Joined
·
22 Posts
Clarkson on the 124
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
Old fashioned scuttle shake? He's got to be kidding. This car feels as planted and solid as any roadster I've ever driven - and there's been a few. I think there are some critics that just are dying to come up with clever negative remarks to make them seem more, well, clever. And, its a gorgeous car. Maybe its just that I've always found the MX-5 looks too much like a toy, but I just don't get it.
Joined
·
337 Posts
Rather disappointed in Jeremy - "I don't like it because it's not what I thought it would be."
I guess he had to be contrary since Ollie Kew of the current Top Gear crew was impressed with it: http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/124-spider/first-drive
I guess he had to be contrary since Ollie Kew of the current Top Gear crew was impressed with it: http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/124-spider/first-drive
Unless he just came out of driving some of the stiffest vehicles you could run on a road course track or on local roads but this is also why I don't depend on just one source. Often its better to look to who has driven enough vehicles along the lines of what you want that can provide feedback most valuable to you.
Joined
·
163 Posts
Clarkson has a point regarding the rear-end styling. That upturn in the rear quarter-panels was a distinctive, eye-catching feature of the original 124 Spider. But the re-stylists, working with a more rounded trunk lid, echoed that effect by canting the horizontal tail lights. Not as clean as the original, but it did leave more room in the trunk!
Joined
·
1,630 Posts
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I just bought the Abarth and had considered the Mazda Club. It's the only one with a LSD, and the Mazda community is convinced that it needs aftermarket suspension bits to make it drive right. And the steering is not as good as in the Fiat. The Fiat feels like the hydraulic steering in my 2000 Miata, and the 2017 Club had a very distinctive disconnect .
The best part of all this is that they are still all good cars, although Mazda is dealing with a transmission defect in the 6MT. I'd have thought Clarkson would care more about that, but I'd guess he does not know.
He is not omnipotent and this review just goes to show that.
The best part of all this is that they are still all good cars, although Mazda is dealing with a transmission defect in the 6MT. I'd have thought Clarkson would care more about that, but I'd guess he does not know.
He is not omnipotent and this review just goes to show that.
Joined
·
248 Posts
Now looking at the current Clarkson on The Grand Tour I doubt very much he even drove a MX5/124 by the size of him 
Joined
·
226 Posts
He can't very well be in agreement with Hammond now can he?
Hamster LOVES the Abarth.
Hamster LOVES the Abarth.
Joined
·
124 Posts
The Abarth is the equivalent of $36,645
My Fiat Lusso Plus cost $7,700 less
This review was written by a guy who punched an unpaid intern for not bringing his lunch soon enough. By doing so he trashed one of the best auto shows ever costing hundreds of people their jobs, disappointing millions of fans, and embarrassing his employers who took a chance on him and TG in the beginning. And despite every re-configuration attempt Top Gear has not come back to anywhere near its former glory. TG and it's magic will never be back.
I'm not saying he's not entitled to his opinion, I'm wondering if it needs to matter anymore. Originally the show was about the love of cars and good guys hanging out. By the time he had his tantrum all that was gone.
I've spent most of my life in the entertainment business and worked with some awesome people and also seen all kinds of this assholish behavior. The latter really does piss me off.
Flame off
Steve
I'm not saying he's not entitled to his opinion, I'm wondering if it needs to matter anymore. Originally the show was about the love of cars and good guys hanging out. By the time he had his tantrum all that was gone.
I've spent most of my life in the entertainment business and worked with some awesome people and also seen all kinds of this assholish behavior. The latter really does piss me off.
Flame off
Steve
Joined
·
75 Posts
Something I've noticed with all the UK 124 reviews is that when they compare the 124 and MX5-
Price and economy they use the 1.5 litre Mazda.
Performance they use the 2 litre Mazda.
Therefore implying that the Fiat is thirstier, more expensive and slightly slower...
In reality, yes it's thirstier and more expensive but way faster than the 1.5 and slightly cheaper and slower than the 2 litre but more economical.
So comparing apples and apples there's nothing in it.
Price and economy they use the 1.5 litre Mazda.
Performance they use the 2 litre Mazda.
Therefore implying that the Fiat is thirstier, more expensive and slightly slower...
In reality, yes it's thirstier and more expensive but way faster than the 1.5 and slightly cheaper and slower than the 2 litre but more economical.
So comparing apples and apples there's nothing in it.
Joined
·
1,120 Posts
Actually neither is the case. The Abarth (Aus spec which is 168hp...same as the UK) is quicker than the MX5 2.0 (Aus spec which is 158hp...same as the UK). Not by a lot but it is quicker. And the Abarth uses more fuel than the MX5 2.0 (about 10% more). Don't give a toss about "official" numbers....I'm giving you the straight dope from having both of them in my garage.
Joined
·
101 Posts
What l/100kms have you averaged on both?
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
