Totally true. Though, it would be nice if they differentiated the standard and sport suspensions a little more. Part of the reason I'm not interested in an ND right now is that I know I would want to do suspension, wheels, and tires. I already have a money pit NA.

I also haven't driven one yet but I am planning to guilt DK into letting me drive his.

 

The catch can market is really heating up for the ND.

 

Fiat's miata was just released.


2017 Fiat 124 Spider: A Fancified, Turbocharged Mazda Miata

I think it looks fantastic. i might pony up for the fiat. it comes with the 1.6l turbo engine found in the 500 abarth.

 

 

the rear looks more miata than the mx-jaguar

 

As much as I hate to comment on aesthetics, the Fiat version is a vastly better-looking car both front and rear. Sean Connery as James Bond could have driven that car while escaping from incompetent henchmen on a beautiful, twisty country road in the Alps.

Still, I'm not entirely certain I'd be comfortable owning a Fiat-made engine. And the specs on the engine are actually kind of depressing. 18 PSI gets you 160 hp and 184 ft/lbs? Am I missing something?

 

personally i'm not over the moon for the "angry puppy" look that top gear (Hammond) referenced. the abarth's 1.6 turbo will be the Achilles heel for this car. it will need as much upkeep as a super model. I'll just swap in a v8 once it kicks the bucket.

 

Awesome.

 

stupid fire fox spell checker hahahah i'll fix it.

 

I really want to like the Fiat's looks, but something about it is off. The closest comparison I can make is the Italia nose for the NA Miata. The details are right, the idea is fine...but somehow the proportions and shape make it too apparent that the inner structure was not intended for the outer skin.

Something about the front and rear overhangs on the Fiat give me a similar feeling. Not exactly the same (and not nearly as bad as the Italia nose), but similar.

 

That looks much better than those leaked photos a while back.
What's wrong with the fiat engine?
My 500 has been perfectly fine for the 140k.

 

You think?

I find it gorgeous. It harkens back to the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, but it's modernized in a way that looks natural and organic. Rather than what Ford / GM tend to do when resurrecting dead marquis that wind up being a parody of themselves, this car shows refined, mature Fiat heritage in much the same way that present-gen Aston Martins present an aggressive, modern image while still evoking their heritage in a way that avoids looking like a comic-book character of a child's drawing of a car/




Maybe it's just old superstition.

But like I said, the specs on the Abarth 500 just weird me out. If you're starting at 18 PSI and only making 160 HP, there's not really a lot of growth potential. Something about that engine seems... broken.

 

waht lead me to that observation. well it's Italian, so it will do Italian things. combine that with reports from friends that own 500 abarths (they drive dealer's rentals more then their 500's), and finally fiat was ranked worst in reliability by a large margin this year.
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...6aaailjkby.png

that being said. I love the italian flare of things. they have a real sense of style in even the cheapest cars they offer. the fact that you mention you haven't had a problem in 140k makes me want to think the storm is over, and buy one.

 

I mean, when I say I want to like it, I really do. It's really, really close, it's just that nagging feeling that I can too easily see the ND Miata's shape underneath it and it makes the front and rear treatment look odd.

I might get used to it. Or if I had seen it first, rather than seeing the ND Miata first, maybe it wouldn't bother me.

 

in pictures i really don't like the way the ND looks, but in person i think it looks great. we'll see how the fiat looks in person. (and not with supplied marketing photos)

 

I dunno. I not sure. I don't hate it, but something does look kinda weird.

Perhaps seeing one in person will change my mind.

Also I too was shocked (not pleasantly) @ the anemic power from a turbo powerplant


Agreed with this, looks way cooler in person.

 

One thing i noticed was the spinning wheel of "please wait" on the touch screen. A sign of what is to come if you buy a fiat. :P

 

I like how you reference the 1.6L motor twice; there's no 1.6L motor. You being cute about the Pandora sync is some rivals.com level of awful puns/digs just to have an awful pun and dig.

The Fiat will ultimately be the faster car just from the different motor, but that car looks like a dumpster fire with it's NB Ford Fusion uh... fusion rear end and Dodge Charger hood. The price will make or sink it.

 

The 124 does nothing for me.

 

while you weren't talking to me, I'm kinda curious what makes you say that so confidently?
More torque, sure, so it will FEEL faster, but what makes you say it will BE faster? It's heavier with 5hp more