General Panda 4x4

[babbo_umbro]

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 make that about 16 quid - in which case it's also bad news for UK fish and chips eaters.

The way it's shaping up I'm much more likely to buy an Up than a Panda - would be my first non-Italian car for nearly forty years and only the third in almost fifty years. (Previous two were a pre-war Rover 14 and a Cox GTM with 970 Cooper S engine in the back, both in the mid-70s.)

 

[babbo_umbro]

Prices have arrived:

Twinair 4x4 - £13950 OTR, Trekking £12450.

Blue&Me, ESP etc all Standard. Diesel engines add £1000.

Prices could have been worse, 4x4 TA is the only new Fiat I'd consider buying at the moment.

 

[306maxi]

I make that about 16 quid - in which case it's also bad news for UK fish and chips eaters.

The way it's shaping up I'm much more likely to buy an Up than a Panda - would be my first non-Italian car for nearly forty years and only the third in almost fifty years. (Previous two were a pre-war Rover 14 and a Cox GTM with 970 Cooper S engine in the back, both in the mid-70s.)

I was merely trying to make out that everything and anything is bad news for Fiat as Ulpian seems to be doing.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still prefer the Mk3 4x4 to the Mk4 because of the better rear suspension, but the Mk4 is still a decent car in 2wd and 4x4 trims

 

[306maxi]

Prices could have been worse, 4x4 TA is the only new Fiat I'd consider buying at the moment.

Don't worry, when you come to buy one they'll stop selling them. Good to see Fiat should just about be delivering the first 4x4's which are ordered now, by the time the winter is going

 

[4x4Panda]

Prices have arrived:

Twinair 4x4 - £13950 OTR, Trekking £12450.

Blue&Me, ESP etc all Standard. Diesel engines add £1000.

Well, that is sort of what i was expecting. Westover Salisbury were quite surprised to hear there was one actually at a dealership as they have yet to have their arrival date confirmed. It goes without saying that they had no further information to share!

Anyhow, good to hear the data is starting to trickle through - I don't suppose you have any information on colours?

 

[philboo]

Preston fiat today said their's was due yesterday but didn't turn up. As I was there first thing to get my panda MOT'd they did say it may have turned up later. In contrast southport fiat dealer had no idea about it and said not all dealers will be getting one. Manchester dealer said hopefully they should have their's in a week or two along with more information.

Can't wait to try it out as I've an A500 and mk3 panda and can't decide if this will be the car to replace both.

 

[elation]

Well, that is sort of what i was expecting. Westover Salisbury were quite surprised to hear there was one actually at a dealership as they have yet to have their arrival date confirmed. It goes without saying that they had no further information to share!

Anyhow, good to hear the data is starting to trickle through - I don't suppose you have any information on colours?

All standard Panda colours are availible, plus Surprising Green, which is the metallic green seen in most of the press videos, and Sicilian Orange, which is the Trekking video orange.

ours turned up on a truck about 3.30 today. As did a 500l. I am impressed with the Panda, lots of nice details.

 

[4x4Panda]

Thanks elation!

I fancy the orange, but the Mrs prefers metallic black...

 

[elation]

Think the black would look 'safe' from a resale point of view, but you'll lose a lot of the effect of the chunky black arches/mouldings.

I'm more and more impressed the more I look round it, little things like the DRL lenses are a smoked black finish, which really ties in. The tyres look very capable too, Conti Cross Contacts.

 

[philboo]

Think the black would look 'safe' from a resale point of view, but you'll lose a lot of the effect of the chunky black arches/mouldings.

I'm more and more impressed the more I look round it, little things like the DRL lenses are a smoked black finish, which really ties in. The tyres look very capable too, Conti Cross Contacts.

Any chance of some good photos ?

 

[306maxi]

Deeyup has posted a load of fantastic photos above

 

[philboo]

Deeyup has posted a load of fantastic photos above

I was hoping for a few in the day and I don't know if they ended up with the green one they expected but it's good to see the other colours.

 

[Ulpian]

I was merely trying to make out that everything and anything is bad news for Fiat as Ulpian seems to be doing.

Eh?

Anyway, I merley state what I believe to be the case, you can disagree of course, but there's no need to be unpleasant. Enjoy the sun over there and chill a little: you are away now, forget about cars for a while.

 

[davidc]

Just driven the Twin Air demonstrator at Blackburn. I was a bit put off by the intrusiveness of the engine but soon discovered that if you drive gently the noise drops off a heck of a lot.

All in i came away pretty impressed - a notable step up from the old Cross - as expected the dealer not for giving a discount !

 

[4x4Panda]

I wonder if FIAT is supplying demonstrators first to the areas of Britain more likely to get snow? It could explain why Hampshire is seemingly forgotten for now...

PS HURRY UP FIAT

 

[ivantate]

I wonder if FIAT is supplying demonstrators first to the areas of Britain more likely to get snow? It could explain why Hampshire is seemingly forgotten for now...

PS HURRY UP FIAT

No chance, that would require planning.

I did see a couple on a transporter with other Fiats heading up the M5 a couple of days ago so its just a case of waiting for the distribution.
Demand in Europe is probably reasonably strong and although the factory probably isnt too busy at the moment there is usually a ramp-up for the new model introduction.

 

[4x4Fun]

So......

....those that have had a spin in a TwinAir; what kind of mpg figure was the computer suggesting?

I know that they won't have been run in and will likely have been 'tested' as they weren't yours, but I'm interested to know what the likely baseline would be from which the economy would improve over time?

Given that Petrol is a good few pence cheaper than diesel, as long as it would get to mid-40s once run-in then I'd be happy, irrespective of the EU fantasy figure.

Ta.

 

[Ulpian]

Well, I went out in a practically new one (4x2) and I noted at the beginning of what was perhaps a six mile run that the indicator was showing 32mpg!

By the end, and I was driving normally - ie enjoying it - it was showing about 35. Now, that's for a brand new car with practically nothing on the clock so you can extrapolate nothing from it, but the regular driver, who is a salesman I trust, says he's getting between 48 and 52 now.

I'd guess 45 is fair for a 4x4 driven energetically around town and on a short commute... ?

 

[davidc]

I didn't pay any attention the consumption i am sorry to say.

I do intend to go back and have a more in depth test drive and hopefully there will be some miles on the car by then so the mpg will be more realistic.

One anomaly was that the salesman said a height adjustable drivers seat wasn't standard and i certainly couldn't get it to adjust. All the blurb so far has suggested that this is standard fit - so i wondered if anybody else who has driven can confirm ?

Cheers

 

[deeyup]

I didn't look at the computer either sorry. I didn't check the seat height either, but did feel perched up on it.
I would say driven energetically around town you'd get around 35mpg, but you could quite easily drop below 30.
A lot of fuel gets shoved in to get 85hp out of the small motor. Town driving is the Achilles heel of the TA imo.

I reckon I could get 45 mpg out of the car on my daily run.
I'll find out for sure when I borrow the 4x4 for a day when My 500 goes in for the coils (which may be in a while as Fiat can't keep up with the demand for the new coils as they are changing them on all TA's over a few months old.)

I would be interested to see how the multijet does, but at £15000, it's a hell of a lot of money. Considering the Panda cross was £11995 when launched in 2008 that's a 25% increase in 4 years!
Have all cars gone up that much in 4 years??