Panda 4x4

[Nuova500]

Dealer got a 4x4 in yesterday, last night it was all shiny still with its delivery protection on, this morning it is covered in mud! They say we can test it in the mud if we wish and they are trying to arrange a proper 4x4 day off road. Trouble is, the 1.3 multijet wont be coming, cos Fiat say there isnt a market and also something about braking system. Thats bad news because it is so slow with the 1.2 petrol.

 

[The Negotiator]

Wouldn't it struggle doing a proper off-road day, especially with the 1.2? (8v? 16v?)

 

[Nuova500]

Paul???? Havent been on for a while, you changed name?
Apparently its off road capabilities are superb, its the 0-60 time of I think 19 seconds that worries me!!!!

 

[The Negotiator]

That'll be the 8v version then! See it would worry me being in an underpowered car off-road, as good as they could be, not sure if that's a non-founded feeling.

Yep, it's me You noticed by my vaguely anti-fiat comment I expect

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Seems strange to have the least powerful engine in there when clearly 4 wheel drive would need more power... 19 seconds that is very slow isn't it the 1.2 punto is supposed to be 14 or something?

 

[The Negotiator]

I expect the extra running gear for all wheel drive and weight accounts for that. Maybe they have also provided different gear ratios?

THe 1.3mj would make it a little terrier!

 

[Steven]

The 1.2 8v engine isn't underpowered at all. It pulls the Punto along nicely and it should do better in the lighter Panda. My old Mk2 Punto was a 1.2 8v and I found it to be economical, reliable and nippy, especially between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th.

 

[The Negotiator]

But 19seconds 0-60 suggests somethings not right....!

 

[The Negotiator]

From a website in French I seemed to muster it says:
Weight: 965kg

And it says it will do 0-100 in 20 seconds!
mis à rude épreuve par la masse relativement conséquente de l'engin (965 kg) et la résistance au roulement induite par la transmission.

Du coup, les performances routières s'en ressentent. Les 100 km/h sont atteints en 20 secondes et la vitesse maximale de 145 km/h ne peut être maintenue que lorsque la topographie s'y prête. Il est vrai que le petit Fire prend volontiers




Damn it looks cool in some of the pictures though!

 

[The Negotiator]

Punto is 860kg.

Sorry Steve

 

[Steven]

It suggests that the engine isn't tuned for a quick 0-60 time. This would make sense in a 4X4 that is designed for occasional off-road use. Torque, in-gear acceleration and economy would be more important factors in that case. Fiat don't have much to learn about small engines, they have even less to learn about small cars, it's what they do best.

 

[The Negotiator]

I agree, and if you see my post I did say exactly what you did, I even wrote "I expect it has been tuned for torque over say BHP" but deleted it as I thought the gear ratio statement would be enough.

I even think it looks damn good in some of the pictures (off-road, I happen to hate it on the road, I think it looks stupid).

I just think it might be a little short on "puff".

 

[Steven]

Punto is 860kg.

Sorry Steve

Must be the weight of all the 4X4 gear. My previous post still stands though.

 

[Dr_Pepper]

The best bit about them is that there's more chance of these tiny things actually going off road than, say a BMX X5. Blasted things should be banned.

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Punto is 860kg.

Maybe they make panda's out of metal and not tin foil like the punto.

 

[The Negotiator]

See this looks cool:

I hope the picture shows. Picture from automobile Francais.

 

[Steven]

Brilliant!

 

[The Negotiator]

And....

I dunno, it has that kind of big car front, really intimidating!

 

[Dr_Pepper]

See this looks cool:
I hope the picture shows. Picture from automobile Francais.

So the trick then is to buy a camelian (?) panda to blend in with your surroundings!

Joking aside it does look good.