Hi all,
Been stalking the site again recently to soak up all the wisdom and experience! Have owned a 500 TA, a Panda Lounge TA, a Panda Pop and currently own a Panda Easy.
Am about to place an order for a Panda city cross. Have loved the cross ever since it was released and have really wanted to try and get one. Finances and the lack of actual need for 4x4 has stopped me. The city cross is perfect. All the looks and ride height of the cross without the extra cost. I know it’s slightly ‘cheating’ but I can live with that!
I’m going for style pack in art grey (the solid colour which looks almost blue in some pictures) and DAB.
Would do winter pack but am at the top of my budget.
Any advice, suggestions?
Am going through carwow who are linking me up with Tamworth fiat. Any experience with them? Anywhere cheaper than carwow?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Dave

I got a price for a Cross through CarWow who gave me the details of a dealer quite a distance from me. So armed with the price I went to my local dealer and quoted the CW price; they didn’t deal with CW but beat the price anyway to stop me going elsewhere.

Apparently many dealers don’t like CW because the systems they use come up with prices that don’t match what the dealers can actually give.

Anyway, we got £2000 off by taking out the Fiat PCB deal, paid the first months instalment, then paid it off in full..... no early closure fee and only 1 months interest to set against the £2K off.

Enjoy your Cross when you get it!

Thanks MuddyPaws!
I have done that in the past with a quote from carwow to a local dealer and it’s worked as you said. However my local dealer is so poor that after buying a few cars through them and being pretty disappointed with their lethargic attitude towards actually selling cars and trying to match prices I’ve decided to go for the dealer who is bothered! I can get them to deliver for free if I want. I’ve done the early paying off finance thing before but sadly can’t afford to this time!
Can’t wait for the cross. Saw one in the flesh the other day and fell in love!

With Carwow the dealer I bought from were my nearest, not best price and didn't do part ex but I went on live chat on their website and this led to the right part ex price and better one for the new car (but was for Sep reg). Are any of your quotes nearer to home where you could go on their site? Plus you have a Fiat part ex. Described my part ex truthfully and they believed me. But I could easily have gone down there if needed. Hope this helps.

We have all the tricks on our Lounge.

1. The Heated screen/mirrors are definitely worth having if you don't use a garage

2. The heated seats are OK but take a while to warm up

3. The DAB radio has a great sound on BBC radio but is hit/miss on some channels. It's rare I use the stereo though.

4. The tinted windows look well

5. Not sure what year your Easy is but bear in mind the 'launch-control' horror of the clutch switch which you'll see mentioned a lot on the Euro6 1.2s. Easy fix.

I’ve seen posts about the clutch horror. Mines a 16pkates 1.2. Is that free from that?

'16 plate car will have the hillholder, as mentioned in another thread I've not had an issue with them. Is your car coming to the end of a 2 year PCP deal, nice car for someone.

Al D said:

'16 plate car will have the hillholder, as mentioned in another thread I've not had an issue with them. Is your car coming to the end of a 2 year PCP deal, nice car for someone.

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Yeah Hill holder is good.
My sister is going to buy our easy from us a trade in price.

Dangerinleyland said:

I’ve seen posts about the clutch horror. Mines a 16pkates 1.2. Is that free from that?

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Nope. You'll have it but maybe it bothers you less than me and Murphy.

It's the bit where the revs rise when you life the clutch, making a smooth/modest take-off a little awkward. Works fine for slow take-offs or revs on the limiter traffic-light grand prix but annoying on reasonable road junction exits.

If it's not bothering you, ignore this advice and enjoy the Cross. It's also be handy to have some practical impressions from you after the swap as you'll be able to compare like for like.

AB100 said:

Nope. You'll have it but maybe it bothers you less than me and Murphy.

It's the bit where the revs rise when you life the clutch, making a smooth/modest take-off a little awkward. Works fine for slow take-offs or revs on the limiter traffic-light grand prix but annoying on reasonable road junction exits.

If it's not bothering you, ignore this advice and enjoy the Cross. It's also be handy to have some practical impressions from you after the swap as you'll be able to compare like for like.

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I have noticed a little annoyance, didn’t realise it could be sorted. I haven’t driven this panda as much as it’s mainly my wife’a Car. I think I’ll be fighting her for the cross though. Will have to see what I think. I maybe searching out your advice come a few months time.

Have you placed an order yet?

There are certain discounts that Fiat offer, but they don't shout about them.
Their discount schemes are called Privilege and Affinty, but you need to qualify.

http://www.westmidspolfed.com/member-services/services/?/Fiat-Group

Police and NHS staff qualify as do M&S and BT staff, Villa season ticket holders too.
The easiest/cheapest way in was through British Cycling membership (around £20 a year) but you'd need to check if they still qualify as I can't find anything on BC's website.
https://www.fiat.co.uk/fiatworld/partners

I've had two cars through this, saved £1750 on a Panda 4x4 and £3000 on my new Abarth.

Goudrons said:

Have you placed an order yet?

There are certain discounts that Fiat offer, but they don't shout about them.
Their discount schemes are called Privilege and Affinty, but you need to qualify.

http://www.westmidspolfed.com/member-services/services/?/Fiat-Group

Police and NHS staff qualify as do M&S and BT staff, Villa season ticket holders too.
The easiest/cheapest way in was through British Cycling membership (around £20 a year) but you'd need to check if they still qualify as I can't find anything on BC's website.
https://www.fiat.co.uk/fiatworld/partners

I've had two cars through this, saved £1750 on a Panda 4x4 and £3000 on my new Abarth.

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That’s really helpful to know.
Am going through carwow at the moment and have an 18.5% discount (around £2600 off list). Would the discount through the above be greater than that? I’ve read about the British cycling thing somewhere before but never followed it up.

Not sure if the discounts are better or worse, you need to compare like for like.

How are you buying it, cash, HP of PCP?

goudrons said:

not sure if the discounts are better or worse, you need to compare like for like.

How are you buying it, cash, hp of pcp?

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pcp

I think Privilege will get you £1500 of list and £900 deposit contribution on a City Cross.
You do need to check the interest rates though.
They are usually around 6% on Fiat PCP's, but can be lower on models they want to push.

Deals are quarterly and current one is until the end of June.
It's difficult to tell if the next deal will be better, but seeing as the one before was a little better, it possible that the next will be an improvement.

There's another site similar to Carwow called Drive the Deal, so it's worth getting quotes from all sources and compare them.

Thanks to everyone who’s posted here or messaged privately with tips and thoughts and advice, much appreciated. I’ve finally ordered today.
Have gone for the City Cross with style pack in Art Grey. Have specced with winter pack (my wife is just permanently cold and the heated windscreens are a real beauty) and DAB.
Went through carwow with Tamworth Fiat garage. Drive the deal don’t seem to be doing fiats at the moment and I think the £2800ish discount is pretty good compared to any other deals or offers (and cheaper than some pre reg and nearly new ones I’ve seen at dealers).
Around 12 weeks at the moment which is a bit of a wait but at least I’ll have some of the summer still when it arrives around early August.
Will post pics when it arrives.

Dangerinleyland said:

Went through carwow with Tamworth Fiat garage. Drive the deal don’t seem to be doing fiats at the moment and I think the £2800ish discount is pretty good compared to any other deals or offers (and cheaper than some pre reg and nearly new ones I’ve seen at dealers).

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Shows the importance of doing your homework and shopping around.


Anyone paying list price for a new Fiat needs therapy.

Anyone paying list price for a new Fiat needs therapy.[/QUOTE]

Whoever buys this TA 4x4, £12k more realistic I feel. £15100 list.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...ored&make=FIAT&model=PANDA&radius=1501&page=1

Al D said:

Whoever buys this TA 4x4, £12k more realistic I feel. £15100 list.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...ored&make=FIAT&model=PANDA&radius=1501&page=1

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The ad claims that it was £18k new. Does it have a Flux Capacitor, I wonder?

Dealer and fiat seem slightly confused over the new grey Colour on the city cross. It’s art grey and is a pastel flat light grey. However there is an art grey on the 500x that’s different - beigey. Same name. Different colours. I think I know what I’m ordering! But who knows!?