RE: Fiat 124 Spider vs Mazda MX-5
Discussion
Fiat for me, to my eyes it looks far better than the MX-5, I prefer the Fiat image and to me a track comparison is irrelevant. In everyday driving it sounds like the Fiat is just as much fun albeit in a different way and I assume the bigger arse equates to a bigger boot so better for touring.
crostonian said:
Fiat for me, to my eyes it looks far better than the MX-5, I prefer the Fiat image and to me a track comparison is irrelevant. In everyday driving it sounds like the Fiat is just as much fun albeit in a different way and I assume the bigger arse equates to a bigger boot so better for touring.
- Actual consumer advice alert!* Fiat boot is 140 litres against 130 litres for the Mazda. So room for your manbag perhaps! Most of the +139mm length (4,054mm Fiat vs 3,915mm Mazda) is in the overhangs too, the cars sharing the same wheelbase.
Dan
Let's face it, the number of people who care about the 124's ability on a track is lightly to be less than the number of people who care about it not being able to move a sideboard. i.e. It won't come into the buying equation at all.
Far more interesting would have been it's ability when 'pushing on' or whatever the crap term is on normal British roads. You've mentioned it seemed to be in it's element in the roads above Lake Garda, and it's a possibility that it's hit it's remit square on.
If it didn't look like a gopping (or indeed groping) fish, I might have been interested. Though I haven't seen one in the metal, it doesn't seem to have any of the class or style of it's namesake.
Far more interesting would have been it's ability when 'pushing on' or whatever the crap term is on normal British roads. You've mentioned it seemed to be in it's element in the roads above Lake Garda, and it's a possibility that it's hit it's remit square on.
If it didn't look like a gopping (or indeed groping) fish, I might have been interested. Though I haven't seen one in the metal, it doesn't seem to have any of the class or style of it's namesake.
Fetchez la vache said:
Let's face it, the number of people who care about the 124's ability on a track is lightly to be less than the number of people who care about it not being able to move a sideboard. i.e. It won't come into the buying equation at all.
Far more interesting would have been it's ability when 'pushing on' or whatever the crap term is on normal British roads. You've mentioned it seemed to be in it's element in the roads above Lake Garda, and it's a possibility that it's hit it's remit square on.
If it didn't look like a gopping (or indeed groping) fish, I might have been interested. Though I haven't seen one in the metal, it doesn't seem to have any of the class or style of it's namesake.
Entirely correct, and addressed in our previous video here!Far more interesting would have been it's ability when 'pushing on' or whatever the crap term is on normal British roads. You've mentioned it seemed to be in it's element in the roads above Lake Garda, and it's a possibility that it's hit it's remit square on.
If it didn't look like a gopping (or indeed groping) fish, I might have been interested. Though I haven't seen one in the metal, it doesn't seem to have any of the class or style of it's namesake.
I very much enjoyed it in this context and, in the metal, it looks better than it does in photos both inside and out.
As and when we get our hands on an Abarth we'll arrange a rematch for the track.
Cheers,
Dan
Car and Driver comparison: http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2017-fiat-...
Only mentioned as this bit made me lol:
Only mentioned as this bit made me lol:
Car and Driver said:
Does the Fiat come across as an Italian car? No, though a piece of black plastic trim did fall off the front bumper in a futile attempt to convince us otherwise.
Dan Trent said:
crostonian said:
Fiat for me, to my eyes it looks far better than the MX-5, I prefer the Fiat image and to me a track comparison is irrelevant. In everyday driving it sounds like the Fiat is just as much fun albeit in a different way and I assume the bigger arse equates to a bigger boot so better for touring.
- Actual consumer advice alert!* Fiat boot is 140 litres against 130 litres for the Mazda. So room for your manbag perhaps! Most of the +139mm length (4,054mm Fiat vs 3,915mm Mazda) is in the overhangs too, the cars sharing the same wheelbase.
Dan
Cheapskate said:
Dan Trent said:
crostonian said:
Fiat for me, to my eyes it looks far better than the MX-5, I prefer the Fiat image and to me a track comparison is irrelevant. In everyday driving it sounds like the Fiat is just as much fun albeit in a different way and I assume the bigger arse equates to a bigger boot so better for touring.
- Actual consumer advice alert!* Fiat boot is 140 litres against 130 litres for the Mazda. So room for your manbag perhaps! Most of the +139mm length (4,054mm Fiat vs 3,915mm Mazda) is in the overhangs too, the cars sharing the same wheelbase.
Dan
danp said:
Cheapskate said:
If anyone wants/needs to know the absolute maximum sized piece of luggage that fits in the Fiat's boot, I can help. This required inserting diagonally and then a bit of wriggling to slide in. And it doesn't move left or right once in. But it fits!
Wow that's an awkward boot, presumably the narrow opening is to aid rigidity? Is an mx-5 the same?We don't use a suitcase, we use a holdall style bag that squashes into the curves of the boot better.
25k for an mx5 - who would buy it? Interesting thought comparing to base models TT, Z4 and SLK but surely you would buy near top of the range versions that are nearly new.
At that price you could get a z4 35is and have some money left to ditch the terrible RFTs and put some MPSS on. Guessing you could do something similar with Audi and Merc - which puts them in a completely different league to a new mx5.
You could say that's unfair comparison but buying from a dealership all you need to do is change some fluids and replace any perishables for next few years so just as cheap to run (add an MOT on).
Maybe pistonheads should test my theory and make those comparisons? - would be a nice swansong for the Z4 to test a used top model with some proper tyres on vs current roadster lineups.
At that price you could get a z4 35is and have some money left to ditch the terrible RFTs and put some MPSS on. Guessing you could do something similar with Audi and Merc - which puts them in a completely different league to a new mx5.
You could say that's unfair comparison but buying from a dealership all you need to do is change some fluids and replace any perishables for next few years so just as cheap to run (add an MOT on).
Maybe pistonheads should test my theory and make those comparisons? - would be a nice swansong for the Z4 to test a used top model with some proper tyres on vs current roadster lineups.
elvismiggell said:
danp said:
Cheapskate said:
If anyone wants/needs to know the absolute maximum sized piece of luggage that fits in the Fiat's boot, I can help. This required inserting diagonally and then a bit of wriggling to slide in. And it doesn't move left or right once in. But it fits!
Wow that's an awkward boot, presumably the narrow opening is to aid rigidity? Is an mx-5 the same?We don't use a suitcase, we use a holdall style bag that squashes into the curves of the boot better.
Edited by Cheapskate on Tuesday 16th August 23:41
Useful and interesting stuff; next year may be when I finally decide to give up my 20 year Seven habit (well, it's a vague possibility) and tbh only these two really have been on my shortlist . I am no fan of 4wd/fwd in droptop sports cars and BMWs have never appealed so in my price bracket- 20kish - these fit with my other requirement of having a less intensive maintenance and repair regime than a ten year old Seven. Fiat had appealed the more on stylistic grounds and the turbo poke sounded good but the plot was lost on the bends wasn't it ? Any owners of latest MX5 to tell me how good they are ?
I absolutely love the MX-5 but other than having a roof that can go down, I just can't see why you would get it over the GT86. Maybe there is an argument for the 1.5 more than the 2.0 because of the drop in price. End of the day if you really enjoy driving that £25k could be spent so much better e.g. Fiesta ST + Mountune or even a Golf GTI with a small bit of arm twisting with the dealer. Then if you are the type to go on the used market, get a low milage E46 M3 Convertible, you can grab a 50k good condition manual for £15k leaving £10k for mods/repairs. Or really if your eyes are set on a MX-5, get a Mk1.
I love to drive but no matter how good such as Fiesta STs are I wouldn't buy a fwd fun car.I adore the sense of occasion of setting off early morning in a convertible on a long road trip - top down of course and tintops just don't engender quite the same enjoyment - for me anyway.If a Fiesta or Clio is a second a lap quicker around Blyton - with somebody else paying the tyre bill- I really couldn't care less. My very provisional shopping list for 2017 has the MX5 somewhere very near the top but a Boxster could tempt if I could stop angsting about unexpected big bills.
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