Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda

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Wed 12 Feb 2025 20:57
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Ethan Edwards

Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda? Looks like Fiat are onto something here.

youtu.be/lXsjRwYyd3w?si=EUPqRN6mK2yjv6vP

Cheap, relatively. Stylish and not bad range either. Oh and I believe there's a Hybrid version.

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 12/02/2025 at 20:57

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Wed 12 Feb 2025 21:10
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Orb>>.

I am having a test drive of a new Frontera next week.

Thoughts will be posted.

No rhd available so it's a left hooker.

1.2 hybrid

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Wed 12 Feb 2025 21:13
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - elekie&a/c doctor
Another re-badged Stellantis product ?
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Wed 12 Feb 2025 22:29
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Adampr

I quite like it and would probably choose it ahead of the Citroen and Vauxhall versions, but it's not really got much of a USP.

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Wed 12 Feb 2025 22:30
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Ethan Edwards

Yes it's a variation on a theme. But that's the world we find ourselves in. Look at the new Ford Capri. More than a superficial resemblance to the Skoda Enyaq.

Orb - that new Frontera 's engine the 1.2 can be found in the Corsa/ Mokka./ Peugeot/ Citroen etc. It's all about cost cutting.

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 12/02/2025 at 22:35

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Thu 13 Feb 2025 05:05
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - edlithgow

No, but I'd like one of the old square ones, especially a 4WD

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Thu 13 Feb 2025 07:12
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - badbusdriver

Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda? Looks like Fiat are onto something here.

It appears you can get them on steel wheels, hallelujah!!

I watched a Fully Charged video on it last week and yes, liked the look of it. Doesn't have as much rear space as the (smaller, I believe) Hyundai Inster, but more than the new Renault 5.

The built in retractable charging cable seems to be one of those, "why hasn't anyone else thought of that" situations!.

No, but I'd like one of the old square ones, especially a 4WD

Me too, but the best of those left are getting rather expensive with prices (on carandclassic.com) nudging 15k Euros!

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Thu 13 Feb 2025 09:01
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - John F

No good for Mrs F. Hugely impractical rear loading orifice (at around 3mins in video) - tiny aperture for such a grande car and the lip is approaching waist height! (our Peugeot 2008 is at my kneecap height). Woudn't ike to try loading a mundane household appliance, e.g. fridge or mower.

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Sat 15 Feb 2025 21:57
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Marlin1

No, but I'd like one of the old square ones, especially a 4WD

Me too, but the best of those left are getting rather expensive with prices (on carandclassic.com) nudging 15k Euros!

Ditto...

Was never in a position to have one, but there was something that appealed - perhaps simple utility - class.

If I am not having a senior moment, did the German / Austrian company Puch have something to do with the 4x4 system?

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Sun 16 Feb 2025 08:06
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - badbusdriver

No, but I'd like one of the old square ones, especially a 4WD

Me too, but the best of those left are getting rather expensive with prices (on carandclassic.com) nudging 15k Euros!

Ditto...

Was never in a position to have one, but there was something that appealed - perhaps simple utility - class.

If I am not having a senior moment, did the German / Austrian company Puch have something to do with the 4x4 system?

Yes you are quite right, Steyr-Puch engineered the conversion to 4WD. It didn't have a dual range transmission but it had a 5 speed gearbox with an ultra low 1st gear for use off road. So on road, you'd normally start off in 2nd gear and 5th was the same as 4th in the 4 speed cars. It was a clever and lightweight solution meaning the Panda 4x4 could punch well above its weight in seriously challenging conditions.

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Thu 13 Feb 2025 10:26
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Adampr

Yes it's a variation on a theme. But that's the world we find ourselves in. Look at the new Ford Capri. More than a superficial resemblance to the Skoda Enyaq.

Orb - that new Frontera 's engine the 1.2 can be found in the Corsa/ Mokka./ Peugeot/ Citroen etc. It's all about cost cutting.

I'd rather not look at the new Ford Capri if it's all the same with you. I'm no fan of the old one, but why drag its name up for another blob.

It's not so much that the Grande Panda is a variation on a theme, it's that it is the same car as the Frontera and the new C3. The whole point of a Panda used to be that it's different, either because it's more basic and robust, because it had unusual quirky elements, or because it was available with 'proper' 4wd.

Now it's a Citroen that looks a bit like a Panda.

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Tue 18 Feb 2025 10:31
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - badbusdriver

It's not so much that the Grande Panda is a variation on a theme, it's that it is the same car as the Frontera and the new C3.

The Frontera is more than a foot longer than the Grand Panda (and C3), which expressed as a percentage is bigger difference than (for example) the difference between the Skoda Karoq and Kodiaq. So while it may look similar, the Frontera isn't the same car.

Now it's a Citroen that looks a bit like a Panda.

Personally, I'm not overly concerned about the similarity in looks between C3 and Grand Panda. Partly because the shape and style of the C3 doesn't exactly scream "Citroen", it is just a chunky and boxy small car (so actually more Panda than anything else) and partly because I am well used to cars which, barring badges and outlandish LED light motif's, are pretty much indistinguishable from each other. I'm more interested in the interior (which, after all, is where I'd be!). Going by what I've seen, the Grand Panda has a nicer interior than the C3 and looks set to be cheaper too. And, as I mentioned earlier, the Grand Panda will be available with steel wheels. Not hidden under a set of naff wheel trims, but white painted and proudly displayed, very much a plus point IMO!

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Tue 18 Feb 2025 10:50
Fiat Grande Panda - Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda - Andrew-T

<< ... the Grand Panda will be available with steel wheels. Not hidden under a set of naff wheel trims, but white painted and proudly displayed, >>

Very nice. I wonder how long the coating at the high-curvature points on those wheels will keep corrosion at bay ? That's where it always used to start after a few years, especially after tyre fitters have had a go.

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