The Fiat 124 Spider is a stylish, iconic, high-performance, and fun-to-drive car. It also shares several features with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which is one of the most popular convertibles. Nonetheless, is the Fiat 124 Spider a good car?
Yes, Fiat 124 Spider is a fantastic car. Based on the same platform as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, this car is elegantly constructed, reliable, cheap to maintain, compact, fuel-efficient, safe, and enjoyable to drive in the city. On the contrary, people who desire a more practical, powerful, faster, and spacious car may not like the 124 Spider.
History of 124 Spider
Fiat 124 Spider is an old car as it was first produced between 1966 and 1981. The first Fiat 124 Spider was a convertible and it was designed and made at the Italian Carrozzeria Pininfarina factory. When it debuted in 1966, it featured a monocoque, front engine with rear drive.
After being off the market for a very long time, Fiat 124 Spider was resurrected in 2016 but as a roadster. It featured a front engine with a rear-drive. Furthermore, it was a two-passenger car manufactured by Mazda for FCA. This latest generation of Fiat 124 Spider is largely based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Features of 124 Spider
Appearance
The Fiat 124 Spider is a beautifully designed car with a distinctive style and sportiness. The interior is also beautifully done but it is somewhat cramped, just like in the Mazda MX-5 Miata, SO if you’re more than 6 ft tall, you will have trouble enjoying this ride. Nevertheless, it offers an exclusive driving experience with improved technology and nifty handling.
Performance
As expected, the Fiat 124 Spider is a well-performing car compared to its compact siblings like the 500 series. Fitted with a 1.4-liter turbo inline-4 engine, this car can deliver up to 164 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. It also features a rear-wheel drive and 6-speed automatic transmissions.
Therefore, in terms of performance, it does quite well but not better than the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Comfort and cargo space
This is one of the areas that the Fiat 124 Spider disappoints. This sports car has a cramped cabin and can only carry up to two passengers. Despite this being the norm for most roadsters, the cabin is quite cramped. Additionally, it has a very small cargo space with a total of 4.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
So, if you’re looking for comfort or you’re a tall person, this is a car that you should stay away from.
Fuel efficiency
The Fiat 124 Spider is among the most fuel-efficient cars on the market. It comes with an EPA fuel economy rating of 26 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and a combined 30 mpg. This is even better than its closest competitor, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which has an EPA rating of 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
Safety
Even though most Fiat models are not very safe, the Fiat 124 Spider is extremely safe. Thanks to top safety features such as low tire pressure warning, side impact beams, electronic stability control, traction control, Parkview backup camera, airbags, and electronic stability control.
Price
The Fiat 124 Spider is an affordable sports car. However, the prices vary according to the trim option that you pick. This model offers four trim options, including Classica, Urbana, Lusso, and Abarth. The cheapest trim is the Classica which goes for around $26,885 and the most expensive trim is the Abarth with a price range of around $30,885.
FAQ
Is it worth buying Fiat 124 Spider?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you desire a compact, high-performance, reliable, sleek, and fast sports car at an affordable price, the Fiat 124 Spider is worth buying. However, if you want a practical, powerful, and spacious sports car, the Fiat 124 Spider is not good for you.
What are the common problems with Fiat 124 Spider?
The Fiat 124 Spider is among the finest Fiat models ever created. Despite its exceptional looks and performance, this car has some issues that buyers should be aware of. The main problems include a faulty electrical system, unbalanced suspension, poor visibility, transmission issues, engine failure, camshaft failure, and problems with the water pump.
How fast is the Fiat 124 Spider?
Like many sports cars, the Fiat 124 Spider is super fast and it has a top speed of 144 mph. Additionally, this car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. Note that 124 Spider has four trims and the sporty Abarth trim is the fastest. It is also the most expensive.
Why was the Fiat 124 Spider discontinued?
Fiat 124 Spider is one of the oldest Fiat models on the market. This was produced between 1966 and 1981 and 2016 and 2020. However, because of low sales, the Fiat 124 Spider was discontinued in 2020. So, if you desire this beautiful and well-performing sports car, you will have to get one from the used car market.
Is the Fiat 124 Spider the same as Mazda MX-5 Miata?
No, the Fiat 124 Spider is not the same as the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Nonetheless, they have a lot in common as they are based on the same platform. The interior is almost identical and they provide similar tech features. Besides, both cars are quite sporty and fun to drive.
The biggest difference between these two sports cars is that the Mazda MX-5 Miata comes with a smoother and higher-revving engine and it’s offered in both soft and hard configurations. On top of that, the Mazda is more secure with features such as a forward collision warning.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a stylish, reliable, compact, efficient, and affordable convertible, the Fiat 124 Spider is a great option. But if you’re looking for a bigger, more powerful, spacious, and more practical car, look away. All in all, the 124 Spider is an excellent car as it is also affordable and cheap to maintain, just like the Mazda MX-5 Miata.