If You Were Ever Morbidly Curious About Owning A Saturn Astra, Fiata, Or Cop-Spec Crown Vic This Member Has All Three: Member’s Rides

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Dottie is a mechanical engineer for an automotive supplier living in the Detroit area. They found themselves wanting a fun car, but when you want a fun, small convertible, but don’t want a Miata, what do you get? Well, for Dottie, the answer was a Fiat that’s still a lotta Miata – a Fiata, if you will.

For those not tracking, from 2017-2020, Fiat sold a 124 Spider built on the ND Mazda Miata platform. It’s no mere badge-job though; the 124 wears completely unique body panels and trades the Mazda mill for the Fiat-built turbo four also found in the Abarth 500. It’s paired with the transmission from the NC Miata to make a unique and awesome car. Now, over to Dottie.

How did you get into cars?

I’ve been interested in cars ever since I was born, having drawn plenty of them as a kid, having tons of Hot Wheels cars, and playing all the wicked racing games on my Gamecube. In school I got into FIRST Robotics and my college’s Formula SAE team which greatly contributed to me getting into the nerdier, technical side of things.

What’s currently in the garage?

• 2017 Fiat 124 Spider
• 2008 Saturn Astra
• 2010 Ford Crown Victoria

What is it?

The Fiata is a 2017, which is the first year for the 124. It’s very bare-bones compared to the later model years as it was introduced right before the rear view camera mandate for MY2018.

What made you want this for your graduation present to yourself?

I’ve always wanted a more fun, manual car and started window shopping while in college. Using my previous driving experience, I started crossing off features I didn’t really need and noted the things I liked about my current car at the time: a second (US only) gen Focus. Everything from imports to FOSTs and even old SVTs were on the table, but months into my new job post-graduation, the opportunity presented itself to start seriously shopping after saving a bunch during my internships.

Did you look at Miatas as well or were you not really interested in one?

I certainly did: I looked at NDs first but settled on the Fiata because I like the styling more. But for six grand off MSRP and under 800 miles, it was an opportunity far too good to pass up.

How do you like it?

I still love it six years in. It always puts a smile on my face even in regular commuting. No question it handles well since it’s a Miata with a Fiat badge. The ability to whip the top down whenever you want (while still having trunk space lol) makes driving a convertible far more convenient: especially when hauling tall objects.

What’s better about the Fiata compared to a Miata?

The exhaust note is better, especially those with the Abarth trim. The presence of a turbo allows for louder exhausts (and even a muffler delete) without getting into obnoxious territory. Trunk space is a little bigger since the back overhangs more than the ND, full-size luggage fits with room to spare. I’ve had plenty of positive interactions with those who own Miatas and also those who had Fiats in the past.

Anything you think the Miata does better?

One of the biggest things, in hindsight more so, is that being naturally aspirated makes it immune to the questionable (over)pricing of higher octane gas that turbo engines like more, at least where I live. The ND2s get more power while the Fiat is discontinued. Some small things include older ND1’s having CD players beneath the glove box while it was depopulated on the Fiat and the ND had top colors other than black. And the major tragedy, if I must say so, is the ND getting factory 4 spokes while the Fiata didn’t get any for the North American market.

How long did it take you to get the hang of the manual?

My biggest issue was stalling on launches, so it took about a month of daily driving to fix that. It’s got a heavier clutch than the typical econobox which is a bit of a leg workout.

Any mods on it or planned for it?

Nothing planned down the pipeline although I do have some mods on it currently, mostly aesthetic & QOL improvements:

• Two-tone Enkei wheels that match the anonymous grey
• Beaded seat covers & WeatherTech floor mats (the carpeted mats browned in short order; thanks rain)
• Trunk rack for extra storage space
• OMP Aluminum pedal faces (stock pedals were too small for my liking)
• Dragon Ball shift knob (I saw this on some random Japanese import years ago and said, “I want that,” plus the lead weight of a stock shifter was too small of a diameter for me)

What is your favorite thing about this?

For me, it’s about the perfect amount of compromise in terms of practicality and fun, devoid of distracting infotainment and tablet-sized screens that I personally don’t need (which is ironic considering the field of work I’m in).

How often do you put the top down?

If it isn’t raining or snowing, the top is most likely down. HVAC works decently well with the windows up on very hot/cold days and the wind noise is fine at highway speeds.

Is this your first convertible?

Yes, it is. This state’s weather is kind enough to go top down a good chunk of the year.

Anything you don’t like about it?

Two things. First, phone placement is sub-optimal while trying to avoid blocking the windshield or using a vent clip. It took a lot of trial & error, but I found a place next to the shifter for a magnetic phone mount that doesn’t fall off. The second is replacing the windshield: in the first year of ownership, a rock hit the edge of the windshield and cracked it in short order. Insurance covered most of the cost and it would have been pricey if they hadn’t. The windshield surrounds are color-matched on the Fiata while they were usually black on ND1s regardless of body color, which likely contributed to the additional cost.

Let’s talk about your Saturn Astra. What year is it?

2008, which is about the tail end of Astra H production globally. Also speaking of England, my British friends were usually pretty surprised we even got that car.

You said this was your third choice, do you like it?

For an econobox, it’s perfectly adequate for econobox things with the added fun of rowing your own. 0-60? You bet. 70 even. Adults fit in the back and tons of stuff fit with the seats folded down.

What was the first choice?

Since I was looking at manual winter cars, the first choice was a 5-speed, first-gen Ford Escape, but that sold literally the day after I called about it. Choice 2 was a (US) second-gen Focus. That one was a bit rough, and those things are rust magnets.

Did you specifically seek out the manual or was it just what was available?

For this car, the manual was the only one available which is fine for me.

What is your favorite thing about the Astra?

I’ve grown a liking to the various little quirks compared to the cars I’ve previously drove. The hilariously dated (even for the time) orange info screen that uses 24-hour time is amazing; you can really feel the pixels with this bad boy. Honorable mention to the rear seat pop-out cup holder and the European holdover feature: parking light via the turn signal stalk despite not having rear ambers for the US market.

Anything you do not like about it?

It could really use a sixth gear. The drowning buzz of 3500-4000 RPM gets annoying at highway speeds. An oddly specific complaint is the rear window washer: when in use, it causes washer fluid to pool between the trunk and bumper, creating a rust spot in the trunk specifically in that spot; my solution was to simply stop using the rear washer.

What did you have to fix up on it?

Decent bit of work on it but some parts are almost unobtanium without paying tons to ship it abroad. I regretfully made an excel sheet on expenses and realized why I shouldn’t do that:

• Wheels from a Jeep Renegade, one of which has impressive curb rash
• New quarter panel to replace the smashed one
• Salvaged 2 headlight housings by reattaching all the broken tabs via plastic welding
• Salvaged my front bumper to add a missing bumper mount tab with the plastic weld and a copious amount of epoxy (it’s on the back side, no one’s gonna see that mess)
• Replaced the rusted-to-hell rear shocks and disintegrated dust shields
• Replaced one rear brake caliper and the brackets for both rear calipers
• Replaced the glovebox with one from a U-pull
• Added a dealer aftermarket center console which is certainly meant for the auto because it makes shifting into 5th really awkward and gets in the way of the park brake without lifting it. Got it from the U-pull for dirt cheap and it’s nice for highway driving.
• Re-shelled one of the key fobs

Do you think this will be a long-term car for you or what’s the plan?

As of now, maybe! After 16 years in the Rust Belt taking its toll on the underside combined with the lack of parts availability, it’s about time that I retired this car from winter car duty because it’s becoming a money pit. But on a positive note, I learned a lot about wrenching on cars since most of my wrenching came from other hobbies. Between when I filled out the form and now, I have purchased a new winter car: a much nicer Crown Vic. So for the Astra, the Oppos in the Autopian Discord pointed me to next Spring’s OppoX which should be an exciting time. If it survives that then I guess I’m going to keep it for more shitbox shenanigans.

How did you end up with the Crown Vic?

I kinda always wanted a Crown Vic for a while due to other friends owning them and their ubiquitous appearance in so much media in the 90s and 00s. Since it was about time to retire the Astra from winter car duties as it’s starting to look like a feature on Just Rolled In, the stars have aligned for me to see what the hubbub was all about with these. I specifically looked for the last 2 years of production and ultimately settled on the retired police car to avoid traveling out of state for a non-crusty car (I was in a bit of a time crunch to get something before the road salt started flowing).

Are you slapping snow tires on it or anything or do you need anything to make it a good winter beater?

Where I live, it doesn’t really snow often enough (plus the plowing & salting is pretty generous and punctual) and as long as you don’t drive like a rally car, the all-seasons on it are fine. I have added the new and improved, high-tech traction enhancement apparatus to the trunk, otherwise known as cat litter.

What sort of condition is it in?

Pretty nice for a retired cop car. Minimal rust on the bottom (already got it Krown’d), a few small dents and scratches but most of the wiring was already cleaned up before purchase.

Any major repairs or anything planned for it?

Already swapped the headlight housings for new ones (it’s so relieving to actually have parts availability woo!), added a space saver to the trunk drawer and secured the jack. Planned things are to diagnose some of the small electrical gremlins and more cleanup to the center console. Something else that looked like a neat project was wiring up pre ‘05 tail lights with amber signals (luckily there are tutorials available).

What’s your favorite thing about it?

It scratches my land yacht itch without being obnoxiously tall and it handles better than I thought for a ’70s 2-ton body-on-frame sedan pretending to be a 2010 sedan. It also has the best auto trans shift position ever devised by man (good ol’ column shifter baby).

Anything you hate on it?

I already accepted the fact that it’s a gas guzzler, and gotten over the lack of a key fob and no signs of a CD or cassette player, but the biggest pet peeve (which is more like a minor inconvenience) is the lack of cruise control. I’ll have to look into what it’ll take to add it in.

What would be in the dream garage?

• First-gen Viper because I don’t value my sanity sometimes
• 2005 Ford GT: always loved this car, especially in Red & White
• Lincoln Continental Mark V: reject luxobarge pickup, embrace personal luxury land yacht

Awesome choices! Thanks for sharing Dottie!

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