Introduction
This is a longer read but decided to start off detailed then will update with shorter posts 
BACKGROUND:
In 2007 I remember seeing the new Fiat 500 which I thought was really awesome and when a year later images of the Abarth version came out I knew I had to get one, so in 2010 I ordered an Abarth 500 Esseesse which I kept for 5 years. I traded it in for a Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy which I still own, but I still missed the Abarth which was my first "Fiat".
Fast forward to the last few years, the Megane has taken a beating on our pot holed UK roads as a daily driver and doing road trips round dodgy single track roads on the west coast of Scotland and dirt tracks for hillwalking. Maintenance costs have cost me a fortune and I always had the back of my mind to get a second car. Years I had toyed the idea of an Audi A2, but I had always admired the Fiat Panda from a kid when I saw loads of 4x4 models going around Cumbria when I went there to visit my Great Gran in the 90's. I loved the later generations too, so I decided to take the plunge and decided a second hand 319 TA 4x4 would be my daily. This would allow me to get my Megane off the road and garaged in the winter / taxed for only 6 months.
Went to view an Orange 2013 4x4 with 80k miles at a cheap price but it was rough as hell bodywork and interior wise, although it drove spot on. I decided to up the budget a bit and found on Christmas Eve 2021 a Green 2013 4x4 with half the miles and full service history. It was only a 2 hour drive again and a car check online revealed no issues so I quickly put down a deposit and picked it up a few days later. I knew the TA could be rough but hadn't properly researched the gearbox issues, so when it was vibrating around 3k revs through the gearstick I knew it wasn't right and contacted the dealer. They said to take it to a local garage to check and feed back to them. That's when I found out the car had no sump plug and it had been sealed with sealant. This immediately set off alarm bells and further research into the gearbox issues I decided to cut my losses and ask for a refund.
I was sad to hand the car back after 12 days and lost a bit of money but it was a lesson learned. With a little sympathy and help from relatives I was able to go for a brand new model. Winter pack was essential and the Cross had the bells and whistles so in February 2022 I spent weeks calling and emailing almost every Fiat dealer in the UK for the best price with my blue light discount and eventually TJ Vickers in Telford emerged as victors, so a £500 deposit was placed. I would have loved another green one or orange but opted for minimal grey (cement grey) which I also love on modern cars. Delivery was estimated for September 2022, then December / January 2023 then Fiat went silent and gave my dealer no info. I contacted them direct and got an estimated build of mid April 2023 and estimated delivery of June 2023 at the earliest. After chasing them end of May I finally heard the car was on it's way but no timescale. A further wait and my dealer called me on 26 June and said the car had arrived! Time to start planning the collection
COLLECTION:
Due to my work I wasn't able to collect the car until 11 July so promptly booked my train tickets from Aberdeenshire down to Telford and it wasn't long before the day arrived, setting off around 6.15am on the first of three trains.
Lovely view of the Queensferry bridges:
Slight delay coming in but made it for my next connection to Wolverhampton:
Crap weather but lovely views:
Waiting for the final train at Wolverhampton station to Telford Central:
And at 1.46pm, 5 minutes late, I finally arrived at Telford Central. One of the guys from the dealership were waiting for me in an Electric 500 which I had sat in but never rode in. It felt fairly nippy and was nice inside being the top spec, although very bumpy on the short motorway hop to the dealer.
Arrived at the dealer and had a very quick handover with my salesman. I had requested they didn't wash it and leave the stickers on (hoping for the big white stickers over the paintwork to be kept) but it was just general delivery info stickers and security seals etc., which I did expect as they had to do the delivery inspection.
Grabbed the first photos whilst the heavens opened:
I took the rubber floor mats I bought for the old Panda in my suitcase and put them in the new one:
Panda added:
I quickly found the nearest Tesco and brimmed the tank with Super Unleaded which I will try and make a habit of with the TA engine being a fan of it. Google maps took me down some dodgy country lanes and over an hour later I was on the busy M6 with bad weather and the usual poor drivers - undertakers, middle lane hoggers, tailgaiters you name it. Several people took exception being overtaken by a Panda at the national speed limit and insisted on getting past me not long after before settling back to their original speed. I never knew so many were offended by a Panda
Stop for lunch at Tebay Services:
Then it was onward again with a final fuel stop at a Tesco on the outskirts of Glasgow. After leaving Telford before 3pm I got back to my house not long after 10pm:
I planned on keeping the car below 3k rpm for the first 1000 miles, although the car revs at 3.5k miles for an indicated 77-ish mph (which is around 70 actual) and the first tank averaged 37mpg (1mpg less than the computer). I know this will improve in time.
IMMEDIATE PLANS:
The car will remain in the garage and not be used until the following is done:
- Michelin Cross Climate 2's being fitted all round on 14 July
- Interior fabric and plastic treatment by myself
- Lanoguard treatment on 18 July (including the diff and sump protectors to prevent early corrosion)
- New car detail and 3 year ceramic coating on 24 July
FUTURE PLANS:
- General OEM+ upgrades
- Upgrade headunit to Pioneer AVH-Z7200DAB flip out CD / Touchscreen + rear camera and steering wheel control adaptor fitment
- Possible speaker upgrade
- Initial oil change after 1000 miles
- Service plan for first 3 years
BACKGROUND:
In 2007 I remember seeing the new Fiat 500 which I thought was really awesome and when a year later images of the Abarth version came out I knew I had to get one, so in 2010 I ordered an Abarth 500 Esseesse which I kept for 5 years. I traded it in for a Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy which I still own, but I still missed the Abarth which was my first "Fiat".
Fast forward to the last few years, the Megane has taken a beating on our pot holed UK roads as a daily driver and doing road trips round dodgy single track roads on the west coast of Scotland and dirt tracks for hillwalking. Maintenance costs have cost me a fortune and I always had the back of my mind to get a second car. Years I had toyed the idea of an Audi A2, but I had always admired the Fiat Panda from a kid when I saw loads of 4x4 models going around Cumbria when I went there to visit my Great Gran in the 90's. I loved the later generations too, so I decided to take the plunge and decided a second hand 319 TA 4x4 would be my daily. This would allow me to get my Megane off the road and garaged in the winter / taxed for only 6 months.
Went to view an Orange 2013 4x4 with 80k miles at a cheap price but it was rough as hell bodywork and interior wise, although it drove spot on. I decided to up the budget a bit and found on Christmas Eve 2021 a Green 2013 4x4 with half the miles and full service history. It was only a 2 hour drive again and a car check online revealed no issues so I quickly put down a deposit and picked it up a few days later. I knew the TA could be rough but hadn't properly researched the gearbox issues, so when it was vibrating around 3k revs through the gearstick I knew it wasn't right and contacted the dealer. They said to take it to a local garage to check and feed back to them. That's when I found out the car had no sump plug and it had been sealed with sealant. This immediately set off alarm bells and further research into the gearbox issues I decided to cut my losses and ask for a refund.
I was sad to hand the car back after 12 days and lost a bit of money but it was a lesson learned. With a little sympathy and help from relatives I was able to go for a brand new model. Winter pack was essential and the Cross had the bells and whistles so in February 2022 I spent weeks calling and emailing almost every Fiat dealer in the UK for the best price with my blue light discount and eventually TJ Vickers in Telford emerged as victors, so a £500 deposit was placed. I would have loved another green one or orange but opted for minimal grey (cement grey) which I also love on modern cars. Delivery was estimated for September 2022, then December / January 2023 then Fiat went silent and gave my dealer no info. I contacted them direct and got an estimated build of mid April 2023 and estimated delivery of June 2023 at the earliest. After chasing them end of May I finally heard the car was on it's way but no timescale. A further wait and my dealer called me on 26 June and said the car had arrived! Time to start planning the collection
COLLECTION:
Due to my work I wasn't able to collect the car until 11 July so promptly booked my train tickets from Aberdeenshire down to Telford and it wasn't long before the day arrived, setting off around 6.15am on the first of three trains.
Lovely view of the Queensferry bridges:
Slight delay coming in but made it for my next connection to Wolverhampton:
Crap weather but lovely views:
Waiting for the final train at Wolverhampton station to Telford Central:
And at 1.46pm, 5 minutes late, I finally arrived at Telford Central. One of the guys from the dealership were waiting for me in an Electric 500 which I had sat in but never rode in. It felt fairly nippy and was nice inside being the top spec, although very bumpy on the short motorway hop to the dealer.
Arrived at the dealer and had a very quick handover with my salesman. I had requested they didn't wash it and leave the stickers on (hoping for the big white stickers over the paintwork to be kept) but it was just general delivery info stickers and security seals etc., which I did expect as they had to do the delivery inspection.
Grabbed the first photos whilst the heavens opened:
I took the rubber floor mats I bought for the old Panda in my suitcase and put them in the new one:
Panda added:
I quickly found the nearest Tesco and brimmed the tank with Super Unleaded which I will try and make a habit of with the TA engine being a fan of it. Google maps took me down some dodgy country lanes and over an hour later I was on the busy M6 with bad weather and the usual poor drivers - undertakers, middle lane hoggers, tailgaiters you name it. Several people took exception being overtaken by a Panda at the national speed limit and insisted on getting past me not long after before settling back to their original speed. I never knew so many were offended by a Panda
Stop for lunch at Tebay Services:
Then it was onward again with a final fuel stop at a Tesco on the outskirts of Glasgow. After leaving Telford before 3pm I got back to my house not long after 10pm:
I planned on keeping the car below 3k rpm for the first 1000 miles, although the car revs at 3.5k miles for an indicated 77-ish mph (which is around 70 actual) and the first tank averaged 37mpg (1mpg less than the computer). I know this will improve in time.
IMMEDIATE PLANS:
The car will remain in the garage and not be used until the following is done:
- Michelin Cross Climate 2's being fitted all round on 14 July
- Interior fabric and plastic treatment by myself
- Lanoguard treatment on 18 July (including the diff and sump protectors to prevent early corrosion)
- New car detail and 3 year ceramic coating on 24 July
FUTURE PLANS:
- General OEM+ upgrades
- Upgrade headunit to Pioneer AVH-Z7200DAB flip out CD / Touchscreen + rear camera and steering wheel control adaptor fitment
- Possible speaker upgrade
- Initial oil change after 1000 miles
- Service plan for first 3 years
