Dealer has been in touch and has also been in touch with Fiat to answer my query. Dealer (Fiat) say the dust cap is no longer fitted to any model and to prove it showed a pic of the filler with the dust cap crossed out!


SO THERE!!

Now the dust has to settle...

gr J

I picked up my new TA Cross last week (replacing a 2015 model) and I don't have the cover which the old one did, do I make a fuss?

Other changes noticed on the 'value engineering' front,
i) only one USB port i.e. none in glovebox,
ii) cheaper courtesy light,
iii) no mirror or light now to drivers sun visor.
iv) no rear speakers!

Also the car defaults to Eco mode each time it is restarted which appears to be 'standard' now, anyone know if this can be unset?

markwo said:

I picked up my new TA Cross last week (replacing a 2015 model) and I don't have the cover which the old one did, do I make a fuss?

Other changes noticed on the 'value engineering' front,
i) only one USB port i.e. none in glovebox,
ii) cheaper courtesy light,
iii) no mirror or light now to drivers sun visor.
iv) no rear speakers!

Click to expand...

My 2018 model 4x4 (also replacing an earlier car) has the glovebox USB but also lacks the 'posh' interior light and driver's visor mirror. Flip side though is that at least some light from the courtesy light now reaches the back seat, which the previous map-reading spotlight type did not. I only recently noticed lack of rear speakers as no 'fader' option on radio settings. Can't tell any difference in the sound though!

markwo said:

I picked up my new TA Cross last week (replacing a 2015 model) ... the car defaults to Eco mode each time it is restarted which appears to be 'standard' now, anyone know if this can be unset?

Click to expand...

That would seriously p*ss me off!

Response from the dealer

'The Eco mode was introduced last autumn to help with emissions and comes on automatically now, only way to switch it off is just by pressing the Eco button.'

Not helpful...

markwo said:

Response from the dealer

'The Eco mode was introduced last autumn to help with emissions and comes on automatically now, only way to switch it off is just by pressing the Eco button.'

Not helpful...

Click to expand...

They better could call it "Sport Mode" if Eco is on by default.

Herts Hillhopper said:

My 2018 model 4x4 (also replacing an earlier car) has the glovebox USB but also lacks the 'posh' interior light and driver's visor mirror. Flip side though is that at least some light from the courtesy light now reaches the back seat, which the previous map-reading spotlight type did not. I only recently noticed lack of rear speakers as no 'fader' option on radio settings. Can't tell any difference in the sound though!

Click to expand...

My 2018 4x4 TA does NOT have a glovebox USB!!
"Eh Guiseppi eff yu dona ave a usb thingy dona feet one , si".

"Grazie Franco yusa clever boss,si":idea:

"Ima gonna counta ma weels now" "Tre ou Quattro Boss I only gotta 7 left?"

tompiper said:

My Panda, 2015 but a few weeks from 2016 looks like this.

Click to expand...

Without this the filler neck will fill with dust in dry conditions. Its solution to a problem millions never knew they had. I still prefer a lockable cap in spite of the undoubted convenience of this new fangled idea. They could at least use central locking to lock the flap. I would be happy with that.

The Panda Nut said:

Without this the filler neck will fill with dust in dry conditions. Its solution to a problem millions never knew they had. I still prefer a lockable cap in spite of the undoubted convenience of this new fangled idea. They could at least use central locking to lock the flap. I would be happy with that.

Click to expand...

I would like central locking to also lock the flap, or a locking cap. I know the theory of the existing filler but would still prefer the aboive

The Panda Nut said:

Without this the filler neck will fill with dust in dry conditions. Its solution to a problem millions never knew they had. I still prefer a lockable cap in spite of the undoubted convenience of this new fangled idea. They could at least use central locking to lock the flap. I would be happy with that.

Click to expand...

I totally agree. How a manufacturer in this day and age could fail to secure the fuel tank is unbelievable, I'm looking to get rid of the Panda, it just has too much silly things wrong with it. Why the devil, even on top range Panda, Lounge me thinks, do you have to specify bluetooth, steering wheel controls and split folding rear seats. Just bloody stupid. Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa, they come with all the toys and many have cruise control which I love and miss.

tompiper said:

I totally agree. How a manufacturer in this day and age could fail to secure the fuel tank is unbelievable, I'm looking to get rid of the Panda, it just has too much silly things wrong with it. Why the devil, even on top range Panda, Lounge me thinks, do you have to specify bluetooth, steering wheel controls and split folding rear seats. Just bloody stupid. Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa, they come with all the toys and many have cruise control which I love and miss.

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Yes I do agree that some of this gear really should be opt out not opt in. You just will not get out smiling after each drive though. I have added the bits I wanted to my new Panda but am now having a hell of a long wait for it to be delivered. Had many satisfactory 100,000's of miles in Vauxhalls at work and they are way better than billed but never did I get out smiling from just having fun. Massive respect though. I have the time to tinker now so can afford to suffer a bit more character. Have now covered 160,000 miles in Fiats with no breakdowns or fails to start and virtually no non service part required either so its not as clear cut for me.

tompiper said:

I totally agree. How a manufacturer in this day and age could fail to secure the fuel tank is unbelievable, I'm looking to get rid of the Panda, it just has too much silly things wrong with it. Why the devil, even on top range Panda, Lounge me thinks, do you have to specify bluetooth, steering wheel controls and split folding rear seats. Just bloody stupid. Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa, they come with all the toys and many have cruise control which I love and miss.

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It is secure the flap device doesn't open if the cars locked or does it?
And if a Thief wants to steal your fuel they just get underneath and stick a hole in the plastic tank and get the fuel that way

chris3234 said:

It is secure the flap device doesn't open if the cars locked or does it?
And if a Thief wants to steal your fuel they just get underneath and stick a hole in the plastic tank and get the fuel that way

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No, neither the outer flap or inner device lock when the car is locked. But, no one can symphonic fuel as various ‘anti syphon’ obstacles in the pipe between filler and tank (true of most cars these days, hence fewer having locking caps)

tompiper said:

I totally agree. How a manufacturer in this day and age could fail to secure the fuel tank is unbelievable, I'm looking to get rid of the Panda, it just has too much silly things wrong with it. Why the devil, even on top range Panda, Lounge me thinks, do you have to specify bluetooth, steering wheel controls and split folding rear seats. Just bloody stupid. Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa, they come with all the toys and many have cruise control which I love and miss.

Click to expand...

Top of the Panda range is the Cross, that has all these things (except cruise). Pretty sure Lounge has Bluetooth and wheel controls. Note the Panda largely unchanged since introduced in 2012. Corsa, Up, Fiesta etc have all had several model updates in that time so maybe not a fair comparison? Very happy with mine - that’s why I bought a new one (same as previous one) last year. I don’t like cruise, but love the heated screen. Never needed to carry one rear seat passenger and a long thing in boot at same time, so one piece fold fine for me

Just to put things into perspective, the absence of a rubber dust cap on some Pandas makes them no different to countless other recently-produced cars. My wife's 18 reg Volvo, which has a similar fuel filler arrangement, doesn't have one, either. The new anti-tamper device in the filler pipe prevents dust from getting down the pipe. The rubber dust cap is belt-and-braces, and evidently considered unnecessary by other manufacturers. And I don't lose sleep at night worrying that my Panda's fuel tank is insecure.