Panda 4x4 Cross - I have serious issues.

[Northernchimp]

I love it, but I also love the Jimny (which to me is a mini Defender) despite it being possibly the worst car on sale. Skipton is full of Jimnys, so I'm not alone.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Northernchimp said:

I love it, but I also love the Jimny (which to me is a mini Defender) despite it being possibly the worst car on sale. Skipton is full of Jimnys, so I'm not alone.

We had a fencer on site who had cut the back off an old Jimny and converted it to a flatbed truck. He had also fitted hugely oversized wheels and chunky tyres. Turned out he did a lot of work with stables re-configuring fencing on grazing pasture. The light weight of the modified Jimny further defused by the fat tyres let it scamper about sodden fields loaded with posts, wire and tools without leaving disfiguring ruts everywhere it worked. A proper no-frills functional working vehicle and yet one that as soon as I saw it I wanted in a way I've never felt about many far plusher and "desirable" 4x4s.

[Squadrone Rosso]

It became Tuscany Green again today after learning that Cancan Red is exactly the same as the chiptastic Alfa Red, aka 289/A

The Green metallic was my wife's first choice so I'm in semi-good books again...lol.

Normally, it is 98% front drive with just 2% going to the rear diff. In auto mode, any slip results in viscous clutches transferring power as needed.

It 4WD mode, diff lock is activated and this works up to 30mph, returning to auto thereafter.

Hill descent mode does just that.

I know several people who have driven it, either in Itally or UK quarries. All have said its amazing off road. First is a crawler gear on the 6 speed petrol, the over hangs are minimal/ approach angles excellent, the under body is protected & the ride height raised, along with the intake to aide wading.

I'll do a bit of green lane in it but primarily, we need a practical go anywhere car & I really like the Tonka Toy looks.

[skyrover]

look like something paris hilton would carry in her handbag

[rovermorris999]

Squadrone Rosso said:

I
It 4WD mode, diff lock is activated and this works up to 30mph, returning to auto thereafter.

That sounds plenty good enough then. If you're in a position to need full 4wd either off road or on snowy roads then 30mph is more than adequate and a reasonable compromise compared to a full-time system like Subaru's albeit not quite in the same league.

[Squadrone Rosso]

My Brera has full time 4WD but it's on summer tyres, has limited ground clearance & useless rear seats.

The little Panda will be a good partner for it

[mybrainhurts]

Does that plastic sump guard actually go under the sump...?

[Squadrone Rosso]

mybrainhurts said:

Does that plastic sump guard actually go under the sump...?

The underside guards (for the sump & other bits) are actually metal. The silver bit you can see isn't.

[B.J.W]

I like the Panda 4x4, but doesn't the Dacia Duster do exactly the same thing for a good few £thousand less?

[mybrainhurts]

Squadrone Rosso said:

mybrainhurts said:

Does that plastic sump guard actually go under the sump...?

The underside guards (for the sump & other bits) are actually metal. The silver bit you can see isn't.

Sorry, I meant to post that in the Sean Connery joke thread. It must be the porridge.

[Bill]

B.J.W said:

I like the Panda 4x4, but doesn't the Dacia Duster do exactly the same thing for a good few £thousand less?

It's not much cheaper once you've specced 4x4.

[Squadrone Rosso]

B.J.W said:

I like the Panda 4x4, but doesn't the Dacia Duster do exactly the same thing for a good few £thousand less?

You mean the Dacia Ruster?

[poing]

Tannedbaldhead said:

Functional and very fit for purpose. Question is would OP actually make any let alone full use of the FIAT's talents. If yes then buy one. If all your driving is road based then the Cross is a waste of time. Standard Panda is quicker, more refined at speed, handles better and is more economical.

I would make almost no use of it's talents but still want one, same as I want a Unimog or Ferrari 355 that I also wouldn't make anything like full use of. Sometimes it's what you want rather than need. This one is a bit harder to explain than most though

[HertsBiker]

Squadrone Rosso said:

B.J.W said:

I like the Panda 4x4, but doesn't the Dacia Duster do exactly the same thing for a good few £thousand less?

You mean the Dacia Ruster?

Only in White! However much I liked my duster, I was so glad to get rid. Think the Fiat would be stacks better and more crash worthy. The Ruster frightened me the more I looked at the details.

[anonymous-user]

Squadrone Rosso said:

I ordered one on Friday

Rad with the winter & comfort packs, rear privacy glass and reversing sensors.

Delivery by February.

A must-have for any Panda

[Pique]

You think you have problems, I think I'm in love with this:



Giving serious thought to one next year

[rsv gone!]

Bill said:

B.J.W said:

I like the Panda 4x4, but doesn't the Dacia Duster do exactly the same thing for a good few £thousand less?

It's not much cheaper once you've specced 4x4.

Or once you've built depreciation into your sums.

[Vanin]

Can anyone recommend a good psychiatrist?

[lord trumpton]

We've had a panda 100hp in the fleet for 5 years now.

Its been utterly faultless and any consumables like brakes and dampers are peanuts to replace.

I really like the look of the 4x4 here.

[dinz]

Had a drive in one a couple of winters ago. It went everywhere you pointed it, even up pretty steep snow-covered hills with four lumpy adults on board!

Couldn't live with the cheap interior though, but if you really needed a sorted little off-roader you couldn't go far wrong with one of these.