General Panda 319 4x4 TwinAir - Any reason why not?

[LeopoldStotch]

Hi All,

New to to the forum, but not new to Fiats - first car was a Mk1 Panda and had / blew up a Cinquecento Sporting back in the day.

I'm at the point of purchase of a 2013 Panda 4x4 with a TwinAir engine as a "teach kids to drive" car and occasional utility vehicle.

Is there any reason why you;d go for a 169, or one of the larger engines on a 319? And does it make much difference between the 2013 Euro 5 version and the 2014- Euro 6 version of this engine?

Cheers!

 

[jrkitching]

At that age and price point, I'd take a 1.2 over a TA every time. It'll almost certainly cost you less in fuel, repairs & insurance, and likely give you fewer problems.

There are around £4000 worth of potential repairs to parts which quite often fail on older TA's that a 1.2 hasn't even got. Uniair module, DMF, turbocharger...

I'd also get a 2WD car unless there's an overwhelming reason why having 4WD is important to you.

The 2WD 1.2 is basically bulletproof with very few known issues, and even fewer expensive parts which are likely to need replacing.

By way of example, serious rear subframe corrosion on a 4x4 169 will write the car off. The same failure on a 2WD car can be fixed with a £150 aftermarket replacement subframe.

 

[The Panda Nut]

No way I would let kids learn in a TA 4x4. Jerky clutch use and a dual mass flywheel.... No thanks. Little advantage over the 2wd Panda 1.2 and thats a really sensible learner car. I totally agree with jrktching. You will get a newer and much less tired car for the same money. I have both types and I really love my TA4x4, but I fear its bank busting powers. Insurance is way higher too. Go for a £30 a year RFL 1.2.

 

[LeopoldStotch]

Thanks for the responses. TA 4x4 purchase hastily terminated.

What is the more pressing problem? The 0.9l TA engine, or the 4WD system? Is the 1.3l diesel 4WD model equally as problematic? Or are they both potential problems for learner driver technique and potential big bills?

Thanks again!

 

[Eltezz]

Thanks for the responses. TA 4x4 purchase hastily terminated.

What is the more pressing problem? The 0.9l TA engine, or the 4WD system? Is the 1.3l diesel 4WD model equally as problematic? Or are they both potential problems for learner driver technique and potential big bills?

Thanks again!

T/A potential big money problems:

Uniair module
Dual mass flywheel
Propshaft centre bearing

Multijet potential problems:

Dual mass flywheel
Diesel particulate filter
EGR system
Propshaft centre bearing

1.2l potential problems:

Err, still waiting…

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Thanks for the responses. TA 4x4 purchase hastily terminated.

What is the more pressing problem? The 0.9l TA engine, or the 4WD system? Is the 1.3l diesel 4WD model equally as problematic? Or are they both potential problems for learner driver technique and potential big bills?

Thanks again!

The diesel is a very forgiving engine and would likely suit a learner. 4x4 makes no difference to the fundamentals of driving a Panda - just means it keeps going when other lesser vehicles get stuck. But, 4x4 Multijet a pretty rare car.

All the 4x4s can have an issue with the propshaft - but not so if looked after (but full replacement propshaft is £280)

Particulate filter - no issues so long as it gets a long run frequently (not ideal as a soley round town car)

EGR valve - ditto.

Older (pre 2012) 1.2 4x4 also suffered same propshaft issues.

Many modern cars have a dual mass flywheel... the biggest threat to these is using too high a gear/too low revs for the speed

 

[porta]

Propshaft center bearing is £80, but there are some who have had more serious prop issues, so far I’ve had/have 3 169 4x4, two of which are cross, and latest type, TA of 2019, only first one, the 1.2 Climing, needed a center bearing and no issues that others have had…one had 154k on clock and was used only as a farm car in the last two years of its life. It was finally dispensed with when a sill went (after a bad replacement bodyshop repair wehn a RRover side swiped it).
Not all of us have had issues with the TA, but for those that do, I think a lot of it is bad luck, garages not putting the right oil in them or maybe something else, but get a bad press. Looked after, they seem as reliable as the 1.2, but NOT as cheap to fix or as economical. There are now some with 130+k miles on them!

 

[Panda IIs]

Thanks for the responses. TA 4x4 purchase hastily terminated.

What is the more pressing problem? The 0.9l TA engine, or the 4WD system? Is the 1.3l diesel 4WD model equally as problematic? Or are they both potential problems for learner driver technique and potential big bills?

Thanks again!

I would say none of the above but with the caveat that there is a very good service history. I taught both my teenagers to drive in the 4x4TA. And was pleasantly surprised at the insurance (even adding them once they had passed). The DMF/clutch us mentioned above and that is a reasonable comment but many modern cars come with that issue. The 1.2 versions (2WD) are cheaper propositions simple because they come with older technologies (mostly emissions related).

 

[Steveetee55]

I think with the TA service history regular oil changes correct oil and service item replacement is crucial,to me the propshaft can be a problem but not a huge one the uniair failure is quite daunting but I still think no regular services may be a factor in this, dmf clutches are just rubbish but that effects all manufacturers but how someone drives the car is a big factor in this