Every iteration has been nimble, direct, reliable, relatively cheap to run and incredibly engaging to drive. A simpler - less costly to include - open diff is favoured by Fiat, though in fairness neither car is powered by a motor potent enough to make this tangible on the road.But differences in the drivetrains are undoubtedly the most significant attributor to why the 124 Spider feels nothing like the MX-5. The Urban White pearlescent paint - a £750 option on the 124 Spider - had turned to a shade of brown on our test car after 500 miles of winter drivingThe Fiat 124 Spider isn't the car for me, but it might be the car for anyone who hates everything I love about the Mazda MX-5'Don't even contemplate buying the Fiat 124 Spider instead of a Mazda MX-5.' The same journey in an MX-5 (or any rear-wheel drive sports car) in sub-zero conditions would have filled me with panicked excitement - that jittery feeling people must get as they're about to bungee-jump off the side of a 250-foot suspension bridge.The closest I got to this sensation on that trip was waking the next day filled with worry that I'd forgotten to pay the Dartford crossing charge.After 500 miles at the wheel, I have to confess, I was on the verge of boredom. Overall verdict. We drive the Japanese firm's cute and compact EVConsidering a Tesla Model 3? The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. “The Fiat 124 Spider is a stylish and quick roadster that’s great to drive.

Until now, if you wanted a rear-wheel driven convertible sports car with two seats for around £20,000 you had just one choice. It's at its best when driven hard and gives you a mechanical pat on the back when you use it with clinical precision.Peak power is supplied at half the revs that it is in the 2.0-litre Mazda, meaning you have to fumble your way through the less definitive gates in the gearbox much earlier to avoid being penalised by the lack of torque higher in the revs.This is a trait I refer to as 'turbo-culosis' - when a car with sporty aspirations has the enjoyment levels drained out of it by a blown motor with a pinched power band.Cruising in the Fiat is much more pleasant - the low-down torque provided by the turbocharged 1.4-litre engine lets you drive in a lazier fashionIn town, the 124 Spider feels punchy and quick off the mark. 23 Sep 2016. There's a lot to like about the MX-5 - it's nimble and incredibly engaging. Reassuringly, the Mazda MX-5 on which it’s based managed a reasonable four out of five stars in its evaluation – performed under the latest and strictest crash regulations. The wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) remains the same, thoughThe extra 14cm in overall car length hasn't made the interior any roomier - it's still as snug as a fighter jet cockpitOne dimension that has remained consistent is the wheelbase - at 2.3 metres.In the Mazda, this short gap between the front and rear axle makes it feel responsive, urgent and sometimes a little agitated. It’s like an elephant on a unicycle. There's this ever-present sensation that the MX-5 is always alive and demanding of both your input and instinctive reactions, with your body being the centre point and the car's mass pivoting around you.
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