[jintoku]

I'm seriously thinking about getting a 124 Spider for my daily commute, which is 85% highway. Is that a crazy idea? Clearly it has great mileage and should be a fun car to drive. My only concerns are noise and safety. As for noise, I like listening to audio tapes during my commute and wondering how bad the wind noise on this is when the roof is closed. As for safety, I suppose as long as I don't role over it is just as safe as another small vehicle?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[samberken]

when I test drove the car with my wife, We could easily carry a conversation. The ride also was quite comfortable. This will be my occasional commute ride as well. Being a four, it will be good on gas too!

 

[LongBeachJim]

When I drove the 124 the other day, it reminded me of my old 2004 350Z roadster (I commuted 75,000 miles in my Nissan). Also, in Southern California, I've seen multitudes of Miatas used as daily commuters.

For me, the big question will be if the Spider stands up for a 5-6 hour road trip without hurting my back, as Fiat doesn't offer a lumbar support adjustment in the seat. I guess I could always could purchase a little aftermarket cushion.

 

[Greg]

I'm 6'2, 220, my son is 6'4". We both drove it from South Carolina to Oklahoma, a 15 hour drive. For people our size its just fine for an hour or two, more than that is a bit of a pain.

My wife is about 5'6" and my son in law about 5'9". They are both super comfy in it. My wife has taken over the car to use as her commuter.

Greg

 

[racergary]

I'm only 5'4 and 132lbs so this ought to fit like a glove,nothing against bigger people.....sometimes while driving my Dodge Magnum I feel like a pea in a pod

 

[Malloric]

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/2016/road-test-specs1.html
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord/2013/comparison-test.html
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2014/road-test-specs/

Miata 72 decibels at 70 MPH. That's the club with the less insulated soft top. I think, although I'm not sure, at least the Lusso models are going to use the insulated top?
Cam/Cord, 62.
Civic, 68
S550 is about 60 but there's active noise cancellation as well, so it feels quieter. Closer to home, the new Miata (and I would assume Fiat will not be significantly different) is about as quiet as the NC hardtop. Old NC was 77 decibels. Our ears are highly defective so it's about a 10 decibel increase to "sound" twice as loud even though it's 3 decibels to have twice as much energy. So take your new family sedan at 70 mph and the Miata will sound twice as loud. That drop 5db drop from 77 to 72 decibels is not uncommon. Just over the last 5-10 years cars have gotten MUCH quieter. There's also a lot more that goes into it than just decibels. Smarter people talk about NVH (noise, vibration & harshness). Simpletons like myself like simple things we can actually understand like decibels. An example of that is the Lotus Elise or Alfa 4C. If it was just decibels, NC Miata (77) and a Lotus Elise/Alfa 4C (79) would basically be equivalent enough to be a wash. I've ridden in both and that's just not true. While the old NC was a bit loud I could certainly have DDed it. Elise I'd need a short commute. Specific frequencies are more annoying (like exhaust drone) and other factors beyond play into how fatiguing it is. Whatever the smart people are doing it works.

Cruising the Fiat should be similar to the Miata but the engine is a kitten. I don't think anyone's done a full instrument test to compare the db at WOT in the Miata to the Fiat for an objective simpleton's comparison but subjectively it's almost eerily quiet. Suspension is very compliant on both, so I don't think you'd have an issue there. Really it's noise. My old Mazda3 ('08) was around 70 db and a bit loud but nothing I found too bad. Top up Mazda/Fiat should be in that ballpark. The new Mazda3 was much more refined than what I had and I'd certainly have appreciated that. For me, I'm not really worried about it and think it'll be fine but for someone else it may be too loud.

 

[cubidus]

I use the car daily to go to work and back (~150km / 95 miles), changing routes, most time off highway.
Bose system is fantastic, it works fine until 160 km/h 100 miles/h when roof is down. Closed roof no troubles until 180km/h 110 miles/h.
Of course it's louder than a standard car. But never boring.
When roof and windows are down, i'heard a flattering noise from the roof's fabric starting at 140km/h.
Handsfree works also good until 140 km/h when windows up and roof down.
Have done more than 5000 km now.


Will test next week on german highway... See how fast the Spider does...

 

[PDX.124]

I'm seriously thinking about getting a 124 Spider for my daily commute, which is 85% highway. Is that a crazy idea? Clearly it has great mileage and should be a fun car to drive. My only concerns are noise and safety. As for noise, I like listening to audio tapes during my commute and wondering how bad the wind noise on this is when the roof is closed. As for safety, I suppose as long as I don't role over it is just as safe as another small vehicle?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Don't worry, I'm sure you won't be listening to audio tapes in the 124 Spider... unless you find an aftermarket deck that'll work.

 

[jintoku]

Lol, I meant audio books (and podcasts), not audio tapes

 

[Stewie]

I think this would be ideal for that. You have reasonable trunk space for whatever you may need to carry, great on gas, nimble for those traffic situations

 

[Greg]

My wife and I have been using it every morning to take my son to camp. It's about 20 miles each way, and I think it works out perfectly as a commuter car. It's reasonably comfy and has a decent trunk. It gets good fuel economy and most of all, I find myself looking forward to the drive.

Greg

 

[Chipshot]

Sure, why not? I commuted in a 2004 Miata. It made almost every road feel more fun. If I get a Spider, it will see regular commuting duty. Just not in snow.

 

[Dhuntr41]

Daily since I got it, can't wait to get in it every time.

 

[Alvon Elrod]

My wife and I have been using it every morning to take my son to camp. It's about 20 miles each way, and I think it works out perfectly as a commuter car. It's reasonably comfy and has a decent trunk. It gets good fuel economy and most of all, I find myself looking forward to the drive.

Greg

I suppose you are saying that either your wife or you are driving your son to camp. Otherwise, I'm picturing your wife and you in the cabin, and your son in the trunk! LOL. Just kidding, of course.

 

[Greg]

I suppose you are saying that either your wife or you are driving your son to camp. Otherwise, I'm picturing your wife and you in the cabin, and your son in the trunk! LOL. Just kidding, of course.

LOL, yes we alternate, or on days that we all go together we take the big Fiat, which is a 500L.

Greg

 

[Chipshot]

LOL, yes we alternate, or on days that we all go together we take the big Fiat, which is a 500L.

Greg

I thought the same thing about carrying two passengers. The Spider's trunk does have an internal release, doesn't it?

A two-Fiat family! How many of those are there in the US? That said, I can see myself having a Spider and a Giulia.

I used to enjoy renting a Mustang convertible when picking up my son from summer camp in Maine. It helped immensely that his stuff was shipped home.

 

[Chipshot]

Daily since I got it, can't wait to get in it every time.

Expect a fair amount of company on the road as Auburn Hills is likely to become a Spider centre.
I saw a black Lusso (easy to spot with its fog lamps on) making the turn from Woodward onto Square Lake/I-75 this morning, driving surprisingly tamely.

 

[MotoPete]

I use the car daily to go to work and back (~150km / 95 miles), changing routes, most time off highway.
Bose system is fantastic, it works fine until 160 km/h 100 miles/h when roof is down. Closed roof no troubles until 180km/h 110 miles/h.
Of course it's louder than a standard car. But never boring.
When roof and windows are down, i'heard a flattering noise from the roof's fabric starting at 140km/h.
Handsfree works also good until 140 km/h when windows up and roof down.
Have done more than 5000 km now.


Will test next week on german highway... See how fast the Spider does...

Ah... to live in a part of the world where such things are legal. *sigh* :crying: