Panda 4x4 Cross - I have serious issues.

[Squadrone Rosso]

irish boy said:

Diesel for me if I buy another. Twin air a lovely engine but not economical in the slightest if pushing on at all and used a heck of a lot of oil.
The latest multi jet diesel has 95 hp and a good slug of torque.

Agreed ref the consumption but not the oil??

Mine has used less than a third of a litre in 12 months, 6000+ miles.

My previous twinair 500 was the same & that got well used at c70 miles daily.

[seawise]

Had a new green one back in 2013 as a daily hack, but had to be replaced for a 7 seat LR Discovery after 2 years due change of family circumstances. Discovery now gone and i have ordered another twinair Panda 4x4 in tuscany green, as i abolutely adore these cars. Will share a garage with my Ferrari F12, thats how much i love them. Very excited, roll on delivery date end Sept.

[Squadrone Rosso]

I waved goodbye to my beloved Cross just over a week ago as my Abarth 595 Competizione is now in the U.K..

13.5k miles in 2.5 years. A really excellent car.

My only reason for changing is my wife replaced her GT86 with a C-HR so I got the performance choice.

I am missing the Panda though

[undred orse]

Hi simon,
I’m seriously thinking of a panda cross Twinair to replace mrs orse’s 500 1.2 and was hoping for a bit of advice.

I managed to get shot of her hated (by me) gla earlier this year for an M4 competition pack ,so keep a look out when I visit my friend near you, but now realise that she won’t use the m4 for work journeys and we could do with a 4x4 of sorts.

The cross sorts out the 4x4 more than we’ll enough but I was wondering what it’s like on motorways doing say up to about 200-300 miles a day.

We love our fiats and as well as her 500 have an abarth 695c rivale and another 500c. We’ve had other pandas including a 1.2 4x4 and a 100hp and a 1.3 diesel 4x4 so the Fiat character and feel really appeals.

So I’d be grateful for any thoughts about the twin air cross ability on motorways.
Thanks.

Edited by undred orse on Tuesday 16th October 13:44

[undred orse]

Bump.

Anyone got any experience to report on the panda cross on motorway and longer journeys.
Thanks for any info.

[mrbarnett]

undred orse said:

Bump.

Anyone got any experience to report on the panda cross on motorway and longer journeys.
Thanks for any info.

No first hand experience (I currently bob around in a 100HP), but I do keep looking at the Cross, for much the same reasons as everyone else here. They do seem to appeal to the dyed in the wool petrol head, and hearing that one lives in the same garage as a Ferrari doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

I'd be interested to know how hard it revs in 6th at 70mph? The 100HP sits at over 3000rpm, so pressing on long distance can feel a bit thrashy. The major negative for me with all Pandas though seems to be the complete lack of cruise control; I don't believe it was even an option.

[ianrb]

undred orse said:

Bump.

Anyone got any experience to report on the panda cross on motorway and longer journeys.
Thanks for any info.

Not the Cross but rather the standard 4x4 diesel. It's fine for an occasional m'way trip, but if you're doing lots of them it gets a bit much. The problem is that at 50MPH the car feels in its comfort zone, but at 70 it becomes too noisy and doesn't really have much more to give. I know it will go faster, but it feels like a struggle. For none m'way journeys it's fine, feels just like the thing it was designed for, although you do need to maintain momentum.

I managed 40K miles, but in the end I traded it for a Mini Cooper.

[LuS1fer]

Pique said:

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



Giving serious thought to one next year

Don't worry, it's a Fiat 500X underneath and about as American as spaghetti.

I was very tempted by a new Panda Cross TA in grey but my X-Box generation son said he'd never speak to me again and wouldn't be seen in it...

[Squadrone Rosso]

Sorry. Missed the question about motorway use.

Ok, not it’s natu habitat but managed my 12 miles a day on the M4 & regular 160+ trips to the Midlands with ease.

Comfortable enough even with my knackered back & aggressive arthritis. Surprisingly refined too.

I do miss my Angry Panda a lot.

[seawise]

undred orse said:

Bump.

Anyone got any experience to report on the panda cross on motorway and longer journeys.
Thanks for any info.

Yes, quite often use my twinair 4x4 for a motorway shelp and it’s surprisingly refined and cruising at 80-85 is absolutely within cars natural ability. As long as you find the seat comfortable, i doubt you’ll have any concerns.

[undred orse]

Thanks both. That helps a lot. I think one is on the horizon in metallic grey with the winter pack,parking sensors and privacy glass.

[Mercury00]

I've always liked the look of these, and today I finally had a passenger ride in one. I expected it to be rattly and bumpy, but I was surprised and very impressed at how comfortable it was.

[CoolHands]

They've (pandas - not the 4x4 specifically) just been listed as NCAP Zero stars, so should now be effectively given away free with a box of cornflakes as they’ve become a death trap overnight.

[Targarama]

CoolHands said:

They've (pandas - not the 4x4 specifically) just been listed as NCAP Zero stars, so should now be effectively given away free with a box of cornflakes as they’ve become a death trap overnight.

Only because the rules changed and things like a visible passenger airbag warning light etc have such weight. They were a 3 star car back in 2007. I know because I checked when I bought a Panda 100HP. It was probably the only one in the country with optional ESP and side airbags which I paid for, just to make it a little less deadly

RJ07 CRZ, red 100HP if someone on here now owns it

[Mercury00]

They almost are being given away for free, I've seen pre-registration ones for £6995. I'd still pay decent money for a 4x4 though.