DAMN I LOVE THAT PANDA
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Can a 1992 Fiat Panda Selecta (automatic) go off road?
General Can It?
- Thread starter DAMN I LOVE THAT PANDA
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General Can It?
Yes in theory, 2WD Panda's seem to be fairly capable off road as long as your not tackling anything where more ground clearance is needed or something slippery where you'd need 4WD.
Why a Selecta though? They're not known for their reliability (in some cases they can be faultless and last a long time) but quite often their clutches fail etc, which are hard to find parts for and costly to repair.
You'd be better off possibly with a manual 2WD Panda? Or if budget allows just spring for a 4WD if you specifically want to take it off road.
DAMN I LOVE THAT PANDA
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idk man I want a car that i can drive off road sometimes for hunting but mostly a everyday commuter. I am kind of frustrated about manuals especially on hills but that might be because I havent ever gave it a full chance to learn. So your saying fiat panda auto is not reliable?
Why are you keep asking by opening new discussions?
By having one thread all informations will be in one place.
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/422040-hello-i-am-new.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/422142-i-have-quick-question.html
We do whant to help you but the best way for you is to have a trial/ test drive.
By having one thread all informations will be in one place.
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/422040-hello-i-am-new.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/422142-i-have-quick-question.html
We do whant to help you but the best way for you is to have a trial/ test drive.
The general consensus about selecta's is that eventually they will break but you may be lucky and get one that doesn't.
If you really want proper off road ability get a 4x4 - the higher ground clearance and sump guards will give you protection.
Get a manual, and master it, automatics are for people at the end of their driving lives not the beginning!
It is difficult to get one car to do all things well, a 4x4 is not a motorway cruiser, a 2wd has limits off road - which is why most of us on the classic panda forum eventually end up with more than one Panda.
To start with get a car which will suit you best for the thing you do most that way you will be happier more of the time with it!
If you really want proper off road ability get a 4x4 - the higher ground clearance and sump guards will give you protection.
Get a manual, and master it, automatics are for people at the end of their driving lives not the beginning!
It is difficult to get one car to do all things well, a 4x4 is not a motorway cruiser, a 2wd has limits off road - which is why most of us on the classic panda forum eventually end up with more than one Panda.
To start with get a car which will suit you best for the thing you do most that way you will be happier more of the time with it!
WOWOWOW.
Not so, some have had issues, but then so do manuals, plenty of Selecta's out there still going strong without issues, capable of 150k miles etc.
Just because a few have had issues doesn't mean that they all do or will break or fail!
My general consensus is that they're still a good buy if fully working when purchased.
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everything breaks in the end.. 
i do agree that a manual 4x4 panda would be the choice i would go for. off roading and things in a selecta would just burn out the clutch more quickly.
in the terain that you posted the pictures of, a standard manual 2 wheel drive would work fine.
in my honest opinion, a 4x4 panda was made to be a snow car. they have got to be the best snow car i have ever been in. so if you wish to travel when the snow falls, i would be on the look out for a panda 4x4.
saying that though, the 2 wheel drive panda is pretty good on flat ground when it comes to snow. you just may get the front wheels spin when you get to a hill though.
the choice is yours however. i think pretty much everyone here would suggest a manual panda for what driving you wish to do with it.
one other thing to consider is value. no matter where you are in the world, the panda 4x4 if you keep it in good condition will just keep going up in value. so come the time to sell it, you should get more for it than you originally paid for it.
the 2 wheel drive may not, though recently i have seen good 2 wheel drives sell quite good. so i guess the same applies, but maybe you wont get as much should you sell.
like i said though, only you can make the choice.
i do agree that a manual 4x4 panda would be the choice i would go for. off roading and things in a selecta would just burn out the clutch more quickly.
in the terain that you posted the pictures of, a standard manual 2 wheel drive would work fine.
in my honest opinion, a 4x4 panda was made to be a snow car. they have got to be the best snow car i have ever been in. so if you wish to travel when the snow falls, i would be on the look out for a panda 4x4.
saying that though, the 2 wheel drive panda is pretty good on flat ground when it comes to snow. you just may get the front wheels spin when you get to a hill though.
the choice is yours however. i think pretty much everyone here would suggest a manual panda for what driving you wish to do with it.
one other thing to consider is value. no matter where you are in the world, the panda 4x4 if you keep it in good condition will just keep going up in value. so come the time to sell it, you should get more for it than you originally paid for it.
the 2 wheel drive may not, though recently i have seen good 2 wheel drives sell quite good. so i guess the same applies, but maybe you wont get as much should you sell.
like i said though, only you can make the choice.
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In all honesty, the manual Panda will be easy enough to drive in all circumstances. The 4x4 with its extra low gearing is a car that will go more or less anywhere in fifth rendering gear changing all but superfluous once on the move.
DAMN I LOVE THAT PANDA
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everything breaks in the end..
i do agree that a manual 4x4 panda would be the choice i would go for. off roading and things in a selecta would just burn out the clutch more quickly.
in the terain that you posted the pictures of, a standard manual 2 wheel drive would work fine.
in my honest opinion, a 4x4 panda was made to be a snow car. they have got to be the best snow car i have ever been in. so if you wish to travel when the snow falls, i would be on the look out for a panda 4x4.
saying that though, the 2 wheel drive panda is pretty good on flat ground when it comes to snow. you just may get the front wheels spin when you get to a hill though.
the choice is yours however. i think pretty much everyone here would suggest a manual panda for what driving you wish to do with it.
one other thing to consider is value. no matter where you are in the world, the panda 4x4 if you keep it in good condition will just keep going up in value. so come the time to sell it, you should get more for it than you originally paid for it.
the 2 wheel drive may not, though recently i have seen good 2 wheel drives sell quite good. so i guess the same applies, but maybe you wont get as much should you sell.
like i said though, only you can make the choice.
Thank you! Yeah I am will probably get a 4x4 for around 2000 Euros, It might sound little but here in France cars are cheaper then uk. When i will be buying my first 4x4 fiat panda can you tell me what should i look out for? Like obviously rust but what els?
well common things on pandas i like you say the rust, look out for it on the rear of the sills, around the wheel arches.. the doors yeah.. most pandas have rusty doors so trying to find one without would be hard.. also check around the windscreen.
other things to look out for is oil leaks. oil leaking around the inner CV boots. if you do find that, make sure you test drive the panda as it could have a bad gearbox. if 3rd gear crunches sometimes dont worry about it too much. the 3rd gear crunches in my 4x4 and its fairly common.
the electronics can sometimes cause issues but its all simple stuff and mostly earthing related.
the 4x4 system is pretty sold, but i would check the condition of the prop shaft. make sure the rubber boots and UJ's are solid with no play. also check that the prop shaft supports are solidly fixed to the centre support plate.
and of course.. try to get one with ALL the extras light grills, bull bars, and roof rack
other things to look out for is oil leaks. oil leaking around the inner CV boots. if you do find that, make sure you test drive the panda as it could have a bad gearbox. if 3rd gear crunches sometimes dont worry about it too much. the 3rd gear crunches in my 4x4 and its fairly common.
the electronics can sometimes cause issues but its all simple stuff and mostly earthing related.
the 4x4 system is pretty sold, but i would check the condition of the prop shaft. make sure the rubber boots and UJ's are solid with no play. also check that the prop shaft supports are solidly fixed to the centre support plate.
and of course.. try to get one with ALL the extras
light grills, bull bars, and roof rack 
