The Mighty Panda Cross

[Tickle]

For a while I have had my eye on a small car to sit in-between family car and weekend car duties. Short list was an UP! GTI and a Panda Cross. Key consideration was it has to carry MTB (on the roof for ease), a dog (inside, not on the roof) and be able to sit on the Motorway every now and again. Performance was not really a consideration, no desire to take the dog for an early morning spirited drive or hurtle around bends with my bike perched on top. As per the thread title, the Cross was preferred and so a Panda hunt commenced.
First impressions are, love it. Engine is quirky, I did expect this from other people’s comments on the TwinAir. For what I bought it for, so far it’s great.

From some initial optioneering, I wanted a TwinAir because of the 6th gear and extra, albeit small uplift of power. I also wanted a white one, my first car was a white Austin Metro GTa with black trim, the Panda colour scheme has a nod to the GTa, with less rust obviously. First clean brought back memories of putting plastic trim cleaner on, contrasting the bright white paintwork.

One week in and the roof bars and rack fitted, and subsequent run out with the bike on-roof.





Observations, its very light inside, visibility is very good. Seats are ok, fuel economy I can’t comment on yet; however, the default to ‘ECO’ is annoying. Not much go in ECO.

Son loves it, daughter and wife, work in progress. They have given it a nickname already, even splashed out on a keyring



Things to do on it; mats, new plates to get rid of the dealer ones and a fitted boot liner for a mucky dog.

One job boxed off…




Will try to keep this updated, keen to see how it handles winter.

Edited by Tickle on Tuesday 10th September 09:44

[seawise]

Looks brilliant in white. Ours doesn't default to ECO, maybe that's a new setting that has been introduced. They come into their own in the winter.

[Zlat502]

That looks a cracking little thing.

[Fonzey]

wk

Edit: Love it.

Edited by Fonzey on Monday 29th July 21:08

[Silvanus]

I love these, such a shame how much bigger the new Grande Panda is in comparison.

[XF-Andy]

Fonzey said:

wk

Insightful and helpful comment - well done.

[Tickle]

Fonzey said:

wk

[Silvanus]

Tickle said:

Fonzey said:

wk

I think he likes it so much he was letting you know what he was doing

[Blib]

Here's my Cross. I sold it two years ago. I really miss it. They're terrific little things.

Every time a thread like this one pops up I get a hankering to buy another.

One day I will.

[Tickle]

Silvanus said:

Tickle said:

Fonzey said:

wk

I think he likes it so much he was letting you know what he was doing

He is jesting, he's known about my Panda desire for a while.

[Fonzey]

XF-Andy said:

Insightful and helpful comment - well done.

Sorry, sometimes forget that inside jokes don't always land well when 99% of the audience aren't inside.

He knows I love it, especially his little step so he can reach the roof.

[Tickle]

Blib said:

Here's my Cross. I sold it two years ago. I really miss it. They're terrific little things.

Every time a thread like this one pops up I get a hankering to buy another.

One day I will.

Sellers remorse often gets mentioned about them, can appreciate how they get under owners skin.

Yours looks like you used it as intended too.

[Tickle]

seawise said:

Looks brilliant in white. Ours doesn't default to ECO, maybe that's a new setting that has been introduced. They come into their own in the winter.

Thanks, the green like yours would have been an option if one came up. I didn't intend on buying this particular one, I only went for a look. An hour later I bought it after a deal was done. White, green and grey I'd have settled for.

Will have read into the ECO setting, see if it can be changed.

[Tickle]

Zlat502 said:

That looks a cracking little thing.

Thanks

[Bonefish Blues]

These are very good mats. I put posts in the mats so they didn't wander.

https://carmatco.com/products/travall-fiat-panda-p...

[Tickle]

Bonefish Blues said:

These are very good mats. I put posts in the mats so they didn't wander.

https://carmatco.com/products/travall-fiat-panda-p...

Thank you, shall have a look

[Bonefish Blues]

Tickle said:

Bonefish Blues said:

These are very good mats. I put posts in the mats so they didn't wander.

https://carmatco.com/products/travall-fiat-panda-p...

Thank you, shall have a look

I think they're a generic moulding, as so many are, so may be available cheaper under different brand. Our (smallish) dog hates the boot though - can't see out, so he sits in a clipped-in harness on the back seat these days.

[Tickle]

Bonefish Blues said:

I think they're a generic moulding, as so many are, so may be available cheaper under different brand. Our (smallish) dog hates the boot though - can't see out, so he sits in a clipped-in harness on the back seat these days.

I was looking at the dog 'hammock' cover/platform for the rear seats as an alternative to boot and folded seat cover. Gone with the latter though. You are probably right regarding rubber mats for what the car will be used for, and that we now seem to have 11.5 months of rain.

Edited by Tickle on Tuesday 30th July 08:19

[Blib]

Tickle said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I think they're a generic moulding, as so many are, so may be available cheaper under different brand. Our (smallish) dog hates the boot though - can't see out, so he sits in a clipped-in harness on the back seat these days.

I was looking at the dog 'hammock' cover/platform for the rear seats as an alternative to boot and folded seat cover. Gone with the latter though. You are probably right regarding rubber mats for what the car will be used for, and that we now seem to have 11.5 months of rain.

Edited by Tickle on Tuesday 30th July 08:19

We use the hammock with harness arrangement. We find it better for the dog and us.

She's safely held, with no risk of ending up in the footwell and the hammock keeps most of her mud/dust/grass/dead things safely contained.

[airsafari87]

Cracking Panda!

They are great little cars and properly get under your skin. We almost replaced our Twin Air Cross this year, but when it came to it I just couldn’t get rid of it.

Ohhh and I have those mats in mine and they are decent.