New 4x4 Fiat shite for me

[autohausdolby]

After taking the Autohaus Dolby AX to the Sahara another Shite European Hatchback touring/off road holiday is in the offing. This time more ground clearance (the only problem with the AX) is required as Corsica is our intended destination. Having rejoiced in a Fiat Regatta before I've decided to lay down my cash on a fine and slightly rotten Steyr Puch Fiat Panda 4x4. It's not a Sisely unfortunataly, but it does have the optional analogue clock, radio cassette with AM and FM and a genuine Dealer accessory ashtray, which is handy as I chain smoke Capstans whilst touring.

 

For some light relief, here is an oft posted picture of the AX in the Desert.

 

[autohausdolby]

And here is the semi-amusingly named "Peter Panda" - it's not back at Autohaus Dolby towers yet, but it is paid for and I'm currently in the process of bitching about the cost of getting it trailered 30 miles home. It's an F plate one, on a farm (obviously), tax disc says November 2001.

 

[autohausdolby]

God, mobile phones have ruined photography!

 

[trigger]

That looks pretty tidy for a old farm hack that's been of the road 10 years, how much work does it need to get back on the road again?

[DCLane]

Good stuff - in 2004 I took a Pug 205 to the Sahara with 4 passengers. 5 if you include the fact that SWMBO was pregnant.

 

Madness, but great fun.

[autohausdolby]

Like all Pandas it wants a pair of doors really, and inner sills as they've gone all Italian down their full length. That and the normal neglected car stuff, bushes, brakes, a sump (it's gone Italian as well). Plus if I'm going to do 3k plus miles and off roading in it I want it to be tip-top mechanically. It's not as bad as some Pandas I've seen but I'm expecting disapointment and broken dreams when it comes to breaking out the MIG.

 

On the plus side I believe the clock does work.

[Pillock]

Is it just the lighting/angle/camera or does the non-Sisley Panda looks more butch than the Sisley?

That side-on photo looks like it's been dropped onto a comedy chassis!

[autohausdolby]

Have another couple of Shite pictures for your delectation:

 

 

Mmm, luxury interior:

 

[autohausdolby]

Is it just the lighting/angle/camera or does the non-Sisley Panda looks more butch than the Sisley?

That side-on photo looks like it's been dropped onto a comedy chassis!

 

It's got PROPA off road style tyres on it so it looks less limp than normal 4x4 Pandas. If it goes OK on them I'll keep them as I have to say they do help with the looks of the thing.

[Vin]

Well Done Sir

 

That doesn't look a bad bus. The doors certainly don't look to be the worst I've seen.

 

If you haven't done it yet, I would recommend you take the mat out the boot and check the seams where the boot floor meets the wheel arches on either side. You might be lucky, but they always go there. They'll either need repairing or you will see evidence of past repairs. It isn't a difficult job to put right though. I would also check to see the condition (or if any past repairs have been done) to the rear seat belt mounts. This is another common grot area.

 

The seams in my 750 are mint, but that is very definitely the exception rather than the rule.

 

Also as it has a towbar, check the rear mount that it is bolted too, as the towbar is part of the MOT. If the tow bar mount (also acts as trolley jacking point) has got muck up into it, it can get cruddy were it mounts on the rear cross member. I had to patch up the cross member on my Sisley at the last MOT, as the towbar rule is a recent thing...

 

Good luck with it

[Minimad5]

That looks like right fun to drive

 

I remember an Aunty having a standard Fiat Panda - I lay on the back seat in shame

 

All the best with this

[autohausdolby]

I couldn't tell you what size the tyres are, I'll report back further when it's landed. The original towbar met with an inmovable object at some point and punted the boot floor up in the middle, the one that's on there is some after market crap. It'll be going in the bin and will be replaced by a couple of recovery shackles I imagine.

 

I'm looking forward to getting it back and doing a proper assessment - I've yet to decide if I want the resulting weldathon, but there's not much choice in cheapish Panda 4x4s now.

[autohausdolby]

Have just Shiply'd it so it should land here on Wednesday afternoon. Expect heartbroken picture posting of incredible amounts of rust shortly afterwards.

[dollywobbler]

Ace. I've got a real hankering for a Panda 4x4, but my fleet currently has enough corrosion as it is.

[autohausdolby]

Disapointingly it's now not due until Thursday afternoon, so the tears will have to wait until then.

[autohausdolby]

Well it has arrived! We've washed it to be greeted by a shower of inner sill

 

The first thing after washing it was to try and make it go to reduce the amount of pushing necessary, so in went a fiver's worth of Pez (now worth 8.29), to be followed shortly afterwards by a proportion of it leaving again straight away from under the wheel arch. Some sort of issue there I imagine. But a new fuel filter and some E-Z start down its neck and it sprung into slightly reluctant life, accompanied by various rattles and a pretty good oil leak from the sump. It moves under its own POWA but the brakes are goosed and the gear lever requires 2 hands to operate, which I imagine isn't normal even for a Ferrari bred transmission like this.

 

 

More updates soon.

[Owain-328i]

Panda 4x4's are GR8 little cars, under-rated off-roaders, and generally pretty good all round hacks.

[autohausdolby]

So time for an UPDATE!!11.

 

You'll all be glad to know that due to Italy, the car is shite and rotten everywhere. That's not stopped me foolishly diving in and spunking a load of cash on bits for it. It has an immense capacity to drop fluids and rust on the floor, so far it's leaked engine oil, brake fluid, gearbox oil and screen wash. I'm waiting for the coolant leak to happen. I guess that's what happens when you buy a car that hasn't moved in 10 years then force it to go again. On the plus side the battery is good and uncorroded, as is the glass.

 

Photos in a mo.

[autohausdolby]

This is from doing mechanical work - I haven't even got to welding yet. Tonight I'm doing battle with the LHS front suspension inbetween internetz.

 

[autohausdolby]

Pleny of angle grinder and oxy acetylene action has yielded this. I'd just like to thank "First Line" OEM+++++WTFOMG parts for drilling the strut holes to small in their bearing housings. GITS.

 

 

Sump guard blasted and painted:

 

 

"Before"

 

 

Gearbox vomit:

 

[autohausdolby]

[Cheggers]

Fugging hell fella, that is a complete crapmound (no offence )

 

You're a braver man than me...