How do you know if actually like something ...

"Milky" (jordanmielke) 11/18/2015 at 11:07 • Filed to: Fiata, Fiat 124, Miata, 124, MX5

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... and not just like it because you want to?

I think the red paint makes the Fiata 124 look good. But chatting with design friends, its a mixed bag of reactions. Roommate has a 500 Abarth, other friends had NBs and in theory this seems like a perfect combo.

I’ll beat on the Crossfire for another winter and hopefully these will be out (either reviews or test drives) by spring. Fingers crossed for $30k with LSD, heated seats and not a straight black interior.

EDIT: I have weird thing for hipster chassis. Sc400/Supra, Crossfire/SLK and I want a 124 instead of a Miata.

Opposite Locksmith > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:11

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To answer your headline? The fizz

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:12

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Overall I like it but I can’t stand those hood bulges. They look cheap and stamped in.

crowmolly > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:14

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Big one: Are you willing to buy it? Not just “if I could I would” but “I can and I will”.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/18/2015 at 11:14

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As opposed to what? glued on? Character lines are almost always stamped or molded in.

Mercedes Streeter > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:16

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I like it. I’m not big on the MX-5 interior remaining almost perfectly intact, but I do like it. :)

It wears the red and the white very well.

Also, I’m not sure why people are complaining, they pretty much copy-pasted design cues from the old Fiat onto a MX-5 body.

JR1 > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:17

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This is so much better than the Miata. And it has an Abarth engine. So much want

Milky > Opposite Locksmith 11/18/2015 at 11:18

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Ohh there is fizz.

EDIT: do gifs not work now? Damn kinja.

Milky > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/18/2015 at 11:20

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That throwback though.

Svend > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:22

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You know when you like something when you appreciate what it is but can’t clearly define a single aspect from the many things you see over each other.

mazda616 > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:22

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I love it. They took a great thing (Miata) and fine-tuned it to add their own flavor. When a rebadge is successful, both products are good.

Milky > crowmolly 11/18/2015 at 11:22

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Start my new job on Monday and I am buying a new car next year (new to me at least). So yes, I am willing to buy it.

Need details like price and if its good first though.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mazda616 11/18/2015 at 11:25

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The only thing that really bugs me here is the way the interior stays almost the same. Needs some Italian flair there too.

Milky > Mercedes Streeter 11/18/2015 at 11:26

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Agreed. But I like the interior way more the Fiat 500’s, so I won’t complain about that.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:27

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I think I need to see one before I make up my mind.

The lighter or brighter colors, like red and that ivory white, look better than the darker colors.

The brown leather is what I wish Miata had. The Launch Edition blue is also nice, and I don’t dislike the bright windshield frame and mirror caps.

However the overhangs are longer and higher. The character lines in the doors and rear fenders aren’t as good, the face looks a bit “derp-y” and the grille’s curved edges look like a constipated facial expression.

If they are going to try to replicate the Pontiac Grand Prix or Aston Martin DB7 V12’s turn signal and fog light over-under half-circle look... they should use bright trim, not raw black plastic.

The headlights on the 124 look like they aren’t sure what shape they are really supposed to be... round or not? Tapered or not? Flush fitted into the bodywork, or vertical... and they come off as a bit of a non-committal mess of a design.

Miata’s overhangs are shorter, the character line in the side is better, the front end is more tapered, but oddly mixes a demented grin of a grille, with angry squinty eyes. The tail is very truncated, and the tail lights would be fine if they were round without the bit hanging off the side. The reverse lights on the back, and the DRLs on the front that slant outboard at the bottom look weird, too.

The thing is, I didn’t really like the ND Miata until I actually saw one in a direct context to see how small it is, and get a three dimensional idea of the surfaces. I like it much more after seeing it in three dimensions and from a high angle, as in standing beside it. Most images aren’t taken at that downward angle at a short distance.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:30

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I definitely prefer it to the Miata. It’s a little bit hard to un-see the Miata when you look at it, since it’s obviously a Miata, but certainly a more attractive one.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:35

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This is OK.

This is bloody fantastic.

A silver stripe, slightly lowered suspension, and a good set of aftermarket wheels. Those are the only differences. They are the same paint color.

I am looking forward to seeing what can be done with the 124 to wipe away some of the stock sedation, and make the 124 design actually show it’s potential.

Sam > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:37

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I have to see it in person before I judge. In pictures, it's a butterface.

Milky > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/18/2015 at 11:44

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Yea I like both ... but still think I might prefer the miata’s simpler, more curvy body. Like you said though seeing one in the flesh makes a difference. Also like you said the ND looks better when you’re next to it.

Im just assuming the turbo/exhaust of the Fiat will bring me over the that side.

greenagain > crowmolly 11/18/2015 at 11:44

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I wonder if it will have traditional FIAT resale value? Could be The Deal 2nd hand.

duurtlang > crowmolly 11/18/2015 at 11:46

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It’s the 2010+ car I’m most likely to buy. Used, true, but that does help with keeping the resale value up and thus cost of first ownership down.

uofime-2 > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:48

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Do you know what the reliability is like on that engine? I know the 500 overall had issues, but I don’t recall if they were engine related

Milky > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/18/2015 at 11:48

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Drop and wheels make all the difference, or really the right “stance” does.

Another one for fun.

And I rally-ified this coupe rendering last year.

I want to be the one to rally-ify the 124 in real life.

Milky > Sam 11/18/2015 at 11:50

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I think I prefer the Miata looks but I certainly wouldn’t say the 124 is a butterface.

But in person opinions are best opinions.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Milky 11/18/2015 at 11:54

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Those are nice. I wish for a Miata coupe... but I don’t know how much hope there is for that.

If I could get this interior:

With the matte gold 6UL Wheels (by 949racing), and a matte gold stripe that just says “MX-5 Miata” and “Miata MX-5” on opposite sides.

I’d also take it in Soul Red with the darker brown interior and gold wheels.

If Fiat can make a 124 Abarth Spyder in the vein of the old one... It could be interesting.

That could be cool, too.

Milky > uofime-2 11/18/2015 at 11:59

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I haven’t looked it up at all to be honest. But my roommates 500 Abarth hasn’t had any issues and IIRC its a 30k miles now.

I read either on the FP or autoblog that Fiat has just made its 2 millionth 1.4t .... I’d assume the kinks are worked out.

Milky > JR1 11/18/2015 at 12:00

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Seriously. I’ve been lusting for that engine/exhaust in a RWD chassis for a while now.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/18/2015 at 12:02

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As in it looks like a cheap metal pressing like you’d see on a mass produced item, the kind of corrugation they’d use to increase strength on a flat piece of metal. It’s out of place with the rest of the styling.

RallyWrench > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:02

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You know, I hated it in blue last night, but from those high angles it’s growing on me. I see some 240Z in the nose in addition to the clear attempt to reference the old 124.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/18/2015 at 12:03

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I am confident that replacement seat upholstery may become available, or could be customized.

A Ferrari-esque “Daytona Seat” option would be fine. It has been done before... The black perforated leather stripes are a long-standing Ferrari option, dating back to the 365 GTB/GTS Daytona.

Contrasting a stock seat vs. a re-covered rare Miata 3-piece seat with a Daytona stripe custom leather upholstery cover, in an NA Miata.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:10

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I like it. :)

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/18/2015 at 12:11

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Have to disagree with you, there.

It fits just as well as the side character line that kicks up over the door handle and along the rear fender crest. The character line, and the hood details are both lifted *directly* from the classic 124. Yes, they may be a bit submerged under the surface of the hood, before they dome back up, but it still clearly alludes to the original. (and there may be some aftermarket, or even a perhaps an official Abarth version, that has them solely raised.)

Meanwhile, I have realized how the headlights need to be changed, to look properly done.

The inboard concave curve needs to be either silver or body-color, and the light fixture “bucket” inside the DRL LED ring needs to be silver, not blacked out. Along with the trim pieces around the turn signal and fog light being silver, and perhaps even a metallic upper grille mesh, could make the new 124 look classy. They could use a modern finish to make it look like a liquid-metal treatment, or something, as opposed to chrome... but the light trims need to not be black. I say that while admitting that most cars look better with blacked out headlights... just not this one.

uofime-2 > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:15

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you would think... and that should keep the price down too. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how the car is priced.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 11/18/2015 at 12:18

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It’s not so much the seats as the fact that the rest of the interior loos the same. Changing the infotainment screen would be the biggest thing, it’s the most noticable thing in the Miata and therefore you can tell immediately that it’s the same. Other things would be the vents, the instrument panel cowl shape and a few trim pieces like door handles etc.

Subtle stuff.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:28

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I like it, and the fact that it’ll come with the Abarth engine will be very nice as long as they keep that shouty exhaust.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:29

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The Miata is the more cohesive design, by far. Have you driven one yet? It’s quite good. Hmm... wait for the first Fiata to get (rear-end) totaled, and buy the motor and a lightly used ND?

I’m sure Flying Miata and others will have turbo options for the ND in short order.

DirtyBird > Milky 11/18/2015 at 12:41

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kinda like it in white with the brown interior most, until a BRG one shows up <.< >.>

Milky > RallyWrench 11/18/2015 at 13:29

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And lets be honest, its so small 95% of the time you’ll see it from a high angle.

Milky > uofime-2 11/18/2015 at 13:29

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Hope they learned from the 500 abarth and don't price it too high.

Milky > gin-san - shitpost specialist 11/18/2015 at 13:33

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Even if the don’t its an easy thing to fix!

Milky > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2015 at 13:34

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Only have ridden in :(

But I like the idea of the 124 too, its the less obvious choice.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 11/18/2015 at 13:54

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There definitely will be many fewer of them on the road.

Milky > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2015 at 14:55

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As one of oppo’s resident hipsters, I like that.