Hi Guys

I purchased my lovely 2018 Panda Cross twinair in Tropicala yellow at the end of May after lusting (maybe over selling it somewhat) after one since seeing one in the local railway station car park in Hednesford Staffordshire (Where I live) over a year ago.
And you know what? I haven't seen another one on the road or elsewhere since that date. I know they are somewhat over priced - I got a staff discount on mine.
Do any of you fellas see other ones on the road regularly? No one I know has ever seen one apart from mine. Does anyone know how many are floating around the UK? I appreciate that they are probably more common on the continent.

One a different matter I managed to haggle a service plan deal with StoneAcre for the twinair for 3 years servicing for £260 (they originally wanted £300) I told them I got a cheaper quote - I didn't does this sound like a fair price for dealer servicing? Once out of warranty I'll do my own servicing.

Any comments appreciated, cheers!

Quite rare cars. Seen yellow TA Cross in South Cumbria, doubt a local car. Can I suggest if you're handy, check garage has followed schedule. As they lie. Don't argue it, just buy original parts and sort yourself. My TA 4x4 had 2 oil changes in 2 years. Had fair bit done since as had car checked as I'm cynical. Car having another oil change soon and brake fluid. Air filter grubby, plugs original (tho iridium) and pollen filter black. Not amused.

Wow! That is shocking! What a bunch of robbing gits.

That service plan sounds good. A 3-year plan should cover two 9k inspection 'services' (usually circa £100) and one main 18k service (at least £250), so, to quote Yoda, "Well you have done, my son!"

(This assumes, of course, that they actually do the work. They may just give you £260-worth and stick a surreptitious two fingers up as you splutter away in your misfiring TA)

As for spotting Crosses, I regularly see two other yellow beasties in and around Norwich - one has a personalised number-plate that suggests it belongs to another Canaries fan (the reg'n ends with OTBC - for "On the Ball, City" ), and the other one occasionally pops up in my work car park (what are the chances of that?).

I still do a double-take when I see one on the road, though. My first thought is still, "WTF is that?"

This gives a clue as to how many are out there https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=Fiat+panda+cross&commit=Search

The second result down is the pre 2012 model.

Not exactly flying off the forecourt, are they?

Too expensive new (list price, anyhow - but who actually pays that?)

Secondhand prices of the Mk1 Cross are still holding up remarkably well. They are less funny-looking than the Mk2, and were available with the 1.2. I wonder if Fiat missed a trick there with the Mk2?

Herts Hillhopper said:

This gives a clue as to how many are out there https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=Fiat+panda+cross&commit=Search

The second result down is the pre 2012 model.

Click to expand...

The link makes for interesting reading. My City Cross is the rarest of all. I'm not seeing either City Cross or Cross on local roads, not even Panda 4x4s, just a few normal Pandas.

I'm thinking the City Cross may overtake the others in numbers if only because of the price. On the other hand the Fiat dealers in this area are worse than useless at selling Fiats.

There's few more 'non Cross' 4x4s out there - 1.700 diesel and 2600 TwinAir ones. But even they are small numbers: there are 13000 Panda 'Pop's, and 94,000 Fiat 500 'Lounge' models out there (all since 2012)


I've just skewed the figures slightly: the one year old (and very low mileage) 4x4 I bought two months back was written off a couple of weeks back. So there's another one on its way, 2018 version this time. Fingers crossed it survives a little longer.

gar074 said:

Not exactly flying off the forecourt, are they?

Too expensive new (list price, anyhow - but who actually pays that?)

Secondhand prices of the Mk1 Cross are still holding up remarkably well. They are less funny-looking than the Mk2, and were available with the 1.2. I wonder if Fiat missed a trick there with the Mk2?

Click to expand...

I guess that's where the City Cross comes in. No offroad ability at all, but has the looks, and the 1.2 engine. A lot cheaper too.

Panda sales are poor in the UK now, pity as they are decent cars let down by Fiat and their shocking dealer network.
Even Skoda did better with the Estelle (105, 120 & 130) with upward of 17,000 units a year.

Panda sales in the UK may be low, but in part because if you go to a Fiat dealership and look at what's on display, every vehicle there will be a 500 in some form, or the odd 124. I have not actually seen a Panda in the showroom for a very long time. But, the Panda remains (I think) the best selling car in Europe... and in Italy, easily outnumbers 500s. Its all to do with marketing.

Herts Hillhopper said:

Panda sales in the UK may be low, but in part because if you go to a Fiat dealership and look at what's on display, every vehicle there will be a 500 in some form, or the odd 124. I have not actually seen a Panda in the showroom for a very long time. But, the Panda remains (I think) the best selling car in Europe... and in Italy, easily outnumbers 500s. Its all to do with marketing.

Click to expand...

Yes, I noticed that too on the occasions I've been into dealerships Big 500s, Little 500s and a 124 but no Pandas. It's all rather weird when in fact the Panda is a very underrated car at very competitive prices. And it is something different from many makes which look increasingly alike and are invariable £££s more than a Panda. Maybe not everyone likes the boxy shape, but as you say, on the Continent the Panda is everywhere. The little car hire company we use in Menorca just bought five new Pandas to replace their now ageing old-style Pandas, several times round the clock that we use trouble free each year.

There's a lot of car snobbery in the UK. Even my daughter calls it a disabled car. Don't worry I gave her a piece of my mind and told her off. She's in Italy right now and says Pandas are everywhere and has rather changed her mind after her boyfriend hired one.

Deffently not seen a panda in a fiat dealer
Then again only even been to one dealership

There aren't many of any model 2012 Pandas round me. However, there are loads of the previous generation - some are quite old, showing they last well.

Personally, I like the exclusivity of having something a bit different. 4x4 (not cross) Tuscany Green.

gar074 said:

Not exactly flying off the forecourt, are they?

Too expensive new (list price, anyhow - but who actually pays that?)

Secondhand prices of the Mk1 Cross are still holding up remarkably well. They are less funny-looking than the Mk2, and were available with the 1.2. I wonder if Fiat missed a trick there with the Mk2?

Click to expand...

The Cross is a very rare sight, and while I'd agree with people (hopefully) getting a discount on the rather ambitious list price, it's sure to put people off even bothering, especially given the non-existant marketing.

The Mk1 Cross was only available with the diesel engine though. If you wanted a 1.2 petrol you had to get a regular 4x4, badged 'Climbing'. In comparison to the Mk1 Cross and the Climbing I'd say Fiat have done pretty well on the sales of the current 4x4 and Cross, making both available as a TwinAir petrol or Multijet diesel. The TwinAir's are hugely more popular than the Multijet though, with the standard 4x4 being much more popular than the Cross. The City Cross is mostly just a styling exercise, and has no off-road ability, unlike the old 1.2 Climbing. Having driven a City Cross, I dread to think how slow the 4x4/Cross would be with the 1.2 engine, with the extra 4x4 running gear to pull along.

When you think a brand new top-spec (Lounge spec equivalent) 1.2 Eleganza was £8095 in 2004, you begin to realise how expensive the current Panda list prices are. Given that increase & the rise of the likes of Dacia and the Korean companies, the Panda still manages to do quite well, especially when many Fiat customers probably pick the 500 over the Panda even if the Panda would be the more suitable car for them.

I've only ever seen one (1) Panda Cross on the road here in Belgium, normal Panda can be seen regularly.

Mine is still on order, no confirmed delivery date yet. Selection of cars available at dealer is fine here: several 500s, several Pandas, 3 or 4 Abarth models, the 124, and a few Tipos.

JTD_Liam said:

The Mk1 Cross was only available with the diesel engine though. If you wanted a 1.2 petrol you had to get a regular 4x4.

Click to expand...

Yes, of course you're right on that. My bad. Memory playing tricks on me!

Knowing that the pollen filter has a reputation for being a bit of a mare to replace, when mine went for it's second service I pointed out that the filter was due to be replaced, they argued it wasn't - I showed them the the schedule and told them I'd like to see the old filter after the service which they did. I have since seen an easier method of changing the filter on this forum so next time it's due I hope to be able to do without losing the will to live.

Al D said:

Quite rare cars. Seen yellow TA Cross in South Cumbria, doubt a local car. Can I suggest if you're handy, check garage has followed schedule. As they lie. Don't argue it, just buy original parts and sort yourself. My TA 4x4 had 2 oil changes in 2 years. Had fair bit done since as had car checked as I'm cynical. Car having another oil change soon and brake fluid. Air filter grubby, plugs original (tho iridium) and pollen filter black. Not amused.

Click to expand...

Knowing that the pollen filter has a reputation for being a bit of a mare to replace, when mine went for it's second service I pointed out that the filter was due to be replaced, they argued it wasn't - I showed them the the schedule and told them I'd like to see the old filter after the service which they did. I have since seen an easier method of changing the filter on this forum so next time it's due I hope to be able to do without losing the will to live.