"the FL2 would be my choice if venturing out into heavy snowfall. Being behind the wheel of the Fiat would not inspire the same confidence as a Land Rover."

I'm not so sure, I have a set of Vredenstein Wintrac extreme 4's but you still have to be careful with the weight of an FR2 as it does still slide.

One year in very heavy snow I was driving down the a303 when it was closed and the snow had been ploughed but had been left in a huge mound I guess due to mechanical failue. A landrover 90TDI was well and truly buried and was unable to continue and my panda 4x4 went up over the top of the snow and I continued across the Tank tracks of salisbury plain and finally made it home.

Never underestimate something you haven't tried. ! I have also been wading in a Panda 4x4 with a snorkel and it managed bonnet height.

I wish i could find another Panda 4x4 in good condition.

heres a good example of how tough they are ! There are certain angles of decent and climbing that even an FR2 would be pushed to do !

I seem to remember from the handbook the climbing ability of the panda 4x4 was 53 or 58% seriously steep !

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Over in Cyprus I went offroading in a Ford Focus! was very surprised at how good it was! Would have bee worried to take the Land Rover where that 10 year old Focus went!

James May from Top Gear swears by the Panda, he has been driving one for years.

Iain