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pmontra 6 hours ago

That's a series of engines, not a single model. The FIAT FIRE [1] series has been in production for 36 years from 1985 to 2021 and, maybe you wouldn't expect it from FIAT, those engines were reliable.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fully_Integrated_Robotised_Eng...

TheCondor 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The Jag XK platform had 45+ year run. I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made, it'll have an inline 6 and to someone's thinking it will be the same platform as the air-cooled version from 1964.

Engine architectures tend to last unless they are bad. They can do a lot on one also, the Toyota GR platform started out as a fairly vanilla V-6 but it has variations with GDI and variations with turbochargers and has been used a lot of different vehicles. A lot of different variations with different levels of compressions and such. It's basically the block and cylinders configuration.

I'll shout out the K-series though, it's a shockingly good platform. Lots of little details have been thought through, it's relatively simple, inexpensive and reliable and maybe one of the easiest engines to work on. If you were new to cars and wanted to start wrenching, the K-series is a pretty good place to start. It can take boost and make power and has lots of aftermarket support. I know civics aren't everyones cup of tea and it's not a big V-8, but I've yet to meet an engineer that isn't at least slightly impressed by the k-series.

heelix 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Ah man, I owned a Jag XJS with the V12. Nothing on that car was what I'd consider 'normal'. Want to change the brake pads - down the rabbit hole I went. That car was why I own a voltmeter. I was a lot more knowledgeable after that car - smart enough to run, not walk from an XKE opportunity.

EugenioPerea 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The 911 is a flat-six, but I agree with your point wholeheartedly.

Aloha 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Indeed, long lived engines are not unusual

Chrysler LA - 1964-2003

Ford Windsor 1961-2000

Ford Inline 6 1960-2016

Modular V8 1990-2014

bluedino 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Modular V8 1990-2014

Still lives to this day. The 5.0/5.2 engines are modular.

zombielinux 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The BMC A Series is another exceptionally long lived one. 1951-2000 in original form, and then licenced by Nissan until 2009.

cgh 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Nissan VQ series, 1994-today

relaxing 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

There is zero commonality between a ‘64 911 and a modern 992.

TacticalCoder 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

[dead]

monegator 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Came here just to rant about the FIRE and the Firefly. The Multijet was also extremely reliable.

Instead, they were tossed aside to promote whatever garbage came out of citroen design centers, i guess to achieve the destruction of stellantis. (except in south america, they still get to use the Firefly)

zubiaur an hour ago | parent [-]

For a short while we had them in the US, on the Dodge darts and some other Fiat applications. 1.4 + multiair + sometimes turbo.

Great little engine that powered my first car, a 2005 Fiat Uno, made for the Argentinean market in Brazil: 1.4 (1.345L), 8v of reliability.

skywal_l 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I counter you with a Cleon engine[0] with 42 years. ;)

But in the end an engine can be reliable but still be an environmental liability.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Cl%C3%A9on-Fonte_engin...

qingcharles 19 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

I had a lot of Minis, so I'll counter with the BMC A-Series: 1951-2000

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_A-series_engine

Grosvenor 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I’ll counter with the jaguar xk engine in production for 43 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_XK_engine

I assume the American s will be by with a pushrod v8 soon.

whaleofatw2022 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Actually I'll give a V6 instead:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine

1961-2008.

5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]
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UncleEntity 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

In the couple years I've owned my (now) 10 year old wee-Fiat I think I've opened the hood once, when I first bought it, just to confirm the engine was actually there. Other than that, what engine?

Probably should pop it open (heh, Fiat Pop, no pun intended) to fix the headlight which has been out for about a year but it was a lot easier to get a (free) veteran's plate than poke around in there and you pretty much have to commit vehicular homicide in front of a cop to get pulled over with a veteran's plates so... I mean, it came with an extra headlight for a reason.

But, yeah, tiny little engine for a tiny little car which does it's job without issue, what's not to love?

5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]
[deleted]
whaleofatw2022 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Meh, GM 3800 had a good 40+ years of production (although some of those years were 3rd party,) I'd take one of those over a FIRE.

RickJWagner 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I’d consider it very bad marketing for Fiat to use the brand ‘FIRE’ for their engine. :)