Hi, We're in need of a 2005-ish 4x4 Panda instead of our 4x2 one which is struggling to cope with the mountain track to my place; due to hopeless ground clearance, even with new coil springs and shocks on. I understand that there are differences between the different model variants in relation to the 4x4 systems, ground-clearance, diff-locks, etc., does anyone know? Also, if I may be so cheeky another related query: I can't have a Cross as I need to have the car on petrol/LPG and am miles away from affording a Twin Air Cross. Therefore, as well as the above info: Does anyone know if the Cross models are superior off-road to the Climbing beyond being more bash-proof around the bumper areas etc., and if they are superior, mechanically, can a Climbing 1.2 petrol be upgraded to Cross off-road spec using Diesel Cross parts?

Phew, thanks for staying with me. I'll try to be more succinct in future

Ta
Dafyddcoch

Most 4x4 Panda have the 1242 petrol engine and tend to be slow but very capable.. The Cross was available with the 70bhp diesel which is quicker to drive and can be remapped. I cannot give certain data but believe the Cross models are functionally the same as any other Panda 4x4. There is an issue of parts costs. The bumpers and headlights cost absolutely silly money to replace.

For specifics on shock absorber and spring lengths, talk to Shop 4 Parts. If you MUST have longer struts you will need to get bespoke front struts. At the back you will need longer shocks and spring spacers or (much better) airbag springs where you can define the ride height with air pressure. Air bags all around would give the best of both worlds but would be very hard riding when pumped up to max ride height.

If you really do need high ground clearance the Panda is probably not your best option. However you could get bespoke bash trays fitted under the car to protect the floor pan, engine and rear axle. They would need to be fixed to solid points with rubber bush mounts. You can get them with male/male, male/female and female/female versions.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=M8+rubber+mount&_sacat=0


If it's a private road, it's probably cheaper to get a lorry load of MOT Type 1 crushed stone and fill in the worst potholes.

HI and thanks for the info. I'm not a fan of altering ride-height, either up or down unless one has a very specific task for a vehicle as it just seems to make the vehicle crap at doing anything else apart from being high or low. A standard height 4x4 Panda would be quite adequate but if there was a choice of Fiat manufactured heights, I would go for higher if I can do it 'standard higher'. It is just that the 4x2 Panda has rubbish ground clearance compared to old Pandas, Yugos, Unos Fiorinos, 127s etc. Mind you it is better now I've taken off the coil-over lowering kit off and gone back to standard. Personally, I thought it was dangerous with the lowering kit fitted and far too hard for real roads. Anybody want to buy a lowering kit for a Panda?

Filling the holes in my track is not straightforward due to it becoming a steep riverbed in the rain. Material just gets washed out due to Welsh rainfall as the track is lower than the land on both sides. I estimate I'd need around 400 tons of material to lift the track above the level of the land and some pretty major machinery and expenditure to do it. I also have the problem that the Crown Estate who own the land I need to drive over to access my house, won't maintain the tracks as they have no obligation to do so and won't let me fix it without plan. approvals etc etc.

Thanks again for the info, very useful

Hmm I see what you mean about the road.

I find the 100HP has no problem with ground clearance even with 500 rear springs to improve the ride. The slight negative is fully loaded the near side rear tyre can catch the wheel arch liner. It happens about 2x per year.

I think with your round road you would be wise to use tyres with the same rolling radius as the standard tyre. Dont go any taller as you'll need to maintain that bottom gear ratio.

For anyone seriously needing high ground clearance, you could go to air bag springs. Pump up the pressure for when you need to ride high. Quite probably have a much nicer ride at normal heights.

A thought about your road.

Filling the whole track would clearly be silly money and without tarmac on top would still wash away. However railway ballast is larger lumps of stone with no fines so water can run through.


How about this for filling the deep gouged bits -
https://www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk/recycled-rail-track-ballast.html

That'd sort it and hopefully big enough not to get carried along in the water-flow of the steep parts during storms. I'm trying to get hold of HRH's county representative the Lord Lieutenant who I have been informed CAN decide to help out si if Iget anywhere, I'll see what can be done. The steep bits are sort of the worst bits as both halves run towards a flat bridge over a stream that is halfway along the track so running water gushing from the land and coming up from underground springs etc., washes material down to the level bridge and into the stream which blocks the stream and and and and,... you get the picture lol.

I'm not complaining really. I live in the most wonderful spot with views across the Irish Sea to the Wicklow mountains on a good day; mind you, I struggle to see my car in the yard on a bad one. I normally have a big chunky 4x4 but just can't justify the fuel cost and waste of running one, even though they did also work hard from time to time. I've now gone down to two small lpg cars and enjoying 200 miles of 12 quid type economy, (granted that was steady motorway driving). However, my little early 4x2 Ignis bounces down it fine, even with 3 sacks of feed in the back and two passengers. Also, my Jimny used to howl up and down it and did so for many years so it isn't a big 4x4 that's needed, a light nimble 4x4 with good ground clearance is actually better on my track than our great big Musso was.

Thanks for the advice re stone.

Oh damn, I was trying to thank you for the post. typical IT dunderhead thing I do. ooops

No worries. Your place sounds great but can imagine the stream and bridge can be "fun". Panda needs some bash plates methinks.

All you need now is a 4" pipe run down the riverbed with a turbine on the bottom end.

Hello,
I have a cross and its fine, I also had some guilt in going back to diesel, but it runs very clean and smoke free, so don't feel so bad. The 4x4 sits higher than the normal panda and some say the cross sits even higher, but don't think that is actually the case it is just taller overall with the built in roof rack, the cross does have however brake diff lock as standard, which will really improve traction on tough areas. Having owned 4 pandas, I find the cross to be my favourite if a little slow. While it can be tuned the panda gearbox will struggle. The 100hp gets around this by having a punto box.

They all have the same clutch so this is really the limiting factor especially on a tuned diesel with its higher torque.