RE: Fiat 124 - first pics
Discussion
mikEsprit said:
I agree. It looks like a Fiat convertible to me. They can't all be Dino's.
Actually I'm not sure why they can't be, Pininfarina seem to have done a pretty good job over the years to my eyes at least, why not let them carry on and do this project too I wondered. Of course the overhangs are way too long for today's look as someone else has already said. What I really don't get is the manufactures slavery to 'brand' looks and 'design cues' when they impact negatively on the finished product. The fronts of Jaguars new saloons for example are as ghastly as the older mondeos with gaping mouths. Mind you I suppose with just about every other sporty car manufacturer trying to make clone AM's then I suppose this IS a welcome (-ish) departure. On 2nd thoughts, no its not 
Well........im actually starting to warm to it, a little. It looks better in other colours for starters.
When I first saw it the other day....I was like...that's horrible!!
BUT!!!
If you sit back a bit and come at it from another angle (figuratively speaking)....it's less bad.
What I mean is...if you think of this as a car to directly compare to / rival the new MX5....it falls down straight away on looks IMO. The proportions are wrong...and this is emphasised by the fact that the latest MX5 has changed quite a lot (relatively speaking) from the previous one...whereas this looks in profile quite a lot like the MK2! Which immediately makes it look dated. It looks like it's a bodged version of the previous, previous model, never mind the new one.
SO!! What you have to do...is think of it in a different way.
This is a small, light convertible....with small turbo engines...built in a mazda factory with a mazda interior. On a chassis that has been shown to be bloody good.
SO....it SHOULD be a winner in that sense, no?
Do people see what I'm saying?
Compared to the new MX5....I don't like it...
But then when you think about what it actually is...and what it benefits from...it should be a damn good car, no?
When I first saw it the other day....I was like...that's horrible!!
BUT!!!
If you sit back a bit and come at it from another angle (figuratively speaking)....it's less bad.
What I mean is...if you think of this as a car to directly compare to / rival the new MX5....it falls down straight away on looks IMO. The proportions are wrong...and this is emphasised by the fact that the latest MX5 has changed quite a lot (relatively speaking) from the previous one...whereas this looks in profile quite a lot like the MK2! Which immediately makes it look dated. It looks like it's a bodged version of the previous, previous model, never mind the new one.
SO!! What you have to do...is think of it in a different way.
This is a small, light convertible....with small turbo engines...built in a mazda factory with a mazda interior. On a chassis that has been shown to be bloody good.
SO....it SHOULD be a winner in that sense, no?
Do people see what I'm saying?
Compared to the new MX5....I don't like it...
But then when you think about what it actually is...and what it benefits from...it should be a damn good car, no?
LOOKS TO BE A GREAT CAR !
I have a MK3 MX5, and would consider on looks this car!.....but the MK4 MX5 has the edge.....Why?
Because of Fiat build quality
I prefer windscreen surround to match colour of paint work
How will it be a choice over the MX5?
will they rust proof it properly?
Will it be more powerful?
Will it drive as well?
Will be interested to find out all this next year
but why do they bring out rag tops at the wrong time of the year? New MX5 at end of the summer, and the new Fiat mid summer....the marketing people should be fired....these cars should be in the show rooms by end of feb, taking orders for delivery by 1st April so that new owners can enjoy the roof down straight off....also promoting the vehicle for further purchases early on.....blimey it ain't rocket science
I have a MK3 MX5, and would consider on looks this car!.....but the MK4 MX5 has the edge.....Why?
Because of Fiat build quality
I prefer windscreen surround to match colour of paint work
How will it be a choice over the MX5?
will they rust proof it properly?
Will it be more powerful?
Will it drive as well?
Will be interested to find out all this next year
but why do they bring out rag tops at the wrong time of the year? New MX5 at end of the summer, and the new Fiat mid summer....the marketing people should be fired....these cars should be in the show rooms by end of feb, taking orders for delivery by 1st April so that new owners can enjoy the roof down straight off....also promoting the vehicle for further purchases early on.....blimey it ain't rocket science
I actually like it.
Think about it Fiat could have easily gone down the GT86/BRS route and just changed the front bumper on an MX-5. That would have been a massive fail as nobody would have chosen the Fiat.
The fact that they have totally changed the styling to something quite different is a bold move. I saw a new MX-5 in the metal a couple of days back and it is a good looking car and amazingly small in this day and age. Seeing as this will be very similar size I think it's going to look really good in metal. In photo's it's getting compared to a Viper which is a massive car (by comparison).
If I end up in this market I will look very closely at both options and it would honestly be a tough choice. Although I want to see this car with a different set of wheels. Think a set of Abarth inspired rims would set it off nicely as the ones fitted here look a bit non descript.
Think about it Fiat could have easily gone down the GT86/BRS route and just changed the front bumper on an MX-5. That would have been a massive fail as nobody would have chosen the Fiat.
The fact that they have totally changed the styling to something quite different is a bold move. I saw a new MX-5 in the metal a couple of days back and it is a good looking car and amazingly small in this day and age. Seeing as this will be very similar size I think it's going to look really good in metal. In photo's it's getting compared to a Viper which is a massive car (by comparison).
If I end up in this market I will look very closely at both options and it would honestly be a tough choice. Although I want to see this car with a different set of wheels. Think a set of Abarth inspired rims would set it off nicely as the ones fitted here look a bit non descript.
watchnut said:
LOOKS TO BE A GREAT CAR !
I have a MK3 MX5, and would consider on looks this car!.....but the MK4 MX5 has the edge.....Why?
Because of Fiat build quality
I prefer windscreen surround to match colour of paint work
How will it be a choice over the MX5?
will they rust proof it properly?
Will it be more powerful?
Will it drive as well?
Will be interested to find out all this next year
but why do they bring out rag tops at the wrong time of the year? New MX5 at end of the summer, and the new Fiat mid summer....the marketing people should be fired....these cars should be in the show rooms by end of feb, taking orders for delivery by 1st April so that new owners can enjoy the roof down straight off....also promoting the vehicle for further purchases early on.....blimey it ain't rocket science
Even if both come from the same factory?I have a MK3 MX5, and would consider on looks this car!.....but the MK4 MX5 has the edge.....Why?
Because of Fiat build quality
I prefer windscreen surround to match colour of paint work
How will it be a choice over the MX5?
will they rust proof it properly?
Will it be more powerful?
Will it drive as well?
Will be interested to find out all this next year
but why do they bring out rag tops at the wrong time of the year? New MX5 at end of the summer, and the new Fiat mid summer....the marketing people should be fired....these cars should be in the show rooms by end of feb, taking orders for delivery by 1st April so that new owners can enjoy the roof down straight off....also promoting the vehicle for further purchases early on.....blimey it ain't rocket science
watchnut said:
I have a MK3 MX5, and would consider on looks this car!.....but the MK4 MX5 has the edge.....Why?
Because of Fiat build quality
watchnut said:
I prefer windscreen surround to match colour of paint work
Ahem. Have you seen the mk4 MX5? 
watchnut said:
will they rust proof it properly?
Let's hope they do a better job than Mazda did on the mk2.5.I think it looks fantastic. Definitely better than Mazda's crap effort 
And I know one MX5 mk3 owner who is going to replace his MX5 with a 124 Spyder when they're available.
It'll be interesting to see how it lasts - 21st century Mazdas seem to have similar rustproofing to 1980s Fiats.
And I know one MX5 mk3 owner who is going to replace his MX5 with a 124 Spyder when they're available.
It'll be interesting to see how it lasts - 21st century Mazdas seem to have similar rustproofing to 1980s Fiats.
Highway Star said:
I've had 5 and they've all been pretty reliable, unlike some of the German cars I've owned. Still, attitudes like yours keep them depreciating heavily so I'm not complaining.
Well said, long may the ill informed survive....Currently three Fiats in our family fleet, all pretty reliable, much as all the others we have had over the years.. anybody would think it was the 1970s....
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