Hi guys,

I'm going to be upgrading from my '06 plate Punto in the next month or so. I'm hoping to get a 4x4 cross, although the normal 4x4 seems to be about £2.5k cheaper!
Looking at what's available there do seem to be some pretty decent in stock discounts available.
Spec wise from reading through the forum it seems the winter pack is the one to get, anything else that should be a must have?

Now, some of the ads show winter / mud tyres but I thought that was on the normal 4x4 and not the cross, is this a thing or is it the dealer making a mistake on the advert?

I'm off to the dealers on Friday for a good look around and see what they can do for me.

Welcome soon to the Panda fold! There seem to be various tyres fitted to the 4x4's, probably depending on the stock available ad suppliers at the time, but most seem to come on Goodyear 4 Seasons Vectors, which are an all-season tyre. 4x4 non-Cross were typically on Conti CrossContactWinters, which were slightly more wintery-focused, as the name suggests. To be honest, I wouldn't worry overly as both of these are good tyres. If the thing has obvious summer tyres on it, then it might be worth a comment to the dealer. If you get nowhere, then I'd be pretty relaxed about it as the 4x4 system can find grip in the most unlikely places and this will cover most of your road requirements I am sure. Plenty of Panda 4x4's tool around icy, snowy roads on normal summer tyres without issue, so good are they in these environments.

You must have the Winter Pack though - nothing is better on an icy morning than a hot screen, mirrors and backside with the press of two simple buttons!

The Cross has practically identical performance and off-road ability to the 4x4 - all the systems are the same, except the addition of hill descent control. The Cross May *appear* to be smarter because it’s selector control for 4x4 shows ‘auto’ as an option. The regular 4x4 is in ‘auto’ mode by default, so needs no switch. The second option on the Cross is ‘off road’ - pressing ELD on the 4x4 sets the same mode. I’ve never ever needed HDC - that’s for a 1in 2 downhill slope: not many of them round here

The Cross costs more because it comes as standard with things that are extra on the 4x4 - auto climate, extra airbags, split rear seat and five seatbelts, and so on, plus a few extra bits of plastic on the outside.

Until recently, the 4x4 came with full winter tyres (continental Cross Climate Winter), and the Cross has all season Goodyear’s. But, since last September or so, they have all had ‘summer’ tyres as standard to give better economy. The Goodyear’s *used* to give a whole 6mm extra ground clearance as they were bigger diameter - but this advantage may be lost now they are on identical summer tyres.

Winter pack adds heated front screen - great for a quicker start on a frosty morning, but with the minor disadvantage of being slightly ‘hazy’ driving into low sunshine. Heated mirrors are standard anyway.

Herts Hillhopper said:

The Cross costs more because it comes as standard with things that are extra on the 4x4 - auto climate, extra airbags, split rear seat and five seatbelts, and so on, plus a few extra bits of plastic on the outside.

Click to expand...

And that's really what I'm after (and the winter pack). As I'm looking to buy a car that's in stock, either unreg or pre-reg it'll be easier to get a cross with those as standard than find a 4x4 with them. Split rears is something that's really handy for me. I also prefer the look of the cross to the 4x4. Then again if I find a 4x4 with the options I want then I will certainly not turn it down.

Tanks for all the advice and info, really appreciated.

Rear tints make a big difference to the look imho.

Please insist on the space saver wheel and the 4x4 jack!
The tints are worth the extra.
Due to the high reflection on the windscreen, even when its not sunny, i would recommend the comfort pack that includes the glasses holder as you can grab your polarised glasses from above your head as you are driving. Trust me, at times the poor visibility is bloody dangerous! I got a cheap pair from aldi's, around £3.
The pack also gives adjustable seat belts.

My Cross 4x4 with 2k on the clock has Goodyear 4 season M+S tyres fitted. Good luck and keep us posted !

Thanks again for all the advice guys, my planned trip to the Fiat dealers in Tunbridge Wells didn't happen as my wife spent too long out shopping for the first time in the centre of town

I've got a week off soon so I'll be schlepping round the dealers then :slayer:

Let's hope she didn't spend the whole Panda-budget

gr J