miataturbo.net-like debauchery thread (about the ND or something)
08-13-2016, 03:52 PM
#2787
On a work assignment in Itally. Look what Hertz had for me at Milan-Malpensa International (MXP)! It was brand new, I was the first to rent it:
Immediately took it out into its natural habitat -- Italy. First some city driving.
Visconti Castle in Somma Lombardo
Then, off to the Italian Alps.
On the road from Aosta to Cogne (Gran Paradiso national park) in the Aosta Valley:
Overlook above Cogne:
The ideal "Fiata" test road (with Cogne and St. Ursus Meadow below):
Aaaand, home, sweet home (Villa Borghi hotel):
It's good to be the king!
So, having spent some time with the car, my thoughts:
-Feels like a much bigger car than an NA. The hood seems especially long. Quite a difference from the MX-5.
-Super comfortable and smooth Grand Touring car. Power delivery is perfect for cruising the Autostrada and driving the mountain roads. With the turbo, climbing the Alps is no big deal, there's never a loss of power as with a normally aspirated car.
-I think this is the first "Fiata" in Italy. I haven't seen any others, and people would point and stare. Lots of positive comments and I did my best to reply in Spanish -- which is close enough!
-God, I love the ND top mechanism. BEST TOP EVER!!
Complaints:
-When the windows are down, they rattle in their tracks when you close the doors. That's a bit off-putting.
-Above 130kph with the top down, the upholstery on the back of the driver's seat would start flapping. Really strange. I slid the seat all the way back to stop it.
-Wish the exterior was smaller -- less overhang. It feels like a Miata with an Italian body kit -- which is what it is I guess. I like small cars. If you like bigger-feeling GTs, then this is your baby!
Immediately took it out into its natural habitat -- Italy. First some city driving.
Visconti Castle in Somma Lombardo
Then, off to the Italian Alps.
On the road from Aosta to Cogne (Gran Paradiso national park) in the Aosta Valley:
Overlook above Cogne:
The ideal "Fiata" test road (with Cogne and St. Ursus Meadow below):
Aaaand, home, sweet home (Villa Borghi hotel):
It's good to be the king!
So, having spent some time with the car, my thoughts:
-Feels like a much bigger car than an NA. The hood seems especially long. Quite a difference from the MX-5.
-Super comfortable and smooth Grand Touring car. Power delivery is perfect for cruising the Autostrada and driving the mountain roads. With the turbo, climbing the Alps is no big deal, there's never a loss of power as with a normally aspirated car.
-I think this is the first "Fiata" in Italy. I haven't seen any others, and people would point and stare. Lots of positive comments and I did my best to reply in Spanish -- which is close enough!
-God, I love the ND top mechanism. BEST TOP EVER!!
Complaints:
-When the windows are down, they rattle in their tracks when you close the doors. That's a bit off-putting.
-Above 130kph with the top down, the upholstery on the back of the driver's seat would start flapping. Really strange. I slid the seat all the way back to stop it.
-Wish the exterior was smaller -- less overhang. It feels like a Miata with an Italian body kit -- which is what it is I guess. I like small cars. If you like bigger-feeling GTs, then this is your baby!
Last edited by hornetball; 08-14-2016 at 03:14 AM.
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08-13-2016, 04:18 PM
#2788
Boost Pope
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They also designed this:
An impressive pedigree does not a beautiful car make.
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08-13-2016, 07:50 PM
#2790
Wasn't suggesting it did. Merely correcting your assumption that BMW designed the M1. Just the same, the M1 is rather widely regarded as one of the classic 70's supercar designs. To be distinguished from the rather appalling Lamborghini Countach for example.
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08-13-2016, 08:19 PM
#2791
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Does anybody know if the interior dimensions of the ND and Fiata are different? I sat in an ND and with the seat all the way back, my knees touched the dash and my head stuck out the roof. The Fiata is obviously a visually bigger car - does any of that translate into more space for the driver?
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08-13-2016, 08:25 PM
#2792
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Oddly, I find the Countach to be a beautiful car; particularly the LP500. It's not graceful or elegant, don't get me wrong. Rather, it embodies everything wretchedly excessive and arrogant about both its time and its purpose. It's a car designed to shot "LOOK HOW MUCH BETTER THAN YOU I AM!" as you snort cocaine off of the breasts of the high-end hooker seated beside you, paid for by the money you've embezzled from your investment banking firm, as you race towards your private yacht docked in Monaco.
It was the perfect icon of its era.
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08-13-2016, 11:11 PM
#2793
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Does anybody know if the interior dimensions of the ND and Fiata are different? I sat in an ND and with the seat all the way back, my knees touched the dash and my head stuck out the roof. The Fiata is obviously a visually bigger car - does any of that translate into more space for the driver?
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08-14-2016, 03:27 AM
#2794
Yep. Same stuff. Fiata has more classically styled seat covers and the door panels are more "luxury" than "sport." It feels cozier than even an NA to me. I think it's the sculpted door panels. Makes the doors feel heavier -- in a not so good, '70s Caddy Eldorado kind of way (see my note about the window rattle when closing the door -- just like an old Eldo).
Last edited by hornetball; 08-14-2016 at 05:25 AM.
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08-15-2016, 10:32 AM
#2795
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Does anybody know if the interior dimensions of the ND and Fiata are different? I sat in an ND and with the seat all the way back, my knees touched the dash and my head stuck out the roof. The Fiata is obviously a visually bigger car - does any of that translate into more space for the driver?
The only changes are the seats and steering wheel.
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08-15-2016, 07:07 PM
#2796
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How can the ND achieve >90 ft-lbs per liter?! (see blue trace of 2nd plot). On a chassis dyno, no less.
Compare it to the stock plot (1st plot)
MX-5 Miata Forum - View Single Post - Abarth 124 vs ND Club Comparison
Compare it to the stock plot (1st plot)
MX-5 Miata Forum - View Single Post - Abarth 124 vs ND Club Comparison
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08-15-2016, 08:18 PM
#2797
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Just look at the difference on the modded plots at 2000 rpm and at 6000-7000 rpm. Astronomical.
Will be fun to see how far they get wth the Fiat engine, but it falls sooooo flat up top...
Will be fun to see how far they get wth the Fiat engine, but it falls sooooo flat up top...
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08-16-2016, 04:20 AM
#2798
No replacement for displacement. 1.4L vs. 2.0L.
I'm really enjoying driving the Fiata around streets in Italy. The torque delivery is perfect for this environment (diesels are popular here too) -- with the exception that there is little off-idle pull. I don't think I would like it too much on a track. It shuts down right when things are getting interesting (just like the plots). My guess is that the miata.net type who never revs past 5K will like the Fiata power delivery.
I'm really enjoying driving the Fiata around streets in Italy. The torque delivery is perfect for this environment (diesels are popular here too) -- with the exception that there is little off-idle pull. I don't think I would like it too much on a track. It shuts down right when things are getting interesting (just like the plots). My guess is that the miata.net type who never revs past 5K will like the Fiata power delivery.
Last edited by hornetball; 08-16-2016 at 04:38 AM.
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08-16-2016, 11:39 AM
#2799
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It will be curious to see if and how the Miata aftermarket responds to the turbocharged Fiat engine. Eg: will market penetration be sufficient for someplace like FM to market a Big Enchilada Stromboli for it?
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