General New Panda Lounge ordered - delivery time?

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General New Panda Lounge ordered - delivery time?

Paul A H

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We've had our Panda Easy (my wife's car, but I drive it whenever I can find an excuse to do so) for three years now. We've been thinking about replacing it this year, before we get too close to the end of the 48 month finance deal. After having a serious look at a Hyundai i10, Mrs Paul decided that she still prefered the Panda over anything else, so I was dispatched to do the negotiating. She wanted a heated windscreen and bluetooth, so the Lounge was the logical choice as we would have had to spec too many extras to have these options on another Easy. I've always liked the Lounge and regretted not getting one three years ago, but finances were tighter then.

I went to the local Fiat dealer this morning and, for once, I feel as though the purchase was executed according to plan. I already had a range of quotes from Carwow, and after a bit of negotiation, they agreed to match the best price I had from a dealer 30 miles up the road. I had researched what our Panda is worth before hand and they offered top price according to the CAP valuation. With all of that in place, I couldn't really say no, could I? ;)

The dealer said the wait for the new Panda (a factory order) would be up to three months, which seemed a long time. I think the Easy took 6-8 weeks, but it was three years ago now. So my question is... has anyone ordered a new build Panda recently? If so, how long did it take to from order to delivery?
 
I could see why it would/could take so long.
They are selling like hotcakes back in Italy (15.000+ a month)
So it would make sense they haven’t many pre produced.

Btw, i would spec the “Winter Pack”, automatic aircondition controle, heated windscreen and frontseats.
 
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We've had our Panda Easy (my wife's car, but I drive it whenever I can find an excuse to do so) for three years now. We've been thinking about replacing it this year, before we get too close to the end of the 48 month finance deal. After having a serious look at a Hyundai i10, Mrs Paul decided that she still prefered the Panda over anything else, so I was dispatched to do the negotiating. She wanted a heated windscreen and bluetooth, so the Lounge was the logical choice as we would have had to spec too many extras to have these options on another Easy. I've always liked the Lounge and regretted not getting one three years ago, but finances were tighter then.

I went to the local Fiat dealer this morning and, for once, I feel as though the purchase was executed according to plan. I already had a range of quotes from Carwow, and after a bit of negotiation, they agreed to match the best price I had from a dealer 30 miles up the road. I had researched what our Panda is worth before hand and they offered top price according to the CAP valuation. With all of that in place, I couldn't really say no, could I? ;)

The dealer said the wait for the new Panda (a factory order) would be up to three months, which seemed a long time. I think the Easy took 6-8 weeks, but it was three years ago now. So my question is... has anyone ordered a new build Panda recently? If so, how long did it take to from order to delivery?

I have a Panda City Cross on order. The dealer quoted me 10-12 weeks and emailed me on saturday to say that the car was built and I could expect to see it early April. Boat, transporter at each end, prep etc, etc. That will be about 11 weeks. I'm not too bothered as I will get the 18 plate and the build I want. Style pack, Winter pack, Tinted rear windows. Space saver. I ordered Ambient White , of course.

Mrs Paul sounds like a very sensible lady.
 
Btw, i would spec the “Winter Pack”, automatic aircondition control, heated windscreen and frontseats.

Right on. We bought a fully loaded pre-reg Lounge last year with the Winter pack, DAB, City-brake and 3 rear seats.

1. City-brake is off. Pointless if you drive on small lanes.
2. Heated seats take forever to warm up but are nice enough when done
3. Heated windscreen is wonderful
4. Disconnect the clutch switch as it's annoying
 
I could see why it would/could take so long.
They are selling like hotcakes back in Italy (15.000+ a month)
So it would make sense they haven’t many pre produced.

Btw, i would spec the “Winter Pack”, automatic aircondition controle, heated windscreen and frontseats.

Thanks and sorry; I should have made it clear that I ordered the Winter Pack... although I don't think it includes climate control in the UK, just heated windscreen and seats.


I have a Panda City Cross on order. The dealer quoted me 10-12 weeks and emailed me on saturday to say that the car was built and I could expect to see it early April. Boat, transporter at each end, prep etc, etc. That will be about 11 weeks. I'm not too bothered as I will get the 18 plate and the build I want. Style pack, Winter pack, Tinted rear windows. Space saver. I ordered Ambient White , of course.

Mrs Paul sounds like a very sensible lady.

She has her moments. The space saver from our Easy will be retained and swapped for the repair kit when we pick the new car up. Dealer has already been informed :)


Right on. We bought a fully loaded pre-reg Lounge last year with the Winter pack, DAB, City-brake and 3 rear seats.

1. City-brake is off. Pointless if you drive on small lanes.
2. Heated seats take forever to warm up but are nice enough when done
3. Heated windscreen is wonderful
4. Disconnect the clutch switch as it's annoying

Surely the main point of heated seats is to play the game where you surreptitiously turn your passenger's seat heater on and cook their buttocks? :D


BTW, from what I can tell the Lounge doesn't come with a CD player. Is there a USB socket in the glove box?
 
Surely the main point of heated seats is to play the game where you surreptitiously turn your passenger's seat heater on and cook their buttocks? :D


BTW, from what I can tell the Lounge doesn't come with a CD player. Is there a USB socket in the glove box?

You can play the cooked-buttock game providing you start the car 5+ mins before. The heated windscreen takes about 30 seconds to defrost.

Ours has climate and when you press the 'demist' option versus auto, it both blows air at the screen AND switches the heated screen on. In a fogged-up car the demisting is very quick.

Ours has the DAB/blutooth junk. No CD but a USB in the glovebox.

It's a lovely car..........
 
You can play the cooked-buttock game providing you start the car 5+ mins before. The heated windscreen takes about 30 seconds to defrost.

Ours has climate and when you press the 'demist' option versus auto, it both blows air at the screen AND switches the heated screen on. In a fogged-up car the demisting is very quick.

Ours has the DAB/blutooth junk. No CD but a USB in the glovebox.

It's a lovely car..........

You don't have this. ?

FIAT-Panda-0-9-Twinair-Turbo-Cross-4x4-3137285-14-1.jpg
 
Standard spec Lounge I had, delivered to dealer 4 weeks 2 days after first spoke to salesman. Glad you're having another. (y)
 
Standard spec Lounge I had, delivered to dealer 4 weeks 2 days after first spoke to salesman. Glad you're having another. (y)

Me too. I think I'm at least twice as exited as my wife is! :D

Only 11 weeks and two days to go!
 
Amended spec with smartphone cradle from 66 plate onwards. Looks more modern with different alloys/wheeltrims and interior. So bit of a wait if I want a secondhand TA 4x4 again.
 
I received an email update from the dealer today. Build week 16 confirmed (I make that 16-22 April) with delivery expected mid-May. I saw a Lounge in Breakcore Red at the petrol station yesterday. It looked great and I can't wait for mid-May now!
 
Update time. I had a call from the dealer today and they are expecting to receive the car by the end of this week. I am going to head in on Wednesday and sign the remaining paperwork. Hopefully I be able to arrange to collect it sometime around the end of the following week, which will be just about three months exactly since I ordered it :)
 
Congratulations with the new car :)
Ordered a Panda Cross here in Belgium a week ago, delivery delay expected 10-12 weeks. According to dealer, more likely to be 10 than 12. So taking into account limited RHD production numbers and boat trip to UK, I think 3 months is not exaggerated.
 
Yes, the three month estimate was very accurate. I take it as a good sign that the car is in demand! I wonder if it will change when they move production to Poland?

Anyway, I drive past the dealer every day on the way to drop my son off as school in the morning. On Friday we noticed a red Panda Lounge in the compound next door, complete with all of the protective coverings still in place. Can't wait to pick it up. I must, must must remember to swap the spare wheel from our car with the repair kit when we go to pick it up!
 
I picked up the new Panda on Tuesday afternoon. All I can say is wow, what an improvement over the Easy! The new infotainment system is great (if typically unfathomable) and all the extra toys and refinements over the Easy make a big difference to the driving experience.

The biggest difference is the way the car drives, however. The 2015 Easy always bogged down when pulling away in first. Pulling away from a near-standstill in second was impossible and it always felt reluctant to rev. In short, it felt disappointingly gutless, particularly when compared to the Citigo loaners I've had when my Yeti is being serviced. Despite having the same engine, the Lounge is completely different. It pulls away smoothly, revs freely and feels much more responsive. The steering feels more weighted too, although that could be down to the larger alloy wheels and different tyres (Goodyear Efficientgrip v the old Continentals).

I don't know if our old car was slightly defective in some way (it always made a weird metallic thrumming noise when changing up) or if there have been some changes made as part of the mid-life upgrade that introduced the new infotainment system, but Mrs Paul and I are pleased as punch with the new Panda :)

DSCF0088.jpg
 
Car looks great. While it's not winter yet, seats will never be too hot unlike the ones in Fords. Heated front screen great at saving lifespan of wiper blades, and will de ice all by itself at temps of around zero to 2 degrees without de icer. You'll never get strength of heated rear window as you may not be able to see properly. Will look for your old car on usual websites. Good buy for someone. (y)
 
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