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That fleeting thing called life isn't always fair.
Vacation time goes unused, in-laws can be a pain,
fun cars often cost a fortune. But, a Ferrari
isn't needed for a good romp on the road.
The Fiat 124 Spider is back and even Italian.
Well... kind of.
The worlds worst kept secret? The 124 Spider
is largely based on this car, Mazda's MX-5 Miata,
even built in the same Japanese plant.
Hardly a bad thing.
There are differences, obviously the sheet metal.
With a nod to nostalgia, designers used classic
cues from original model that stopped coming to
our shores over three decades ago. Blame modern
safety regulations for the chunkier look.
The wind and the sun can be yours for as little
as 26 grand, this upmarket Lusso model goes
for $29,990. The 124 is some five inches longer
and 100 pounds heaver than MX-5. All this is
identical to the Mazda's, with added insulation
here and a laminated windshield to keep the
din down. A reminder of the Fiat-Chrysler hook-up too.
It's crazy simply to drop and just as easy
to raise. Even for a guy with rotator cuff problems.
The Spider gets a heart transplant. Shipped from
Italy, this 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder
engine provides the back wheels with 160
horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and
less character than it's Japanese cousin.
The six-speed manual comes from the previous
generation Miata, still terrific. I'm driving
the six-speed autobox. You must move up to
the Abarth model to get paddle shifters.
The turbo takes just a second to build power
but in the middle of the rev range there's
a nice meaty power band.
Rowing a manual gearbox would give a driver,
at least the illusion of directly keeping
the engine in its sweet spot. I feel less
engaged with the shifts done for me.
Let's get something straight, I'm not the
kind of guy that insists that you must
get a manual transmission in a car like
this. The automatic here works pretty well,
it's always in the right gear. But I've
got to admit, I really miss the manual.
I really do.
The chassis structure comes from Mazda
but the Fiat has unique springs, dampers,
and anti-roll bars for a smidge more
compliance but less body roll. Retuned steering too.
Everyone's going to compare the handling
of this car to the Miata, you kind of have
to. The Fiat is still fun and frisky in
the corners but a little but more comfortable,
a little less caffeinated.
This is fun in the corners, you can actually
feel the tail kick out a little bit.
Buyers will simply have to test drive both
to see which dynamic they prefer. The extra
sound insulation and milder exhaust note
adds to a smoother vibe for the Italian.
The Abarth model offers more growl.
Okay, I'm doing 50 miles an hour. As you can
tell from my Dennis the Menace hair,
wind management is pretty good.
Fuel economy? The E.P.A. average for both
124 and MX-5 using premium fuel is
30 miles-per-gallon except for the
Fiat's automatic that drops to 29 m.p.g.
Shouldn't be a deal breaker.
I'm still missing that manual transmission.
I'm kind of bored. This? It's just not the same.
The cabin looks awfully familiar, with an
instrument panel that's nearly identical
to you-know-what with some nicer materials
here and there. That means the user interface
can be operated from here and... here. The wheel
doesn't telescope either. Seats have Mazda's
comfy frame system that's similar to an Aeron
office chair, there's heated leather here.
The side panels? That's the big difference here.
There's an additional third of a cubic foot of cargo
room in the Fiat. A suitcase this size and a small
overnight bag will fit. Great for a weekend.
Taken a step further, it's great for a new
outlook on life, the perfect way to unwind,
perhaps when the in-laws stress you out.
For those wondering about choosing between
124 Spider and MX-5 Miata, well, there is
no "better" here, just two similar but
different ways to get the wind in your
hair and sun on your shoulders. Glad to see
the world has another affordable roadster choice.
Okay, I got through that one without getting
clever with the word 'Fiata', which is not
so clever, since it's been over used.
While this is the only moment I recorded,
the Fiat got a lot of attention, a surprising
amount actually. It definitely
put a smile on people's faces.
According to Fiat, nearly 8,000 Fiat 124 Spiders
are still registered in the U.S. Sales began
in 1968. This one is in my neighborhood.
I had a chance to buy a used one back in
1986 when a co-worker was moving out of state.
I ultimately passed because of the quality
reputation back then. Another co-worker bought
it and said it was the most fun, and
reliable car he had ever owned. Go figure...
There you go gang that's my take on the
2017 Fiat 124 Spider. Really good to see
another affordable roadster on the market,
the Miata had the segment to itself for
far too long. Good to have an alternative.
Even though it's much the same.
That's Driven I'm Tom Voelk