General Mongol Rally 2025 - which Panda to buy?

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

Hello everyone,
I am a proud owner of a 1968 Fiat 500 and I have decided to buy a Panda 4x4 to compete in the 2025 Mongol Rally. I am restricted to a 1.2L engine but that's about it. I would prefer an older car and would value advice on which version and spec of Panda 4x4 members believe would be most suitable for a 10,000 mile adventure.
All comments and advice welcomed
James

 

[jrkitching]

I am restricted to a 1.2L engine

How exactly is that restriction written?

If you can't get a dispensation from the 1200cc limit, then that will rule out all the modern 1.2 4x4 Pandas, since the 1.2 FIRE is in fact 1242cc.

Except, of course, the TA, which would seem to be a loophole in the regs. And anyway, turning up for the Mongol Rally in a TA cross would likely get you lynched by the rest of the participants.

I'd agree this would be the most fun, and certainly in the spirit of the rally, to do in a Mk1. Doing this in something as modern and capable as a 1.2 4x4 Mk3 Panda would, in my humble opinion, be cheating.

An 0.9 Sei would be more in keeping with the spirit of the thing.

Have you seen this thread.

Or make @nikcoleman an offer for the one he's just bought. You could likely get a dispensation for its huge engine if you ran it 'as is'

And for those of you who haven't a clue what this is all about, go here.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Does the risk (of mechanical breakage) reward equation favour a 4x4 anyway? FWD seems to be the consensus.

 

[nikcoleman]

So tell me about the rally? (no you can’t have my 1242 Mamy!). I’m a TV producer, I’m sure there’s a documentary in this.

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

How exactly is that restriction written?

If you can't get a dispensation from the 1200cc limit, then that will rule out all the modern 1.2 4x4 Pandas, since the 1.2 FIRE is in fact 1242cc.

Except, of course, the TA, which would seem to be a loophole in the regs. And anyway, turning up for the Mongol Rally in a TA cross would likely get you lynched by the rest of the participants.

I'd agree this would be the most fun, and certainly in the spirit of the rally, to do in a Mk1. Doing this in something as modern and capable as a 1.2 4x4 Mk3 Panda would, in my humble opinion, be cheating.

An 0.9 Sei would be more in keeping with the spirit of the thing.

Have you seen this thread.

Or make @nikcoleman an offer for the one he's just bought. You could likely get a dispensation for its huge engine if you ran it 'as is'

And for those of you who haven't a clue what this is all about, go here.

I hadn’t seen the thread, very helpful. Re cars I have looked for a MK1 but they are silly money. I do fancy a 0.9 twin air but worried about the huge mileage on a 2 cylinder engine - are they good for 150k?
Thank you for the advice.

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

Does the risk (of mechanical breakage) reward equation favour a 4x4 anyway? FWD seems to be the consensus.

Hi - are the 4x4s more unreliable - was planning on potentially adding a small lift to the suspension, guards etc and getting the prop shaft checked. I haven’t seen a thread discussing merits of FWD over 4x4 but happy to be educated before I purchase.

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

So tell me about the rally? (no you can’t have my 1242 Mamy!). I’m a TV producer, I’m sure there’s a documentary in this.

There are lots of YouTube films that have been made over the years - if you search Mongol Rally Film the top hit is of a heavily
Overloaded panda that doesn’t quite make it. I have just retired and just fancy giving the rally a shot with my sons.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Hi - are the 4x4s more unreliable - was planning on potentially adding a small lift to the suspension, guards etc and getting the prop shaft checked. I haven’t seen a thread discussing merits of FWD over 4x4 but happy to be educated before I purchase.

I was coming from the angle of more to go wrong, as opposed to the simpler FWD. I have no education to offer per se - and to have a good look at what previous finishers have been running, of course. Small and Japanese seem the maxim for many. Thread(s) here for ideas:

A what car, Mongol rally edition. - Page 1 - Car Buying - PistonHeads UK

 

[jrkitching]

I do fancy a 0.9 twin air but worried about the huge mileage on a 2 cylinder engine - are they good for 150k

There have been plenty of posts on here which would lead one to question whether they are even good for 50k without generating a four figure repair bill.

A TA is an excellent example of the sort of car you wouldn't want to take on this kind of expedition. It's bad enough dealing with a DMF failure in Surbiton; having one let go halfway up a dirt track on some Mongolian mountain is beyond contemplation.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Exactly.
Priority 1 - find something that doesn't go wrong.
Priority 2 - if/when priority 1 doesn't quite work out, then make sure it is repairable with a hammer as far as is humanly possible

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

There have been plenty of posts on here which would lead one to question whether they are even good for 50k without generating a four figure repair bill.

A TA is an excellent example of the sort of car you wouldn't want to take on this kind of expedition. It's bad enough dealing with a DMF failure in Surbiton; having one let go halfway up a dirt track on some Mongolian mountain is beyond contemplation.

Appreciate the clarity, thank you. I am veering towards a slightly older 1.2 MK2 4x4.

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

I was coming from the angle of more to go wrong, as opposed to the simpler FWD. I have no education to offer per se - and to have a good look at what previous finishers have been running, of course. Small and Japanese seem the maxim for many. Thread(s) here for ideas:

A what car, Mongol rally edition. - Page 1 - Car Buying - PistonHeads UK

I really can’t bear the idea of doing it in a Micra, though Im impressed with how many have made it...

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

Exactly.
Priority 1 - find something that doesn't go wrong.
Priority 2 - if/when priority 1 doesn't quite work out, then make sure it is repairable with a hammer as far as is humanly possible

Would a MK2 1.2L Panda 4x4 fall into this category?

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Would a MK2 1.2L Panda 4x4 fall into this category?

My first instinct would be to check with the organisers re the Panda's mighty 1242cc - they seem keen to enforce the no over 1200cc rule, based on nothing more than reading the blurb.

 

[tunkeyandthemonkey]

Will do. Though looking at the video blogs I think I can see others badged 1.2…. Will check before I buy.

 

[boozyjay]

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What about this?

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Will do. Though looking at the video blogs I think I can see others badged 1.2…. Will check before I buy.

Push your luck and ask about a Diahatsu Terios 4x4 whilst you're at it! (a positively huge 1.5L)

 

[Funky Spike]

I hadn’t seen the thread, very helpful. Re cars I have looked for a MK1 but they are silly money. I do fancy a 0.9 twin air but worried about the huge mileage on a 2 cylinder engine - are they good for 150k?
Thank you for the advice.

My 2104 TA Cross is just about to pass 160k.
Only 5k of those were done by me but I have the full service history and it's only suffered the usual suspects of clutch and DMF and propshaft.

Spike

 

[AB100]

If the 1200cc is a hard rule then perhaps consider the 1.1 Panda. Low power but great fun to drive. Non-interference engine, if the cambelt pops. No aircon to worry about. Fewer moving parts and 3 blokes can more easily push it when the going gets tough.

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[Pugglt Auld Jock]

How exactly is that restriction written?

If you can't get a dispensation from the 1200cc limit, then that will rule out all the modern 1.2 4x4 Pandas, since the 1.2 FIRE is in fact 1242cc.

Except, of course, the TA, which would seem to be a loophole in the regs. And anyway, turning up for the Mongol Rally in a TA cross would likely get you lynched by the rest of the participants.

I'd agree this would be the most fun, and certainly in the spirit of the rally, to do in a Mk1. Doing this in something as modern and capable as a 1.2 4x4 Mk3 Panda would, in my humble opinion, be cheating.

An 0.9 Sei would be more in keeping with the spirit of the thing.

Have you seen this thread.

Or make @nikcoleman an offer for the one he's just bought. You could likely get a dispensation for its huge engine if you ran it 'as is'

And for those of you who haven't a clue what this is all about, go here.

Sorry, clicked here by mistake! All good luck to the OP though.