RE: Fiat 124 Spider: Review

[deltashad]

ChasW said:

Couldn't agree more. This is the essence of real world sports car motoring. Plenty will say it needs 200bhp etc to be credible - yawn, yawn....

I really like it.

Performance isn't really the issue here.

[PJZ7]

Why couldn't they of just made this???

[Vaud]

Wild guess, compliance rules for so many markets?

[poing]

deltashad said:

ChasW said:

Couldn't agree more. This is the essence of real world sports car motoring. Plenty will say it needs 200bhp etc to be credible - yawn, yawn....

I really like it.

Performance isn't really the issue here.

That 1.4 Turbo engine is already regularly tuned to 200bhp so it has potential but I hoped Fiat would do a better job in the looks department.

I'd take a look at and have a serious think, then I'd probably chicken out and buy the Mazda. If they made it look like a cut price Alfa 4C then I'd take the Fiat in a heartbeat.

[Axionknight]

My backside looks better than this thing, it is totally ungainly, the front end is an abortion and it just isn't a cohesive design.

Fugly.

[kambites]

Hmm, sounds like it's worse in every element that I value than the Mazda. Still, it's good they actually made the character significantly different rather than just producing an MX5 with Fiat styling. At least it creates some choice in a market which is sorely lacking in competition at the moment.

[stephen300o]

PJZ7 said:

Why couldn't they of just made this???

Perhaps because that's an Alfa.

It looks OK, but could do with being a coupe, would look much better with a roof on it.

[300bhp/ton]

Axionknight said:

My backside looks better than this thing, it is totally ungainly, the front end is an abortion and it just isn't a cohesive design.

Fugly.

While the Renault and Volvo in your profile are real stunners...

[Munter]

Stick the abarth and a top spec MX5 around cadwell, let me know which is quickest. I'll take that one.

It's the rest of you suckers who have to look at the outside, what do I care.

[stephen300o]

Munter said:

Stick the abarth and a top spec MX5 around cadwell, let me know which is quickest. I'll take that one.

It's the rest of you suckers who have to look at the outside, what do I care.

Normal folks don't by a car based on performance alone.

[deltashad]

300bhp/ton said:

While the Renault and Volvo in your profile are real stunners...

They look good to me. Had a look at your sheds lately?

[toppstuff]

Munter said:

Stick the abarth and a top spec MX5 around cadwell, let me know which is quickest. I'll take that one.

.

This is the correct response for Pistonheads.

We know the truth though - you would pick the one which ruffles your hair the least with the roof off.

[Ali_T]

Really starting to like this a lot. The Abarth version will be well worth a test drive.

[EnglishTony]

toppstuff said:

This is the correct response for Pistonheads.

We know the truth though - you would pick the one which ruffles your hair the least with the roof off.

Well if it's to be a proper 124 Abarth nobody's hair will get ruffled 'cos you will run it all year round with the hard top on. Red with orange wheel arches.

[PJZ7]

stephen300o said:

Perhaps because that's an Alfa.

It looks OK, but could do with being a coupe, would look much better with a roof on it.

Yes, correct, that is an Alfa. I am led to believe that this was the initial intention for the Mazda & Fiat group duet.

Its called the '2uettottanta' and after some slight revisions to meet governing standards this car would have been real competition for the MX5.

Maybe that's the reason why it was canned in favour of its awkward cousin.

[annodomini2]

To me that is fugly, it looks to me like a manufacturer along the lines of ssangyong took the last gen mx5 restyled it, badly.

[peter450]

PJZ7 said:

stephen300o said:

Perhaps because that's an Alfa.

It looks OK, but could do with being a coupe, would look much better with a roof on it.

Yes, correct, that is an Alfa. I am led to believe that this was the initial intention for the Mazda & Fiat group duet.

Its called the '2uettottanta' and after some slight revisions to meet governing standards this car would have been real competition for the MX5.

Maybe that's the reason why it was canned in favour of its awkward cousin.

It was canned because Fiat want to take Alfa all upmarket and a car sitting on MX5 underpinnings apparently didn't fit with that image.

Although flogging a ton of oil burning guilias is apparently ok.....but 2 seat sports car is not because it's on a MX5 floor plan

Think they've made a big mistake here, they want to relaunch Alfa and i think a smart looking 2 seat roadster would have been a great addition to the range but oh well it's a Fiat now

[HorneyMX5]

Not a pretty car from most angles. Will be interesting to see what the abarth version is like. BBR have turbo'd the new MX5 if people crave more power though.

[HorneyMX5]

Also MX-Fiat should clearly be it's nick name.

[Ozzie Osmond]

dme123 said:

Sounds like the Abarth version is going to be the only one of any real interest to someone looking to drive rather than mince about and pose.

Errm, your PH Garage appears to contain an MX5....