Any love for the Abarth 124 Spider?
Discussion
Lots of 500 Abarths on here, and out and about, but the little 124 seems curiously absent.
Wifey is changing her auto Mini convertible later this year and is quite taken by the 124. She needs an auto and is veering towards the Abarth. Any owner feedback or comments, specifically on the auto version, and are they worth the premium over a boggo Fiat version. I’d be looking for a low miles 1 year old I reckon.
Wifey is changing her auto Mini convertible later this year and is quite taken by the 124. She needs an auto and is veering towards the Abarth. Any owner feedback or comments, specifically on the auto version, and are they worth the premium over a boggo Fiat version. I’d be looking for a low miles 1 year old I reckon.
Martin.
I had a manual version for a couple of years and loved it.
It was great fun and because of its rarity, it really attracted loads of attention as most didn't know what it was.
They were (arguably) too expensive new - I know from experience as because mine was one of the 1st in the country, I didn't get a penny off the list price. This contributed to the relatively low sales figures (compared to, say the MX5).
There are big discounts now for 2nd hand ones.
I also looked at the MX5 when I bought mine, but it just wasn't as much 'fun' (please let's not turn this into an MX5 vs 124 debate - it was just my personal feelings).
I had mine remapped to 200 bhp. This really suited the nature of the car and it did transform it into what it should have been from Abarth in the 1st place.
If you're on Facebook, then I can really recommend you search for 'Abarth 124 Owners Club' and join the closed group as there's loads of useful info on there - with many people specifically asking about the auto versions.
I had a manual version for a couple of years and loved it.
It was great fun and because of its rarity, it really attracted loads of attention as most didn't know what it was.
They were (arguably) too expensive new - I know from experience as because mine was one of the 1st in the country, I didn't get a penny off the list price. This contributed to the relatively low sales figures (compared to, say the MX5).
There are big discounts now for 2nd hand ones.
I also looked at the MX5 when I bought mine, but it just wasn't as much 'fun' (please let's not turn this into an MX5 vs 124 debate - it was just my personal feelings).
I had mine remapped to 200 bhp. This really suited the nature of the car and it did transform it into what it should have been from Abarth in the 1st place.
If you're on Facebook, then I can really recommend you search for 'Abarth 124 Owners Club' and join the closed group as there's loads of useful info on there - with many people specifically asking about the auto versions.
lockhart flawse said:
OP. We're in the same sitiuation. Mrs looking to swap Mini convertible to a 124 but regular one. None areund here so not sure whether I will fit at over 6 foot 2. Anyone any idea?
I'm not sure you'll be comfortable, I'm 5' 5" and it's snug for me.I've heard they are no longer being imported into the UK.
I'm enjoying mine having come from TTRS, Lexus RCF, 981 Boxster, being my most recent cars.
It's beautifully simple.
It makes a nice noise, but I understand it'd be a little too loud, or uncouth, for some.
My friend recently said it makes a dirty noise.
I nearly got a Recaro MX5 as I wanted the bilsteins and LSD.
But the monza exhaust, and the rarity of the Spider won me over.
I bought it so my missus could share it, my expectations werent high, but I think it's a great, fun, little car.
Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 27th May 19:31
Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 27th May 19:33
The red mirror caps, and other bits didn't grow on my missus.
But they're easy to change.
About £50 for gloss black mirror covers, £20 for the towing eye cover, and the lower air dam strip just pulls off.
Above poster mentioned a remap?
That'd be a good plan, although it's what I'd describe as a nippy car, it'd be a whole load more fun with 200bhp I reckon.
But they're easy to change.
About £50 for gloss black mirror covers, £20 for the towing eye cover, and the lower air dam strip just pulls off.
Above poster mentioned a remap?
That'd be a good plan, although it's what I'd describe as a nippy car, it'd be a whole load more fun with 200bhp I reckon.
I got one on a stupidly cheap lease deal a year ago as it's an Auto and they couldn't shift them.
I absolutely love it, it has pretty much everything I like a bout a car, rarity (I get so many positive comments) it makes a great noise its just fast enough so you can rag it without losing your license, its great with the roof down, and contrary to popular opinion, I don't mind the auto in it.
In fact I'd like to keep it at the end of the lease deal but not sure if that will be an option.
I swapped mu 595 competizione for it and I much prefer the Spider.
I absolutely love it, it has pretty much everything I like a bout a car, rarity (I get so many positive comments) it makes a great noise its just fast enough so you can rag it without losing your license, its great with the roof down, and contrary to popular opinion, I don't mind the auto in it.
In fact I'd like to keep it at the end of the lease deal but not sure if that will be an option.
I swapped mu 595 competizione for it and I much prefer the Spider.
lockhart flawse said:
OP. We're in the same sitiuation. Mrs looking to swap Mini convertible to a 124 but regular one. None areund here so not sure whether I will fit at over 6 foot 2. Anyone any idea?
I'm 6'2" and don't fit in with any comfort in terms of head room. Roof off, fine (though my head would become part of the roll structure: roof up, nope.
Wife was looking at them, but sadly not possible due to above.
I had a 595 Turismo, which I planned to swap for a 124 Abarth Spider - Swmbo fancied a drop top and I was up for a change of a car that she mostly used anyway.
However the noise of the exhaust on the test drive was wearing but overall we very much liked the car.
In the end we bought a “normal” 124 Spider instead, and must admit we both thoroughly enjoy the car. More than enough performance for our day to day use.
I think at 6 foot 2 you might struggle to get comfortable. There’s definitely not a lot of space in the cabin especially compared to say a Boxster.
So I guess I’m kind of saying that widening your horizons beyond the Abarth variant might open up more options and still tick all the right boxes (as it did for us)
However the noise of the exhaust on the test drive was wearing but overall we very much liked the car.
In the end we bought a “normal” 124 Spider instead, and must admit we both thoroughly enjoy the car. More than enough performance for our day to day use.
I think at 6 foot 2 you might struggle to get comfortable. There’s definitely not a lot of space in the cabin especially compared to say a Boxster.
So I guess I’m kind of saying that widening your horizons beyond the Abarth variant might open up more options and still tick all the right boxes (as it did for us)
funbobby said:
who can remap these?
Rob, I see you're in Herts, so not a million miles away from where I got mine remapped, here in Hampshire - http://alfacare.co.ukI have no association with them at all, but they were fantastic. They did a couple of services on mine and remapped it and I have nothing but praise for them and their expertise. Definitely worth travelling for.
Remap worked on the 'sport button' - so was standard tune in 'normal mode' and remapped tune when in 'sport mode'. They do their own maps 'in house'.
MrOrange said:
Lots of 500 Abarths on here, and out and about, but the little 124 seems curiously absent.
Wifey is changing her auto Mini convertible later this year and is quite taken by the 124. She needs an auto and is veering towards the Abarth. Any owner feedback or comments, specifically on the auto version, and are they worth the premium over a boggo Fiat version. I’d be looking for a low miles 1 year old I reckon.
There's a plenty of pre-registered ones for sale, on 19 plate. It will give you longer warranty. I got mine about 6 weeks ago and so far did only 700 miles as I was away for most of the time. Wifey is changing her auto Mini convertible later this year and is quite taken by the 124. She needs an auto and is veering towards the Abarth. Any owner feedback or comments, specifically on the auto version, and are they worth the premium over a boggo Fiat version. I’d be looking for a low miles 1 year old I reckon.
Some people I talked to, had no idea how it looks. Others checked logo on the pictures shown, to work out what it is. My neighbours were more clued up. And I haven't seen any on the road in months.
Edited by PenelopaPitstop on Tuesday 4th June 17:53
PenelopaPitstop said:
There's a plenty of pre-registered ones for sale, on 19 plate. It will give you longer warranty. I got mine about 6 weeks ago and so far did only 700 miles as I was away for most of the time.
Some people I talked to, had no idea how it looks. Others checked logo on the pictures shown, to work out what it is. My neighbours were more clued up. And I haven't seen any on the road in months.
Can I ask what you’re paying, as it seems the nearly new prices are all over the place.Some people I talked to, had no idea how it looks. Others checked logo on the pictures shown, to work out what it is. My neighbours were more clued up. And I haven't seen any on the road in months.
Edited by PenelopaPitstop on Tuesday 4th June 17:53
I took one on lease deal 6 +23 x 218, white with Bose, no visibility pack, 10K miles per annum. I didn't want to buy, as I'm unsure what will be future value of it.
Also, all of them are 2.5 years old and some of them (or all) had the undercarriage painted with bitumen. They were stored somewhere for quite some time.
Of course, what counts, is reg date, as that is start of warranty.
There's about 40 auto used cars on Autotrader, mostly pre-regs. I would suggest getting one with visibility pack. I haven't driven mine at night yet, but I understand that halogens are pretty poor. Also there's no way to change halogens to righthand side driving for Europe. I had SLK with halogens that were setup for UK and it was real pain driving it after dark in Europe.
Abarth is my second car, I don't think I could live with it as daily. It's quite noisy, everything vibrates and not a lot of space inside. But it's all subjective, as my daily is Audi A8, so huge difference between the cars.
Also, all of them are 2.5 years old and some of them (or all) had the undercarriage painted with bitumen. They were stored somewhere for quite some time.
Of course, what counts, is reg date, as that is start of warranty.
There's about 40 auto used cars on Autotrader, mostly pre-regs. I would suggest getting one with visibility pack. I haven't driven mine at night yet, but I understand that halogens are pretty poor. Also there's no way to change halogens to righthand side driving for Europe. I had SLK with halogens that were setup for UK and it was real pain driving it after dark in Europe.
Abarth is my second car, I don't think I could live with it as daily. It's quite noisy, everything vibrates and not a lot of space inside. But it's all subjective, as my daily is Audi A8, so huge difference between the cars.
Edited by PenelopaPitstop on Thursday 6th June 18:59
PenelopaPitstop said:
Also, all of them are 2.5 years old and some of them (or all) had the undercarriage painted with bitumen. They were stored somewhere for quite some time.
Ah, that explains the weird pricing. Seems a marmite car from comments here and requires a compromise or two (noise, space, iffy build/reg gaps).Edited by PenelopaPitstop on Thursday 6th June 18:59
They must be WLTP compliant, otherwise wouldn't be registered after 1 September 2018.
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&... around 1553 registered at the end of 2018, so there will be few more, since a lot was registered in 2019, to sell last stock cars. Standard Fiat around 2,694 registered at the end of 2018.
So far, I only saw one Fiat on the road in UK, that was near me. But I have to admit, I don't leave home too often and don't go to London/cities. I haven't seen any Fiat or Abarth on my road trips in Europe. Actually, even my Abarth doesn't see too much daylight, since it's confined to garage for more than a month. I should have leased it last June, instead of thinking too long. At least weather was great for months straight.
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&... around 1553 registered at the end of 2018, so there will be few more, since a lot was registered in 2019, to sell last stock cars. Standard Fiat around 2,694 registered at the end of 2018.
So far, I only saw one Fiat on the road in UK, that was near me. But I have to admit, I don't leave home too often and don't go to London/cities. I haven't seen any Fiat or Abarth on my road trips in Europe. Actually, even my Abarth doesn't see too much daylight, since it's confined to garage for more than a month. I should have leased it last June, instead of thinking too long. At least weather was great for months straight.
Edited by PenelopaPitstop on Sunday 16th June 10:03
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