Here’s an interesting video comparing the MX5 ND to the Fiat 124 version of the NC (Fiata / Miata!). They are very different cars despite the 124’s MX5 origins. He prefers the Fiat’s suspension set up but doesn’t like its small capacity blown engine where the throttle is like an on / off switch with turbo lag. Surprisingly on a test circuit the 124 is faster though the MX5 feels faster despite the 124’s lower top speed (it also has 10% higher fuel consumption).
Good video, thank you very much.
It’s so good that stopped making it!
The Later 2.0 ND is more powerful than the one tested also
Fiata è sempre la risposta.
“Fiata è sempre la risposta.”
Not if the question is “Who can I buy a new sports car from?” 
Always thought it was nicer looking than the slightly origami (sorry! 
) ND.
Shades of old school Fiats in bits
But…with a light alloy Alfa-esque 2 or 2.5 litre V6, close stacked 6 speeder & calico-rip exhaust of bygones.
No chance!
Or if the Fiat had the ND2 engine and drive train which would have been entirely easily possible had Fiat decided to use them, and maybe an Alfa badge… But as he said, you can’t pick and mix. Personally I like the look of both but could never live with that Fiat engine so it’s a no brainer - the ND2 for me (which is what I bought!). The other thing I could not live with is the faux bonnet bulges for the V engine that isn’t in the Fiat, and the internal MX5 styling references in the Fiat.
His point about FIAT name sounding better than Mazda would have been stronger if he had chosen the Abarth version. How many people can say they drive an Abarth? Unfortunately they hold their value so well that I’m unlikely to buy one! I’m told the FIAT 124 is very easy to ‘chip’ to give the same BHP as the Abarth.
I had a test drive in an Abarth 124 Spider last summer. I was so convinced that it was the car for me that I sold my ND1 (a 2litre auto) before the test drive.
What a disaster!
I really didn’t like the Abarth at all. It was horribly noisy, the engine was incredibly laggy and the car looked out of proportion and crudely styled in the flesh (subjective I know but they are my eyes). It was faster than my ND1 but not in a pleasant way. All the power was at the top end and the engine noise and feel was massively inferior the the lovely smooth revvy Mazda.
It was a very unsubtle car in my opinion.
Fortunately I found a very low mileage ND2 which is utterly fabulous and I’ll be keeping it.
I got mildly excited when the FIAT anounced a new 124, I learned to drive in a 124 Special T saloon, but was terribly dissapointed when I heard it was to be powered by a ditty likkle turbo, oppprtunity missed by the boys from Turin INMHO. Imagine if had got the 2 litre 20 valve turbo, that really would have been an Italian sports car worthy of the name.
The guy from Hagerty said it has 10mpg less than the ND (so around 30mpg)
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.