General  Panda 4x4

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General  Panda 4x4

Yes, and my Doblo has become a pig to start when it is very cold, even though I have new glowplugs, which worked for six weeks, and now a new electronic control thingy.

I want a new car.

I also think I prefer the as yet unseen Sandero Stepway, and if I can keep my old thing going till the spring that might well be the one. It looks like there will be some road tests in December.

Oh, and the first 350 Dacia Dusters are presemtly at sea on their way to Britain, with another shipment being made this month. I got that from india.
 
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The New Panda 4x4 is TopGear's SUV of the year !

Now is that a good or bad development ?
 
The Panda Trekking is a 2x4, but with a clever front diff that maximises traction on the front wheels.

The Panda 4x4 is a full time 4x4 with an electronic diff that cuts the rear wheels in when necessary.

The Stepway is an ordinary 4x2 with a standard front wheel drive system. It just rides higher, that's all. For many people the increased ground clearance and ease of access is all that matters.

I do note, however, that the 2013 Stepway gets only one star in the South American test (sans air bags) and the body appears to fold rather badly: not good :eek:

Look at the new 500L being crash tested and the body cell remains totally undistorted: very impressive (y)
 
Just got back in from having a go in the 4x4.


The car drove pretty much like the 2wd Panda. Suspension was great, very comfy, damping good. We took it up an extremly steep hairpin and got the rear wheels to cut in, all good there. It's got hill hold brake (unsure if 2wd gets this?)
Six speed box. I'd read that 1st was supposed to be a crawler low range, but its not.
Good power, very similar to my 500 twin air. It popped along.
Standard air con, not climate as reported was standard. Plastic steering wheel which is a little penny pinching imo. This car had 5 seats which I would order.
They were part faux leather and cloth, I liked the seat trim which is exclusive to the 4wd

I'm going to book my car in for the new coils tomorrow, and I can have it for the day then which I'm looking forward to.

Off for pizza and beer, enjoy the pics (sorry about quality, was dark and pi55ing down)

Here's the pics.
DSC_1301.JPG


click the thumbnails below to see them bigger











 
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Thanks (y)

Sadly I think the 2x4 also has a hillholder - more complication!

I simply cannot sit behind myself comfortably in one, so limited is the rear knee room, so five seats are a fiction as far as I am concerned. But I love the idea of a comfortable ride with great damping - the standard Panda is very good - and the ease of access of course. Ordinary A/C is fine too, but I hate the way Fiat expects you to pay more for an adjustable drivers' seat and Bluetooth.

And the tiny fuel tank is a total pain too.

But a very attracive little car, and no car can be perfect.

Again, thanks.
 
deeyup - how on earth are you getting a test drive in one of these? I've begged my local dealer for details / a test drive / when they are taking orders and i may as well be talking to a brick wall. I'm going to call them again, not that i'm expecting anything to come of it...

I don't suppose they revealed any details on the matter of actually selling these cars to you??
 
deeyup - how on earth are you getting a test drive in one of these? I've begged my local dealer for details / a test drive / when they are taking orders and i may as well be talking to a brick wall. I'm going to call them again, not that i'm expecting anything to come of it...

I don't suppose they revealed any details on the matter of actually selling these cars to you??

My dealer near Cardiff (griffin mill) took delivery of their demo model on Wednesday. The sales manager there is one of my oldest friends and is now going to run it as his car so I went over his house last night and we went for a spin.
This car is probably one of if not the first 4x4 dealer demo cars in the uk.
All dealers will get them over the coming weeks.

In fairness to your dealer it's fiat uk who are poor at keeping dealers informed on launch dates etc.

My friend can't give me a price or let me order one as fiat have still not released the prices.

In the meantime, if you don't have too far to go, give Marc a call at griffin mill and you can take the one I drove out for a blast.
 
Apparently ours is due to arrive tomorrow. We've got a big (100 cars) fleet order going through at the moment so I think they're trying to find a transporter with enough space on it!
 
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the competition:

Oh dear, they've done it then.

It seems VW is determined to put Fiat out of business. If this comes in at £1000+ cheaper than the Trekking then Fiat has a problem. Real rear legroom and more shoulder room, and the decent ride height and ground clearance that the current Up lacks.

Oh dear :eek:
 
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Oh dear, they've done it then.

It seems VW is determined to put Fiat out of business. If this comes in at £1000+ cheaper than the Trekking then Fiat has a problem. Real rear legroom and more shoulder room, and the decent ride height and ground clearance that the current Up lacks.

Oh dear :eek:

I'm sat in a fish and chip shop in Perth, Australian and have just paid $25.50 for 4 fish and chips, bad times ahead for Fiat obviously.
 
I just noticed that the CrossUP has big wheels which look like they'd be worse for offroading. That must be bad news for Fiat!
 
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