Whats the weather like near you?

[doobin]

9 hours ago, Big J said:

 

Brilliant car. Always loved Panda 4x4s. Being a bit skinnier now (with all the cycling) I might even have a chance of fitting in one.

 

I know I bang on about winter and all season tyres, but come on! That sort of snow is an absolute and complete doddle for any 2wd car with the right tyres. 

 

 

To be fair, I wouldn't have fancied it on those hills in 2wd even on those Cross Climates, which are simply an incredible tyre for the snow- or wet. You can go flat out through deep puddles and not feel a thing at the steering wheel.

 

The Panda is incredible. It will do 65mpg if I absoloutely baby it, but will also go anywhere that ground clearance permits. The Defender driver with all terrain tyres couldn't hold a candle to it- simple fact is it was an extra ton of vehicle on a very similar tyre footprint. I got back up the hill, he didn't.

 

People can bang on about a Defender 'with the right tyres and driver' being able to go anywhere- but I don't think that's the case. The electric traction control in the Panda is amazing. On sheet ice in a slight incline it went up OK, but scrabbling badly. Press the button that says ELD and I might as well have been on a dry road- straight up with no spinning. Technology and physics (light weight, snow tyres) for the win here, like it or not.

 

And no, I'm afraid you wouldn't fit. Headroom is the limiting factor unfortunately!

[Mark Bolam]

Surrey Sunroofs - Aftermarket Sunroof Installation & Repair |

WWW.SURREYSUNROOFS.CO.UK

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Full length sunroofs were great, especially in the 80s when we all smoked (5up) in the car on the way to wherever we were going, farts disappeared quicker as well.

[doobin]

6 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Full length sunroofs were great, especially in the 80s when we all smoked (5up) in the car on the way to wherever we were going, farts disappeared quicker as well.

I feel like I haven't lived!

Edited March 10, 2023 by doobin

[Big J]

3 hours ago, doobin said:

To be fair, I wouldn't have fancied it on those hills in 2wd even on those Cross Climates, which are simply an incredible tyre for the snow- or wet. You can go flat out through deep puddles and not feel a thing at the steering wheel.

 

The Panda is incredible. It will do 65mpg if I absoloutely baby it, but will also go anywhere that ground clearance permits. The Defender driver with all terrain tyres couldn't hold a candle to it- simple fact is it was an extra ton of vehicle on a very similar tyre footprint. I got back up the hill, he didn't.

 

People can bang on about a Defender 'with the right tyres and driver' being able to go anywhere- but I don't think that's the case. The electric traction control in the Panda is amazing. On sheet ice in a slight incline it went up OK, but scrabbling badly. Press the button that says ELD and I might as well have been on a dry road- straight up with no spinning. Technology and physics (light weight, snow tyres) for the win here, like it or not.

 

And no, I'm afraid you wouldn't fit. Headroom is the limiting factor unfortunately!

 

The Cross Climates have really revolutionised all season tyres (as I understand it). Excellent performance in European type snow/winter conditions (as opposed to Nordic) with little compromise in summer performance. 

 

There aren't actually that many 4x4s here. The studded tyres make a massive difference and I guess so does having to drive in snow for 2-3 months a year (at our latitude - a lot more further north).

 

I'm glad that your Panda is living up to the hype. They always make me smile when I see them. I just wish Fiat would put one through the photocopier at 125% and then I'd have a chance of fitting!

[AJStrees]

It’s gusty winds today. 50mph round here. 

[marktownend]

Quite breezy here in Wiltshire today. The cat doesn't like it but no structural damage to the house yet.

 

I was very grateful for the appearance of one of the original Panda 4x4s sometime back in the 90s when I was temping in a dull office and went out to play in the snow at lunchtime with a colleague, great fun drifting etc until the car broke down as we ploughed through a drift as the timing belt cover or something was missing so filling the engine bay with snow wasn't the best idea. This Panda appeared and the guy happily towed us a few miles to my mates house including slithering up a steep slippery hill so we could leave it there and we drove back to work in his landlady's car having taken about 4 hours for our lunch break. We were really impressed with the little thing.

[Dan Maynard]

On 10/03/2023 at 17:04, doobin said:

People can bang on about a Defender 'with the right tyres and driver' being able to go anywhere- but I don't think that's the case.

The right tyres and driver, enough spares, and a winch.

 

The defender diff arrangement is very basic, it doesn't tolerate wheelspin well as not even limited slip. Haven't done much in snow but been stuck in muddy grass with my old tyres.

[woody paul]

1 hour ago, Dan Maynard said:

The right tyres and driver, enough spares, and a winch.

 

The defender diff arrangement is very basic, it doesn't tolerate wheelspin well as not even limited slip. Haven't done much in snow but been stuck in muddy grass with my old tyres.

The best land rover is an X Tec 90 which had parts from the Disco fit Abs and traction control if you ever get a chance to drive one do. 

[Mick Dempsey]

One with the dog, 9 March 2020 with the Multione, 15 March 2021.

 

last one today 13 March, late spring here for sure.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Mick Dempsey