MX5 and 124 Abarth comparison

[Jobbo]

I promised Dan a go in my MX5 when spring arrived and finally made good tonight. Too late really since he’d already bought basically the same car, a lovely 124 Abarth. He chucked me the keys to that so I had a chance to compare as well.

Dan’s priorities are probably quite different to mine; he was impressed by the body control of my car while I liked the ride of his. They’re surprisingly different - the engine being very obviously so. My MX5 is virtually silent, his Abarth is dirty and made me laugh as I drove it and it made so many different noises, pops and snorts. It’s a defining difference and I really need to fit the induction tube I have and investigate exhausts.

The Abarth is blue and if I’d been able to choose that on my car, I would have and not wrapped it. It’s a lovely colour and would go well with white alloys on an MX5. The seat in Dan’s car was comfy and a bit slippery; my main reason for buying a new MX5 was the Recaros and I think Dan liked them. I preferred his gearshift quality (more run-in than mine - Dan preferred mine though). The Abarth has far more mid-range torque but the trade-off is the softer throttle response.

They even look very different, the Abarth appearing bigger but it’s an optical illusion since they have identical interior and boot space.

I don’t think either would disappoint and I loved the Abarth - it felt more comfy but also more naughty. But I’m very happy with my car too. Amazing how different they are.

[dan]

Having just driven home in mine it’s amazing how different they are. I think I’d much prefer yours on a track day but I prefer mine on the road, it’s so torquey in the mid range it makes spirited but not crazy road driving really fun. Mine runs out of steam at the top end though so I never rev it out.

The gearshift on yours feels slicker than mine, mine feels notchy and a bit reluctant to be rushed into gear, your seats are lovely and the dampers are way better, mine feels fidgety over rough tarmac whereas yours has the planted feel of a much more expensive car.

[MikeHunt]

But which ones was quicker?

I do think that the 124 sounds a million times better from stock, on my white mx5 I had an induction tube as standard but removed it, do the later ones not have them or have you found a more insulated after market version @Jobbo ?

I was elated to read that Mazda are planning a 5th gen, that will be manual, n/a and under 1000kg, I have been very tempted by a Homura (or anther z4, especially if there is a m2 engined run out edition), but may hold off for 18 months now.

[IanF]

Seen 3 124s recently.. are they bigger than the current MX5 or lower? Certainly look wider..

[integrale_evo]

I don’t think there’s much in it size wise, but the mx tapers in heavily at the ends where the 124 fills out the space.

[integrale_evo]

5mm wider, 5mm taller, 140mm longer, but strangely most of the extra length seems to be the front overhang, from just thinking about what they look like I would have guessed the fiat rear end would have been longer.

[Jobbo]

But which ones was quicker?

I do think that the 124 sounds a million times better from stock, on my white mx5 I had an induction tube as standard but removed it, do the later ones not have them or have you found a more insulated after market version @Jobbo ?

I was elated to read that Mazda are planning a 5th gen, that will be manual, n/a and under 1000kg, I have been very tempted by a Homura (or anther z4, especially if there is a m2 engined run out edition), but may hold off for 18 months now.

On paper the MX5 is quicker - it's 184bhp plays 168bhp. The turbo torque of the 124 Abarth does make it feel stronger but it runs out of puff earlier (Dan says - I didn't rev his car out but then I don't know if he took mine to the red line either).

Mine has the induction tube to the passenger footwell. I've bought a sound tube mod kit which makes it noisier but that's what I have yet to fit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267126791720 - it's never going to make it sound like the Abarth though. The noises that makes are incredible. They genuinely made me laugh out loud.

Maybe I'll buy an NE in future when they've been around a while; I really like my car though

[V8Granite]

The fact we see quite a few of the simpler lighter cars about is a reason to be joyous in itself I think.

A lady on Tallington has a new one every couple of years and it really looks a lot smaller than a triple black 124 which is somewhere in the town. So the measurements are a bit of a surprise.

Dave!

[Jobbo]

5mm wider, 5mm taller, 140mm longer, but strangely most of the extra length seems to be the front overhang, from just thinking about what they look like I would have guessed the fiat rear end would have been longer.

The Fiat rear end does look longer but Dan and I went all What Car? and compared boots. They're identical under the outer skin.

[MikeHunt]

Maybe I'll buy an NE in future when they've been around a while; I really like my car though

A lot of love for the ND, I only owned 1 of each of the na, nb and nc, but 2x NDs and I really expected the next mx5 to be at best a small engine turbo and more likely a hybrid.

There is a high chance that the 2.5 will be a worse engine, compromised by emissions regs.

The fact we see quite a few of the simpler lighter cars about is a reason to be joyous in itself I think.

Amen!

[Jobbo]

I've owned two NAs and an ND, neither of the others. So if they bring back pop-up headlights for the NE, I would probably be switching. That's a nice get-out for me

[IanF]

Think I read Toyota is looking at bringing the MR2 back.. could be interesting if so

[MikeHunt]

Think I read Toyota is looking at bringing the MR2 back.. could be interesting if so

And the Celica by all accounts.

[duncs500]

I didn't rev his car out but then I don't know if he took mine to the red line either

I'm willing to go out on a limb here...

[John]

The difference in gear change feel is probably down to Dan's 124 having the old mx5 nc box.

[Jobbo]

The difference in gear change feel is probably down to Dan's 124 having the old mx5 nc box.

I'm sure that's going to make a difference. Weird how that clearly fits the platform yet Mazda decided to make a new box for the ND.

[GG.]

Interesting comparison - I also thought the Fiat was FWD and the Mazda RWD - guess I must be living back in 2004 and thinking about the Barchetta

[Jobbo]

Revisiting this to post a photo which I should have taken a month ago

[Jimexpl]

I'd never appreciated that it appears none of the body panels are carried over between the two cars.

[Jobbo]

I was similarly surprised - even the door skins are different.