Three months into ownership of an 07 plate 1.9mjet Dynamic I cannot say that it has grown on me. Quite the opposite in fact.
What possessed Fiat to market this piece of rebadged Jap C**p defeats me.
The 1987 Panda 4x4 it's meant to replace is so vastly superior on most counts it isn't funny. Why do I say this ?

Interior - flimsy, shiny plastics and seat trim reminiscent of cheap street market seat covers, shapeless, unsupportive seats and ill fitting felt carpets do not inspire.

Refinement - not much really, noisy, vibrationary and generally uncouth when worked. Pretty naff even compared to the Panda and a 1958 Landy !

Driveline - baulky, imprecise gearbox, gutless performance from an engine lacking in low down torque and dismal fuel economy at 34 -36mpg. Not good enough for a small 4x4. At this rate I may as well have chosen a Chelsea tractor.

On the road - worse body roll on cornering than the Panda, harsh ride on poor Mid Wales roads, wooden steering that weights up badly when cornering, terminal understeer becoming roll oversteeer at random, questionable grip and very limited traction in 2 wheel drive. Decent but feel less brakes. Needs traction control and ESP. Does not bode well for winter if it comes.

Reliabilty - so far uninspiring - one failed EGR which seems typical. probably the DPF will be next.....

Verdict - needs a new home quick. can't stand the lousy thing.

i dont think it was meant to replace the classic panda 4x4, there is a new panda 4x4

welcome to the forum anyway

The 1987 Panda 4x4 is my usual winter car but the boss said something newer was needed.
Not yet.....the Panda is still in my possession.

work boss or mrs?

mrs

wait till it snows bad and you have to use the panda to tow the Sedici out of it, then she will change her mind :devil:

Why did you not buy a Panda 4x4?

None to be had within budget with a diesel engine. 1.2 petrol a little too slow since I'd be using it pretty much as an everyday car.
The idea was to economize by replacing my 156 2.4 JTD(150) SW and the old Panda with one car. Mrs would still keep her 156 2.4 JTD (150) saloon.

No

Are you sure someone has not pinched a Sedici motif and stuck it on the back of another model, then sold it to you. I have owned the following 4 WD. Subarau 1600 & Justy. Nissan X Trail. Renault RX4 . L.R. Discovery Series 3. L.R. Freelander 2, and an 07 Sedici. Although it is impossible to surpass any Land Rover, of the rest the Sedici to me stands out above all the others. I am getting 50 m.p.g. and the traction in snow in the mountains of Wales is quite superb. It is a great little car, and cheap to run.

johntywyn said:

I have owned the following 4 WD. Subarau 1600 & Justy. Nissan X Trail. Renault RX4 . L.R. Discovery Series 3. L.R. Freelander 2,

Click to expand...

but a classic panda 4x4 beats all them

I don't like re badged japcars as well....!!

Alfa did something similar some time ago together with Nissan.
They fitted an Alfasud engine in a Nissan Cherry, and called it the Alfa Arna.....complete disaster...!!

It still remains a fact that the Fiat Sedici, and even more so the Suzuki SX4 (4wd version) are very capable vehicles in bad weather conditions; and they will not break the bank during the remaining 11 months of the year.

The ghastly thing has now gone to a dealer on a part exchange. Good riddance.

Now happily driving a Jeep Cherokee 2.8CRD. Chalk and cheese it is.

Now you could have argued that you were a rational person right up to the point where you tell us that you swapped it for Cherokee 2.8... and that you like the Cherokee... there's nowt so queer as folk! :devil:

The Cherokee seems well built, has a surplus of torque which is what you want in a hilly area, decent ground clearance and a no nonsense feel quite reminiscent of the Panda. Oddly enough, economy actually betters that of the Sedici in daily use with me..... and there's no DPF !!
In case anyone's forgotten the engine is Italian.

Tax Band
Sedici £195 per year. Cherokee £460.

Fuel Economy
Sedici 49.6 mpg. Cherokee 36.7 mpg.

Insurance Group
Sedici 8. Cherokee 13.

Top Speed
Sedici 112mph. Cherokee 108mph.

0-60
Sedici 11.2 seconds. Cherokee 12.8 seconds.

Price for 2008 up to 40,000 miles
Sedici £7,000. Cherokee £13,000

Actually, tax for the Jeep costs £270, the insurance cost me another £18 and the Sedici never even ventured close to 36mpg which the Jeep actually manages !