I have to say, while the 124 is not my favorite styling wise, I am very impressed at how much Fiat did to make this car unique. Hats off to them at putting effect into distinguishing its own special car. This is where Toyota and Subaru failed with the brz/86. The Miata and 124 are fantastic cars. Can't go wrong
Well, the 86 is not meant to be revolutionary, it was meant to reflect the old 86 from the 80s. I wonder how the 86 is not different? how many cheap RWD manuals coups are out there today? 2 or 3?
The axle back active exhaust I installed on my 2016 Club is absolutely perfect. It transformed the car into a much better sounding roadster ! Relatively quiet until you put your foot down & it roars to the revs of that great engine !
Nope ! The MX-5 Club soft top does 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. It will leave the Fiat 124 in the dust. Lighter weight by 160 pounds & instant acceleration with the LSD laying down both rear tires.
Maybe I am goofy, but I MUCH prefer the looks of the Abarth inside and out. The miata looks like every other egg shaped import on the market. It's pretty, but its to "roundy" looking. The Abarth has some definition front to back, honestly it looks a lot like the NA.
I agree. I test drove both the MX5 2018 and a 2018 Spider Classica this week, and have to say, Fiat gets my purchase. I almost went with the MX5 because I trust Mazda branding, but knowing they're note for note internally aside from the engine, I give favor to the exterior design. It screams sexy.
more videos = more ads = more $$$ for Edmunds = more people with better equipment making more videos at better locations about better cars ...in case you didn't know
Enjoyed the video even if the conclusion is a little bit weak. I do believe that the Abarth has the potential to sound better via the Mopar exhaust option and make more power through a factory authorized tune. That being said, I currently own and daily drive a Miata and would happily take either of them.
@@arion9696 it means the MX-5 is as common as a belly button. Everyone has one...unlike the Abarth where fewer than 20 thousand were produced for the entire world.
For those of you that want the Abarth with 200 hp , all it needs is a phase 1 tune. Super easy and transforms the car. Shouldn't even be tested any other way. It's transformational.
The last video with Lago and Takahashi left me wondering what Takahashi was doing in Lago's video. Now Takahashi is growing on me. Could you guys be the next Tango and Cash? Maybe.....but I still prefer Lago by himself. Thx for the Vid guys.
This wasn't a very useful review of either car. The mx was built to be driven in corners and tossed around and they never came close to that. As soon as they did, they would have seen the mx doesn't handle nearly as well as the 124. The mx also has the newer crappier trans, while the 124 maintains the previous gen Miata 6 speed. Also never mention anything about the electronic assist steering in the mx (or the 124 for that matter).
Even the Japanese motor writers are in awe of their new "turbo powered" Miata, with a stylish Italian body. The Miata was the Japanese 2015 COTY. And in 2016, several writers named the 124 Abarth the Japanese 2015 COTY.
According to the stats they put up they both do 0-60 in 7 sec. But the Fiat does the 1/4 mile in 15.0 whereas the Mazda does it in 15.1. It's pretty much a wash. But they keep saying the Mazda is faster. Not the case with the provided stats.
It was 6.5 years ago now , 1st week of March 2017 the RF's had just come out. At my local Mazda dealer the RF's were already SOLD coming off he truck ! Also Fiat had just released the 2017 124 Spyder Abarth & seeing a glowing You Tube review of one I went to the local Alfa Romeo / Fiat dealer to see a white 2017 124 Spyder Abarth. I liked the seats & the Red Tach i the interior. On the test drive I immediately noticed how heavy the clutch pedal felt & from a stop the engine had turbo Lag. It dulled the driving experience so much I wrote an email to the Fiat dealer with exactly those thoughts. The next day I went to the Mazda dealer & out in front was a 2016 MX-5 Club soft top with the Brembo / BBS package in white basically setup the same as that 124 Abarth but for thousands of dollars less ! The MX-5 Club has a super light clutch with a great leather ball shifter. The throttle response was instant & it felt more athletic in the turns. Such a great drive that the dealer was willing to extend my test drive for the rest of the weekend. After putting on 240 miles I went back to the dealer with my checkbook after work on Monday to Buy it ! 6.5 years later its my daily drive in 4 season weather. I change out the summer performance tires / wheels for the winter set & its ready to go ! Best car I've owned in my life !
The things that Japanese cars do not have, are: the legendary style of Italian cars, the sound of a decidedly sexy escapement, the much superior upholstery....
I don't understand why people compare them so much, it's the same car, lol. It's like comparing BRZ to a GT86. Exterior styling is the biggest difference.
Roy Rki they have way less in common then the subiyota twins. Much different bodys and different engines along with the combination of all the smaller differences.
X V i dont see carlos as a sarcastic reviewer. If it was the guy from auto guide or the 2 guys from mt head 2 head then yeah. Even the co-host corrected him, you can hear him say fastback in the first 13 secs of the clip
Americans should just feel very lucky they get the Abarth so relativly cheap.. In Europe the Abarth version is a lot more expensive then the regular 124 Spider.. Also you get 160HP in the regular one where in Europe that only offers 140 HP.. Besides all that, I did not really enjoy the very obvious bias towards the MX5 in this video.. Almost everything was spun into an advantage for the Mazda.. Not a word about the connection of the 124 Spider design with the classic 124 Sport Spider etc.. No sense of history.. Like the MX5 was the only small roadster ever..
Also the abarth is not slower and they even showed the acceleration times that have the Miata slower now in reality there’s no real difference in straight line speed between the two. So it drives me crazy how they keep on saying how much faster the Miata is when it just isn’t and the abarth has better suspension and is definitely much better sounding. Especially when the cars have an aftermarket muffler or cat back exhaust the abarth sounds so much better it’s not even a conversion.
I heard the 124 is quieter on the interstate. Did you test for noise level? Or, is it negligible between models? I am looking to purchase one next year and am looking for a grand tourer I can daily. Thanks.
Hi weesleh. According to our track sheets for both of these exact vehicles, the Fiat 124 Abarth is quieter for the most part: Sound level @ idle (dB): 46.0 @ Full Throttle (dB): 79.3 @ 70 mph cruise (dB): 74.5 @ 70 mph top down (dB): 75.0 Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2800 For the Miata MX-5 RF here's what we saw: Sound level @ idle (dB): 44.5 @ Full Throttle (dB): 92.3 @ 70 mph cruise (dB): 71.4 @ 70 mph top down (dB): 79.8 Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2750 Other than full throttle, these cars look really close together.
Interesting that the Mazda has such a big difference between levels with roof down, whereas the Fiat is mostly the same and in between the ranges of the Mazda
I was pretty interested when the 124 came out. I've always been interested in a small roadster. I'd heard the new nc/124 were larger inside than some of the old mx5s.... no I went and sat in a hard top this week. No way I could drive this car and I'm only 6'4. I'm not sure anyone would fee comfortable. Idk why we can't make small cars with more leg room. I've driven first gen rx7s that are even smaller than this and have plenty of room.
The first gen rx7 is a bit longer, but its smaller from side to side. My son drives a 1980 SA that is 100 percent unmodified. Such a classic car. I can fit (and drive) the RX-7 fairly easily. I can't even fit in the Miata.
Would the 124 spider benefit from being tuned? I’ve been looking at some classica models and the prices have gone down on a lot of these-they tend to be cheaper than the Miata. It almost sounds like the turbo engine is similar to the 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
They Both look like The Perfect Roadster because The Fiat pays Homage to Old Roadsters. Ppl seem to Forget The Miata was born because of Fiat 124 of The Past. Just wish they used The 2.4 Tigershark Engine on Fiat tho & I’ve never been a Convertible Guy so that Miata RF has really been calling My Name!🤗
How I ended up here? I was looking online for a fiat. I found the fiat very good looking until I saw the inside. I thought for a moment talking to myself about how I hated that infotainment but I couldn't remember from where. Then i remember i had test driven a Mazda 3 and i remembered hating the infotainment. That's a shame the fiat uses the same interior as the Mazda.
The miata is just too much that toy car, woman's car look. The 124 is stretched a tad in comparison it looks more like a real car. Another factor is the Abarth being turbo charged is tune happy from the show room which means MUCH more power all things equal. You guys really missed all that really matters in your "review".
I agree the Abarth version should have more power.. Especially in the USA where the regular one already gets 160HP, just 4 more HP does not cut it.. Something arround 190-200 HP would have been nice.. But I guess that's where the turbo comes into play, as I'm sure there will be plenty of tuning done to get more power out of it..
I've been reading/watching reviews of both cars. It seems that the Fiat is less noisy, even with soft top vs RF's hard top, because: "Fiat added sound-deadening elements to the car - an acoustic windshield, and additional components inside the convertible roof". That said, convertibles will always be noisy. At this stage I'm leaning towards the Fiat, it's seems a little less "sporty", but a little more "comfy". That counts for an old retired dude like me. ;)
? The Miata is supposed to be faster but the numbers you showed were the exact opposite. Plus you have the Fiat pulling higher numbers on the skid-pad(a first for any test between these two). ??? Either you transposed the numbers or Edmonds doesn't know its head from its arse.
You keep saying the MX-5 is faster, yet on test after test with professional drivers, the 124 Spider beats the MX-5 on both track and road courses. HMMMmmmmm...
Personally, I'd take the abarth. You don't see them at all out on the streets and I live in LA LOL. Such a unique car. Its5vettrr looking than the miata jussayin
mountainhobo Hey there. I asked a couple people around the office who are vertically inclined and came up with some help here: Mike Schmidt, Senior Vehicle Testing Manager said this: "I'm 6-2. I fit in the MX-5 well enough to enjoy driving it. But there isn't quite enough headroom when the roof is up, even with the seat fully reclined. The resulting most-comfortable position still leaves my arms bent a bit more than I prefer. In all other directions, I am acceptably comfortable for a car of its size." Dan Edmunds is also 6' 2" and he told me he had a LOT to say about driving our Long Term Miata in the Long Term Road Test Blog found here: www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/2016/long-term-road-test/introduction.html
7 лет назад
I'm 186cm tall and I bought the soft top because my head would touch the roof in the RF (thicker roof).
100% spot on. My Abarth 124 is appreciating rapidly in value. Dealer emailed me 3 months ago asking to buy it back. Selling same car as mine for £3k more than I paid 18 months ago.
Of course the fit and finish in the Fiata is inconsistent, it has to remind you that it is Italian! Now they just have to make mazda electronics malfunction every other time you start the car to make the experience complete.
Bollocks. The Fiat/Abarth 124 is actually appreciating in value. This is not only because they have been discontinued, but also because owners are raving about them. The dealer I bought my 124 off in July 2020 emailed me three months ago wanting to buy it back and he was selling the same car as mine for £3k MORE than I paid for it a year earlier.
Mazda's are just raw cars which is why the Fiat seems like a mutant in front of it. Skyactive is a design language that encompasses the engine, transmission, exterior... all of it. Taking chunks out and putting a 'bigger engine' doesn't work. Look at all the videos of Miata or 'MX5' online. Even with 155HP, it is rated as the 'most fun car'. More HP = nothing if it isn't married with a lightweight chassis, great transmission and a wind-cutter exterior that reduces drag. Mazda's win in those aspects.
It's not a Fiat. It's an Abarth. Particularly the 595. No where on them does it say Fiat and only the US spec 124 has the Fiat's interior, everywhere else it has alcantara and leather.
1:28 says fiat right on the bloody steering wheel, i used to drive an nc miata and now i have a 500 abarth, the fiata couldve/shouldbe been better. especially in the "audio" dept and by that i mean a stock 500 abarth sounds better than a stock 124 abarth for some reason
The US spec Abarth 124 Spider doesn't get any of the badging that the euro spec models get. So it has Fiat badges where Abarth scorpions should be. No stitching on the seats. etc. Also no Record Monza exhaust. It's just not as .. Abarth as it should have been.
Hi Richard Houlton. Correct, they're very similar in weight. Here's what we saw at the track: Mazda MX-5 RF: Weight L/F (lbs): 640 Weight L/R (lbs): 594 Weight R/F (lbs): 627 Weight R/R (lbs): 607 Curb weight as tested (lbs): 2468 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Weight L/F (lbs): 710 Weight L/R (lbs): 560 Weight R/F (lbs): 685 Weight R/R (lbs): 580 Curb weight as tested (lbs): 2535 A difference of 67 pounds or 30.39 kilograms.
ramonahumada4 neither, get the 124 spider but definitely the abarth also even though the fiesta st is faster the 500 abarth is much more exciting same for the Mini Cooper S.
Number 1 reason i sold my 07 miata nc was because the interior road noise at 70 mph. Couldnt take it. How is the rf or the none rf for that matter in this regard?
Carlos Lago oh snap mr. Lagos responded lol am a big fan! But i have sat in the nd but not driven it. The nc was pretty llud inside louder than say a honda fit inside by alot even louder yhan my smart for sure. I believe i measured within iPhone app and its score like an 88 dbS interior sound
Jesus H Medrano Here's what we saw at the track for sound levels on the RF and our long term cloth top ND: Mazda MX-5 RF: Sound level @ idle (dB): 44.5 @ Full Throttle (dB): 92.3 @ 70 mph cruise (dB): 71.4 @ 70 mph top down (dB): 79.8 Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2750 Mazda MX-5 Club Long Term: Sound level @ idle (dB): 48.4 @ Full Throttle (dB): 84.8 @ 70 mph cruise (dB): 70.2 @ 70 mph top down (dB): Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2900 Looks like we didn't get a top down measurement. We probably just forgot to do this one as there's quite a few things going on at once when testing at the track.
Jesus H Medrano We do! We're missing the top down measurement, though. I'm not sure why. Here's what we have: Sound level @ idle (dB): 48.4 @ Full Throttle (dB): 84.8 @ 70 mph cruise (dB): 70.2 @ 70 mph top down (dB): Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2900
I’m surprised that you think that the Mopar sticker has anything to do with Mazda. Mopar is, and has always been, a division of the Chrysler group. And now Chrysler is a division of Fiat. Mopar was always connected with the race cars (especially NASCAR) of Dodge and Plymouth.
You guys are ridiculous, you should be equal EQUAL, if you love the miata just dont do this video, the fiat is the same of the mazda but with italian style leather alcantara and it is wayyy more beautiful
Yes but what about reliability? Plus Mazda just added a new engine of 181 hp engine to the mx-5 rf. I wouldn’t buy neither. I would just buy an older na miata for me and a older 124 for my father.
bounty 543 You are ridiculous, you should be equal EQUAL, if you love the fiata just quit this video, the miata is the same of the fiata but with Japanese style it's simple and it is wayyy more beautiful
why mazda sell the chassis to fiat? because they know that they cannot make a better car than the miata... simply because the Skyactiv is a package of both chassis, engine and transmission... so in terms of the fiat, they only get the chassis, so the Skyactiv package is not complete so does the car
No. The fiata was actually supposed to be an Alfa Romeo with the 4c engine. I'm guessing Mazda didn't allow Fiat to one up them by making a better Miata.
The original plan was for a new Alfa Romeo spider but Alfa didn’t want to sell a car for so little. The current 124 spider engine was going to be the engine either way. It’s hilarious that somehow it’s too cheap to them for it to be an Alfa when they sell the mito which is way cheaper.
Brent that abarth engine is the same one from abarth 500 and is the only reliable component of that car.........that abarth engine sounds so much better straight piped then the miata.....
I have to say, while the 124 is not my favorite styling wise, I am very impressed at how much Fiat did to make this car unique. Hats off to them at putting effect into distinguishing its own special car. This is where Toyota and Subaru failed with the brz/86. The Miata and 124 are fantastic cars. Can't go wrong
Well, the 86 is not meant to be revolutionary, it was meant to reflect the old 86 from the 80s. I wonder how the 86 is not different? how many cheap RWD manuals coups are out there today? 2 or 3?
They did not make one mention of the Abarths awesome sounding exhaust, it craps over the Mazda!
I was so eager to hear that!
👍
norman hinkley You dah man!,👍👍👍
The axle back active exhaust I installed on my 2016 Club is absolutely perfect. It transformed the car into a much better sounding roadster ! Relatively quiet until you put your foot down & it roars to the revs of that great engine !
They keep talking about how the Mazda is faster, but they're both 0-60 in 7 seconds flat!
Nope ! The MX-5 Club soft top does 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. It will leave the Fiat 124 in the dust. Lighter weight by 160 pounds & instant acceleration with the LSD laying down both rear tires.
The chrome on the gear stick blinded you... Really, come on.
I own one and it has never blinded me once, not even in bright sunshine with the roof down. I agree it was a pathetic comment.
Maybe I am goofy, but I MUCH prefer the looks of the Abarth inside and out. The miata looks like every other egg shaped import on the market. It's pretty, but its to "roundy" looking. The Abarth has some definition front to back, honestly it looks a lot like the NA.
I agree. I test drove both the MX5 2018 and a 2018 Spider Classica this week, and have to say, Fiat gets my purchase. I almost went with the MX5 because I trust Mazda branding, but knowing they're note for note internally aside from the engine, I give favor to the exterior design. It screams sexy.
I bought the Miata RF cause it's much better looking. Plus I'd never buy a Fiat it's just plain ugly.
Looks more like the NB to me not NA
This format works so much better than the old one with several short videos. Thank you for making that change.
Thanks for your feedback here, we appreciate the kind words!
more videos = more ads = more $$$ for Edmunds = more people with better equipment making more videos at better locations about better cars
...in case you didn't know
Enjoyed the video even if the conclusion is a little bit weak. I do believe that the Abarth has the potential to sound better via the Mopar exhaust option and make more power through a factory authorized tune. That being said, I currently own and daily drive a Miata and would happily take either of them.
I love my 124 Abarth. Red, with a manual transmission, it's the way to go!
How is it running a year after this comment? I'm on the fence between the 2018 Abarth and the 2018 MX-5
@@visualsofisa trust me, I own an abarth, and ive driven many miatas, go with the fiat!
Isaias Sanchez I've had mine since 2017 this is my fourth summer. It has 22.000km and has had no issues.
Within a year the temperature sensor needed to be replaced but that was under warranty. Other than that, zero issues! An absolute joy to drive.
shut up
The Abarth turns heads all over town. The same can't be said for the Miata as it is now a belly button car.
What does that mean?
@@arion9696 it means the MX-5 is as common as a belly button. Everyone has one...unlike the Abarth where fewer than 20 thousand were produced for the entire world.
The 124 Spider is meant to be tuned and boy it does it well.
I'm glad Carlos is getting comfortable with Ed Munds. Good format and gaining chemistry.
Carlos is such a good car journalist. Sad he left Motor trend. His experience shows, specially when it comes to sport cars.
For those of you that want the Abarth with 200 hp , all it needs is a phase 1 tune. Super easy and transforms the car. Shouldn't even be tested any other way. It's transformational.
Thinc2 it being turbo is such an advantage for the Fiat with enthusiast cars like these that we all know will have a lot of people modifying.
The Abarth is just a better looking car.
i beg to disagree
Very much disagree.
Highly disagree
The last video with Lago and Takahashi left me wondering what Takahashi was doing in Lago's video. Now Takahashi is growing on me. Could you guys be the next Tango and Cash? Maybe.....but I still prefer Lago by himself. Thx for the Vid guys.
Alpha Romeo's owner even turned his head at my 124 hehe I'm very pleased with my choice
This wasn't a very useful review of either car. The mx was built to be driven in corners and tossed around and they never came close to that. As soon as they did, they would have seen the mx doesn't handle nearly as well as the 124. The mx also has the newer crappier trans, while the 124 maintains the previous gen Miata 6 speed. Also never mention anything about the electronic assist steering in the mx (or the 124 for that matter).
Even the Japanese motor writers are in awe of their new "turbo powered" Miata, with a stylish Italian body.
The Miata was the Japanese 2015 COTY.
And in 2016, several writers named the 124 Abarth the Japanese 2015 COTY.
2016 Typing error: should have said the Japanese 2016 COTY.
RF means retractable fastback
AKA-RF : Really Faster!
I like the exterior styling on the fiat 124. I was very sorry to hear that is production was canceled this year.
i prefer the mazda RF! fun to drive and best of all, NO LEAKS for long term ownership
Joseph Espinal I agree but to be fair we don't know how long until the roof needs fixing or develops problems yet on either vehicle.
According to the stats they put up they both do 0-60 in 7 sec. But the Fiat does the 1/4 mile in 15.0 whereas the Mazda does it in 15.1. It's pretty much a wash. But they keep saying the Mazda is faster. Not the case with the provided stats.
It was 6.5 years ago now , 1st week of March 2017 the RF's had just come out. At my local Mazda dealer the RF's were already SOLD coming off he truck ! Also Fiat had just released the 2017 124 Spyder Abarth & seeing a glowing You Tube review of one I went to the local Alfa Romeo / Fiat dealer to see a white 2017 124 Spyder Abarth. I liked the seats & the Red Tach i the interior. On the test drive I immediately noticed how heavy the clutch pedal felt & from a stop the engine had turbo Lag. It dulled the driving experience so much I wrote an email to the Fiat dealer with exactly those thoughts. The next day I went to the Mazda dealer & out in front was a 2016 MX-5 Club soft top with the Brembo / BBS package in white basically setup the same as that 124 Abarth but for thousands of dollars less ! The MX-5 Club has a super light clutch with a great leather ball shifter. The throttle response was instant & it felt more athletic in the turns. Such a great drive that the dealer was willing to extend my test drive for the rest of the weekend. After putting on 240 miles I went back to the dealer with my checkbook after work on Monday to Buy it ! 6.5 years later its my daily drive in 4 season weather. I change out the summer performance tires / wheels for the winter set & its ready to go ! Best car I've owned in my life !
The things that Japanese cars do not have, are: the legendary style of Italian cars, the sound of a decidedly sexy escapement, the much superior upholstery....
The Fiata doesn't have the RF roof option. They should compare it with the soft top miata.
Loved my nc mx5
Drove 55000 km all over south africa in it
I would put the regular mx5 cloth top vs 124 cloth top. I'd say the RF is more of a coupe but nevertheless good review.
I think that the Abarth looks better
I like the look of the Fiata better than the current Miata. I would own the 124 if they had kept the Mazda engine...
JeepCollector91 the multiair turbo engine is one of the reasons to get the Fiat
Major difference, Mazda a superior roadster. FIAT fix it again tony.
Okay dude. Dumbest comment of all time.
Don't take my word., ask a reputable mechanic about FIAT!
@@arricammarques1955 I grew up working on cars, and the abarth's lightweight turbo i4 makes it a fine reliable machine.
Love the video. Keep up the great work! 👍🏼
Thank you!
Have seen many comparisons between these two roadsters - both excellent vehicles - but for me, the RF does it.
I don't understand why people compare them so much, it's the same car, lol.
It's like comparing BRZ to a GT86. Exterior styling is the biggest difference.
Roy Rki they have way less in common then the subiyota twins. Much different bodys and different engines along with the combination of all the smaller differences.
RF doesnt stand for retractable roof, its retractable fastback
X V i dont see carlos as a sarcastic reviewer. If it was the guy from auto guide or the 2 guys from mt head 2 head then yeah. Even the co-host corrected him, you can hear him say fastback in the first 13 secs of the clip
i prefer Retractable rooFFFFFFfffffffffff
Real Fast:)
Americans should just feel very lucky they get the Abarth so relativly cheap.. In Europe the Abarth version is a lot more expensive then the regular 124 Spider.. Also you get 160HP in the regular one where in Europe that only offers 140 HP..
Besides all that, I did not really enjoy the very obvious bias towards the MX5 in this video.. Almost everything was spun into an advantage for the Mazda.. Not a word about the connection of the 124 Spider design with the classic 124 Sport Spider etc.. No sense of history.. Like the MX5 was the only small roadster ever..
Me too.....
Also the abarth is not slower and they even showed the acceleration times that have the Miata slower now in reality there’s no real difference in straight line speed between the two. So it drives me crazy how they keep on saying how much faster the Miata is when it just isn’t and the abarth has better suspension and is definitely much better sounding. Especially when the cars have an aftermarket muffler or cat back exhaust the abarth sounds so much better it’s not even a conversion.
i agree indeed
The MX-5 pipes the induction sound in!! Through a tube🤔🤔🤔
I heard the 124 is quieter on the interstate. Did you test for noise level? Or, is it negligible between models? I am looking to purchase one next year and am looking for a grand tourer I can daily. Thanks.
Hi weesleh. According to our track sheets for both of these exact vehicles, the Fiat 124 Abarth is quieter for the most part:
Sound level @ idle (dB): 46.0
@ Full Throttle (dB): 79.3
@ 70 mph cruise (dB): 74.5
@ 70 mph top down (dB): 75.0
Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2800
For the Miata MX-5 RF here's what we saw:
Sound level @ idle (dB): 44.5
@ Full Throttle (dB): 92.3
@ 70 mph cruise (dB): 71.4
@ 70 mph top down (dB): 79.8
Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2750
Other than full throttle, these cars look really close together.
Interesting that the Mazda has such a big difference between levels with roof down, whereas the Fiat is mostly the same and in between the ranges of the Mazda
Retractable Fastback gents ...great video!
The 124 is using the NC's manual transmission.
I was pretty interested when the 124 came out. I've always been interested in a small roadster. I'd heard the new nc/124 were larger inside than some of the old mx5s.... no I went and sat in a hard top this week. No way I could drive this car and I'm only 6'4. I'm not sure anyone would fee comfortable. Idk why we can't make small cars with more leg room. I've driven first gen rx7s that are even smaller than this and have plenty of room.
I'm 5'9 and the car fits me just fine....Feel sorry for you taller guys....Not...haha
Matt Farrar the first gen rx7 is bigger
The first gen rx7 is a bit longer, but its smaller from side to side. My son drives a 1980 SA that is 100 percent unmodified. Such a classic car. I can fit (and drive) the RX-7 fairly easily. I can't even fit in the Miata.
I’m 6’2” and fit in the Abarth just fine.
Keep it up, Edmunds.
Would the 124 spider benefit from being tuned? I’ve been looking at some classica models and the prices have gone down on a lot of these-they tend to be cheaper than the Miata. It almost sounds like the turbo engine is similar to the 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
They Both look like The Perfect Roadster because The Fiat pays Homage to Old Roadsters. Ppl seem to Forget The Miata was born because of Fiat 124 of The Past. Just wish they used The 2.4 Tigershark Engine on Fiat tho & I’ve never been a Convertible Guy so that Miata RF has really been calling My Name!🤗
Hate the rear end of the Miata. Otherwise it’s awesome. Could I get the FIAT rear on the Miata?
I really want to know this as well.
The Abart is the MX5 done proper. It sounds, looks and feels better, it's also easier to drive daily and responds to (engine) modifications better.
Abarth is slower and breaks down constantly. Engine especially is unreliable, parts are scarce, few shops work on them.
I daily a 124 Abarth .. but I still see probably 20 ND Miatas for every 1 Fiat. Must be something to say for that. 😂
How I ended up here? I was looking online for a fiat. I found the fiat very good looking until I saw the inside. I thought for a moment talking to myself about how I hated that infotainment but I couldn't remember from where. Then i remember i had test driven a Mazda 3 and i remembered hating the infotainment. That's a shame the fiat uses the same interior as the Mazda.
No interior chrome in convertibles!
ok, but which car is more tuneable? Yup...the Abarth by far, and once that's done, it's not even light years close.
Majority won't do that though
How much did Mazda pay off these fools?
The miata is just too much that toy car, woman's car look. The 124 is stretched a tad in comparison it looks more like a real car. Another factor is the Abarth being turbo charged is tune happy from the show room which means MUCH more power all things equal. You guys really missed all that really matters in your "review".
That 124 looks too good to be that damn slow
I agree the Abarth version should have more power.. Especially in the USA where the regular one already gets 160HP, just 4 more HP does not cut it.. Something arround 190-200 HP would have been nice..
But I guess that's where the turbo comes into play, as I'm sure there will be plenty of tuning done to get more power out of it..
But it already have turbo.. Lol
nu uuu you know its not always about that Turbo.... Lol
Yeah there's people with bolt ons and a tune making over 300hp in them
its not exactly slow. its all the power you would realistically need...unless you need more power to compensate for something ;)
How do you feel about noise levels RF vs soft top?
Can someone elaborate on this? I've never owned a soft top so too much outside noise concerns me.
I've been reading/watching reviews of both cars. It seems that the Fiat is less noisy, even with soft top vs RF's hard top, because: "Fiat added sound-deadening elements to the car - an acoustic windshield, and additional components inside the convertible roof". That said, convertibles will always be noisy. At this stage I'm leaning towards the Fiat, it's seems a little less "sporty", but a little more "comfy". That counts for an old retired dude like me. ;)
? The Miata is supposed to be faster but the numbers you showed were the exact opposite. Plus you have the Fiat pulling higher numbers on the skid-pad(a first for any test between these two). ??? Either you transposed the numbers or Edmonds doesn't know its head from its arse.
looks of a car are subjective. l know plenty of people who thinks the Abarth 124 is the better looking car.
Which one do you really prefer...
You keep saying the MX-5 is faster, yet on test after test with professional drivers, the 124 Spider beats the MX-5 on both track and road courses. HMMMmmmmm...
Personally, I'd take the abarth. You don't see them at all out on the streets and I live in LA LOL. Such a unique car. Its5vettrr looking than the miata jussayin
Have you considered putting a tall driver (6'3" / 190 cm or taller) inside and see how the ergonomics work? Can you even drive it?
My cousin is 6'2" and the ND Miata is the only one he fits in. And yes, he loves it.
Thanks, Antenox.
mountainhobo Hey there. I asked a couple people around the office who are vertically inclined and came up with some help here:
Mike Schmidt, Senior Vehicle Testing Manager said this: "I'm 6-2. I fit in the MX-5 well enough to enjoy driving it. But there isn't quite enough headroom when the roof is up, even with the seat fully reclined. The resulting most-comfortable position still leaves my arms bent a bit more than I prefer. In all other directions, I am acceptably comfortable for a car of its size."
Dan Edmunds is also 6' 2" and he told me he had a LOT to say about driving our Long Term Miata in the Long Term Road Test Blog found here: www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/2016/long-term-road-test/introduction.html
I'm 186cm tall and I bought the soft top because my head would touch the roof in the RF (thicker roof).
Thank you, Edmunds and Iñigo Zapata.
I didn't knoe that ruf started with f.
Wrong again. The Fiat is unique, looks and sounds better, has better tuning potential and will be collectable. The dime a dozen Miata not much.
100% spot on. My Abarth 124 is appreciating rapidly in value. Dealer emailed me 3 months ago asking to buy it back. Selling same car as mine for £3k more than I paid 18 months ago.
Of course the fit and finish in the Fiata is inconsistent, it has to remind you that it is Italian! Now they just have to make mazda electronics malfunction every other time you start the car to make the experience complete.
For some reason the Miata is just expensive compared to the 124 Spider in Canada. The Fiat will also depreciate like a rock too
Bollocks. The Fiat/Abarth 124 is actually appreciating in value. This is not only because they have been discontinued, but also because owners are raving about them. The dealer I bought my 124 off in July 2020 emailed me three months ago wanting to buy it back and he was selling the same car as mine for £3k MORE than I paid for it a year earlier.
A lot of erroneous (dis)information in this video. Very poor.
This feels like Mazda paid them lol turbo basics full exhaust, intake, intercooler and tune easy climb to 200hp sorry but miata can't say the same.
Keep an eye out for people on Electric Scooters. Share the road...
Who looks at the shifter while driving…someone who doesn’t know how to drive. The Fiat looks like it’s vintage 124 Spider!
Mazda's are just raw cars which is why the Fiat seems like a mutant in front of it. Skyactive is a design language that encompasses the engine, transmission, exterior... all of it. Taking chunks out and putting a 'bigger engine' doesn't work. Look at all the videos of Miata or 'MX5' online. Even with 155HP, it is rated as the 'most fun car'. More HP = nothing if it isn't married with a lightweight chassis, great transmission and a wind-cutter exterior that reduces drag. Mazda's win in those aspects.
The abarth has all of the things that you just said make the Miata so good
Guys guys guys come on guys. That was not a comparison. That was 1 guy who loves to hear himself talk, and the other is sorry for his opinions.
It's not a Fiat. It's an Abarth. Particularly the 595. No where on them does it say Fiat and only the US spec 124 has the Fiat's interior, everywhere else it has alcantara and leather.
LOOK NO BRAKES yeah, too bad in north america the abarth 124 has a big fiat logo on the steering wheel staring right at you
elai314 Yeah you can get this engine to 250hp+ easy in the 595
1:28 says fiat right on the bloody steering wheel, i used to drive an nc miata and now i have a 500 abarth, the fiata couldve/shouldbe been better. especially in the "audio" dept and by that i mean a stock 500 abarth sounds better than a stock 124 abarth for some reason
The US spec Abarth 124 Spider doesn't get any of the badging that the euro spec models get. So it has Fiat badges where Abarth scorpions should be. No stitching on the seats. etc. Also no Record Monza exhaust. It's just not as .. Abarth as it should have been.
says Abarth on my 124's steeng wheel!
They actually weight pretty much the same. It's not a big difference. Maybe 20kgs in it.
Hi Richard Houlton. Correct, they're very similar in weight. Here's what we saw at the track:
Mazda MX-5 RF:
Weight L/F (lbs): 640
Weight L/R (lbs): 594
Weight R/F (lbs): 627
Weight R/R (lbs): 607
Curb weight as tested (lbs): 2468
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
Weight L/F (lbs): 710
Weight L/R (lbs): 560
Weight R/F (lbs): 685
Weight R/R (lbs): 580
Curb weight as tested (lbs): 2535
A difference of 67 pounds or 30.39 kilograms.
Miata or fiesta st?
Miata. Easy.
If you already have another daily driver then Miata, if this is the one car you have(are getting) then F ST
I have 2013 focus st, but I really want the fiesta, and at the same time in also interested in the Miata.
ramonahumada4 neither, get the 124 spider but definitely the abarth also even though the fiesta st is faster the 500 abarth is much more exciting same for the Mini Cooper S.
@@stephenkrane7618 Wouldn't be seen dead in any of those cars you recommended.
I believe I have seen the guy in older motor trend videos.
Number 1 reason i sold my 07 miata nc was because the interior road noise at 70 mph. Couldnt take it. How is the rf or the none rf for that matter in this regard?
Have you been in an ND? I don't remember road noise being too bad, especially in the RF
Carlos Lago oh snap mr. Lagos responded lol am a big fan!
But i have sat in the nd but not driven it. The nc was pretty llud inside louder than say a honda fit inside by alot even louder yhan my smart for sure. I believe i measured within iPhone app and its score like an 88 dbS interior sound
Jesus H Medrano Here's what we saw at the track for sound levels on the RF and our long term cloth top ND:
Mazda MX-5 RF:
Sound level @ idle (dB): 44.5
@ Full Throttle (dB): 92.3
@ 70 mph cruise (dB): 71.4
@ 70 mph top down (dB): 79.8
Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2750
Mazda MX-5 Club Long Term:
Sound level @ idle (dB): 48.4
@ Full Throttle (dB): 84.8
@ 70 mph cruise (dB): 70.2
@ 70 mph top down (dB):
Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2900
Looks like we didn't get a top down measurement. We probably just forgot to do this one as there's quite a few things going on at once when testing at the track.
Edmunds ohh this info is gold! Do u have anything like this for the ND i use to have?
Jesus H Medrano We do! We're missing the top down measurement, though. I'm not sure why. Here's what we have:
Sound level @ idle (dB): 48.4
@ Full Throttle (dB): 84.8
@ 70 mph cruise (dB): 70.2
@ 70 mph top down (dB):
Engine speed @ 70 mph rpm): 2900
roof folding?
Doesn't that guy work for Motor Trend??
How tall are you guys?
I’m surprised that you think that the Mopar sticker has anything to do with Mazda. Mopar is, and has always been, a division of the Chrysler group. And now Chrysler is a division of Fiat. Mopar was always connected with the race cars (especially NASCAR) of Dodge and Plymouth.
Fiat designed engine without dodge. You cannot bring the 124 to a dodge dealership to work on them.
You guys are ridiculous, you should be equal EQUAL, if you love the miata just dont do this video, the fiat is the same of the mazda but with italian style leather alcantara and it is wayyy more beautiful
Giuseppe Lapomarda and a turbo engine with more horsepower and torque
Yes but what about reliability? Plus Mazda just added a new engine of 181 hp engine to the mx-5 rf. I wouldn’t buy neither. I would just buy an older na miata for me and a older 124 for my father.
bounty 543 You are ridiculous, you should be equal EQUAL, if you love the fiata just quit this video, the miata is the same of the fiata but with Japanese style it's simple and it is wayyy more beautiful
why mazda sell the chassis to fiat? because they know that they cannot make a better car than the miata... simply because the Skyactiv is a package of both chassis, engine and transmission... so in terms of the fiat, they only get the chassis, so the Skyactiv package is not complete so does the car
jamesgjt No Mazda didn't have the $$ to make another generation Miata if it wasn't for Fiat they wouldn't have made this one.
No. The fiata was actually supposed to be an Alfa Romeo with the 4c engine. I'm guessing Mazda didn't allow Fiat to one up them by making a better Miata.
The Rally Abarth has the 4C engine.
Awesome car!!!
The original plan was for a new Alfa Romeo spider but Alfa didn’t want to sell a car for so little. The current 124 spider engine was going to be the engine either way. It’s hilarious that somehow it’s too cheap to them for it to be an Alfa when they sell the mito which is way cheaper.
I like the more masculinity of the rear of the fiat and the front of the Miata. Idk why Mazda made their rear of the Miata always girly
Fiat looks much more muscular/masculine from the front.
RF = Retractable Fastback not Retractable Roof
If u have a disposable money go for the fiat , if u want a reliable car go for the mazda mx 5
Ignorant comment. I've had an Abarth 124 for 2 years. It has never missed a beat. 100% reliable so far.
You couldn’t look up what RF means... wow, journalism these days is embarrassing.
FIAT = Fix it Again Tony! MIATA= Make it Another Topless Afternoon.
Miata MX 5 a superior roadster than FIAT or Porsche Boxster!
FIAT = Fantastic In Any Town! MIATA = Man its Another Toy Automobile.
@@blackporscheroadster6415 MIATA = Make it A Topless Afternoon : )
the mazda is slower than the spider in my country (England)
OMG, go marry the Miata already. Ridiculous review.
RF: Retractable FRoof
6:41 jump scare warning
Fiat or Miata? I go Miata.
Abarth or Miata? Abarth any day. It's what the Miata should have been, turbo with a niceee growl to it.
zoom zoom
jaja very hilarious video!
The esthetics are imho both OK but the Fiat is let down by the power plant the Mazda is a much better and refined unit.
I hope the Fiat doesn't break within 3 yrs.
If it does it would be covered by warranty
+Touge Evo *facepalm* its built in Hiroshima, on the same production line as the mazda brother
Retractable Fastback = RF.... LOL *Facepalm*
Retractable rooF
Fiat and all European car looks good but engine sucks!!! Simple as that.
Buy Japanese, it’s game over!
Mazda all the way. That fiat engine is gona have way more problems down the road.
Exactly!
Brent that abarth engine is the same one from abarth 500 and is the only reliable component of that car.........that abarth engine sounds so much better straight piped then the miata.....
That engine has had great reliability in the vehicles it has been in for many years now
Bollocks. I've had my Abarth 124 for 18 months now. Nothing wrong 100% reliability and done 20,000 miles.
FIAT rules. Always liked how peasants dislike them.
The fiata is ugly
Miata Japanese junk
GTFO
+asseto c lol says the 12 y.o. who hasn't got a driving license
And yet Fiat likes to use this "junk" chassis l
Asseto c the guy who thinks egos are nit faster than lambos
I actually like the new Fiat 124 Spider.
The Miata is just a better looking car.