Which is the Fastest? 2018 Miata Club vs Miata vs 124 Spider Abarth - Hot or Not Review

( www.TFLcar.com ) Which is Fastest? 2018 Miata Club vs Miata vs 124 Spider Abarth - Hot or Not Review
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[@Grumdy]

The 6'+ crowd can cry me a river. Go enjoy every other advantage you have in life.

[@nathchp]

Grumdy I’m 6 2 and I don’t have any problems

[@noaidie]

Grumdy I'm 6'2" and fit in NC or soft top ND just fine

[@b.strong9347]

If he didn’t sit the seat at 90 degrees like great granny, he might fit a little better.

[@Tony__Tone]

@@noaidie maybe Roman just needs to lower the seat and go on a diet. I'm sure the telescoping steering wheel this year would help too.

[@1250GSX]

I'm 6 2 and fit fine. But I'm not a fat cunt...

[@1970HondaCL100]

Dear Mazda, disregard everything Roman said at 6:35. Roman: you own a Boxster for a reason my man.

[@alliejr]

Agreed. I am 6'2 and owned a 1992 Miata and to this day it is one of the best cars I have ever owned. Slide the seat forward just a bit and then recline the seatback. Done. Let's face it, it's not your height, Roman, it's your weight.

[@easytargetYT]

I'm 6'4 and owned a 91 Miata, coolest car I've ever owned. Agree, ignore pretty much everything he said about size.

[@emptyshirt]

It would be silly for Mazda to design Miatas to suit people of his height anyway. Only about 3% of people are that tall to begin with and adding 50 pounds and an inch to the height of the car to accommodate that would be stupid. Small is basically Mazda's brand identity. The only big car they have ever made was the CX9.

[@EPRMoto]

Mount the seat to the floor.

[@EPRMoto]

J name Yep, several companies offer mount adapters to make it easier. If you're looking for anything miata related always start with Flyinmiata.com.

[@kylewilson4356]

If your over 6ft tall, its just not a car for you. Stop trying to make every car a one size fits all. Being a small light car is what makes it an MX5.

[@31186dan]

I have a ‘16 club and love it. Everything about the car is pure fun. 6ft 240lbs and fit great.

[@vinuezaer]

I've wanted this video to be made for at least a year . Thanks .

[@AnthonyDunn93]

Confused as to how the 124 is a second slower despite being turbocharged (at high altitude) with more power

[@superandreanintendo]

Driver not pushing the rev at the correct range. Lower, were instead the mx5 is better.

[@ag4allgood]

@@superandreanintendo Turbo lag & lack of throttle response plus it weighs more ! More of a touring car than one built for corners.😎

[@ronaldz333]

I don't think launching at ~6k rpm makes any of these cars faster but just lots of wheel spin.

[@MrMazda-ih8cw]

Great review and we agree - both of those MX-5s are hot!

[@robertomedina9824]

Last guy at end of video really summed it up. I bought a GT 2018 soft top and love it, but wonder if I should've gotten club model --- no I should not have. I am open to future upgrades and appreciate TFLC's reviews!

[@emptyshirt]

You gotta love when auto journalists who are well over average height complain about cars designed for normal people. Go drive a Dodge Charger if you can't fit into a car so focused on weight savings that they could only design it to fit the middle 90% of people.

[@rustylugzz]

I love your channel but how are you guys not using more professional ways to measure lap/ speed times. Seems to me using your phone is pretty archaic as a timer in modern day testing

[@pantloaded]

This whole video is low production quality

[@ALE5six1]

Agree 100%. laser timers are only a few hundred

[@swanblake]

Damn I love Paul! So much fun to watch him drive. Great video

[@qers]

The ND was tested with the top up and the 124 Abarth with the top down, that's a huge disadvantage for the Fiat. Make sure testing circumstances are as even as possible.

[@CoelhoSports]

the guy who says he competes in triathlons as a "clydesdale" spends 90% of the video complaining about how car companies should make lightweight roadster coupes that fit him better. no, we aren't going to design those things around you. you'll get an f-150 and like it. paul gerrard's hot or not segments are always awesome, though.

[@knifetoucher]

Haven't watched video yet, but before I do; if the Abarth doesn't win in performance then there is ZERO reason to ever buy one over the Miata. Edit: WTF? The Abarth is almost 1 second behind in 0-60!? HOW?! It has like 25 more HP and 35 more torque. Also, the average height of Asians, where those cars are made, is still only like 5'6" or something. It's built with their height in mind, not ours.

[@MrDieselakias]

it's very strange that the fiat is measured slower. Everywhere else I've read, the fiat much faster than the Mazda

[@PinaGt001]

How just pik a number lol. They even doesnt show the abarth doing 0-60. XD

[@klemzale5370]

@@MrDieselakias Something is not right there, the abarth is rated at 6.8 sec and it also performs that time in dry conditions, you can have a look yourself, when its launced at 3500-4000 rpm with ASR disabled. fiat/abarth has an ace up their sleve, the turbocharger. At least here in europe you can get 200+hp and 330+ Nm out of the bone stock engine with just a tune that costs between 200-300€ This alone makes the abarth much more attractive for me, let alone the styling and exhaust sound and for a couple Gs you can get 240hp on stock internals. For a build 300hp engine you then have to spend soem serious money, 5k+ The car itself is slightly overpriced at 36-40k € over here for being a small 1.4 with shitty 170hp and no top end power up its revrange Imagine if it had a detuned 200hp alfa romeo 1.8 TBi, it would be a bargain for that price then, as thooe engines can be mapped to 270hp

[@robertedwards7430]

8.45 sec for the Abarth??? I also noticed they didnt show that run. Sounds like a horrible launch to me.

[@ag4allgood]

Nah just turbo lag & a heavy clutch pedal that make it a chore instead of fun to drive ! I would have thought the Fiat would have an advantage at that elevation too ! Its weight is also a disadvantage in corners - its more of a touring car !

[@myroadtours6147]

I just happened to be in Left Hand Canyon the day of this filming....was the guy on the side of the road with the camera gear. Anyhow, I'm not a Miata person but the car looked and sounded good.

[@1970HondaCL100]

Thank goodness it's warming up in Colorado so we can get some non-truck reviews for a change. This is a quality video guys, thanks.

[@DabDabGoose]

You don't need to make the car bigger to allow bigger people more comfortable, what you need is a seat that can basically be on the ground.

[@jacquesdegeorges7297]

Really Roman? Small cars are great and drink when you're finished driving! Why does everyone think they need to drink when they're in a car?

[@BluePlanetTube]

Thanks for the cool clips and perspectives. Sweet cars. At 6'2" i'm lovin my 1990 mx5. The older ones seem the roomiest....? If they wanted to, it seems like miata creators could drop our butt down 2" and add 2" potential leg room without changing the over all exterior size. DIY enthusiasts can fit a V8 under the hood so there are a few extra inches kicking around. A tilt steering option would be nice for taller drivers too. Seems they can't keep up for the people wanting and fitting into their medium size model. Maybe an independent tall guy conversion company will fill the gap....

[@Intrepid175a]

Totally agree with the size problems. I'm 6'3" and absolutely don't fit in a Miata. I totally love the car, but it just won't work for me. I did drive a 2004 S2000 for a couple of years and it was actually workable once I got in it but I almost had to be a contortionist to enter and exit the car. I even removed and modified the drivers seat bottom which lowered me about a half inch. That's not a lot but it made a big difference. I'm driving a 2016 Mustang convertible these days. It's a totally different class of car from the Mazda and I don't consider there's a comparison there except I fit in it and as such, am much more comfortable!

[@Victic005]

Club is MX-5. I'll get the ND2 Club all day over the 124. Waiting for the pandemic prices.

[@michaelpavon9743]

We understand you are massive, we got it, but to spend that amount of time complaining really?

[@vossler360]

If the 2019 MX-5 comes with the more powerful 181 hp 2.0L engine, as many believe it will, then you'll need to revisit this comparison later this year.

[@ghostking0019]

I think they are a blast to drive, no I'm not over 6' tall but I do really enjoy the recaro seats but I prefer the Miata RF

[@blindcharades9742]

will i fit comfortably if im 5'9? Im guessing i wont have any of the problems the big guy in this video brought up

[@gaivoron]

Totally agree, I'm 6'3 and i don't fit in that Miata... shame. I do fit in FRS/BRZ.... in fact really comfortably. Just comes to show you don't need extensively larger vehicle to accommodate someone over 6.0'

[@mdio]

What kind of 124 Abarth is that? It does ~6.5s 0to60 and measure more than 8s? lol

[@ag4allgood]

High altitude takes away power. Probably killing its throttle response even more with that turbo lag ! The heavy clutch pedal & extra weight don't help it around all those turns. So the delay in throttle response is HUGE on that track.

[@schellingrs]

The Miata is an awesome car. Sorry you don’t fit in it. Go buy a Buick.

[@ag4allgood]

Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is more his style !

[@apocalipsboy21]

So your saying because a lot of people are big all of us should say goodbye to one of the best sports car and best roadster. Pffffffff. Because making it bigger would screw up the recipe

[@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374]

You guys need to do an ACR Viper, because it would be on top of your leaderboard for lap times and has more records than any car in automotive racing history. In the 2016 season, king ACR destroyed and set 13 records on the best tracks in the country. Since then, a vett broke one of them at Laguna Seca and have a hell of a long way to go for anyone to catch up. I think that the spider is a nice car, and like it better than the Miatas myself

[@vinuezaer]

Can't wait for the 184hP one ! Come in Mazda , bring it !

[@scotturich]

If your big guy then your killing the essence of the Miata anyways it was designed to be a lightweight roadster with good handling.

[@lt.judyhopps3095]

I love that grey one.

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

Mazda doesn't need to make the MX-5 bigger, they just need to add an MX-7 (Basically an RX-7 with a piston engine) to the lineup.

[@mbiker345]

These things (miatas)are cool and i wouldn’t mind having one but in Dallas roads I would be afraid of ending up in the grill of something 10 times larger.

[@psewgobind]

If Fiat was smart, they should have made the interior uncomfortable for smaller driver and just right for plus size. Instead of trying to compete head-on with Mazda with the same car (but cheaper engine).

[@97I30T]

I’m 6’5” so I definitely understand where Roman is coming from at 6:39. This car is 100% off limits for me. But, it was designed for tiny Japanese people, not big American and European people. It’s refreshing to see Mazda not make it bigger when practically every other car grows in size with every redesign. Making it bigger would kind of ruin the whole point of the car.

[@dry509]

What car of any brand would you guys spend your own money on? And would either of you guys let the reliability rating of a car stop you from buying it?

[@arunkpillai1099]

All three cars seem to have their advantages. Would be great if we could have any one in India. Unfortunately most of the interesting cars don't reach Indian shores.

[@ismaeltenenbaum4103]

Roman, I say this with respect, but only the US is "an XL world"

[@jedironin380]

I had a 2002 NB Miata and had the hard top on it. At 5'10" I could just fit in it with my helmet on for track days. I'd joke with people that I "get in" other cars, but I "put on" the Miata. -Isn't the 124 Abarth turbocharged?! I wonder why it was slower at altitude than the Miatas?? Aside from the track being slightly damp (DOES make a difference!), what were the weather conditions for the track runs in the other two cars?

[@ThunderCat19D]

jedironin380 it also has lower displacement and is slower at sea level

[@Dornpunzel]

Again: What kind of test is that? 1/10th of a second faster because u tried one run? Drivers never start exactly the same way. Weather and ground condition is different as well. I mean wtf is that?

[@1250GSX]

Mazda, please keep The MX5 small. You don't need the fat American market segment.

[@jrhunt414]

After seeing the pickup truck 0-60 times and then these do similar times and cost almost the same money. I’m surprised. I thought they would be quicker. Surprised to see the Fiata is slower. If only I fit in it, I feel your pain Roman. I’m starting to think that the Mustang is about the smallest car I fit in.

[@97I30T]

jrhunt414 Yeah they really do cost an awful lot for what they are. I’m even taller than Roman so I’m even worse off when it comes to not fitting in these clown cars.

[@One_Bar]

Heck my Vic does 0-60 in 8 and I can haul 5 people comfortably and a ton of luggage as well.

[@vossler360]

The BRZ/86 use the same basic formula as the MX-5, but they are a bit roomier inside for the driver.

[@97I30T]

Eric Shea It helps that the GT86/BR-Z don’t have a bulkhead immediately behind the seats.

[@Pickle312]

Don’t make it bigger, it’s nice having a car that actually fits finding like me who’s 5’ 7” when every other car on the market feels far too large for me

[@ThunderCat19D]

By listening to him drive I'd bet someone can get a better time. You're supposed to be either on he gas or the brakes I noticed he spends a good amount of time coasting

[@korling99]

if you owned that, you’d rarely need a hair dryer

[@chibianh7700]

Wow.. NA car faster than the turbo car at elevation?

[@Buckshitboys]

Why even show the 124 in the title when there was little to nothing about it lol.

[@mikeross6043]

If maZda would turbo charge it, I'd buy one now!

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

I agree 100% with Roman, I am pretty much 6'1" 260lbs and I don't fit either for the reasons he mentioned, my knees hit the dash and there are no seat slider for any room adjustment. I wanted a good inexpensive sporty convertible that is perhaps a manual so I can learn on it and have fun in the sun, but this doesn't fit me either since it is a medium car in an XL world.

[@Chilicharger665]

I have an ND and a 124, the seats definitely slide...

[@IdiotF0ol]

Check out the Mustang convertibles. Base price is close to Miata and the turbo has higher hp/weight and close to 50/50 front/rear displacement. It’s my winner in new, modestly priced convertibles.

[@freezor80]

Roman, your hair is flapping above the A-pillar. .

[@janrico904]

da size of this car is good for filipinos , MAZDA DONT CHANGE SIZE ,, JUST ADD ONE FOR DAT TALL GUY,

[@lfsracer79]

Miata vs Fiata

[@BarrettPowell]

(scratching head)...trying to figure out how the car with the most HP and Torque was the slowest...LOL.

[@Tophet1]

Not everyone is 6' plus. Your alone.

[@timsisco3742]

I've wondered that for a long time. Why no Miata XL. Make it just big enough for a 6'2" 225-lbs guy with the same principles, and while your at it give us at least 2 engine options. One that is just slightly more powerful then current to account for the XL being a little bigger (plus higher drag) and also make a performance engine. I'm not saying a V8 or a bi-turbo V6. I'd set the low end of the bar at something like the Ford Focus ST which has a 252-hp, 270 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo-four.

[@gordon238]

So the new club model is a second slower than the standard car?

[@giorx5]

On moisty tarmac wearing summer times, yes...

[@danielthomas2621]

Anyone who cares about cupholders in a car like this is not a car person.. pathetic

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Hey Roman, Get over it!👍🤔🤔

[@zonkers_garage]

I like how you espouse the merits of the Club, with Recaro seats, Bilstein struts and Brembo brakes and make all sorts of excuses why it wasn't faster than the base model, and yet the Fiat 124 Abarth you used ALSO had the Bilstein struts, Brembo brakes, and Recaro seats and it's treated as a non-starter in comparison. Also, the Club has LSD and you expected great things, yet the Abarth ALSO has the LSD and no mention of that.

[@justchillin619]

The abarth engine is gutless.....that's why it's not as highly praised......

[@ag4allgood]

@@justchillin619 Turbo lag & muted throttle response added to a heavier clutch pedal made me walk away from a 2017 Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth with Brembo's . The next day I went to the Mazda dealer & sitting out front was a 2016 MX-5 Club soft top with the Brembo / BBS package - basically the same car as the Fiat Abarth. What a driving difference ! The super light clutch pedal & instant throttle response along with the lighter more athletic feel in the corners was totally a different experience. So much of a driving nirvana that I bought it & its been 6.5 years later daily driving in 4 season weather.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

35k? That's a lot of money for a tiny car. Oh well. I'm glad they make it. Lots of people like it.

[@vossler360]

The 35k sticker price is only if you check all of the option boxes, as the Club trim can be had without the BBS/Brembo and Recaros for about 29k.

[@93mlo]

Brad Conklin you can buy use mx5 17 with few miles under 25k. I bought my 16 ND with 3500 miles on it for 23k. So this car is very affordable

[@tealchief]

Got a club fully optioned for 23k /w the certified pre owned warranty 9k miles

[@SoFloLuca]

I taking 124🕷 all day, everyday.....

[@ag4allgood]

Miata is ALWAYS The Answer ! You knew that .

[@jamesparry8358]

8.48 seconds in the abarth you need to learn how to launch a car boys lol

[@noaidie]

NC Miatas are a little bigger.

[@mustclime5311]

LOL, you guys are so out of touch. The Abarth is kicking the mx5 club's to death in the auto crosses. You said the Abarth was soft yes the mx5 was on the bumpstops....total fail guys

[@gigi9467]

Love miata but to small and too exoensive. Almost got the brz but i dont like the engine so i ended up geting a mustang

[@philtripe]

great little cars...unless your into cakeshakes then you wont fit

[@CoelhoSports]

1 cakeshake = -1hp

[@BojanBojovic]

Cupholders? Really? :)

[@ag4allgood]

His priorities are different. His big SUV has really nice cup holders.

[@oldatarigamer]

People are definitely getting taller and the Miata got smaller

[@CoelhoSports]

people haven't gotten taller in decades, just fatter

[@oldatarigamer]

that too, but take a look at the kids today, they are almost always significantly taller than their parents

[@CoelhoSports]

nope abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=98438&page=1 i'm not even talking about the stats. i'm talking about what i see in the families i know over a few generations. WWII generation definitely shorter than boomers. my generation (Xers) and a little older (late boomers) are sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, but nothing that would show growth overall, and look at roman's son for example. taller? i can't think of too many from this crop of kids taller than their parents from my generation. the one i can think of had taller people on the other spouse's side so that is where the height comes from. my father i think is taller than me and my brothers, and his father was taller, and i can think of lots of examples like that, also. i'd be interested if we could stamp out smoking and some of the other bad habits adolescents get into during their growing years whether that would effect averages.

[@andreataccani5286]

The 124 spider is more beautiful

[@CoelhoSports]

agreed, although i'm nostalgic for the old spiders and was just happy to see them back. spider has better road tuning and miata better on track but neither are really what americans would consider good track cars so i would take the nicer commute all day.

[@carlmarshall8452]

Andrea Taccani , I'll agree, I've been a 124 Spider lover from way back in da dayz. I'm glad they brought 'em back.

[@Mr995pippo]

Non è vero italiota

[@ag4allgood]

The Fait 124 looks like a hangover insect with reading glasses.

[@ricllinares5929]

What a laugh ,if you want a bigger car go buy one ,small cars are great and what’s with the need to drink while driving...hahah

[@Ericinferno14]

Should have added the Buick cascada

[@ag4allgood]

Don't they only come out every 13 years ?

[@OutlawFarmersRC]

Which car in this compact convertible class for under $35K........ Used Honda S2000!!!!!

[@gigi9467]

Chris Barr yup and unfortunztely its faster then all three of this. Miata shouldnt be more thzn 30k max. My 2017 mustang gt was 35k might not handle the same but its still faster at the track wer it counts

[@gt4lex]

Key word is "used". At that rate, you can also get a NB and throw a turbo for less than S2K value. Also, S2K prices are raising (at least in EU), if you want a good LHD phase 2 it's above 20k, and it will have many km. Meanwhile, 2.0 NDs can already be found under 30k, barely driven. 2016 models are getting very close to 20k, with not many km as well. Plus the new 2.0 bumped to 180+hp will help the early NDs drop in value faster on the used market. Don't get me wrong, I like S2Ks a lot, but the right time to buy them was several years ago, now getting a clean, well treated one is a tough quest and and turd costs what a good example would sell for previously. I mean you can have a nice 987 Boxster S and maybe even a LHD 111R Elise if you're a bit patient for reasonable mileage S2000s : the Elise has no equal in terms of pure fun, and the Boxster is as nice as the S2000 to drive on backroads while also providing more comfort and a bit more general performance.

[@ilcugginocanadese]

If you're gonna go there then just throw a 900$ ECU only phase 1 tune from Eurocompulsion on the Abarth and add 30HP with no physical mods, then see which is fastest...

[@gt4lex]

Yep, that's an advantage of those engines, a remap will bring in easy power - although for 30hp, you'll need an exhaust. Issue is then, going above 200hp requires disassembling the engine if you want realistic reliabality. 250hp with the 1.4 gets really expensive and becomes closer to a race engine and the options are very few (trust me, I spent a lot of time looking for my father's Abarth Punto with the same engine) - at that point, I think a 1.75l swap would be far more interesting (and Fiat seems to agree as that's what they fitted on the rally version). On the other hand, the Skyactiv 2.0 can get reliably to 250hp with several ready to install kits (turbos or superchargers) for less money than it takes to bring the Fiat 1.4 up to that point. And honestly, you can get it at 190 - 200hp with a naturally aspirated BBR kit, for a bit more than the remap - exhaust - intake route on the Fiat engine. Keep in mind I didn't took in consideration the cost difference between the Mazda and the Fiat / Abarth yet, the later being significantly more expensive. Moreover, the 2.0 Skyactiv will reach 180hp in stock form soon. To me, the point is not to see which one is the fastest, because it is pretty obvious the Mazda is better suited for pure performance purposes as it has a lot more potential (the 124 is too nose heavy and weights as much in roadster version as the RF, and the Mazda's displacement and higher revlimit are just too much of an advantage). The 124 on the other hand will probably be a better relaxed cruising / daily car : suspension setups seem to be more on the soft side, and although I'm not a fan of the engine's behavior at higher RPMs (it loose so much punch in the last 500 RPMs I found it to be faster if you shifted below red line), its low-end torque is about perfect for commuting.

[@ilcugginocanadese]

Unless you're going to race the car I don't see the point of going past the 200HP, note that there are no physical mods required on the Abarth to get to 200, the only reason FIAT didn't pre-tune it that way from factory is that they signed an agreement with Mazda to keep the cars in the same "competitive" range. Also, your Abarth in Europe might be more expensive but here in America it's actually less expensive than an RF "Club" MX-5. We also don't get the Monza exhaust though, but that's more to do with California and Canadian noise laws than anything else. Relatedly, it never fails to grind my gears when someone who is 6'3" and 240lbs complains that they can't fit in a subcompact roadster. Look at almost all actual racecar drivers, they are tiny, I'm 6'/165lbs and at the top of the range in terms of size and weight for a racecar driver (I'm not a racecar driver, just stating a point.) By those standards we could take racecar drivers that are 5'9"/150lbs and have them review a pick-up truck or a Cadillac CTS-V...

[@ejf0255]

Take the Mazda products !!! Alfa/Fiats suck. Bad. Horrid reliability.

[@gigi9467]

How can the ckub be slower lol thats weak

[@ag4allgood]

He told you the track was wet. They couldn't get all 3 cars in there on the same day.

[@gigi9467]

@@ag4allgood then why do it? Bad representation man.

[@ag4allgood]

@@gigi9467 Agree , even on the same day there can be significant temperature change from the morning / afternoon / evening.

[@PushinkStudios]

First 👌🏽👌🏽

[@MrBlompod]

Good god boiz... the 124 Abarth is a man’s MX5

[@jdord4838]

I don't understand why the 0 to 60 time is not 5.8 like motortrend and caranddriver claim..."Yeshua / Jesus is the way "

[@vossler360]

They tested the car in Colorado at over 5000 ft of elevation, and MX-5 is naturally aspirated. Less atmospheric pressure = less power.

[@jdord4838]

Eric Shea thanks I have a 2016 and drive at sea level and it definitely doesn't feel like a 7 second car.

[@vossler360]

Jdor D While Motor Trend and Car and Driver measured a sub-6 second sprint to 60 mph, even the relatively conservative Motorweek measured a 6.7 second run at their test track. If you're at sea level with dry pavement, then you should be able to do better than 7 seconds with some practice.

[@jdord4838]

Eric Shea Yeah but who knows the issue is the Miatas short gearing you have to make 2 shifts to get to 60 mph as you pass it in third. So you have to be quick. I will just enjoy it for what it is, a nice fun lil sports car.

[@testy010]

No need to mention the same thing over and over “XL world”