RE: Fiat 124 Spider: Review

[Ozzie Osmond]

stephen300o said:

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

Quite. If they did, Mazda would have sold no MX5s and I imagine Porsche would have sold no Boxsters either.

[DegsyE39]

Marmite and a tad fugly but i like it...Looks great with the tan leather.

Just such a shame that its got a fking ipad on the dash..

Regards.

[Jimbo.]

The Fiat/Alfa stand at this years Techno Classica had a pair: one "normal", one in Rallye/Abarth (red bodywork, black bumper, spotlights etc) trim.

They look a lot better in the metal than mere pictures. Dare I say, they look quite good? I'd have one, certainly

[rog007]

So, that's the end of this particular focus group; may we thankyou for your time and contributions.

Please be assured that we take all feedback very seriously and as a result we will be sacking the designer and cancelling production of this vehicle immediately to prevent any further harm to our reputation and finances.

Have a safe journey home.

Mr Fiat-Man-in-Charge





...is what should have happened if they'd gotten feedback like in this thread. Unless loads of people told them it looked fab as a joke!?

[Gandahar]

300bhp/ton said:

Reckon it might. E one of those cars that look better in person than in photos.

Interesting to see the "claimed" figures vs the 160hp version. Would love to see how they compare in head to head road tests.

Yes indeed. I will wait until having seen one in the flesh as at the moment I don't find it that attractive, especially compared to the sharp ND MX5

I have the 3.5 MX5 which is not a great looker either compared to the original or ND to be honest. Glad FIAT have got this though, they just cannot live on versions of the 500.

[Vocal Minority]

I like it.

Would definitely consider it over the MX5. Give it 2 years for the first ones to lose some value.

[Pistachio]

I want to like it but ......It is just not right
shame
It should have been this really

[culpz]

Interesting that Fiat shoved a forced-induction engine in this. Quite a smart move really for the "purists" that want a new MX-5 but want something that can be easily fettled with to get decent gains without spending daft amounts on turbo/supercharger conversions. People will complain either way but i like that it's something a bit different.

[generationx]

Jimbo. said:

The Fiat/Alfa stand at this years Techno Classica had a pair: one "normal", one in Rallye/Abarth (red bodywork, black bumper, spotlights etc) trim.

They look a lot better in the metal than mere pictures.

Agreed having seen them there too.

[Vaud]

Pistachio said:

I want to like it but ......It is just not right
shame
It should have been this really

Is that a concept or a production car?

[Vocal Minority]

Now you see that Alfa, to my tastes looks too cod futuristic.

I know retro pastiche isn't everyone's cuppa - but to me that sort of looks like a 1950s take on what the year 2000 would look like. So is sort of retro-futuristic.....and i'm just over thinking this now, aren't I?

[Krikkit]

Vaud said:

Pistachio said:

I want to like it but ......It is just not right
shame
It should have been this really

Is that a concept or a production car?

It's just a concept. Not really a surprise that concept <> production.

[j90gta]

Just build the Abarth version and make sure it looks like this

[vtecyo]

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.

Despite what all the hardened B road sliders on PH will tell you, a huge amount of MX5s are bought by people who have no interest in driving, and just want something cheap to mince about in with the roof off.

I'd expect it to sell reasonably well if they throw some money at marketing it.

[Vocht]

Wonder if they'll be getting a folding hardtop like the MX5-RF?

On a side note Abarth 124 Spider really does sound great! Bet it's a blast to drive.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovv12s3FEvU

[300bhp/ton]

deltashad said:

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?

Yes thanks.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Nice that they pinched the Mazda Infotainment System. Its really rather nice to use.

Plus I thought the Mazda engine was 14:1? Perhaps not in the higher powered models, but the 120 HP version in my 3 is 14:1. Would have thought its the same engine. Throttle response even for a shopping car is extremely keen, no dead zone on the pedal, engine responds as soon as the pedal moves even a little bit. So I can imagine the MX5 being particularly good there. I saw a Soul Red one yesterday and it just looks great. Better than this and probably the better B-road machine. I guess FIAT want this to be more of a laid back cruiser? Its damn ugly though and the retro-styling cues seem quite heavy handed.

The turbo engine will appeal to those who find NA's a bit weak, so everyone's a winner right? You can have a NA manga character from Mazda or a turbo retro pastiche from FIAT, both with a great RWD chassis.

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 8th June 10:01

[dlockhart]

That extra torque should keep things interesting when driving on the limit.

Expect a few to be planted into hedges over the next 12 months.

[Ozzie Osmond]

If I didn't already have a sportscar I'd certainly be tempted to go and have a look/drive. The latest Mazda styling doesn't do it for me.

[Pistachio]

Vaud said:

Pistachio said:

I want to like it but ......It is just not right
shame
It should have been this really

Is that a concept or a production car?

It was the Pininfarina duettottanta concept car but should have been teh car that was put over the MX5