General Good advice requested.

[madam yap]

Greetings Fiat Panda Lovers,
I am looking for some good advice from those who kn0w the 2012 + Pandas well. I will try to ask my questions clearly.
Currently I have a Honda CRV Ex. Diesel which I bought new in 2005.
I have never had a problem with the CRV, and it is still as good as ever.
However I am going to retire soon, and have to look at things like runnibg costs etc. So have been looking around for a smaller replacement, and have decided on the New Panda, I like the look of, but know little about. which is why I am on here now.

1 : I will buy either the Trekking, or the 4 x 4. Still undecided. I do not intend to bundu bash, but would like the car to be able to handle adverse situations if needs must. ?

2 : which brings me to the choice of engine. I am inclined towards the diesel engine - which I hope will be able to cruise comfortably at 70mph on the motorway, without the feeling of being thrashed in the process ?

3 : Although the Trekking and the 4 X 4 are the more expensive options, they do not seem to have access to the same optional extras such as a built in Sat Nav, which I would like, sunroof etc, ???

4 : Any good advice from experienced Panda lovers will be most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[4x4Panda]

Few people really need the 4x4, but given the relatively small premium over the Trekking if you can afford it then you will never not be able to get from A to B ! As an enthusiast, I only ever wanted the 4x4, but rationally speaking the Trekking is a fine choice.

If you do frequent short journeys, then the its has to be the petrol engine. If you are thinking purely in terms of fuel costs then given diesel costs more at the pump and the car cost more to buy, you may want to work out the break-even mileage:- I'd be surprised if it was less than 20k pa. In terms of the motorway cruise, the modern petrol twin-air engine will have no difficultly keeping the car at and above the legal limit!

Yes its annoying that you can't get the sun-roof with these two models. It nearly put me off ordering the car, but then again it is not really essential. As to the sat-nab: pay £50 for the 'predisposition for TomTom' (or whatever they call it) and then you simply buy the FIAT TomTom kit that plugs into this 'socket' on top of the dash.

Other owners who have actually taken delivery of their cars (lol) will provide you more sage advise than I can ! One think I will add, is that if you do decide on a 4x4, then be prepared for a longish wait. Depending on options, some of these cars are taking an age to be built.

good luck with your deliberations...

 

[deeyup]

Sound advise from Panda4x4.

I'd echo getting the petrol motor unless doing higher miles.
They have dpf in the multijet which as in all diesel cars can prove troublesome.
Performance is better too in the petrol model.

I'm sure the trekking is the sensible choice too, you'll save money buying, you'll save money on petrol, and there's less to go wrong.

 

[jbanfie]

If money is an issue, have a look at motorpoint who have delivery mileage Lounges nearly 3 grand off - discounts on Trekking and 4x4 are very small

 

[Dangerinleyland]

Yup, picking up one of those cheap lounges tomorrow! Very good offer.

 

[javnas]

I would stick to the 4x4 as they are a real piece of kit and i do believe they will hold there value very well for the years to come.

 

[Moultoneer]

Sound advise from Panda4x4.

I'd echo getting the petrol motor unless doing higher miles.
They have dpf in the multijet which as in all diesel cars can prove troublesome.
Performance is better too in the petrol model.

I'm sure the trekking is the sensible choice too, you'll save money buying, you'll save money on petrol, and there's less to go wrong.

Reviews I've read all suggest the Trekking will have enough off-road ability
for all but the most extreme needs, but its better fuel economy will give
an everyday benefit- so that's what I've got on order

I've specified Twinair, as I'm now retired and driving less

Regarding inordinately long delivery times, I've been caught by this- the
sticking point was the 50/50 split sliding rear seat, which has now been
dropped from the options

I've now reluctantly agreed to the 5-seat Flex Pack, as this will likely
mean a real car appearing within the foreseeable future



Chris

 

[nigelspanda]

Hello I have had from 22nd march a twin air 4x4 and Never looked back on the type of car I wanted , you get higher ride height and I would say its an all wheather all year round car so when others are getting stuck hopefully you will still be plodding along

 

[John Sheridan]

I had a close look at both the Trekking at the 4x4 before ordering the Trekking as I could not justify the £1500 price difference. I might take it slightly off road but not green lane or anything.

Gone for Petrol version as more mpg and supposed to be slightly quieter than the diesel - also will only do about 10k per annum and shortist journeys so diesel makes no sense.

I too have a sunroof with my current car and will miss it - very annoying you can't specify a sunroof with either the Trekking or 4x4 - can't see any reason why you could not have it as an option.

 

[Moultoneer]

I had a close look at both the Trekking at the 4x4 before ordering the Trekking as I could not justify the £1500 price difference. I might take it slightly off road but not green lane or anything.

Gone for Petrol version as more mpg and supposed to be slightly quieter than the diesel - also will only do about 10k per annum and shortist journeys so diesel makes no sense.

I too have a sunroof with my current car and will miss it - very annoying you can't specify a sunroof with either the Trekking or 4x4 - can't see any reason why you could not have it as an option.

Re. fuel economy the diesel will definitely do more miles per gallon in the
real world, but you'd need to do a large mileage to make it worthwhile

I test drove a Twinair and found it irresistible fun :yum:

I've had sunroofs on all my cars up to now, but the 4x4 and Trekking
don't have that option due to their standard roof rails. The Panda's
large glass area suggests I'll be able to live without a sunroof



Chris

 

[4x4Panda]

If the 50:50 split really is causing a problem for FIAT, then I'm very surprised they are currently showing it as a status 16 build, which means the spec is locked and cannot be changed. Still, as I've been here before, it can always be bounced back again... I also checked the configurator and have to say its very odd the way this option appears to have been completely dropped. What can have gone so wrong that FIAT have stopped taking orders??