2017 Fiat 124 Spider Review and Road Test | DETAILED in 4K UHD!
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- Опубликовано: 13 мар 2017
- Fiat's 124 Spider is basically a modified MX-5 with a turbo engine, but the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Without the Fiat 124, the MX-5 would likely have been cancelled. Without the MX-5 the Fiat 124 would never have existed. Think of the two cars as fraternal twins, they may have the same parents but they aren't quite the same thing. The Fiat's turbo has more low end grunt and is more easily modified, the MX-5 goes for purity with a hint more steering feel. Both are a good deal so choosing between the two may end up being just like picking between twins as well.
0-30 : 2.1 Seconds
0-60 : 6.3 Seconds
1/4 Mile : 14.3 Sec @ 95 MPH
60-0 Braking : 112 Feet
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I bought the abarth and man do I love this car. Only had it for about 3 weeks now. Im an over the road trucker. So bought this since I don't need a daily driver. Just something fun to drive around. Y'all gonna hate me. But I got custom plates. FIATA. Was so happy it was avaliable.
Hammer down but watch your back door!!
Funniest post i ever read... I'm also three weeks in to owning an Abarth and I love it.
Awesome!!!!!!
Hope y'all abarth owners still like it!
Can you please advise on what's does the advantage of limited slip differential in abarth?
Do you still have your Abarth? Any long-term comments?
This is the most comprehensive review. A+
I like how this review isn't a constant comparison to the Mazda. it's the first I've found that actually reviews the car for itself. thank you for that :)
I’ve been a sales manager in the car biz over 20 years, mostly high line, one of the best and truly unbiased reviews I’ve ever seen!
He didn't cover the BAD. Yes the heavy clutch pedal & the turbo lag. Oil changes ? Fiat engineers put the oil filter upside down & buried under the air intake. Its also an element filter not a fully encased one that you replace. 3 different manufacturers had a hand in giving parts to the car Fiat - engine / exhaust / some suspension / all body panels / seats / interior door panels. Mazda - infotainment system / some interior parts / some mechanical parts / some suspension parts. Mopar - all windows on the car ! They don't make it anymore so getting into an accident will likely put it out of action for a long long time. Parts will be expensive too. If you can't fix it yourself Fiat support for this car is non existent. I test drove a 2017 124 Spyder Abarth so my findings are up in that 1st sentence. The next day I test drove a 2016 MX-5 Club soft top & the clutch was so much lighter with a easy shifter. Throttle response from the naturally aspirated 2 liter engine was instant ! I do my own maintenance on this car so I know the Big differences. The MX-5 is way more fun to drive with Mazda dealers all over the country.
WOW! Glad you aren’t biased to the Miata! Oil changes aren’t as difficult as you say. Really not hard at all and I don’t have small hands. I own a 124 Spider and from my experience I found his review quite accurate. As far as cost of ownership I have found the 124 no worse than any other Japanese car that I currently own and I have owned plenty in my lifetime. Most of the replacement parts can be bought off Mazda since many are interchangeable. I have known 124 owners who have had accidents and so far they have had the cars repaired professionally in a timely manner no worse than other vehicle repairs. I think you enjoy your MX-5 and I don’t blame you as they are extremely nice vehicles however don’t get down on it’s sister car the 124. They are closely related but this could just be sibling rivalry.
One of the BEST REVIEWS ON THE 124 SPIDER. I bought the 2017 Abarth with a manual transmission fully loaded.
For $25,000 out the door.
With 8800 mil miles.
Do you still have it? Still love it? Any hassles about service?
The detail in this review is what shines. Very good job. I'll need to watch the video multiple times to comprehend the whole thing. But that will be a pleasure.
Great Review Alex.
Absolutely no nonsense review. Like the way you put it altogether !
Thanks for the video Alex! You also have a interesting taste on music.
Alex. What a great format, well presented, good data and professional finish. A joy to watch and well balanced conclusions. Subscribing to your channel now! :)
Nice little car. Very well done review.
Excellent review. It’s 2024 and I own a 2019 Lusso Plus - I love it. Most fun car I’ve ever owned!
I think this is the first rag-top review I've seen on AoA...bet you had fun!
Great review like always
Great review, as always.
I absolutely love the Abarth version of this vehicle!!! Great review as always :)
Excellent review mate..
Really liked your video and presentation. Thank you.
Great comparisons. My 2020 Spyder is in customs right now.
What a terrific one-stop shop for car buying research. Thank you for including your observed fuel economy!! I would also appreciate some words on reliability/depreciation, which I have found compared to the Miata to be very similar. (Consumer reports rates the Fiat 1.4L Turbo very reliable; According to KBB, the depreciation for a 500 Abarth vs a Miata is only 5% steeper).
Nice video. Ordering a new 2017 lounge edition tomorrow ☺️
Lounge is the lusso trim.
How do you like it??
Another great and informative review. Even lifted my bum from the sofa to write this. Whatever keeps you going and making them is irrelevant, just so they keep coming.
It's definitely a classy, smooth driving little car. Love mine even more than my old MX5 I had a while back. The new Spider is fast, fun, and an awesome ride. Should hold its value very well. I agree with your ratings. It's noisy as hell with the top up at 70ish. Wish they'd paid more attention to that. Otherwise, it's a dream.
great review
Hey Alex great review!! Can you do one review on mustang ecoboost please? Thanks!!
fiat is gettin better and better! tony your are fired!
If they figured out the cup holders and storage make the trunk a little bigger, I'm all over this one. As it is, I'm thinking CPO abarth in two years. Curious what mods you would suggest? Great review, again AA!
so much better looking than the mx5/Miata but I haven't seen one on the road .
The 124 is a lovely little roadster. I'm glad both the MX-5 and 124 exist because they really harken back well to the classic British and Italian roadsters of the past.
I'd honestly love to own the 124, but it's just not practical for me right now. Still, great review, Alex - it was super helpful!
I think it looks much better than the Miata. Not bad at all
I wouldn't call it Miata perfected, but rather Miata refined. The MX-5 is the car I would buy right now and the 124 is the one I would buy once I'm retired.
Excellent review as always and I agree - I’m getting one partly because of this review. The 2018 - 2019 N America upgrade options included LED headlights and Monza exhaust but FCA never invested in proper marketing or expanding the product (ie putting in the Alfa 1.7l engine you’re so right the Abarth should have). The fact that stands out here for me is that at the launch event you attended they presented a Mini and a Beetle convertible as competition, which says it all to me - they don’t think the 124 has a real competitor or cross-shop option, therefore no price breaks were offered to move volumes (it’s only now in late 2019 that I’m seeing even zero-percent offers), and dealers are left without much of a strategy or niche. The 124 has been a medium-level sales disaster for FCA though apparently restricting supply and discounts means they break even on the line according to the current CEO; I assume that’s accounting rather than actual sales profitability. Seems they needed more marketing research prior to launch, or to a re-launch.
Alex, I’d love to see a follow up video interview between you and a senior FCA executive about the old v current 124 sales strategy and their marketing strategy in N America - what do they think has restrained greater success of the 124, what fantasy changes they’d make if volumes were higher, what technical compromises and significant wins did they create with this model in its development and lessons learned from the Mazda partnership, and so forth.
My own marketing idea for this would be to end the Fiat 124 and return to the original idea of branding this as an Alfa 124 for 2021, keep the styling mostly and add some features including telescoping steering and the larger engine option on a real Abarth as the Europeans get, then raise the price to make this Alfa’s entry level fun car. That is: the Alfa 124 Lusso or the Abarth 124 leads to the Giulia for the executive, or the Giulia Q4 for the performance side CEO type, or the Stelvio for the Porsche family type customer who misses the V8 or something. And for god’s sake give us Android Auto / CarPlay instead of the mess they still include in the 124. Keep the manufacturing at Mazda and make it part of the marketing joke: can a Japanese manufacturer do Italian style? Can an Italian manufacturer do Japanese quality? All backed by a year of deep N America market analysis done with senior executives.
I’m no marketing exec but this stuff seems obvious to me.
The Miata was indeed inspired by the British and Italian roadsters of the past.
It does everything those old cars could do except leak oil and break down every thousand miles.
I’ve seen a few Fiat 124’s on the road lately, but haven’t seen any at the track. I will be interested to see how well they hold up on both.
Hi Alex. When will you do a 2017 CRV review? Thanks.
Pussycat Dolls? I appreciate the music choice
manual is much better then automatic! yesterday did a test drive for 25 minutes and enjoy so much!
I would buy an Abarth 124 spider, but the two colors I have fallen for on youtube are not offered in the states. I really like the blue one, or the one with the subtle Italian stripes down the middle. All my local dealer had in a MT was white and black.
I have this same engine in my Jeep Renegade FWD w/6spd manual. It's a real humdinger of a motor and makes the Jeep a blast to drive. I would love to have this engine in a sporty car that weighs 400 lbs less. I must say, a turbocharger and a manual transmission make a wonderful combo. Weeeeeeeeee!!!
Please tell me you're gonna review the Alfa Romeo Giula!
ONLY ONE QUESTION :
*Is its body zinc plated or not?*
I am not the target clientele for this, but TBH, this is a pretty cool ride, cheesy cupholders and all.
Want to see cheesy cupholders? Step into any Porsche (Boxster/Cayman/911) since 2007. But I would buy and happily drive any of them. If the only fault you can find is "cup holders stink", then you found a car worth seriously considering.
Alex - You mentioned that you would put a performance chip in the Spider Abarth if you were ever to buy the car. Can you recommend one? Also I've been watching your reviews for a few years now, and I have to say that they are the most detailed, thorough and useful car reviews on the web. I will be buying a Spider Abarth based largely on your opinion (plus I test drove it and loved it)! Please reply with any MOD recommendations.
I was thinking classic MG B. My Italian service guy said yu gotta try a Abarth 124 Spider.
I am now a very happy owner of a 2017 Arbath manuel Spider. Not only enormous fun to drive, but is now a future RARE model - since they stopped making them. Italian flair and tuning, Japanese solid and reliable assembly.
Definitely best of both worlds.
By the way. Great review thanks.
Hey Alex, I know that it is not a convertible but how the base nissan 370z compared to these cars in 0-60 and handling? Thank you for the great review.
I love my Spider manual so pleased you give it a good review. Sorry to be English, but why in America do you call a MAzda a MARZDA?
Hey Alex can we expect an Escalade review soon?
It’s a lovely little 2 seater roadster and a wonderfully good looking car. The only impracticality it has is the low luggage space when on a holiday as a couple, even if we really pack and carry very little. Hark back to the 1961-1962 Alfa Spider (Edward Fox in The Day of the Jackal) - see how much luggage space that car’s boot had.
But Hells Bells, it is a lovely little beast. I would love to own one. Or atleast try and get a rental car of this kind when next in Europe.
shocked no mustang or camaro convertible comparison as I feel thise are closer competition in than a fwd 500 Abarth. Price wasn't a factor since the Z4 was thrown in. Puzzling
You forgot the base Porsche 718 which is much closer to MX-5/124 (light-weight roadster) than the Z4 (heavy-weight touring car). The 718 and Z4 are comparably priced: both "twice" the price of the MX-5/124.
Is there a recommend brand/model of tires for this car?
Alex, will you be getting your hands on a Lexus LC500?
What about the Miata RF?
Would it fall into this category, or is it different becuase it has a hard top?
The RF is awesome
I don't blame these people for their incessant pseudo-comparisons to the MX-5. I did the same thing. I owned a Miata before, so I had to check out the new Miata. However, once I drove the Spider (three times), that was my choice-hands down! After 18,000 mi. I'm a very happy camper!
6.3 0-60 is faster than most recorded Miata launches I've seen or read.
Nice Fiata.
Alex, which trim would you choose between the Classica and the Lusso?
he said right in the video, the lusso
I am wondering whether you could get an Abarth emblem for this car instead of FIAT.
H. Billie Li yeah you just get the abarth version
i wishd id had some day 124 spider red and green
Great review, Alex! The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider sure is a wonderful looking peace of machinery! It just has a very sophisticated and mature persona to it! I seriously have to get my hands on one of these to review soon! 😃
I just recently reviewed the 2017 Fiat 500L and 500 Abarth, and this vehicle's interior and exterior corporate design is quiet different from what's found on the rest of the Fiat lineup in the U.S.! Then again, this vehicle is based off of the MX-5 Miata, like you mentioned in the video! 😉
Also, I really like your style of videos! They are very concise, yet still very informative and almost leave no questions in answered! Keep up the great work, Alex! 😉👏👍👌
-DriveAndBeDriven 🚘
"The Quest To Record The Best!"
The 500L is an abortion, but one thing he says at 20:12 about the 500 Abarth being slower should be taken with a grain of salt. If you don't actually need the convertible, there are significant weight savings (and its quieter) going with a regular Abarth. Secondly, you can now save even more weight and money by going with a 2018 Fiat Pop, which for this year has an identical engine and transmission to the Abarth, literally every part is identical, even the intake, with the exception of the exhaust which is actually superior on the Pop (its a single lighter exhaust that is straight, instead of a T shape dual at the end which is less efficient and heavier). There's an inexpensive rear seat delete kit for the 500, which transforms the trunk into a perfectly flat ginormous trunk with a huge hatch opening big enough to swallow a Costco 7cuft Freezer if you use twine to hold the hatch down (ask me how I know). Now, I said the engine on the Pop is identical, and that's true, but it is factory detuned to 130hp, but that's purely an artificial boost restriction so as not to compete with the Abarth. Euro+Drive makes a very simple OBD2 tool that you plugin that reprograms the engine to the factory 695's higher than US Abarth power levels, or even 200hp Stage 0 with no other mods needed. With the 16" lighter wheels, lighter unloaded chassis, seats removed, no convertible top, and rear seat delete you have a vehicle that is wrong wheel drive, but is lighter than a Spider, has more horsepower, is significantly less expensive even after mods, and with max performance summer tires has no traction issues with 205mm rubber on the factory wheels, and will absolutely accelerate much faster than the Spider while having a huge trunk area and seats that can be pushed back as far as you like.
Hmm the difference between the Lusso and the Abarth is only 700$? Is this true in real world? Seems like a good deal for the extra goodies, especially the lsd and the paddle shifters
Nice review, but there’s no ‘r’ in Mazda. 😉
I like.the turbo charged engine, but wish they provide a 2.0L instead of the 1.4L.
Hello. Does anybody here have this car longer time with more kilometers? Are you still happy to have it? Thank you for the answer
Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino- or -fix it again Tony?
What is the storage behind the passenger seat like?
Both seats actually compared to the manual have storage behind them. No one has reviewed this!
None. Maybe a notebook.
Audi Q5 2018 please!!
Much better looking than the Miata, lol, the Miata is the basis used to make this car people, the Miata is a 30 year classic and still going strong, show some respect!
Maurice Miller Wow your fanboy ass sure is on fire
looks so much better without the strange paint job it had at all the car shows
Nice Fiata
No spare ?
Nope, not on the MX-5, not on the Spider.....future of cars?
If they would have made this one look a tad more like the classic Spider I probably would have preferred this over the Miata.
It's not for everyone. There are lots of old, used Fiats around. Get one and get happy!
So sad they discontinued this model
this car starts at 30,995 before destination in Canada, the MX-5 is $1000 more expensive. Completely unaffordable for a new car for this size as much as I want it.
Michael Zhu I agree. can't justify 500 a month plus insurance for this , gotta pay that 600$ utilities bill hahabbababanbababanahhahahhahahhahahahhahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahahhahahahajhahahahaj f you liberals
Michael Zhu Agreed for about 10% more than top end Abarth you can get a Golf R or a lot of great used options.
acchaladka test drove the golf r. was super refined, base 38 and with the tech package and taxes was over 48grand, couldn't justify it, but better value than this. cobalt turbo was faster still and good enough. any new car hard to justify. used z06 baby!
MMMMMMMOAR CARBON TAX PLOX JK JK JK
2:15 Couch
I’ve heard that this car has 140 hp and 160 hp. Which one is it
Gary Annis 140 Europe and 160 US
I looked at the sticker at my mall and it was $28,000. WHAT!. The car comes up to my knees. I had an old 124 and got it for $1,800 and it ran great for awhile until it needed work but still cars were cheap to fix then. $28,000 is just nuts...When you take the sticker off of the window and read the back of it. It reads SUCKER.. If you win the Lottery then you will see this as a good buy.
H B Ok boomer
A 5 speed manual would be nice.
Try the 6 speed. It's nicer....
Sorry, only comes in a 6 speed-ENJOY!
Nah. Go for the AT instead.
Next generation should be electric. Then it will be a competitor for Tesla Roadster :D
It's a Fiata!
And your point?
Why does this car remind me of a datsun 240
"Miata perfected" for you?
I couldnt fit inside this car :( 6'3".
Don't cha ?
MAZDA not MARZDA
the paint difference between the bumper and the fender is too glaring ugh
nice hair
Mazda MX-5 purist not liking a turbo?? did they forget about the MazdaSpeed Miata ??
Much better-looking nose than the Miata; the Japanese and Korean car companies need to headhunt a few Italian stylists to improve their habitually-ugly grilles & front ends. To echo another poster, this car needs a hell of a lot more power. Sure, that'd need a stronger chassis and drivetrain, but just think of what insane fun one of these would be with 300HP under the hood.
Mozda?
The actual new Mazda MX 5 is no Miata. This was the very first. So your name has no sence... even to compare the cars. Each has its very own character.
Is it bad that I lost respect for Alex for listening to pussy cat dolls at 5:32?
It looks like an updated version of my Miata NB. Wish it had the Miata engine instead of the fiat engine. I just don't trust fiat engines. The Fiat looks more like a miata than the ND miata.
All I see here is a little longer and slightly sculpted Miata with a Fiat badge on it
This car looks good. I doesn't have to frikin "grow on me" like the ugly new mustangs.
if i had a garage, i would think about this car, regardless of the crappy "multiair" engine. i would baby the hell out of it and hope for the best and expect the worst. this car would be destroyed in my driveway with debris off my trees and i think thieves would target the top for their pocketknife adventures, which i would like to amend with my bow and arrow....
I never understood the "I don't like turbos" opinion. Some naturally aspirated motors are brilliant. Others are forgettable. Some turbo motors are brilliant. Others are forgettable. It seems like _both_ the Mazda motors offered in the MX-5 and the Fiat motors offered in the 124 Spider are in the great to brilliant range. Drive each and decide for yourself which you prefer. But base your decision on your driving impressions, not by the written specs of the motor. And your motor choice does not automatically prove the other motor choice is rubbish. I own a naturally aspirated flat-six 987 edition Boxster. The motor is brilliant. I've driven the new 718 edition turbo flat-four motors. Also fantastic motors. Different? Yes. But both are fantastic.
FIAT by Japan. No Mexico,
Need to go Abarth to get a LSD? LOL, these guys . . .😳👎
Its a Fiata
So?
No it's not...and now you know that...
No, it's a Miat!!!
Not true, Mazda never considered killing off the Miata, it's their icon and classic, the best selling and most reliable sports car ever made and their going to kill it off? Lol, that would have been suicide for Mazda. Insiders at Mazda never said such a thing or made this claim, wow such disrespect and insults towards the Miata legend and such bias and fandom toward Fiat
We won't call it that anymore. After all, it's an insult the the miata.
Chris Priestley Fanboy alert