by "Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
Published 05/23/2017 at 14:24
by "Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
Published 05/23/2017 at 14:24
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STARS: 5
The biggest hit on the Fiat 124 vs its brother the ND MX5 is that it’s a bit slower, oddly, than its naturally-aspirated twin. But the turbo in the Fiat, thought Jake when the cars were revealed, will lend itself to much larger power gains with a simple tune. Turns out I was right and for just $700 you can get an additional 48whp and 40wtq and a TON of additional area under the dyno curve. Behold.
“But where is the dyno graph”? Right here.
Now obviously these are to be taken with some salt since they’re from the manufacturer and not a 3rd party test but with the 124's stronger transmission and this tune the ND seems to be fairly rekt and my want for a CPO 124 has increased yet more. Toss some sway bars and this tune on a Fiat and make ND owners cry.
"InFierority Complex" (lanciere)
05/23/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 0
What can I complain about next, then?
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
05/23/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 4
I think some of the hesitation would be that people don’t want to take a brand new car from a manufacturer around the bottom of the reliability list and subject it to a warranty-voiding aftermarket tune.
Big gains from extra boost is great, but it isn’t the best solution for a car that just came to market for most people.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/23/2017 at 14:33, STARS: 5
ND owner’s won’t be crying because they’ll be having fun driving their cars while the 124 owners are fixing yet another broken thing
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 3
I feel like this is a bad idea. Although the body/suspension should be fine because Mazda, that engine and transmission cannot be trusted. Slapping a tune on it to extract more power sounds like a recipe for catastrophic failure. Do you really think it’s a good idea to void the warranty with their reputation?
"Ssfancyfresh" (scotttt)
05/23/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 1
Seems pretty straightforward. Advantage 124.
Interesting comments on this post. I’m sure the ND is great. For those that are looking to unlock a bit more potential, the 124 looks like the way to go.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
05/23/2017 at 14:43, STARS: 1
To be fair to the Fiat, it’s an older Mazda unit from the previous generation Miata. That car made 167 hp so the gains shouldn’t cause it too much distress.
"itschrome" (itschrome)
05/23/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 0
ok stop me if I’m wrong. but that’s the same engine from the 500 Abarth correct? if so I know a guy that’s had a 200+ hp tune on his and he dailies that with out issue. so maybe not as bad as one’s gut would naturally say.
"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
05/23/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 0
The Fiat 124 uses a 1.4L MultiAir engine from FCA, not a Mazda motor.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
05/23/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 2
I was referring to the gearbox, not the engine, but that was an error on my part! Need to remember to be more clear about things.
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
05/23/2017 at 14:49, STARS: 4
Because people are stupid and want to hate FCA products any way they can. Even though this one is assembled by Mazda and uses a 10 year old engine with no known problems.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 14:51, STARS: 0
It isn’t an old Mazda engine, it’s a Fiat-designed/built 1.4L MultiAir turbo.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
05/23/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 0
I was referring to the gearbox, not the engine though I can see how I left the statement vague and open to misinterpretation.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
05/23/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 1
Is this based on fact, or are you just assuming because it’s FCA?
From what I’ve seen, the 1.4 MultiAir has been very durable.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 0
I’m fairly sure they’re not the same. The 500 Abarth has less power and a different designation (FIRE TurboJet, rather than MultiAir turbo). It appears to at least be a newer variant.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
05/23/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 0
This tune won’t change that, so go for the power!
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 0
Ahh. Well, I wasn’t aware of this. I’m a fan of Mazda transmissions.
Still, the big question mark is the engine, which is what they’re tuning...
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 15:01, STARS: 0
I stand corrected. The engine cannot be trusted, but this is what they’re tuning, so it still stands.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
05/23/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 0
How’s your cat?
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 1
Back with the family it ended up separated from
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
There’s personal opinion and there’s actual stats:
http://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:10, STARS: 0
Meh. Recent Fiat stuff has been fine. The trans is from an NC and is known to be durable, and I haven’t heard of many issues with the 500 abarth engines, and the 1.4 MultiAir won Engine of the Year in 2010.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
05/23/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 0
How does the 124's 1.4 sound if you open up the exhaust a bit?
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
05/23/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 0
The 1.4 is actually extremely reliable, and reliably handles quite a bit more power than stock. On top of that, the ND has a trans made out of overheated plastic, while this has a much stouter, proven unit from an older model.
The only problem that there really is with the 124, is that it is one of the most unfortunate looking cars released in the past few years.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 3
Nice hot take, but the 1.4 Multiair is far from untested (it won 2010 international engine of the year) and the transmission and entire rest of the car is all Mazda so... imma say “no”, especially considering the ND transmissions have been breaking left and right due to Mazda trading out durability for lower drivetrain losses and the 124 uses the NC’s much stouter tranny.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 0
I dunno, like, the weather.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 1
Probably like a wet fart.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
05/23/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 0
Ha, how did you guys end up finding them?
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 0
book of faces. Michaela’s mom found a ‘missing cat’ post somehow.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
05/23/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
You might be right. On the plus side if I trade in my SHO (paid off), I could drive this for $31/mo for three years for 15k miles per year.
"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
05/23/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 1
For all the viewers at home who guessed the turboed 1.4 would be the eventual easy-power gain victor, give yourself 10 points. I count myself included in that group.
I think only remaining complaints were the slightly softer suspension in the fiata, but even that as is solvable via miata suspension swap or the aftermarket.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
05/23/2017 at 15:19, STARS: 1
Too bad it doesn’t make it prettier or more rev-happy. Advantage 1.5 ND.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
05/23/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 1
What a time to be alive.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 0
Meh. Attractiveness is subjective and personally I way prefer the wide-eyed Fiata to the squinty ND. And Miatas haven’t been particularly rev-happy since the 1.6 died so I couldn’t give less of a shit as long as it shoves me back in my seat more
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 2
TBH I prefer the softer suspension. Add a roll bar for a tighter feeling in corners and enjoy or just get coilovers like a sane human bean.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
05/23/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 0
Fair enough. The 1.5 in the ND is a peach though, it’s a shame they don’t sell it globally.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
05/23/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0
This is full of yes.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 15:32, STARS: 0
The ND is impressively fast feeling for how mediocre the actual numbers are on paper. Mazda did a good job making a slow car feel supersonic.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
05/23/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
What stat?
All you’ve shown me is a reliability score that doesn’t have any more information, such as what parts of the cars have issues (or don’t).
"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
05/23/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
Wouldn’t bother me one bit. Just saying that’s been the other complaint that i’ve heard.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
05/23/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
IIRC, its basically people hate the infotainment and various little quality issues. But nothing to do with the engine.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
05/23/2017 at 15:44, STARS: 0
The transmission is a 10+ year old design, and the engine is a 5+ year old design. Both are pretty proven, especially the 1.4.
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
05/23/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 0
I’m sure that will convince many owners.
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
05/23/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 1
Never ever ever trade in a car, or put money down on a lease. Leave the risk on the bank. If you total the car you are out that cash or car that you put into the lease. Better to hold the cash to make payments, or keep the car and sell it on your own, or to the dealer apart from your lease.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/23/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 0
Eh. I’m just pokin fun. I don’t have a dog in the fight. I don’t trust fiat-Chrysler products but don’t begrudge people who buy them. It’s about whatever makes you happy.
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
05/23/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 0
I’d assume exactly like a 500 Abarth. They are sold without mufflers and sound great.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/23/2017 at 16:27, STARS: 0
Um, wasn’t this readily apparent from the beginning that the turbo motor with a tune would obviously make a lot more power than the NA motor? Haven’t 500 Abarths been running around with tunes for years before the 124 Abarth came out?
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
05/23/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 0
I was joking. I’d never do this, haha.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
05/23/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
oh nice!
"WRXforScience" (WRXforScience)
05/23/2017 at 16:43, STARS: 2
Ahm...
As an enthusiast community we have decided to deride the Fiata from now until they start coming off lease and onto the used market. The best part of the 124 is that resale values will be beautifully low. NA’s are getting into classic status, NB’s are getting pretty old, and we all decided to hate on the NC’s (at least until they are in the $5k neighborhood) so we need something to occupy the $12k-$15k range.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
05/23/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 0
I was going to make exactly that comment. I don’t think anyone is rushing to void a Fiat warranty, even if a lot of the car is Japanese.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 0
Everyone claims the FCA infotainment systems are great... FCA is just the master of unreliability.
Ford got hit for infotainment systems for many years.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/23/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 0
So, just like a 500 Abarth.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
05/23/2017 at 17:32, STARS: 0
As in them failing. The Focus/Fiesta actually has much worse ACTUAL reliability issues.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
05/23/2017 at 18:08, STARS: 1
Well the mazda will not break, I bet the Fiat will.
"random001" (random001)
05/23/2017 at 19:10, STARS: 1
Having that exact engine, and probably that same ECU, I can vouch for the potential power gains. Some people tune in an additional 100 HP to their 1.4 multiair.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 19:22, STARS: 1
Cool meme bro.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/23/2017 at 19:22, STARS: 0
Yup. But a better seating position.
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
05/23/2017 at 19:58, STARS: 0
If they made the 124 abarth in form of the mx5 RF (or better yet, a coupe) I’d already be at the dealer ordering one. As it is, I have too much hair for a car without a roof... and the weather here tends to suck.
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
05/23/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
I don’t know what that means.
"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
05/24/2017 at 11:10, STARS: 0
So your saying he should stop trying to give the Fiata a good reputation... because it might drive cost up on the used purchase price of a leased model?
"WRXforScience" (WRXforScience)
05/24/2017 at 11:56, STARS: 0
The response was meant to be a little tongue and cheek; however, the more unmolested, unloved, and undervalued vehicles that fall onto the used market the better.
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
05/24/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 1
I get the sense that auto journalists just don’t like going down the path of “this car is good but when you turn the boost to 11 it will be better.” I’m guessing it’s because manufacturers ask them not to either explicitly or with a wink. It makes sense for the to review the car as they get it. And I’m guessing new car owners are hesitant to buy a car knowing the first they’ll do is turn up the boost.
Here is another case in point. I had never paid attention to the Chevy Sonic, but it turns out people like them. In particular, people like the RS trim, compared to the LT trim it has rear discs, some suspension tuning, and shorter gearing. But the 1.4t in the RS made 138hp, which wasn’t that much more than the base 1.8 na engine and the same as the other 1.4t models. Most of the reviews of the RS were like, “this car is nice and pretty good, it would be better with just a bit more oomph.” And at the time there were already tunes out for the engine offering 25hp/tq - 40hp/60tq. But none of the reviewers went so far as to say “get this car and give it a mild tune and then it will keep up with the fiesta st to 60”.
"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
05/25/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
oh, i know it was tongue in cheek, I was actually mentally replying in the same slightly sarcastic agreeing tone... Kinja stripped the emotion from my words just like it strips the links from my posts.