Guys, talk some sense into me.

[Strokerswild]

^^^ Best post of the thread, IMO.

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[Barrel]

As a tall guy, I can't even imagine driving around a Miata. I see the appeal of small cars, but they've never really been a reality.

 

[Spartan]

Crash suvivability is a big misconception these days...larger does not always mean safer. I used to be a Sales Manager for Fiat. In 2012we did a large ad campaign emphasizing this fact...due to the Fiat being a small car and American's have that view of bigger is better or safer. As a matter of fact, in 2012, the Fiat had a better crash test survivability than a 2012 Ford F-150! The biggest factor is that, smaller cars, due to their agility, a can avoid an accident better than most.

Yep obviously small doesn't mean more dangerous but IIHS results don't lie. Small is bad at least in these. Obviously these are sub compacts , not the Miata, but you brought up the Fiat. Also, even if the cage/compartment survives, doesn't mean the driver escape without serious injuries in these small cars due to the sheer impact, forces of it being displaced vs a bigger vehicle. I remember see the Top Gear test on the Fiat in a crash and they said the cage/compartment survived but they doubt the driver would have made it out of their without serious injuries due to how far the vehicle got pushed around.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the results of its 2014 sub-compact crash tests and they aren’t good.

Last month, the IIHS released its initial list of 2014 Top Safety Picks and the Chevrolet Spark was the only “minicar” to make the list. Now the Institute has completed testing on a total of 11 sub-compact cars and there aren’t any newcomers.

“Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage. That’s why it’s even more important to choose one with the best occupant protection,” IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research Joe Nolan said in a statement. “Unfortunately, as a group, minicars aren’t performing as well as other vehicle categories in the small overlap crash.”

Even with the Top Safety Pick designation, the Spark still only managed to score an “acceptable”rating. It lost points in the small overlap crash test, an area that proved to be even more devastating for the rest of the segment. The test is tougher than the older moderate overlap test because the vehicle’s front-end crush zone is bypassed. That can lead to the occupant compartment.

“The two worst performers are the Honda Fit and the Fiat 500,” the IIHS said in a statement. “In both cases, intruding structure seriously compromised the driver’s space, and the steering column was pushed back toward the driver.

The dummy’s head barely touched the Fit’s airbag before sliding off and hitting the instrument panel. The Fiat 500′s door tore off, increasingly the likelihood of passenger ejection.

Last week, Honda unveiled its new 2015 Fit at the Detroit Auto Show, set to reach dealers later this year. In an official statement, the company said it expects the 2015 Fit to perform much better than the outgoing model.

“We anticipate it will earn top safety scores from the [IIHS], with a ‘Good’ rating in all test modes including the rigorous small overlap front crash test,” the company said in a statement. “We also expect the 2015 Fit to earn the highest possible Five-Star Overall Vehicle Score rating from [NHTSA].

Fiat has yet to respond to an email request for a similar statement regarding the 500.

Every sub-compact model tested returned a “marginal” or “poor” rating in the structure category, which is the most fundamental element of occupant crash protection. If the structure is compromised during a crash, airbags can be knocked out of position.

 

[Barrel]

Every sub-compact model tested returned a “marginal” or “poor” rating in the structure category, which is the most fundamental element of occupant crash protection. If the structure is compromised during a crash, airbags can be knocked out of position.

Yikes.

 

[Spartan]

Yikes.

Yah that is not good at all. Hence why I'll never buy a small car ever.

And since they made that test much tougher now, I doubt the 2012 results were very accurate for the Fiat and other small compacts.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

Yep obviously small doesn't mean more dangerous but IIHS results don't lie. Small is bad at least in these. Obviously these are sub compacts , not the Miata, but you brought up the Fiat. Also, even if the cage/compartment survives, doesn't mean the driver escape without serious injuries in these small cars due to the sheer impact, forces of it being displaced vs a bigger vehicle. I remember see the Top Gear test on the Fiat in a crash and they said the cage/compartment survived but they doubt the driver would have made it out of their without serious injuries due to how far the vehicle got pushed around.

There was an issue with the early 2011 U.S. Models, from 2012 & on, Fiat has been an IIHS Top Safety pick.

 

[Spartan]

There was an issue with the early 2011 U.S. Models, from 2012 & on, Fiat has been an IIHS Top Safety pick.

The results say otherwise, especially in the front overlap which is the most important test.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/fiat/500

It gets a POOR. It wasn't a 2014 top safety pick either. It got a poor in the overlap test also.

So I'm not sure why you keep saying it has been when the facts state obviously it hasn't been.

You can't get a Top IIHS Safety pick without having GOOD in the overlap test which again was redesigned in 2014 to make sure these cars were actually safe. That is why the list drops off big time in 2014 in sub compacts because they realized they weren't as safe as they were making them.

2014 IIHS is using new criteria for the awards this year. Top Safety Pick requires good performance in the Institute's moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and, for the first time, good or acceptable performance in the small overlap front test introduced in 2012. The same level of performance in those tests, along with at least a basic rating for front crash prevention, is required for the higher accolade, Top Safety Pick+.
"We've made it more difficult for manufacturers this year," says IIHS President Adrian Lund. "Following a gradual phase-in, the small overlap crash is now part of our basic battery of tests, and good or acceptable performance should be part of every vehicle's safety credentials. We also felt it was time to offer extra recognition to manufacturers that are offering a proven crash avoidance technology."

 

[Slade]

I've had 4 Mustangs and just sold my 2007 Miata that was a DD for the last 3 years..even in winter in Mn. As has been mentioned, most of the negative comments above are from folks reading spec sheets and have not lived with the car.

You are not going to make the Mustang handle like a Miata..and still want to drive the Mustang on the street. You can't overcome 1500lbs and the wheelbase. It's a great little car (that does very well in crashes...head to http://forum.miata.net/vb/ and look at the pics of some of the crash results.)

There's a reason it's survived 25 years. And you should be able to get a new one under 30k. The Miata is a sports car...the Mustang is not. They have different missions. The Miata is a great roadster that makes you smile every time you drive it. The Mustang is a great Grand Tourer that can be modded to be a fun drag car and now has some handling thrown in.

I regularly get 28-32mpg in the Miata. The worst was a big autocross track where I got 16.

That said, I've ordered a Mustang GT. I'm all busted up from a motorcycle/deer encounter and the extra room and ease of entry are becoming more important to me. The Mustang was my first car and I've missed it.

You can't go wrong with either.

 

[Hack]

Hey if you're small enough to fit in the Miata and don't care about acceleration, go for it! I like little cars, think the Mustang is too big, but I just don't fit into a Miata.

The Mustang will be a lot better for long trips on the interstate. Mazda much better for parking, if that matters to you.

I also have a personal bias that I won't buy a foreign car, but I understand I'm in the small minority having that opinion.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

The results say otherwise, especially in the front overlap which is the most important test.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/fiat/500

It gets a POOR. It wasn't a 2014 top safety pick either. It got a poor in the overlap test also.

So I'm not sure why you keep saying it has been when the facts state obviously it hasn't been.

You can't get a Top IIHS Safety pick without having GOOD in the overlap test which again was redesigned in 2014 to make sure these cars were actually safe. That is why the list drops off big time in 2014 in sub compacts because they realized they weren't as safe as they were making them.

I left Fiat after 2013...don't know what they've been since. But it's the point I'm trying to make....bigger isn't always safer.

 

[pietran30]

miata is a girl's car unless it's a race car version.

Really? You're calling the Miata a girl's car when you drive a Mustang? I really don't believe in the whole "girl's car" vs "guy's car", but so many people these days refer to a Mustang as such and you are going to tell someone to stay away from the Miata for being a girl's car lol.:headbonk:

 

[Tweezy7]

Dude, I had a s2000 verry similar to miata. I think the s2000 was good for my needs at the time bought the car at 21 sold it at 23. Its a great car if you have a Daily, I didnt it was hard for me to do normal things i could only fit one case of water in the trunk and one suitcase for traveling. Other than that the car is quick and nimble handles awesome and convertible was a great option for those sunny days.

I wanted more power and thats what led me to the Mustang. I also like that it has a back seat more room for traveling etc. I think the Mustang is a great car looks good and the interior is far above and beyond the s2000. Now I have a daily and the power car best of both worlds

 

[Vile_the_Bastage]

Man, if they still made S2000s...

I love that car, and I'm thinking of buying one used in a few years to turn into an auto-x car.

 

[Spartan]

I left Fiat after 2013...don't know what they've been since. But it's the point I'm trying to make....bigger isn't always safer.

Well see that's the problem with testing. The tests they were using before 2014 weren't very good for that one main crumple test. That's why they redid it and everything fell off in terms of safety picks from manufacturers. So in reality, the Fiat before 2013 isn't likely any safer and probably just as bad in that crumple test which would then not make it an IIHS top safety pick.

The issue with some big vehicles are things like roll over, etc but a bigger vehicle is going to just give you more protection due to the length between fenders and the driver/passengers almost all the time.

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