders of Umbria and Le Marche - some rough stuff where the relatively limited ground clearance calls for caution but traction is exemplary and the low(ish) first gear is a necessity, for going downhill as much as up. Last autumn we climbed a half mile up a 30+ degree ski slope - only issue was when I had to slow down near the top where the going got rough.

Absolutely zero reliability issues; uses very little oil; I'm about to put the first set of replacement tyres on so tyre wear is very good, wear is very even across the tread and between back and front - the car does have a feel that suggests the tyres are meeting the road at the right sort of angle (if you see what I mean) - new boots are Goodyear Vector 4Seasons G2 in the original 175/65 section - I'll give feedback over the next few months.

MPG varies a lot - up to 44 round Italy in the warm weather - as low as 35 or so round the Devon lanes in cold weather. Say 40 overall. I do no driving in heavy traffic other than on the M25 to/from the Channel Tunnel. I'd say a bit over 200 miles is a reasonable range between refills, probably 250 if you don't flog it. I have the aircon on virtually all the time. Forget the eco button - you can always drive that slowly if you really want to but the lack of response feels dangerous to me as I reckon acceleration can prevent a traffic situation from developing as often as braking can, and eco mode is very slow.

Does 85+ all day on the motorway/autoroute/autostrada, with enough acceleration in reserve if/when traffic conditions demand. Pulls really well in sixth up long main road climbs - such as that up to the San Gottardo tunnel - even with a decent load of two plus luggage, wine and oil. Brakes are excellent - original tyres are are OKish but they are the limiting factor on dry or wet roads under braking especially, which I'm hoping the Goodyears will improve.
 
Thanks to you all for responding. This is really helpful as I have seen a great offer of driving the Panda 100 which I love so I need to be sure the 4x4 will be worth the investment. I have not seen anything that put me off quite the contrary. I will look again in the morning. Perhaps I should let the Bravo go instead...... A great car ruined by awful steering and over servo'd brakes.
 
Thanks to you all for responding. This is really helpful as I have seen a great offer of driving the Panda 100 which I love so I need to be sure the 4x4 will be worth the investment. I have not seen anything that put me off quite the contrary. I will look again in the morning. Perhaps I should let the Bravo go instead...... A great car ruined by awful steering and over servo'd brakes.

Sure you will be happy with a Panda 4X4. Our 2017 Panda Cross Diesel is a good little machine, had a MK 1 4X4 many years ago and it was just ok for our needs at the time, would not be afraid to go anywhere in the new vehicle.
 
Thanks to you all for responding. This is really helpful as I have seen a great offer of driving the Panda 100 which I love so I need to be sure the 4x4 will be worth the investment. I have not seen anything that put me off quite the contrary. I will look again in the morning. Perhaps I should let the Bravo go instead...... A great car ruined by awful steering and over servo'd brakes.

My previous car was a 100HP Panda Mk3 - there's a stretch of the A30 where I see what speed I can get to at a road bridge after coming on at a slip road - roughly 30 to 80 mph - and the 4x4 TA is within a gnat's cock of reaching the same speed as the 100HP did - done in second and third in the 100HP and 3rd and 4th in the 4x4.
 
My previous car was a 100HP Panda Mk3 - there's a stretch of the A30 where I see what speed I can get to at a road bridge after coming on at a slip road - roughly 30 to 80 mph - and the 4x4 TA is within a gnat's cock of reaching the same speed as the 100HP did - done in second and third in the 100HP and 3rd and 4th in the 4x4.


Makes you wonder how the 2WD Twin-air would cope doesn't it?


I've had similar thoughts of letting the 100hp go. It's 6 years old in March and there can't be many that age with 22000 miles and the original owner. As it only does 200 miles or so a year now though...........it kinda seems daft changing it unless/when I need to start commuting again.
 
I can speak for my Cross which is essentially the same.

In short, I love it. Fun to drive with decent steering, progressive brakes & a nice gearshift. It refined too which came as a big surprise.

I drive lots of 200bhp + cars but never feel short changed by the Panda.

First gear is very short though and it always seems to struggle when pulling away in second. Anticipation is you're friend as is the ample torque.

Economy isn't that good. 35.7mpg indicated trip B over the last few 000 miles. OK, some of that was with a rookbox and some serious off roading too.

Daily driving returns are 35 on my 16 mile commute (3 on fast B Roads, 12 on the M4 & 1 in traffic). My wife's GT86 delivers better even when "worked".

Only issues over 13k was the squealing rear brakes when reversing. Solved with a revised part.

For me, it's a 9 out of 10 car :)
 
The others have made good assessments here - it's a capable small car, both on and off road. Can be economical, though mpg drops with use of the available bhp. Typically, we can get 37-42mpg locally, with 45+ available on a 70mph-ish cruise. To get 50+mpg (from our car)requires gentle acceleration and 60-or-so mph cruising.
Short 1st gear is very low, but after a while you just get rolling in first and short-shift to 2nd to accelerate. Not a huge problem, really - one of those things you get used to.
If your requirement is for a city-car sized vehicle and the all-terrain aspect would be useful, the Panda 4x4 is capable and characterful. If small size is less important, there are other, more spacious options available elsewhere for similar money. Happy shopping!
 
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I've had mine now (0.9 TA 4x4) for a couple of months, it was 2 years old in Dec 16 and has 13k on the clock, I use it for my daily drive either to work - 12 miles or half that distance when I park up and take my stored bicycle to work. Although in my part of the world Hants/Sussex borders could not be described overly hilly, there are one or two inclines, including my road where I started to get concerned about 'getting out ability' hence buying this car. I think it is an absolute hoot, tremendous fun, an engine that's a cross between a tractor and an angry Lambretta. I am nearly 6'4" and the high driving position, headroom etc are all fine for me, I have no issues with the comfort of the seats, the visibility is generally very good - I do find the door pillars rather in line of sight at turns though. My mileage has steadied at 46 mpg that I did not think was that brilliant until I read about others. The car was fitted with the Winter Pack when ordered and that is good.I have posted separately about both tyre pressures and my still unresolved issue (because I have not pursued it) about if it is possible to retrofit a Spacesaver tyre. Some 'dire' forecasts of snow and ice in the next 24 hrs may provide for a modest test, I suspect that it will probably be dry and sunny !!! Overall, well recommended.
 
It's worth specing the leather steering wheel and gear knob.
Much nicer to hold than the standard plastic one.

I agree. Retrofitted the wheel for mine as it was pre-registered car without one, the expensive way of doing it, but I negotiated a discount.

However, I think the leather wheel is now standard on the 4x4. Different design too.
 
I got a new jack set for my bravo from ebay that seems to be genuine Fiat and bought a new wheel. I have a couple of space saver spares going begging if anyone wants them. One is from the Panda 100 and one from a Micra with 14" wheels. I would be glad to be rid of them!
 
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