RE: Fiat confirms 124 Spider for its MX-5

[GTEYE]

Oddball RS said:

GTEYE said:

It's probably a closer spiritual successor to the Barchetta than the 124, but no matter.

I had a Barchetta, cracking little car in its day - even if it was FWD....

Will be looking forward to Italian style and Japanese reliability!

Eh? why would it be closer to a FWD car when its RWD, called a 124 and styled in an updated fashion, I for one am really looking forward to it, could be a great little car, turbo lumps and lets hope Fiat bring a little 500 type cheek to the party.

Oh yes, of course. The Barchetta was a completely different type of car, wasn't it.

[Bangbox]

iva cosworth said:

GTEYE said:

I had a Barchetta, cracking little car in its day - even if it was FWD....

Will be looking forward to Italian style and Japanese reliability!

Still a cracking little car now and mine is also very reliable.......

I can totally echo that - it's our most dependable car, though we do have to bale a bit when it rains.

[jamespink]

J4CKO said:

GTEYE said:

It's probably a closer spiritual successor to the Barchetta than the 124, but no matter.

I had a Barchetta, cracking little car in its day - even if it was FWD....

Will be looking forward to Italian style and Japanese reliability!

Yeah, like the Alfa Romeo Arna, Alfa Sud Bits and a Datsun Cherry body shell, perfection


Edit, just noticed the picture with the nice lady on the bonnet.

I want one, well not really, even if I did,

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&...

Last one died in 2007, officially extinct !


Actually, thats a bit sad, however st a car may be, we should always keep one for nostalgia/reference.

Edited by J4CKO on Friday 6th March 15:22

I disagree. Making it extinct has made it far more a talking point than ever a good condition original car would be. They were utterly shocking!

[iloveboost]

I guess this will get the 1.4L multiair turbo engine with 180ps? As it will probably be a bit more money than the Mx-5 it's going to need a bit more oomph.

My only reservation about this car and the Mx-5 are whether they'll avoid the problems some new cars have. Some have a crazy on/off binary style clutch some have (may get used to it), very sensitive and very light brakes, etc. Pulling away and stopping is like going back to your first driving lesson. Steering was accurate and quick but had no feedback and weight.

[iloveboost]

jamespink said:

I disagree. Making it extinct has made it far more a talking point than ever a good condition original car would be. They were utterly shocking!

They look a bit like a Talbot Horizon, another horrible car.

[NelsonP]

flingstam said:

Ah, happy memories!

<SPITS TEA> WTF is that? It looks like something a 5 year old would draw, shortly after they got their first ruler

[B10]

Guvernator said:

Except it will probably end up with Japanese styling and Italian reliability

Goodness sake your humour is still in the 80's.
My 75k Fiat500 was a paragon of reliability.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

NelsonP said:

flingstam said:

Ah, happy memories!

<SPITS TEA> WTF is that? It looks like something a 5 year old would draw, shortly after they got their first ruler

That's a 'girl' or 'lady'.

They have boobs ya' know.

[Guvernator]

B10 said:

Goodness sake your humour is still in the 80's.
My 75k Fiat500 was a paragon of reliability.

Calm down, it was tongue-in-cheek. Didn't mean to upset you and your little reliable Fiat.

[NelsonP]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

That's a 'girl' or 'lady'.

They have boobs ya' know.

Oh yes. Must have missed that. Hard to see through all the tea.

[Freesc]

smaybury said:

Doesn't have nearly enough power, IMO.

[/pistonheads]

Actually, the stock 124 Spider will have the excellent 1.4L Turbo Multiair engine, one of the best 4 cylinder engines on the planet, with 160+ hp - more than the MX5.
The Abarth may have about 200hp. PLENTY interesting in a car that only weighs 2200 lbs.

[kambites]

Do you have a source for that? I'd be impressed if it's 2200lbs (<1000kg). The MX5 is 1050kg and I think the Fiat engine is heavier than the Mazda unit. I'd have guessed 1100kg (>2400lbs) wet for the Fiat version.

[cptsideways]

could be good with the 4C lump in it

[kambites]

cptsideways said:

could be good with the 4C lump in it

Will they allow that though? It would bring it dangerously close to the 4C in terms of stats for an awful lot less money. Given the 4C's reported dynamic shortcomings, it might even turn out to be a better car which would be slightly embarrasing for Alfa.

I also assume Fiat will be using the Mazda gearbox since I don't think they have a suitable 'box of their own? Would it cope with the torque of the 4C's engine?

Edited by kambites on Friday 6th March 17:33

[SpiderMike]

wildcat45 said:

I wonder why they opted for Fiat rather than Alfa? It's not as if Alfa have a massive and confusing range of cars is it? Is Alfa slowly being sidelined into extinction?

That said this sounds like a potentially cracking little car.

Marchionne has previously been reported as saying that all Alfas will be built in Italy.

Edited by SpiderMike on Friday 6th March 17:54

[Sampaio]

threespires said:

smaybury said:

Doesn't have nearly enough power, IMO.

[/pistonheads]

And what is the power ?

Less than 300bhp so not nearly enough for PH-punter standards...
I reckon it's not a fast car, but I also reckon a 200bhp Audi TT is less fun. And yes I've driven both extensively.

[Sampaio]

threespires said:

smaybury said:

Doesn't have nearly enough power, IMO.

[/pistonheads]

And what is the power ?

Less than 300bhp so not nearly enough for PH-punter standards...
I reckon it's not a fast car, but I also reckon a 200bhp Audi TT is less fun. And yes I've driven both extensively.

[redroadster]

Pity it's not going to be an Alfa they just would have got styling right not keen on any fiat product .

[daytona365]

About time Fiat made something fresh, stylish and exciting again. They can do it when they try, or get very lucky ! witness Dinos, Spyders, 130's, even the X19 was a cracking car for what it was, but please fit the coolant header tank higher than the engine eh ?!

[poing]

MonkeyMatt said:

I hope it looks a lot more delicate than that. All I see there is something Ford/VW would build with no obvious sign it's Italian.