The more I read of these reviews in UK publications, the more it annoys me that FIAT UK won't give out any details on actual specs and availability... I reckon that in effect what they have done is set it up for demos / test-drives this winter, with the hope that folk will place an order for a car to be supplied in time for NEXT winter!!! Really bad timing methinks...
General Panda 4x4
- Thread starter catnash
- Start date
- Replies 1K
- Views 171K
Currently reading:
General
Panda 4x4
The Telegraph review was a bit inaccurate I believe, I think they said the the air intake was raised by something like 24 inches, whereas other reviews have mentioned 2.4 inches, or thereabouts. Now, if the air intake was somewhere up in the A pillar the 24 inches would make sense, and they might be right, but 2.4, plus the couple of inches increased ride height makes more sense and gives a decent lift. I think that with the floods, which are now endemic, and our deteriorating roads, cars like this will become fashionable and the norm, and even overtake sales of ordinary hatchbacks.
If only Fiat could get this thing advertised and to market in an organised way, with demonstrators available as soon as the press releases - and reduced the price by a thousand or so - the thing would fly. But they'll overprice it I expect.
Still, the car will be in the showrooms very soon and I suppose deliveries will begin in the new year, and since the worst weather comes after Christmas this might not be too awful. And just to add more choice, there is a jacked up Trekking version of the new 500L coming next year too. With the TA 105 this might be interesting.
If only Fiat could get this thing advertised and to market in an organised way, with demonstrators available as soon as the press releases - and reduced the price by a thousand or so - the thing would fly. But they'll overprice it I expect.
Still, the car will be in the showrooms very soon and I suppose deliveries will begin in the new year, and since the worst weather comes after Christmas this might not be too awful. And just to add more choice, there is a jacked up Trekking version of the new 500L coming next year too. With the TA 105 this might be interesting.
Last edited:
Yes I did think the 24" sounded a lot LOL. But the prices do seem pretty high – hopefully it will be discounted after a while? My guess is that Fiat is so busy fulfilling orders for the LHD market that our little island gets a bit overlooked. And the TwinAir 4x4 sounds like a great little car, can't wait to test-drive one – prob be few years before I'd buy one though : (
I know! My car is costing a lot to keep fettled now and I need a new one, but I am undecided. The Trekking ticks most of my boxes, but it is a bit small, and probably expensive. The upside is that these cars hold their value like no others, and I would expect it to be a good investment, or as good an 'investment' (awful misuse of the word) as a car can be.
I loved the ordinary TA version, and I thought the ride was good, very supple and composed; the Trekking apparently has an even better ride (softer), plus better grip and improved ground clearance and easier access. Win win win then.....but the initial price
I loved the ordinary TA version, and I thought the ride was good, very supple and composed; the Trekking apparently has an even better ride (softer), plus better grip and improved ground clearance and easier access. Win win win then.....but the initial price
Oh well; no wonder they are struggling, even when they have an outstanding product they still shoot themselves in the foot.
I wouldn't take anything they said as gospel.
You'd most probably get a different answer if you called tomorrow.
You'd most probably get a different answer if you called tomorrow.
Idiots.....
Dear Mr '4x4Fun', We thankyou for your interest in the New Fiat Panda 4x4. We are excited to announcethat this vehicle is slated for commercial launch in the UK for Spring 2013.All the latest information on this vehicle will be published online at www.fiat.co.uk. Following the Paris Motor Showreviews of the vehicle were published, and are available at http://www.fiat.co.uk/uk/news/panda-4x4-parisand http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/news/news.jsp?categoryOID=-1073765886&contentOID=1076045046.There will be a commercial brochure available in January 2013 ahead of itslaunch in Spring.
Clearly not interested in capitalising on rave reviews in all the motoring press. Or are they hamstrung by Fiat Italy policy? Sure invite the British journo's over, but don't give the UK RHD models for another 6 months. Like I said, Idiots......
Dear Mr '4x4Fun', We thankyou for your interest in the New Fiat Panda 4x4. We are excited to announcethat this vehicle is slated for commercial launch in the UK for Spring 2013.All the latest information on this vehicle will be published online at www.fiat.co.uk. Following the Paris Motor Showreviews of the vehicle were published, and are available at http://www.fiat.co.uk/uk/news/panda-4x4-parisand http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/news/news.jsp?categoryOID=-1073765886&contentOID=1076045046.There will be a commercial brochure available in January 2013 ahead of itslaunch in Spring.
Clearly not interested in capitalising on rave reviews in all the motoring press. Or are they hamstrung by Fiat Italy policy? Sure invite the British journo's over, but don't give the UK RHD models for another 6 months. Like I said, Idiots......
To quote myself from 2 weeks ago!!
Still, I'd also take that reply from Fiat with a pinch of salt too. You will get a different answer from whoever replies to you with Fiat.
The 4x4 will just show up at your local dealer when it does. Fiat will put launch models onto a dealers stock list automatically.
Personally though, the closer we get to the launch of the Renault Zoe, the more my interest in the 4x4 is waning.
Last edited:
Renault rang me a couple of weeks ago to ask me if I'd like a test drive in the Duster, and gave me a choice of times. I said yes. The reality is, a lot of people have cancelled thier pre-ordrs because they are not prepared to sign for a car they haven't driven, but at least Renault is honest about this and doing all they can to bring in the buyers.
Unfortunately Fiat still sees the UK as a peripheral market, and the headless chicken syndrome in Turin and Croydon is unchanged from the situation twenty or thirty years ago.
Having said that, Renault is going to rely on the new Clio and Dacia for sales and just like Fiat has abandoned what were once bread and butter cars.
Unfortunately Fiat still sees the UK as a peripheral market, and the headless chicken syndrome in Turin and Croydon is unchanged from the situation twenty or thirty years ago.
Having said that, Renault is going to rely on the new Clio and Dacia for sales and just like Fiat has abandoned what were once bread and butter cars.
They rang me, too -- as it (I presume the only extant vehicle in the UK...?!) was going to be gracing my local dealer, one Friday. Explained that I needed an automatic; and it went a bit quiet...!
Mind you: it's still much, much better customer service than FIAT... -- I'm still waiting to hear about my cancelled Panda order, from nearly three months ago....
Yes, there is apparantly only one car and each dealer gets it for a day: economy eh!
And when you do buy a Fiat you get the worst warranty in the business, even in these difficult times.
My belief is that next year the British and wider European economy will be as bad if not worse than this, so car makers had better get real over price and service if they want to stay in busines.
As with the rest of the market there will increasingly be only two economic groups; the very rich and very very rich, who buy the most expensive of everything, including cars - and of course cheaper cars like BMWs for their servants - and then the increasingly poor, who are going to be looking at cheaper and cheaper everything to keep going. And this means cars too.
The old middle market is already shrinking as the traditional middle class shrinks and instead of being aspirational kicks into survival mode. I don't see this social development reversing.
Too many manufactures want to go upmarket where they see the profits coming from, but the Germans have this base covered I'm afraid, which leaves the bottom end of the market to go for. Dithering about in the middle with indifferent products will end in disaster.
And when you do buy a Fiat you get the worst warranty in the business, even in these difficult times.
My belief is that next year the British and wider European economy will be as bad if not worse than this, so car makers had better get real over price and service if they want to stay in busines.
As with the rest of the market there will increasingly be only two economic groups; the very rich and very very rich, who buy the most expensive of everything, including cars - and of course cheaper cars like BMWs for their servants - and then the increasingly poor, who are going to be looking at cheaper and cheaper everything to keep going. And this means cars too.
The old middle market is already shrinking as the traditional middle class shrinks and instead of being aspirational kicks into survival mode. I don't see this social development reversing.
Too many manufactures want to go upmarket where they see the profits coming from, but the Germans have this base covered I'm afraid, which leaves the bottom end of the market to go for. Dithering about in the middle with indifferent products will end in disaster.
Personally I'm of the opinion that the goat apocalypse will take place next year and we'll all be too busy being raped by goats to worry about cars.
Oh damn, never been a fan of goats to begin with.
Not next year. The apacalypse is still a few years away. But is sure won't get any better first
elation
New member
Our car has now been transferred into our stock. It's a white Twinair, with split rear seat and 5 belts/headrests.
It's not with us yet, but we will be registering it today ready for use when it arrives.
Regardless of what Fiat head office have saidbang, the car will be here a lot sooner than spring.
It's not with us yet, but we will be registering it today ready for use when it arrives.
Regardless of what Fiat head office have said
bang, the car will be here a lot sooner than spring.elation
New member
Registered now. And as soon as it arrives our best looking salesperson will be grabbing the keys and using it day to day! (That's me by the way. Well, thats what I tell myself!)
They rang me, too -- as it (I presume the only extant vehicle in the UK...?!) was going to be gracing my local dealer, one Friday. Explained that I needed an automatic; and it went a bit quiet...!
They don't give up easily, though! Just received this email:
Back in August this year you enquired through the Renault website about a Dacia Duster. I have tried to get in touch with you but have been unable to do so [not true...].
On the 7th December (next Friday) we have been given a left hand drive Duster to demonstrate for the day. This is available for test drives in 30 mins slots on a first come first served basis. We do still have a couple of slots available if you are still interested. Please call on [telephone number] if you would like to take us up on this offer...
Only LHD...?! So when do the RHD ones arrive...? On the 7th December (next Friday) we have been given a left hand drive Duster to demonstrate for the day. This is available for test drives in 30 mins slots on a first come first served basis. We do still have a couple of slots available if you are still interested. Please call on [telephone number] if you would like to take us up on this offer...
I had hoped and assumed it would be RHD too!
There is always a difference when they move the wheel over, like is there enough space around the clutch pedal, especially since the Dacias are not symmetrical along the centre line and were obvioulsy not originally designed for a RHD market? Some of the Indian blogs say that there isn't quite enough space, but it mever seems to have bothered any of them
Well, sometimes it doesn't matter, depending on the exact placement of the pedals relative to the seat, but no way would I buy a car with no space for a resting clutch foot - see Fiat Bravo and Alfa Giulietta - deal breaker No.1.
But anyway, why are there still no examples of the car we will actually be getting, especially so close to launch?
It looks like the Panda 4x4 will be here first then, and for some people this will matter. Now, the Trekking...
There is always a difference when they move the wheel over, like is there enough space around the clutch pedal, especially since the Dacias are not symmetrical along the centre line and were obvioulsy not originally designed for a RHD market? Some of the Indian blogs say that there isn't quite enough space, but it mever seems to have bothered any of them
Well, sometimes it doesn't matter, depending on the exact placement of the pedals relative to the seat, but no way would I buy a car with no space for a resting clutch foot - see Fiat Bravo and Alfa Giulietta - deal breaker No.1.
But anyway, why are there still no examples of the car we will actually be getting, especially so close to launch?
It looks like the Panda 4x4 will be here first then, and for some people this will matter. Now, the Trekking...
Just spoke to my friend in my local dealer. They have a green twinair on the way, and a Trekking. They taxed the 4x4 today too.
Also a lhd 500l is coming for a special preview event for the weekend of 15/16 dec.
4x4 Should be here in about 7 days. Now's the time to book my 500 in to have the ignition coil recall done!
Also a lhd 500l is coming for a special preview event for the weekend of 15/16 dec.
4x4 Should be here in about 7 days. Now's the time to book my 500 in to have the ignition coil recall done!
Last edited:
