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General First Panda 4x4 buying advice needed, newbie advice needed!!

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General First Panda 4x4 buying advice needed, newbie advice needed!!

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BenMK4x4

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Hi All,

I'm new here and hoping you can indulge me with some good advice! :eek:)

Having pondered long and hard over the car I would like to get as my first 'classic' I have decided I want a Panda 4x4 (having decided against a classic Skoda or Trabant!!)

My question is a very open one, what I would like is some general advice from those of you in the know about: the different models, best one to get, fair price I should pay, what to look out for, best year, engines, trim, etc. Even any good modifiacations to make?

Many thanks in advance and I hope this will be the start of something fun!!

Ben
 
Last edited:
Hello and Welcome,

The only two models you are likely to get in the UK is the standard 4x4 and the Sisley and they have the same engine (unless you get hold of a Mk 1 which is highly unlikely). The engines are generally not too much of a problem. It's the bodywork and gearbox you need to keep an eye on.
 
welcome aboard(y). Panda's a great choice there by the way, the wife had a Skoda 130 rapid coupe at the same time I had my first Panda. Panda ran flawlessly the whole time we had it, Skoda had an extra battery wired in to get it started, had no second gear until the gearbox warmed up, and went through two cylinder head gaskets before we sold it (with about 50k on the clock) wasn't as 'rapid' as the Panda either.
top tip for buying a Panda: no such thing as 'surface rust'. if you can see rust bubbling on many bits of bodywork, that's coming through from the inside.
Andrew
 
I would keep it simple and cheap...buy a nice 2wd panda at first..plenty more available..lots more special editions..and to be honest if your not going off road, more fun to drive..(Rear leafs vs omega)

BTW...Welcome....(y)...kev
 
Hi all, and thanks to the responses so far :)

I think a little more info on my part is required:

Budget wise, I'd be happy spending around the £1000 or so mark for the right car.

It is a 4x4 Panda that I definately want, not 2WD.

By modifications, I was referring to those that would make it more off-road capable.

I would mainly use the car on-road, but I do want the off-road capability, that's why I chose this car!!

What do you think?

Ben
 
Hi Ben, there's not much you can do other than tyres and a home made snorkel unless you're into serious fabrication work. There aren't any aftermarket mods available that I'm aware of. You can get a small increase in lift by making spacers for the shocks, but I doubt whether the effort is worth it, too much and you knacker the u.j.'s . Only bigger diameter tyres will increase the limited ground clearance, and then you can run into problems with wearing through the fuel filler, and losing your mudflaps when reversing.

Mike
 
xsparky said:
Hi Ben, there's not much you can do other than tyres and a home made snorkel unless you're into serious fabrication work. There aren't any aftermarket mods available that I'm aware of. You can get a small increase in lift by making spacers for the shocks, but I doubt whether the effort is worth it, too much and you knacker the u.j.'s . Only bigger diameter tyres will increase the limited ground clearance, and then you can run into problems with wearing through the fuel filler, and losing your mudflaps when reversing.

Mike
Click to expand...

:yeahthat: They are pretty much good to go and do exactly wot it says on the tin...(y)

kev
 
Good to go sounds good to me!!

Mad question, but has anyone fitted a winch to a Panda 4x4?

Also, how about sump guards and other under body protection?
 
BenMK4x4 said:
Good to go sounds good to me!!

Mad question, but has anyone fitted a winch to a Panda 4x4?

Also, how about sump guards and other under body protection?
Click to expand...

Winch, yes, but won't pull anything except the Panda out of trouble. I remember seeing somewhere that Fiat quoted the only way to improve the 4x4's was to fit a winch to pull itself out of any trouble.

Sump guards are standard on all 4x4 Panda's (y) (and has saved mine a few times)

Jon.
 
You might also consider a Panda 4x4 based kit car like mine. The only ones likely to be available now (I think mine's the last of it's breed) are ones called the Torino by NCF Motors. Another forum member has one. His user name is lesnewell if you want to search for posts by him.

Here's his web site if you want to see what one looks like. They're still pretty rare though so you'd probably have to wait a long time to find one:

http://www.lesnewell.co.uk/Torino/Torino_index.html

The advantages of something like this are that they are much easier to modify if you want to and kit car insurance can work out considerably cheaper than production cars for younger drivers. Plus, it has novelty and rarity and will probably outlast the mechanicals, being built like the Forth Road Bridge.

Welcome to the forum by the way :)
 
Hi Rick,

I think I actually remember seeing that car on ebay about a year or so ago (could be wrong though)!! Interesting... not sure about the looks though!!

As for insurance being cheaper for young drivers I'm hoping that (in this case at least ;) )28 doesn't count as young!!
 
As for insurance being cheaper for young drivers I'm hoping that (in this case at least ;) )28 doesn't count as young!!
Click to expand...

Oh to be that young again.

As for Les's car, I think it was on eBay but didn't sell. Les contacted the owner and made an offer. And if you're worried about looks maybe you shouldn't be considering a Panda anyway...
 
Ben If you do plan to go offroad find somebody to make you a guard for the mid section of the propshaft .I had no damage to the car but the joint ,it can hit the ground and fill it whith c##p.Have a look on Utube you will notbelive what this little car can do.(y) GPM(y)
 
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