Fiat X1/9 Crushed on Mythbusters

[Tullamore]

On last nights episode of the Mythbusters (Episode 41) they pancaked a Fiat X1/9 with two semi and trailors. The car didn't have an engine but was in great shape otherwise. What a shame /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif

 

[michalotti_tr]

Don't be too quick to judge - at one time I looked at X1/9s to buy and found many that looked great on the surface to be totally rusted and unrepairable underneath. Those things were worse than LBCs about rust!

 

[frankenstang57]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gifThat was pretty sad... I would have traded them the wheels off of my 128 for the x-1/9's. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Too bad it wasn't a Honda or something!

 

[Tullamore]

The myth called for a "small European car"

What would have been the best car to be used?

Maybe a Porche 911, they were made for 30 years and nobody would miss just one.

 

[Banjo]

I'll probably make a few enemies, but If they were going to choose a small european car It might as well have been an X1/9. They never did much for me. and MicholattiTR has a point, they were horrible rot boxes. Still it should have been an Escort or a Caviler ( of course that's not in keeping with the myth is it.)
They had me worried, when I first saw the ad for that episode, really quick, I thought it was a TR7. Then I got a better look. PHEW!

 

[sammyb]

Banjo,
That's exactly what I said. I was watching it in bed with my wife, who was dozing off to sleep -- I said "oh NO!!!" I thought it was a TR7 FHC. Then I saw it was a X1/9...I still said "bummer."

Just remember, when Road and Track reviewed all the affordable sports cars in 1975 (TR7, X1/9, Midget, MGB, 124, Spitfire and one or two others,) they picked the X1/9 in first place by an overwhelming vote. (TR7 came in second and Midget came in last.) Of course, that didn't take into consideration the car's rust-prone body or habit of having its pistons become intimate with its valves.

I love Mythbusters, but I actually thought the crash was not as impressive as I was hoping.

 

[Steve_S]

What was the myth?

 

[sammyb]

The myth was that two loaded semi/trailers hitting head on with a "european compact car" in the middle would literally fuse together under the force, and that the car would be invisible in the carnage.

The myth was "BUSTED," even though the tractor trailers didn't quite hit the X1/9 at the same exact moment, there were significant indications that raising the speed of the tractors or hitting the Fiat at the same time wouldn't have really changed the results.

 

[78Z]

they should have used a Yugo or VW

 

[Bruce Bowker]

Hate to see any car crushed but I never liked that model Fiat much either.

Bruce

 

[aeronca65t]

I chase this little red X1/9 (seen here leading me and a Cortina) around the track all the time. We also have a black one in the club.
They are fun to race since they take turns much differently than my car...I catch them in one turn....they catch me in a different turn.

But they *are* rust-buckets.
I saw the first one in the US at Lime Rock years ago...it seemed so cool back then.
Mythbusters is a different type of TV show. Sometimes I really like it. Other times, it seems awful.

 

[MattP]

I personally think they should have used a VW Bug. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but there are a coupla gillion around, and it would be more replaceable.

 

[Bruce Bowker]

[ QUOTE ]
Mythbusters is a different type of TV show. Sometimes I really like it. Other times, it seems awful.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do think they are honest though with not much if any hype unlike that Custom Bike show and that Hot Rod show (Yuck BIG YUCK to both those shows). But now that Mythbusters have added the extra people (mainly girls), I think it means their ratings might be slipping.

Bruce