I own a red 2018 FIAT 124 SPIDER LUSSO........... I debated long and hard back then between this and the Mazda MX5, knowing that they were very similar cars made in the same factory in Japan. I loved the looks of the 124 and so did my wife. We were looking for a sporty cruising roadster, not a race car. It has Japanese reliability, British sportiness, and Italian looks! Everyone had the impression that because it had a FIAT badge on it, it was a piece of junk. Goes to show how wrong buyer perception can be at times. FIAT really dropped the ball with this car by not advertising it more......its an absolute gem! It has been absolutely perfect since I have owned it, and the most fun car I have ever driven. A torquey turbo engine with a 6 speed manual transmission........doesn't get any better. As most car enthusiasts magazines say the MX5 is one of the best cars out there, they fail to mention this car. It is one of the best cars ever made, as its reliability record shows. I have only done basic maintenance, and servicing has been a breeze! Its a real head turner when I take it out. One of the best little cars no one knows anything about.
Agree with everything you just said. Except the British sportiness. Handling is Italian through and through. Don't forget, it's daddy, the original 124 Spider was considered better than all the British roadsters of its day.
Just bought a '18 Lusso in bronze. Great to hear somebody else so positive about the car. Watched a lot of RUclips videos and it's surprising how many people comment that it's junk, without ever driving one. Should have bought one new a couple of years ago. The used ones now are maintaining their value, if not going up in price. Don't care I have mine now.
What gets me is how many of the "professional" reviewers like Edmunds, CR, etc rate the MX-5 higher than the 124, despite the 124 beating the MX-5 in head to head races with professional drivers and the 124 having a slightly larger cargo space and better sound dampening. In their 2019 car edition, Consumer Reports went so far as to grade the 124 down because it's back seats were uncomfortable...lol. That caused me to cancel my subscription to CR. Back seats?
Nice video. I own a Lusso for 3 years now. Very happy about it. Used it in various trip to South Italy coast. Wonderful. Car is a blast to drive and I had no issue so far. I also enjoy to use it as a daily drive and it always put a smile in my face. Used 124 are increasing in value here in Italy.
I think the professional reviewers are playing the game here, if they give a car popular car maker a bad review then they run the risk of been last on the of reviewers for the next big Model launch!
I love mine, I bought Boris used with 12,105 on it in April '22. I have already had to replace my pass window switch, Washer Fluid sensor, alternator and starter. Besides that I love it and I am happy I own one
2019 lusso just turned 88k Oil /breaks plugs tires 2 windshields (construction rocks )and a new turbo under warranty thank God, I beat this car daily then repeat lol even drove through winter in Michigan last year love it ..... excellent gas mileage... hard hat and lunch box grocery getter and just plain Cool 😎
thank you for all your work. Your knowledge on the 124 is invaluable edit: You're absolutely right about people wanting to talk about the car. I am introverted and it was extremely weird to me for people to come up to me to talk about the car and in odd situations too. I have an Abarth in red. I've had people drive beside me, walk out on the road during a red light, parking lot and gas station conversations, or when I'm out with friends. I've had people walk up to me in the driveway while I was washing the car wanting to talk. I've even had trade offers. I've had this car for less than a year so far. It's really hard to be introverted with this extroverted car. I got to experience the car in the summer. I would take it out with the top down even when it was really really hot and humid outside; the type of weather I normally stay inside for. winter used to be my favourite season because I liked the cold but now I hate it. I'm storing the car in a garage during the winter and it sucks because all I can think about is driving it!
I got a Lusso. Love it. Sporty, elegant and sexy at the same time. No issues at all. Great car. Sadly not in production anymore, so it’s going to be hard to find parts in the future. For now the best car for the money a person can buy
@@DropTopTees Hello! Didn't know if you still commented on this video. I bought mine at 50,000 miles....what maintenance would you recommend doing on it? It had one owner; I can't imagine anyone wanting to sell one of these!
@@leigh6507 Do you have the manual? Are you in NA? If you don't have the manual you can get the pdf version by going to Fiat USA and finding the appropriate drop down to get to the manuals. Hard to say what you need now without knowing what has been down when by the previous owner. I would give you step by steps but they keep changing the process so whatever I type won't be valid for the next person who reads it.
Absolutely right!! It's a blast to drive and get thumbs up all the time!! I've 2017 Lusso Perla manual since day one new, hard to find in 2016 in manuals. Only Classicas available at the time. Love the style with the Mazda reliability. Never going to get rid of it. I think these cars will appreciate over time like Honda S2000. Timeless style and Italian soul!!
Love my 2018 Lusso. Had about a month. These are great videos. I did notice this morning the security alarm was flashing. Anyone have this issue before?
Great video, good looking Spider. Wish they hadn't discontinued them. The 1.4 Multi-air is a competent power plant with a fun amount of torque in the mid to upper range, but you must be very diligent with maintenance. For example, at 50,000 time to replace the turbo 😉
I loved mine! Bought it sort of on a whim brand new from a dealership. Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately living where I do in rural Massachusetts practicality ran out. Pot holes. Dirt roads. Long winters. So after 2 years of owning it, I decided to sell it. For nearly a $5000 profit! I believe now that they are discontinued they will pick up more and more value. Just a perfectly designed car. Fun to drive. And takes your breath away when you look at it. I sold mine and put the money toward a brands new truck I now absolutely love. But I’ll always miss the spider just a little bit.
I love mine! My biggest frustration was with the fuel brick. After wintering in Mexico, as normal, it wouldn’t start. Was a process. Now, I have a friend start it every few weeks. Problem solved.
Strange , the Fix It Again Tony stigma. I had a 1975 Spider in the 80s and drove the heck out if it . I dailey drove it a few years . No problems on engine and drive train . The rust was still not a problem since it was relatively new car back in the day..
Many people recall the Fix It Again Tony stigma from the 60s-70s, but they all seem to forget one of the reasons the original 124 was so popular (besides it fantastic performance for the day) was that it was much more reliable than its British counterparts.
I sold mine about a year ago and missed it so badly I had to buy another one yesterday… best “drivers car” I’ve ever owned… better than my Porsche, Corvettes (C4 & C3), Camaros, or Mustangs!
I've had 2 Mustangs and there is no comparison. They can beat me in a drag race, but for the overall driving experience, 124s are one of the best deals on the planet. Welcome back to the 124 club!
You do a nice job in front of the camera. I enjoy your videos. I own a white / dark tan / 124 Spider / Lusso edition / 6 speed. I love the car. I wear the car, making it a very fun car to drive. I installed the "go fast pedal" from Madness, and it made a huge difference. In fact, I ordered it after watching your video and recommendation. I have also installed the turbo blow off valve offered by madness as well. The sound is great and makes the car that much more fun to drive. I am very excited about installing a short throw shifter which will be a huge improvement over the stock shifter. My car is a 2020 and has 8,000 miles. And thus far, I have had zero issues. The car's body lines are fantastic. While I love the MX5 (the Miata just looks silly) as the front end looks like a constipated cat..squinting its eyes in an attempt to take a poop. While folks seem to shy away from turbos.... the manufacturer of the turbo is "Garrett" who is world renowned for manufacturing well built components. Unfortunately, based upon poor marketing by Chrysler.... the word simply did not get out in regard to the components used, and where the car was assembled. I firmly believe these will be very collectable like the Honda S 2000 over time.
Thank you. I will be interested to hear what you think of a short shifter. I have never installed one because the car has such a short shift already. I hope they become collectible, too. Especially when people realize they beat the pants off the S2000 on the track.
used to own a 2001 NB Miata. loved it. just bought a 2017 Abarth 124 Spider. I love it. I'll be craned in and out when I'm too old to get in and out on my own. yes, i get the questions about what is the car about once a week or so. I'm in rural Pennsylvania so loving the driving (i will add 20-30 min to a drive to avoid the interstate/highways).
@@DropTopTees Red Lion Pa, just south of York. South Central PA. I absolutely love my commute. bought it shortly after moving here (jan this year). so haven't had it for long. it is an (OMG) automatic, but rarely is in drive, usually in manual. i'm kinda happy for that as there are numerous uphill starts all over the place and doing that with a clutch would be tiresome. fun but tiresome. that and my wife would not be able to drive it those few times i need the truck (tomorrow for example). anyway, the drive with the top down is just fabulous right now. cherry and pear trees in full bloom, tulips popping up all over, and many trees are filling in with leaves already. will need to remember to put the top up for her.
@@paulkispert711 Man :( You just missed the Fiat Freakout. In 2021, it was in Lancaster. You need to head over to PA 124 and pose for a pic under the highway sign :) uphill starts aren't as bad as you think with a manual - it has a hill holder feature. I grew up just outside of Williamsport.
I bought a 2019 Abarth in July. Absolutely love it. My only complaint is that at 5'11, i don't fit as comfortably as I'm used to in other cars. I've had to adjust my driving habits.
I'm 5'11" and find if I put the forward 1 notch, I have the best overall setting for normal driving. If I'm on the race track, I put it up 3-4 notches. But, yeah - it isn't as roomy as a larger car. Of course, the smallness directly contributes to how fun it is to drive, so...
Wheels are ASA AR1 17x7s with 225/45R17s. At the time of this video, Itsy had Progress Technology lowering springs. She now has V-MAXX coilovers and sits a little lower.
I was thinking about the 124 Spider Abarth because of collectability. There are 50 Miata's for every Abarth for sale here in Canada. I'll hopefully be able to pick one up in summer. Thanks for the video.
I love my 124 Spider but I will never disrespect the Miata. I even like the styling of the ND. I chose the Fiat because my favorite car of my youth was a 1980 Fiat Spider. Long live the roadster.
Excellent video. I’ve been shopping for an NC Miata but came across a 2017 124 spider Classica. It has 120k miles on it but was a one owner who put like 23000 miles per year on it. It’s only $8500. I’m thinking about it but am concerned about the long term reliability of the Fiat engine. It’s super cheap compared to other 124s but seems like a legit car. I see your video was a few years ago. Do you still have the car? Curious about the engine long term reliability. I mean the rest of the car is basically a Miata and it was put together in Japan as you said.
Abarth gives you the premium experience of this car for looks and handling. It comes down to personal choice as well because some people prefer the styling of the 124 classica or Lusso. Some options are only available in the Abarth or Lusso. I went with Abarth because it was more sporty.
The Abarth in my mind will be the ultimate collector in this space. But they should all hold a good value because they didn't make that many. But the chassis and frame windows doors are all mazda as well as the interior and the basic electronics The engine has been in everything in the US and Europe so they should be easy to maintain.
I am 5'10" and have no issues. People fit up to about 6'3". At that point it get really iffy , especially with the top up. I am fine with it on long trips. We have taken multiple long trips, the longest of which was slightly over 3,000 miles. Some people may find the wind and road noise gets tiresome on longer journeys, but we love cabrios, so no issues :)
2018 Lusso here, with 8,500 miles. Can you elaborate on the 50k maintenance to date? Love the car, drove it north across the Mackinac Bridge this afternoon.
It really depends on the parts. If not in MOPAR's inventory, you can sometimes get them from Mazda, since many are the same. However, some part delays can take months at times. Fortunately, they rarely need parts.
I doubt it. Judging from the used car market, mileage isn't affecting the prices a whole lot. Will be interesting to see how it all levels out once the chip shortage ends.
Are you asking about a hard top or a car cover or a half dome (just covers the top)? If a hard top? They made them but only sold them in Europe. For a half dome, I would recommend the one from 500 Madness that we use on Saxy, our other 124: 500madness.com/fiat-124-spider-custom-vehicle-cover-spiderdome-4415?tracking=dtt
I prefer the looks of the 124, but got an Nd. We have had Og spiders and they are lots of fun and trouble,lol. Needing this as a reliable daily driver, and I went for the Miata bc of the NA Mazda engine. No problems at all. Not a fan of turbos in general.👍
@@DropTopTees Not really, the Miata sold in vastly greater numbers. But the critical thing is that neither myself or my husband who does the wrenching are fans of turbos. That was more the deciding factor. We have no animus toward Fiat, and still own a 500c, an OG Spider 1800, and a 1948 Topolino to be restored in retirement. 👍
Yes, that would explain the somewhat the complaints, but not the recalls. Unfortunately, Fiat never advertised the 124 in the US, so now consumers have the MX-5 or nothing :(
@@DropTopTees Historically, Fiat has never quite understood theAmerican market. My husband is a long time Fiat guy and worked in the parts industry. While I got the Miata instead of the 124, I adore my little 500. I usually drive it in winter to alternate with my 4 runner. The 500 is as slow as molasses, but still fun to drive, cute and even rides well. It’s such a happy little thing.🥰
I was interested in a 2017 Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth after watching a video review of the car in the 1st week of March 2017 - they just came out. Here in Northern Illinois there was a Fiat / Alfa Romeo dealer. A 60 degree day after work got me there at the dealer looking at a White one with Black trim & Brembo brakes really looking good. So I took it for a test drive. Liked the seats & the Red tachometer immediately. On the road the heavy clutch & notchy shifter disappointed me. Same with the throttle response on that small turbo engine - too much lag. Next day I went to the Mazda dealer & they had the match soft top roadster 2016 MX-5 Club in Artic White with Black trim all the way around with the Brembo / BBS package. The Mazda MX-5 interior wasn't as flashy as the 124 but what made up for it was the way the shifter felt in hand & the super light clutch ! Its a Naturally Aspirated 4 cylinder 2 liter with instant throttle response. Felt an immediate connection to the car & the way it drove. Looking out over the hood it has the curves that reminded of the 1975 Stingray except smaller. Also they way it handled was much different from the 124 which was heavier less athletic in the turns. Its been 6 years & its a daily driver in 4 seasons. Absolutely the best car I've ever owned. Fiat stopped the 124 in 2020 but at the time I was glad we had a choice of roadsters.
Funny thing is: in head to head matchups with pro drivers, the 124 beats the ND. One of the defining differences is the 124 handles turns better. And yes, it has low rpm lag, but neither car is a drag racer. On the track, keep the revs up and it will maintain its edge over the ND. Let the revs get low and the ND will temporarily gain an advantage. As far as how the clutch and shifts feel, very personal thing. I love the way the 124 feels.
@@DropTopTees At the track the edge might be the 124 if you can keep the turbo in the happy range. Off the line & stoplights you would be left in my dust. My car is very quick. Active axle back exhaust makes a great noise & removes the muffler WOT with a butterfly valve. In the turns the MX-5 with the right tires the car is planted. Now the real difference is the oil changes. THAT is where I scratch my head when seeing a buried elemental air filter UPSIDE DOWN under the air intake. I do my own maintenance & oil changes are easy on the MX-5 with no mess. Also change the wheels / tires over when the winter comes.
@@ag4allgood Unless you've done major work to the engine, neither the MX-5 nor the 124 are "off the line" types of cars. Both vehicles are quick in turns; much quicker than most cars. But, the 124 is quickerer. Yes, our oil change is slightly more complicated than yours. A small price to pay to beat you on the track. :)
@@DropTopTees Nope , your 124 has Lag before that turbo spools up & having an LSD on the Club puts down the power in a flat torque range. Plus your 124 weighs about 130 - 170 pounds more than a MX-5. You can't avoid turbo LAG its there ! Plus that heavier clutch pedal is not fun to operate in any traffic but hey on the track enjoy your 124.
Have you taken this on overnight trips? The boot looks like it would hold a decent piece of luggage. Does it hold enough for a couple on an overnight drive?
Definitely! Our longest trip was 9 days when we went to Fiat Freakout in PA back in 2021. We packed efficiently enough we never had to do laundry! We are headed back out on the road this summer to the Freakout in Greenville, SC in June.
Thank you. I wanted something different from the aftermarket stripes online, so I designed them myself and had a local graphics shop print them and put them on. I thought the black paint background would make them kind of stand out. It's funny. At Italian car shows, I have older, Italian gentleman tell me they voted for my car because it honors its heritage.
It's got some cheapo eom bits that'll need replacing...it can be a lil pain to work on with it's engine originally designed to be sideways...and it has the most expensive cupholders to replace outside of Rolls-Royce..., But it's worth every damn minute getting to know the quirks of maintenance. So much fun in 6 speed. Just under 31k on my '17 Classica
I drive top down almost 100% of the time, so putting the top up does reduce the visibility I am used to; however, it is still pretty good. With this car, the visibility that is most critical is your visibility to other cars and top up or down does not impact that. You have to stay aware because other drivers overlook you way more frequently than they should..
With the top up the blind spots on the sides become more difficult to see than a regular sedan because there are no side windows. With the top up i've made a habit of checking my rear and side mirrors more in case I need to change lanes. You also become more reliant and put more faith in the blind spot monitoring radars on both sides of the car. I've driven large trucks, vans, SUVs before but I've never appreciated having the BSM system in a car more than the 124. it's a "clear summer day" car for me so unless I get caught in rain I mostly drive with the top down and of course the visibility is phenomenal
I'll take the Mazda all day because the engine and transmission are different Mazda uses 2.0 skyactive fiat is using 1.4 same thing with the transmission
The 124 uses a slightly modified tranny from the NC. They knew the ND's first transmission would not handle the torque of the 124. They were right. The original ND trannies were notorious for failing under hard use. Even with the boosted horsepower in the ND MkII, the 124 still has the torque advantage. In a race, it really comes down to who is the better driver. I prefer the exterior styling of the 124 over the mad cat/catfish look of the ND. Both are extremely fun cars to drive!
I know 2 people who are 6'3" and daily theirs. But, that is the very tallest you can be, I think. Not sure they they do with the roof up... Definitely, test drive before you buy.
meh, I treat mine like a Queen and I always have a cel.. especially around boost problems. which I fix.. and then they return. Also never got my spider stickers you told me to pay for =[
@@DropTopTees Just speaking from experience. But I drove an Abarth 500 and I don't know if it's the same engine in the 124 but things started to go wrong after the warranty ran out. Had to get rid of it. FYI, I took care of that car. Did maintenance religiously.
@@huetuber1204 If you look at the overall record, it has been very good. Most of the 124s I know that had bigtime problems were because the owners did poorly conceived mod combos on them, sometimes against the advice of the suppliers.
It's the 1.4 turbo multiair. It's basically hydraulic lifters. The engine has been used in literally millions of cars and is absolutely bulletproof. They were in darts and renagades and the 500's so there are lots of aftermarket. Drive an ND and then drive a 124 and the difference is shocking they truly are different cars. Any model under the Abarth version is accused of having too sedate suspension they routinely consider it too tame making it more controlled than the ND's handling. That combined with nearly 50 pounds of additional sound proofing make it far less noisy with top up commuter driving. It's when you are driving and gear down to feel the turbo spool up and it becomes a different beast. It is truly a fantastic little sports car. The Abarth suspension is far beyond anything you can buy off the lot from Mazda. The ND has more time and money in the suspension geometry of any real track car on the planet and Abarth took that and tuned it. They really are special cars.
"Italian tuned" engine i dont think any one has tuned this engine it comes off a production line as quickly as possible and punted out the door for dealer to sort out the problems
Sort out what problems? It has very few issues. Our Classica has 57,000 issue-free miles. Our Abarth has 32,000issue-free miles. We have a friend with over 100K miles with no issues. According to the NHTSA, in all 4 production years, there was only 1 recall (for 1/2 of a model year) and it has had zero investigations. In 2020, one of the automotive price people (Kelly Blue Book or similar) said it was the "Most affordable roadster to own over the next 5 years" based on reliability, cost of maintenance, and cost of operating. As for Italian tuned, who do you think designed the engine? The Euro Classica and Lusso have about 25% less horsepower than the Abarth version; the engine set up sold in the US. It is very much Italian tuned.
@@jayb2617 The engine was used on the 500 Abarths for 4-5 years before being put on the 124s. They were already well sorted out. Sorry, but you are off the mark.
Actually, it wasn't. When FCA partnered with Mazda, the intention was to have it be an Alfa. However, Sergio Marchionne stated no Alfa Romeo would be built outside of Italy, so he transferred it to Fiat. The 124 ended up being designed in house by Fiat, not by Alfa.
I own a red 2018 FIAT 124 SPIDER LUSSO........... I debated long and hard back then between this and the Mazda MX5, knowing that they were very similar cars made in the same factory in Japan. I loved the looks of the 124 and so did my wife. We were looking for a sporty cruising roadster, not a race car. It has Japanese reliability, British sportiness, and Italian looks! Everyone had the impression that because it had a FIAT badge on it, it was a piece of junk. Goes to show how wrong buyer perception can be at times. FIAT really dropped the ball with this car by not advertising it more......its an absolute gem! It has been absolutely perfect since I have owned it, and the most fun car I have ever driven. A torquey turbo engine with a 6 speed manual transmission........doesn't get any better. As most car enthusiasts magazines say the MX5 is one of the best cars out there, they fail to mention this car. It is one of the best cars ever made, as its reliability record shows. I have only done basic maintenance, and servicing has been a breeze! Its a real head turner when I take it out. One of the best little cars no one knows anything about.
Agree with everything you just said. Except the British sportiness. Handling is Italian through and through. Don't forget, it's daddy, the original 124 Spider was considered better than all the British roadsters of its day.
How many miles?
Just bought a '18 Lusso in bronze. Great to hear somebody else so positive about the car. Watched a lot of RUclips videos and it's surprising how many people comment that it's junk, without ever driving one. Should have bought one new a couple of years ago. The used ones now are maintaining their value, if not going up in price. Don't care I have mine now.
What gets me is how many of the "professional" reviewers like Edmunds, CR, etc rate the MX-5 higher than the 124, despite the 124 beating the MX-5 in head to head races with professional drivers and the 124 having a slightly larger cargo space and better sound dampening. In their 2019 car edition, Consumer Reports went so far as to grade the 124 down because it's back seats were uncomfortable...lol. That caused me to cancel my subscription to CR. Back seats?
Nice video. I own a Lusso for 3 years now. Very happy about it. Used it in various trip to South Italy coast. Wonderful. Car is a blast to drive and I had no issue so far. I also enjoy to use it as a daily drive and it always put a smile in my face. Used 124 are increasing in value here in Italy.
@@andreaitalo6998 They only sold for a few years and are very nice cars. I think they will become more sought after as time goes on.
I think the professional reviewers are playing the game here, if they give a car popular car maker a bad review then they run the risk of been last on the of reviewers for the next big Model launch!
I love mine, I bought Boris used with 12,105 on it in April '22. I have already had to replace my pass window switch, Washer Fluid sensor, alternator and starter. Besides that I love it and I am happy I own one
2019 lusso just turned 88k
Oil /breaks plugs tires 2 windshields (construction rocks )and a new turbo under warranty thank God, I beat this car daily then repeat lol even drove through winter in Michigan last year love it ..... excellent gas mileage... hard hat and lunch box grocery getter and just plain Cool 😎
@@danielcordovado8230 Impressed by your winter dedication! I'm in Muskegon but keep my FJ Cruiser for the winter.
thank you for all your work. Your knowledge on the 124 is invaluable
edit:
You're absolutely right about people wanting to talk about the car. I am introverted and it was extremely weird to me for people to come up to me to talk about the car and in odd situations too. I have an Abarth in red. I've had people drive beside me, walk out on the road during a red light, parking lot and gas station conversations, or when I'm out with friends. I've had people walk up to me in the driveway while I was washing the car wanting to talk. I've even had trade offers. I've had this car for less than a year so far.
It's really hard to be introverted with this extroverted car. I got to experience the car in the summer. I would take it out with the top down even when it was really really hot and humid outside; the type of weather I normally stay inside for. winter used to be my favourite season because I liked the cold but now I hate it. I'm storing the car in a garage during the winter and it sucks because all I can think about is driving it!
you're welcome!
I got a Lusso. Love it. Sporty, elegant and sexy at the same time. No issues at all. Great car. Sadly not in production anymore, so it’s going to be hard to find parts in the future. For now the best car for the money a person can buy
Remember, for many parts, you can go to a Mazda dealer.
I just bought an Abarth and it is the most amazing car I've ever driven. I absolutely love the car.
They are truly fun to own and drive!
@@DropTopTees Hello! Didn't know if you still commented on this video. I bought mine at 50,000 miles....what maintenance would you recommend doing on it? It had one owner; I can't imagine anyone wanting to sell one of these!
@@leigh6507 Do you have the manual? Are you in NA? If you don't have the manual you can get the pdf version by going to Fiat USA and finding the appropriate drop down to get to the manuals. Hard to say what you need now without knowing what has been down when by the previous owner. I would give you step by steps but they keep changing the process so whatever I type won't be valid for the next person who reads it.
@@DropTopTees Ohh, okay. Yes, I have the manual. Just curious from an owner what they think is important to do. Thank you!
My 2018 Classica is my baby. I can vouch for the smile being permanently on my face while driving it. It’s the most fun car I’ve ever owned.
I loved my Mustangs, but 124s are a totally different kind of animal. I love these more.
Absolutely right!! It's a blast to drive and get thumbs up all the time!! I've 2017 Lusso Perla manual since day one new, hard to find in 2016 in manuals. Only Classicas available at the time. Love the style with the Mazda reliability. Never going to get rid of it. I think these cars will appreciate over time like Honda S2000. Timeless style and Italian soul!!
Ours are keepers, as well!
Love my 2018 Lusso. Had about a month. These are great videos. I did notice this morning the security alarm was flashing. Anyone have this issue before?
Great video, good looking Spider. Wish they hadn't discontinued them. The 1.4 Multi-air is a competent power plant with a fun amount of torque in the mid to upper range, but you must be very diligent with maintenance. For example, at 50,000 time to replace the turbo 😉
If it is a stuffed or large turbo, perhaps. The stock turbo can keep going for a long time.
I loved mine! Bought it sort of on a whim brand new from a dealership. Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately living where I do in rural Massachusetts practicality ran out. Pot holes. Dirt roads. Long winters. So after 2 years of owning it, I decided to sell it. For nearly a $5000 profit! I believe now that they are discontinued they will pick up more and more value. Just a perfectly designed car. Fun to drive. And takes your breath away when you look at it. I sold mine and put the money toward a brands new truck I now absolutely love. But I’ll always miss the spider just a little bit.
That must have bene a tough decision, no matter your location. I'm not sure I could make it....lol
I love mine! My biggest frustration was with the fuel brick. After wintering in Mexico, as normal, it wouldn’t start. Was a process. Now, I have a friend start it every few weeks. Problem solved.
Unfortunately, that is a side product of how the engine is designed.
Strange , the Fix It Again Tony stigma. I had a 1975 Spider in the 80s and drove the heck out if it . I dailey drove it a few years . No problems on engine and drive train . The rust was still not a problem since it was relatively new car back in the day..
Many people recall the Fix It Again Tony stigma from the 60s-70s, but they all seem to forget one of the reasons the original 124 was so popular (besides it fantastic performance for the day) was that it was much more reliable than its British counterparts.
I sold mine about a year ago and missed it so badly I had to buy another one yesterday… best “drivers car” I’ve ever owned… better than my Porsche, Corvettes (C4 & C3), Camaros, or Mustangs!
I've had 2 Mustangs and there is no comparison. They can beat me in a drag race, but for the overall driving experience, 124s are one of the best deals on the planet. Welcome back to the 124 club!
Congrats on the 50k milestone! 🥂
You do a nice job in front of the camera. I enjoy your videos. I own a white / dark tan / 124 Spider / Lusso edition / 6 speed. I love the car. I wear the car, making it a very fun car to drive. I installed the "go fast pedal" from Madness, and it made a huge difference. In fact, I ordered it after watching your video and recommendation. I have also installed the turbo blow off valve offered by madness as well. The sound is great and makes the car that much more fun to drive. I am very excited about installing a short throw shifter which will be a huge improvement over the stock shifter. My car is a 2020 and has 8,000 miles. And thus far, I have had zero issues. The car's body lines are fantastic. While I love the MX5 (the Miata just looks silly) as the front end looks like a constipated cat..squinting its eyes in an attempt to take a poop. While folks seem to shy away from turbos.... the manufacturer of the turbo is "Garrett" who is world renowned for manufacturing well built components. Unfortunately, based upon poor marketing by Chrysler.... the word simply did not get out in regard to the components used, and where the car was assembled. I firmly believe these will be very collectable like the Honda S 2000 over time.
Thank you. I will be interested to hear what you think of a short shifter. I have never installed one because the car has such a short shift already. I hope they become collectible, too. Especially when people realize they beat the pants off the S2000 on the track.
Hey man! Because of you, I bought a 2020, black Abarth with record exhaust
with recaros . I LOVE IT !
Ralph T
They are hidden gems in the auto world. If Fiat had bothered to advertise them in the US, they would still be selling them.
used to own a 2001 NB Miata. loved it. just bought a 2017 Abarth 124 Spider. I love it. I'll be craned in and out when I'm too old to get in and out on my own. yes, i get the questions about what is the car about once a week or so. I'm in rural Pennsylvania so loving the driving (i will add 20-30 min to a drive to avoid the interstate/highways).
Where in PA?
@@DropTopTees Red Lion Pa, just south of York. South Central PA. I absolutely love my commute. bought it shortly after moving here (jan this year). so haven't had it for long. it is an (OMG) automatic, but rarely is in drive, usually in manual. i'm kinda happy for that as there are numerous uphill starts all over the place and doing that with a clutch would be tiresome. fun but tiresome. that and my wife would not be able to drive it those few times i need the truck (tomorrow for example). anyway, the drive with the top down is just fabulous right now. cherry and pear trees in full bloom, tulips popping up all over, and many trees are filling in with leaves already. will need to remember to put the top up for her.
@@paulkispert711 Man :( You just missed the Fiat Freakout. In 2021, it was in Lancaster. You need to head over to PA 124 and pose for a pic under the highway sign :) uphill starts aren't as bad as you think with a manual - it has a hill holder feature. I grew up just outside of Williamsport.
@@paulkispert711 btw - the Central Pennsylvania chapter of Fiat Club America is quite active. facebook.com/FCACentralPenn
I bought a 2019 Abarth in July. Absolutely love it. My only complaint is that at 5'11, i don't fit as comfortably as I'm used to in other cars. I've had to adjust my driving habits.
I'm 5'11" and find if I put the forward 1 notch, I have the best overall setting for normal driving. If I'm on the race track, I put it up 3-4 notches. But, yeah - it isn't as roomy as a larger car. Of course, the smallness directly contributes to how fun it is to drive, so...
Where did you find yours? I'm really interested in finding an Abarth model.
@@MikeKeller i picked mine up in Dallas to get what i wanted. Well worth the 5 hour drive lol
@@DropTopTees 100%
Wheels are ASA AR1 17x7s with 225/45R17s. At the time of this video, Itsy had Progress Technology lowering springs. She now has V-MAXX coilovers and sits a little lower.
I had the Fiat Abarth 500 it was the most fun car I've ever own.
I was thinking about the 124 Spider Abarth because of collectability. There are 50 Miata's for every Abarth for sale here in Canada. I'll hopefully be able to pick one up in summer. Thanks for the video.
Great review!! Thanks. What tire and wheel combo do you have setup? They look beautiful.
I love my 124 Spider but I will never disrespect the Miata. I even like the styling of the ND. I chose the Fiat because my favorite car of my youth was a 1980 Fiat Spider. Long live the roadster.
Its a running joke with the Miata community. The MX-5 is an iconic vehicle.
The 124 is such a nice looking car, much nicer than the MX-5.
After 3 tries, the Japanese finally asked the Italians to make their car look right.
Excellent review!
thank you
Great looking Spider and great review! Gotta have one.
Thank you. They are very fun cars to drive and own.
Excellent video. I’ve been shopping for an NC Miata but came across a 2017 124 spider Classica. It has 120k miles on it but was a one owner who put like 23000 miles per year on it. It’s only $8500. I’m thinking about it but am concerned about the long term reliability of the Fiat engine. It’s super cheap compared to other 124s but seems like a legit car. I see your video was a few years ago. Do you still have the car? Curious about the engine long term reliability. I mean the rest of the car is basically a Miata and it was put together in Japan as you said.
My wife's 124 had a turbo leak. Glad it leaked before the warranty ran out. Now it is all good, but it was only 25000 miles. A little bit worry
I prefer Abarth version more than Fiat . I haven't decided yet what to buy. Please your advice. Greetings from Croatia
Abarth gives you the premium experience of this car for looks and handling. It comes down to personal choice as well because some people prefer the styling of the 124 classica or Lusso. Some options are only available in the Abarth or Lusso. I went with Abarth because it was more sporty.
The Abarth in my mind will be the ultimate collector in this space. But they should all hold a good value because they didn't make that many. But the chassis and frame windows doors are all mazda as well as the interior and the basic electronics The engine has been in everything in the US and Europe so they should be easy to maintain.
Thanks for sharing! May I ask you how tall you are, and is it comfortable on longer journeys?
I am 5'10" and have no issues. People fit up to about 6'3". At that point it get really iffy , especially with the top up. I am fine with it on long trips. We have taken multiple long trips, the longest of which was slightly over 3,000 miles. Some people may find the wind and road noise gets tiresome on longer journeys, but we love cabrios, so no issues :)
@@DropTopTees What about sitting on the passenger side? I sat in a 2019 MX5 and it was very short your legs due to a subwoofer hidden in there.
@@fvvfvbbbb There is slightly less legroom on the passenger side.
2018 Lusso here, with 8,500 miles. Can you elaborate on the 50k maintenance to date? Love the car, drove it north across the Mackinac Bridge this afternoon.
All I have done is routine scheduled maintenance.
Im looking to get an abarth 124 spider and I live in garland. Are parts easy to come by?
It really depends on the parts. If not in MOPAR's inventory, you can sometimes get them from Mazda, since many are the same. However, some part delays can take months at times. Fortunately, they rarely need parts.
Mine went through 50k yesterday. Only noticed it when it was 50009. Said to myself it's probably just lost £2k in value ticking over the 50k marker.
I doubt it. Judging from the used car market, mileage isn't affecting the prices a whole lot. Will be interesting to see how it all levels out once the chip shortage ends.
is there a cover for the top like the miata ?
I am a former owner of a 1999 MX Miata and am eyeing a Fiat 124 Lusso (6 speed manual)
Are you asking about a hard top or a car cover or a half dome (just covers the top)? If a hard top? They made them but only sold them in Europe. For a half dome, I would recommend the one from 500 Madness that we use on Saxy, our other 124: 500madness.com/fiat-124-spider-custom-vehicle-cover-spiderdome-4415?tracking=dtt
I prefer the looks of the 124, but got an Nd. We have had Og spiders and they are lots of fun and trouble,lol. Needing this as a reliable daily driver, and I went for the Miata bc of the NA Mazda engine. No problems at all. Not a fan of turbos in general.👍
It may surprise you to learn the MX-5 ND has had more recalls and more complaints than the 124.
@@DropTopTees Not really, the Miata sold in vastly greater numbers. But the critical thing is that neither myself or my husband who does the wrenching are fans of turbos. That was more the deciding factor. We have no animus toward Fiat, and still own a 500c, an OG Spider 1800, and a 1948 Topolino to be restored in retirement. 👍
Yes, that would explain the somewhat the complaints, but not the recalls. Unfortunately, Fiat never advertised the 124 in the US, so now consumers have the MX-5 or nothing :(
@@DropTopTees Historically, Fiat has never quite understood theAmerican market. My husband is a long time Fiat guy and worked in the parts industry. While I got the Miata instead of the 124, I adore my little 500. I usually drive it in winter to alternate with my 4 runner. The 500 is as slow as molasses, but still fun to drive, cute and even rides well. It’s such a happy little thing.🥰
@@marial8235 We have several vintage 500s in our Fiat Club in Dallas. They get asked to be in weddings a lot!
I was interested in a 2017 Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth after watching a video review of the car in the 1st week of March 2017 - they just came out. Here in Northern Illinois there was a Fiat / Alfa Romeo dealer. A 60 degree day after work got me there at the dealer looking at a White one with Black trim & Brembo brakes really looking good. So I took it for a test drive. Liked the seats & the Red tachometer immediately. On the road the heavy clutch & notchy shifter disappointed me. Same with the throttle response on that small turbo engine - too much lag. Next day I went to the Mazda dealer & they had the match soft top roadster 2016 MX-5 Club in Artic White with Black trim all the way around with the Brembo / BBS package. The Mazda MX-5 interior wasn't as flashy as the 124 but what made up for it was the way the shifter felt in hand & the super light clutch ! Its a Naturally Aspirated 4 cylinder 2 liter with instant throttle response. Felt an immediate connection to the car & the way it drove. Looking out over the hood it has the curves that reminded of the 1975 Stingray except smaller. Also they way it handled was much different from the 124 which was heavier less athletic in the turns. Its been 6 years & its a daily driver in 4 seasons. Absolutely the best car I've ever owned. Fiat stopped the 124 in 2020 but at the time I was glad we had a choice of roadsters.
Funny thing is: in head to head matchups with pro drivers, the 124 beats the ND. One of the defining differences is the 124 handles turns better. And yes, it has low rpm lag, but neither car is a drag racer. On the track, keep the revs up and it will maintain its edge over the ND. Let the revs get low and the ND will temporarily gain an advantage. As far as how the clutch and shifts feel, very personal thing. I love the way the 124 feels.
@@DropTopTees At the track the edge might be the 124 if you can keep the turbo in the happy range. Off the line & stoplights you would be left in my dust. My car is very quick. Active axle back exhaust makes a great noise & removes the muffler WOT with a butterfly valve. In the turns the MX-5 with the right tires the car is planted. Now the real difference is the oil changes. THAT is where I scratch my head when seeing a buried elemental air filter UPSIDE DOWN under the air intake. I do my own maintenance & oil changes are easy on the MX-5 with no mess. Also change the wheels / tires over when the winter comes.
@@ag4allgood Unless you've done major work to the engine, neither the MX-5 nor the 124 are "off the line" types of cars. Both vehicles are quick in turns; much quicker than most cars. But, the 124 is quickerer. Yes, our oil change is slightly more complicated than yours. A small price to pay to beat you on the track. :)
@@DropTopTees Nope , your 124 has Lag before that turbo spools up & having an LSD on the Club puts down the power in a flat torque range. Plus your 124 weighs about 130 - 170 pounds more than a MX-5. You can't avoid turbo LAG its there ! Plus that heavier clutch pedal is not fun to operate in any traffic but hey on the track enjoy your 124.
Have you taken this on overnight trips? The boot looks like it would hold a decent piece of luggage. Does it hold enough for a couple on an overnight drive?
Definitely! Our longest trip was 9 days when we went to Fiat Freakout in PA back in 2021. We packed efficiently enough we never had to do laundry! We are headed back out on the road this summer to the Freakout in Greenville, SC in June.
Mx5 is cute but the spider is sexy
exactly.
The Italian stripes look good..
Thank you. I wanted something different from the aftermarket stripes online, so I designed them myself and had a local graphics shop print them and put them on. I thought the black paint background would make them kind of stand out. It's funny. At Italian car shows, I have older, Italian gentleman tell me they voted for my car because it honors its heritage.
Im in the facebook group with you! Was this shot on paradise island?
It was on Cooke Dr on Lake Ray Hubbard.
Looks so good
Love 'em!
It's got some cheapo eom bits that'll need replacing...it can be a lil pain to work on with it's engine originally designed to be sideways...and it has the most expensive cupholders to replace outside of Rolls-Royce..., But it's worth every damn minute getting to know the quirks of maintenance. So much fun in 6 speed. Just under 31k on my '17 Classica
Easier to work on than on the 500!
Front headlight and fog light bulbs are a pain to replace too.
How is the visibility with the top up?
I drive top down almost 100% of the time, so putting the top up does reduce the visibility I am used to; however, it is still pretty good. With this car, the visibility that is most critical is your visibility to other cars and top up or down does not impact that. You have to stay aware because other drivers overlook you way more frequently than they should..
With the top up the blind spots on the sides become more difficult to see than a regular sedan because there are no side windows. With the top up i've made a habit of checking my rear and side mirrors more in case I need to change lanes. You also become more reliant and put more faith in the blind spot monitoring radars on both sides of the car. I've driven large trucks, vans, SUVs before but I've never appreciated having the BSM system in a car more than the 124.
it's a "clear summer day" car for me so unless I get caught in rain I mostly drive with the top down and of course the visibility is phenomenal
@@alexdavila1356 I have bird's eye mirrors on both side mirrors of all my cars, so I don't notice it :)
It's the 20 percent Fiat engine that worries me... 😂.
I've owned FIATs and I learned the hard way..
This engine has been used for over 10 years now. The kinks have been worked out.
Any common issue you run in to these cars? Looking to get one soon but still debating my on the nd2 or abarth
The biggest issue will be getting body panels is someone hits you. FIAT is quite slow with those.
I'll take the Mazda all day because the engine and transmission are different Mazda uses 2.0 skyactive fiat is using 1.4 same thing with the transmission
The 124 uses a slightly modified tranny from the NC. They knew the ND's first transmission would not handle the torque of the 124. They were right. The original ND trannies were notorious for failing under hard use. Even with the boosted horsepower in the ND MkII, the 124 still has the torque advantage. In a race, it really comes down to who is the better driver. I prefer the exterior styling of the 124 over the mad cat/catfish look of the ND. Both are extremely fun cars to drive!
The Italians do everything better I know I’m 100% Itiliano !😂
You seem like a larger human and you fit fine in this? I want one but am 6ft 3in...
I know 2 people who are 6'3" and daily theirs. But, that is the very tallest you can be, I think. Not sure they they do with the roof up... Definitely, test drive before you buy.
I’m 6’5 and I squeeze in my ‘02 clk 320😂😂…but I do have a small torso
meh, I treat mine like a Queen and I always have a cel.. especially around boost problems. which I fix.. and then they return. Also never got my spider stickers you told me to pay for =[
What cel are you throwing?
Plot twist: his name is Tony.
?
Yeah but the engine is NOT Japanese. That's what I'm worried about.
The engine is tried and true. It was in use for 5-6 years before the 124 came on the scene. We are starting to see some 124s with over 200K on them.
@@DropTopTees Just speaking from experience. But I drove an Abarth 500 and I don't know if it's the same engine in the 124 but things started to go wrong after the warranty ran out. Had to get rid of it. FYI, I took care of that car. Did maintenance religiously.
@@huetuber1204 If you look at the overall record, it has been very good. Most of the 124s I know that had bigtime problems were because the owners did poorly conceived mod combos on them, sometimes against the advice of the suppliers.
It's the 1.4 turbo multiair. It's basically hydraulic lifters. The engine has been used in literally millions of cars and is absolutely bulletproof. They were in darts and renagades and the 500's so there are lots of aftermarket. Drive an ND and then drive a 124 and the difference is shocking they truly are different cars. Any model under the Abarth version is accused of having too sedate suspension they routinely consider it too tame making it more controlled than the ND's handling. That combined with nearly 50 pounds of additional sound proofing make it far less noisy with top up commuter driving. It's when you are driving and gear down to feel the turbo spool up and it becomes a different beast. It is truly a fantastic little sports car. The Abarth suspension is far beyond anything you can buy off the lot from Mazda. The ND has more time and money in the suspension geometry of any real track car on the planet and Abarth took that and tuned it. They really are special cars.
"Italian tuned" engine i dont think any one has tuned this engine it comes off a production line as quickly as possible and punted out the door for dealer to sort out the problems
Sort out what problems? It has very few issues. Our Classica has 57,000 issue-free miles. Our Abarth has 32,000issue-free miles. We have a friend with over 100K miles with no issues. According to the NHTSA, in all 4 production years, there was only 1 recall (for 1/2 of a model year) and it has had zero investigations. In 2020, one of the automotive price people (Kelly Blue Book or similar) said it was the "Most affordable roadster to own over the next 5 years" based on reliability, cost of maintenance, and cost of operating. As for Italian tuned, who do you think designed the engine? The Euro Classica and Lusso have about 25% less horsepower than the Abarth version; the engine set up sold in the US. It is very much Italian tuned.
@Drop Top Tees not saying they have problems but if they did it would be dealers who sorted it out
@@jayb2617 The engine was used on the 500 Abarths for 4-5 years before being put on the 124s. They were already well sorted out. Sorry, but you are off the mark.
I wish the motor had been Japanese. More reliable.
The 124 has proven more reliable than the ND.
Then there would be no reason to buy it.
Wake up buddy, Fiat has great engines !
@@sainta2667 LMAO🤣
@@collapsingquantumwav You should quit while you are behind.
It was designed to be an Alpha Romero
Actually, it wasn't. When FCA partnered with Mazda, the intention was to have it be an Alfa. However, Sergio Marchionne stated no Alfa Romeo would be built outside of Italy, so he transferred it to Fiat. The 124 ended up being designed in house by Fiat, not by Alfa.