[Closed] Panda 4x4

Judging by the number of them driving around the Alps at altitude on gravel tracks by various farmers/hunters/hut wardens etc they must be OK. It would certainly make my shopping list if I could get by with a small 4x4 and didn't need to tow anything

I have a 2014 Twin Air, and yes it’s loads of fun. It’s very capable off road, I’ve had it going through all sorts in the depths of a Scottish winter without it missing a beat. It has electric locking diff that you can turn on or off depending on the terrain. The TA is thirsty but a real giggle to drive with the eco button off (does anyone even use the eco button) I don’t generally get more than about 300 miles to a tank on a very good day.

They look tiny but when I moved house I did it all in my wee panda (with lots of trips) I had a king size bed in it at one stage and broke a huge triple wardrobe to take to the tip that I managed in one trip.

the rear seats fold down nearly flat, as does the passenger seat which gives you a decent amount of space for bikes. I’ve had 2 in mine (wheels off) with no bother.

I absolutely love purple panda, and if it ever dies I’ll get another one without hesitation.

If you’re thinking of getting one, make sure it has the winter pack, the seats and the windscreen in the cold are a god send.

Any questions, just ask.

As welshfarmer says, there must be a reason they're hooning around the Alps. There are even a few old ones on the Falklands, I believe.

Great little cars.

Rather have a yeti

We've one. Great little thing. Done a couple of runs up the Moor in really lousy weather to the in laws' when they couldn't get out and it made the old quarry and farm tracks fine and dandy.

Does exactly what an off-roader should but without being utterly ridiculous 360 days a year.

Oh and as above. Had me an xl 29er and all my camping gear for weekends away with the bike in it just fine and it's deeply satisfying driving out of a field whilst the t4 and BMW mob wait to be towed by the tractor.

Locking dif makes a huge difference to the off road ability.

I've fancied one for ages. Took a test drive and just hated the thing. Just something about the driving experience I couldn't put my finger on. It's not that I don't like Fiats (I've had three).

Bought a Yeti 4x4 a few months ago and very pleased with it.

A colleague had one.
Great off road, winter and surprisingly roomy.
Awful on motorway and feels like driving a Tupperware.

I manage the fleet for our Home Care teams, we have about 40 Panda 4x4s on the road at any time. Always used to get the diesel but now you can only get petrol.

Cars do an average of 25k each per year. They get thrashed, absolutely thrashed. They fly along farm tracks, plough through snow, ford floods and generally abused.

The positives
Cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to fix
They are remarkable in snow and bad weather, we have had Pandas in places much bigger 4x4s cant go. Fit all season tyres and they seem unstoppable
Great visibility and easy to park, even our carers don't bump them very often
Zero recalls and nothing really fancy to break, super reliable, they never stop working.

The negatives
None. The are cracking little cars for short journeys, not sure I would want to drive one for hours on a motorway though

When we expanded the fleet a while ago the fleet company offered to supply a mix of different demonstrators to try different makes and models. The staff weren't interested. All they wanted us to by was more Panda 4x4's.

All we need now is a fully electric Panda 4x4, I would buy dozens!

There's one in the local garage I was keeping an eye on perhaps as a run around for me and first car for Jnr. Might see if this thread can convince him

The are cracking little cars for short journeys, not sure I would want to drive one for hours on a motorway though

Awful on motorway and feels like driving a Tupperware.

I don’t get this, I guess it’s personal preference. I regularly drive mine from Perth to Leicester (about 6 hours) and I quite enjoy the journey.

Thanks for your replies everyone. As soon as some garages open i'll look into test driving one. I currently have an Alfa with the twinair and I love the engine if not the MPG, but I have the impression it'll really suit the Panda. Anyone tried the diesel to compare?

Brilliant wee cars. Pals of ours have had one for nearly ten years and it will not die. Gets thrashed up and down farm tracks all day long, and has seen their girls from birth. I don't think that they've ever cleaned it properly. It's a 54 plate and while a few years back a 16 year old FIAT wouldn't actually exist as it'd been scrapped for terminal rot before it was 10, this thing doesn't have any real bad bits. I think the front wings are starting to go, and the paint came off the back of the LHS sill in one big sheet, but that's it. They thought recently that they were in for a big bill because the power steering stopped working, and were expecting a ridiculous price for a new pump. Turns out it's electric and the constant thrashing up and down farm tracks had shaken the fuse loose. I helped them replace the centre prop bearing about four years ago as it was a sort of squishy bush thing, and the replacement was something daft like £12, and a couple of hours on a sunny afternoon with a couple of beers.
I don't need one at all where we are, which is a shame. If we were in the Alps or back in Scotland it wouldn't even be in question. Brilliant wee cars.

They're brilliant little cars! I had a 55 plate, so the previous model, and it would go places the Outback wouldn't due to a shorter wheelbase and overhangs. My back yard is riddled with BOATS, and it surprised a few Landy drivers, looking all butch with their shovels and winches...

We have a 4x4 as our main car. It’s a 2013 twin air. It’s a great little car and can handle all conditions well from snow to sand. I have driven the diesel also (we have one at work) and there isn’t much in it drive wise. The diesel may be more frugal but the twin air is actually quite quick considering it only has 2 cylinders!

We have 63 plate. Love it. I keep wanting it to snow so it can show it’s paces. Last time it did snow I amused myself driving past a BMW X5 stuck halfway up our hill & giving him a cheerful toot toot as I went. Phenomenal as an off road car. If an electric one came out I’d buy one in a shot.

Even in some of the moderately hilly places in Italy they're ideal - I struggled to get up one really steep gravel road in Tuscany during a rainstorm in a Polo. Every house had a Panda 4x4 outside. Moving to Scotland soon and once we've driven our 2004 Yaris into the ground, a Panda 4x4 is likely to be on the list.

I've a twinair 4x4 cross, great cars. Does all we want and it's been faultless from new up to the current 70k+

Fine on motorways as long as you don't have a roof rack on. We've driven to the Alps a couple of times with bikes on a towbar rack.

Highly recommended.

I’ve been toying with the idea of a Panda 4x4 Cross, I’ve driven a couple briefly, and liked them, so it’s good to see so many owners with positive things to say about them long-term.
Thanks all. 😎