Spider vs. Miata...driving impressions

[ga.spyder]

Hey,its 57 and sunny and I own a classic 82 Spider and a 92 Miata.Hmmm...what should I do Drive 'em! I took the same 20 some mile loop,back to back.The drive has exteme curves,big elevation changes,abit of highway driving,and some thru town.I know,my day sucked!!
I just got the Miata ,so obviously I am more used to the Spider.They have a lot of similarities(DOHC,4 wheel discs,5 speed).The Spider is the forerunner to the Miata in a lot of ways.This comparison was pretty interesting to me.Denise and I have wanted to do a side by side for a while.My take..
Comfort... The Miata is a smaller car,especially inside.The quarters feel very close.For me,the footwell is narrower than the Spider.The ride in both is pretty equal.Miata seats are better.Nod goes to the Spider
Style...no brainer.The Miata is a great car,but it doesnt have the flair of the Spider.The body is a complete ripoff of the Lotus Elan.The classic guages in the Spider are also much nicer.The winner,Spider
Motor...this was tough.The Spider has more torque.I found myself downshifting the Miata in places I didnt have to in the Spider.The Miata really pulls in the upper rpm's though and has a good bit of grunt.The Mazda will never be able to sound like the Fiat,and that made my decision.My call,Fiat by a hair!
Braking...not even close.The Miata brakes are far better than the Spiders.I could late brake some areas where I had been on the binders much earlier in the Fiat.Technology wins..Miata
Handling...my Miata has been lowered,performance springs,sway bars,etc...The Spider has performance springs,has been lowered,no rear sway bar.Both cars have 195/50x15 Yoko S-drive tires.My Miata is a lot lower than my Spider.So,it isnt really equal.The independent rear vs. the live axle factors in.The Spider handles and sticks very well.My Miata is like a freakin' roller skate,A true hoot to throw around curves...Miata
In closing,they are very equal.For stylin' and top down cruising I will take the Fiat every time.A joy to drive(as you all know).Lots of thumbs up,which you will never get ina Miata! If I am going to track or just really thrash on somethig,the Miata is coming out to play.Here are some side by side pics




My crowded garage,but hey,they fit!

[4uall]

DID SOMEBODY SAY MIATA? THOSE PIN UP GIRLS LOOKED LONELY SO MAYBE YOU CAN HANG THIS UP BESIDE THEM

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y ... directlink

[ga.spyder]

Oh God,Jay...that is disturbing!!!!!

[divace73]

Even though I am a Spider lover I do have a soft spot for the Miata (and as I have stated in another thread it would be my weapon of choice for track car), I think because the Japs did what the Poms and Euro's forgot to do with a true sports cars, I only wish Fiat did technically evolve the spider to directly compete with it, I know there was a bit of an attempt of the 85.5 but a fully independat rear end (the CSA abarth had it) 16V motor (again as an option for the group 4 CSA), use the 131 5 speed for strength if needed blah blah, I think you get my drift
It's a shame there isn't a Fiat Spider bolt on fiberglass kit for the miata.....

It seems like the japs have done it again with the toyota 86 and subaru (I don't know what they call it??), come on fiat make us a RWD cost effective true sports car agian......

[ga.spyder]

To me,the Miata is what the Fiat could have been if they had just kept developing it.If the new Alfa Spider ends up being Miata underpinnings with an Italian design body..it will be a giant success!

[divace73]

To me,the Miata is what the Fiat could have been if they had just kept developing it.If the new Alfa Spider ends up being Miata underpinnings with an Italian design body..it will be a giant success!

the only issue I see here is that it will be marketed and branded as an Alfa to basically justify charging more for it, a little like what they did with the Lancia Motecarlo / scorpian, it was suppode to be the next generation X1/9???
As far as sports and convertible cars go; after the 124 spider (and X1/9 might I add) Fiat did have the Coupe (with a mighty 5cyl 20V turbo)


and the Barchetta 1.8 16V N/A motor


which were great cars but both FWD (the barchetta only came out as LHD)

[ga.spyder]

I got to drive a gray market Barchetta at FFO a few years back.Nice car,but a front wheel drive roadster was odd.I didnt care much for it.The body looked like a Miata copy,almost as blatantly as Mazda copied the Lotus Elan!

[srwilson]

Speaking of the Miata and the Elan, I think this is a pretty cool video. Fun to drive being the thing we can all appreciate.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ssS169fn ... sS169fntR0

[aj81spider]

I agree with your comments about the interior space. Before I bought by spider I looked at the Miata, Boxter, S2000 and Pontiac Solstice. All had very tight interiors compared to the spider. It's probably the most comfortable, spacious sports car I've driven.

[ga.spyder]

Great video,Steve

[SLOSpider]

Id bye the Alfa coming to the US but its not a convert and I don't have 50k to spend on a toy




I vividly remember when the Miata first cam out and I took my then blue spider down for a test drive. When we got back the sales guy asked how I liked it and I said Id rather drive my Fiat for what you want for that. And off I drove. However now that you can get them sub 2k range they make neat road cars for sure.

[westy64]

I got to drive a gray market Barchetta at FFO a few years back.Nice car,but a front wheel drive roadster was odd.I didnt care much for it.The body looked like a Miata copy,almost as blatantly as Mazda copied the Lotus Elan!

I see more of the Ferrari lines in the barchetta.
Definitely a Pininfarina car.
A little of what we could see on all the cars designed by the master, including the 60's coupés and convertibles Peugeot and Fiats (Peugeot 404 and 504 Coupé and convertible, Fiat 1600, etc...).

A sweet back like older barchettas, some corvettes, etc...

In my mind very different to the couple Elan/Miata.

But it is only my opinion (about the outside...).

[Redline]

The Barchetta is very different in style than the Miata. It's quite a lovely little thing, with many nice details. I was never a fan of its FWD layout (it's a Punto underneath), as it really likes to understeer, and the motors liked to go pop, but certainly a nice looking car inside and out.

[2ndwind]

My 14 y.o. wanted a car to work on. We found a '94 Miata with 148K on it for $2k. Repairs were minimal (less than $300) to make it safe & reliable. I am 6' 190 lb. My son is now 6' 202 Lb. We both feel the car is cramped. He is concerned he will outgrow it before he can drive.

I do like the Miata steering better than the Spider but for that matter, my other son's '91 Accord 2dr has incredible steering, handling, and torque. Maybe I should put a spider body onto a '91 Accord.

[JConnerly]

I was recently considering selling my fiat to buy a Porsche 914. Went for a test drive in a 74 2L. No comparison! As nice of a car as the 914 was I think that I have been spoiled by the experience of driving my Spider. It's comfortable to ride in and a blast to drive not to mention the charm of it's Italian nature. Why would I want something else?