FIAT/Abarth 124 Spider
Discussion
Confession Time: a while earlier in the year that's about to expire, I added an Abarth 124 Spider to the collection*. Having been aware for sometime that forecourt prices for new ones seemed remarkably below the manufacturer's current 'list price', and never having owned a convertible before (but never, ever been able to get to 'like' the MX5, despite a few test drives down the dealers and all those rave reviews in magazines) it seemed like the right time to strike, to stop lurking.
Not an impulsive decision, then, but my quest really began after seeing a red and black one at rest locally. It very much reminded me of how my Italian car odyssey had first begun, all those years ago. The emotional impact of sighting my first - a rosso corsa Lancia Delta HF Turbo, since you ask. Yes, those Italians do seem to have the ability to mix the most amazing reds: suppose it all goes back to the Renaissance?
Anyway - there it is: told you. It's a bargain, lots of fun and goes like a scalded mongoose - about a third off 'list' and only 800 miles on the clock. Manual box, rear-wheel drive, with a slippy diff and Bilsteins. Just like my old RS Escort and Sunbeam forest rally cars had, back in the day.
Yes, it's basically an MX5, only with longer, wider bodywork added front and back, a FIAT/Alfa engine, Bilsteins, a Sport mode, that diff. and a fun exhaust added. Oh, and a (uniquely-Italian) 'COSTA BRAVA 1974' red. So - fortunately - it doesn't look much like one, despite sharing the same brilliant folding roof (3 seconds to close) and ergonomic interior. People keep asking - "Qu'est que c'est?' (Well, they did in France).
What's more, when I first began to take notice of these cars, only this summer (being slow on the uptake) I didn't even realise at first that they are a turbo - shows how effectively some of those clever FIAT/Abarth PR marketing people must have done their job in the UK, if someone with my background hadn't even grasped this elementary fact.
So there it is. I've always enjoyed turbo cars, and the Italians have a unique skill at creating small capacity performance cars. Put both together and I've been delighted. I'm amazed they're not more popular over here, more discussed, but with only 1,000 manual versions present in the UK and the production line now ceased, guess that's a self-fulfilling outcome.
Great noise, quite fast enough for British roads without getting jailed; well-equipped, lovely to look at and fun to drive (also very red) my wife adores it; and it makes a perfectly practical long-distance tourer. (Britanny this summer). In fact, as the nearest thing I've ever come across to a brand-new classic straight-out-of-the-box, it almost makes my real ones (*105 Bertone 2000GTV and Fulvia 1.3S, since you ask) at minor risk of redundancy, but let's not go there.....
Anyway, there's still a few fairly-new 124 Abarths still on the market, although mainly they're the auto version (twice as many of those were imported as the manuals, you see) but owners say their flappy paddles recover them some responsiveness for the keen driver, and don't those F1 guys use something similar?
So there you go - just saying.
Not an impulsive decision, then, but my quest really began after seeing a red and black one at rest locally. It very much reminded me of how my Italian car odyssey had first begun, all those years ago. The emotional impact of sighting my first - a rosso corsa Lancia Delta HF Turbo, since you ask. Yes, those Italians do seem to have the ability to mix the most amazing reds: suppose it all goes back to the Renaissance?
Anyway - there it is: told you. It's a bargain, lots of fun and goes like a scalded mongoose - about a third off 'list' and only 800 miles on the clock. Manual box, rear-wheel drive, with a slippy diff and Bilsteins. Just like my old RS Escort and Sunbeam forest rally cars had, back in the day.
Yes, it's basically an MX5, only with longer, wider bodywork added front and back, a FIAT/Alfa engine, Bilsteins, a Sport mode, that diff. and a fun exhaust added. Oh, and a (uniquely-Italian) 'COSTA BRAVA 1974' red. So - fortunately - it doesn't look much like one, despite sharing the same brilliant folding roof (3 seconds to close) and ergonomic interior. People keep asking - "Qu'est que c'est?' (Well, they did in France).
What's more, when I first began to take notice of these cars, only this summer (being slow on the uptake) I didn't even realise at first that they are a turbo - shows how effectively some of those clever FIAT/Abarth PR marketing people must have done their job in the UK, if someone with my background hadn't even grasped this elementary fact.
So there it is. I've always enjoyed turbo cars, and the Italians have a unique skill at creating small capacity performance cars. Put both together and I've been delighted. I'm amazed they're not more popular over here, more discussed, but with only 1,000 manual versions present in the UK and the production line now ceased, guess that's a self-fulfilling outcome.
Great noise, quite fast enough for British roads without getting jailed; well-equipped, lovely to look at and fun to drive (also very red) my wife adores it; and it makes a perfectly practical long-distance tourer. (Britanny this summer). In fact, as the nearest thing I've ever come across to a brand-new classic straight-out-of-the-box, it almost makes my real ones (*105 Bertone 2000GTV and Fulvia 1.3S, since you ask) at minor risk of redundancy, but let's not go there.....
Anyway, there's still a few fairly-new 124 Abarths still on the market, although mainly they're the auto version (twice as many of those were imported as the manuals, you see) but owners say their flappy paddles recover them some responsiveness for the keen driver, and don't those F1 guys use something similar?
So there you go - just saying.
I recently sold mine, a grey non heritage edition.
I echo your likes about the car.
The noise, brembo brakes, LSD, fast manual folding roof, nippy performance, and the rarity.
Now I have some advice for you based on my experiences, and talking to other owners.
The subframes rust badly. So get them wax oiled if you're looking at long term ownership.
Mine was ok, but had been garaged overnight for most of it's life.
But the one I went to buy before mine was awful at 2.5 years old. Looking underneath you'd have thought it'd been parked next to the sea. Maybe It had?
And on to common warranty repairs so you can keep a look out.
1. The exhaust flap seizes. (get underneath, if you cant move the flap by hand it's seized)
2. Drivers seat base foam fails.
3. The roof can rub on the roll bars when down.
4. Mine had water pump replaced (leaking)
5. One or two alarm faults reported (Alarm going off whilst driving)
6. The SERIOUS one. Some people have reported knocking from the rear as the car approaches three years old. The rear hubs have been replaced under warranty by the dealers. Seems rare but worth getting checked before the three years is up.
Sorry to post negative stuff but I'm sure you're best to be informed so you can keep an eye/ear out for these things.
I loved driving around in that car, tunnels made me laugh, and I enjoyed going back to a lightweight RWD car with a decent diff. And compared with my last few heavy, powerful cars, the 124 felt great value for money.
The dealer who I sold the car to said he'd just taken one in that had been remapped. He said it transformed the car.
I echo your likes about the car.
The noise, brembo brakes, LSD, fast manual folding roof, nippy performance, and the rarity.
Now I have some advice for you based on my experiences, and talking to other owners.
The subframes rust badly. So get them wax oiled if you're looking at long term ownership.
Mine was ok, but had been garaged overnight for most of it's life.
But the one I went to buy before mine was awful at 2.5 years old. Looking underneath you'd have thought it'd been parked next to the sea. Maybe It had?
And on to common warranty repairs so you can keep a look out.
1. The exhaust flap seizes. (get underneath, if you cant move the flap by hand it's seized)
2. Drivers seat base foam fails.
3. The roof can rub on the roll bars when down.
4. Mine had water pump replaced (leaking)
5. One or two alarm faults reported (Alarm going off whilst driving)
6. The SERIOUS one. Some people have reported knocking from the rear as the car approaches three years old. The rear hubs have been replaced under warranty by the dealers. Seems rare but worth getting checked before the three years is up.
Sorry to post negative stuff but I'm sure you're best to be informed so you can keep an eye/ear out for these things.
I loved driving around in that car, tunnels made me laugh, and I enjoyed going back to a lightweight RWD car with a decent diff. And compared with my last few heavy, powerful cars, the 124 felt great value for money.
The dealer who I sold the car to said he'd just taken one in that had been remapped. He said it transformed the car.
Edited by Trevor555 on Thursday 19th December 17:18
Thanks for these remarks and sage advice, Trevor, they're helpful to others and absolutely spot-on.
Don't forget I've owned a '73 Lancia Fulvia for 25 years, and a '71 Bertone coupe for 15, so know what works, if you want to keep a car like this a long time.
So I went out looking for a 'Brand new' manual Abarth (even if old stock) and found one with 800 miles on the clock, which inspected on a ramp before purchase. It was spotless on top and underneath, and having purchased in high Summer, it went straight home and spent a week in the garage on stands with the wheels off while I black engine-enamelled every inch and pumped waxoil diluted with new engine oil into every cavity.
This is essential as these cars are barely 'finished-off' underneath, and would probably only last 1 lease term, so I saw several low mileage, fairly new cars which, exactly as you say, looked like they'd been in the sea.
Mine has a warranty and I will not hesitate to rely on it for those well-know faults to which you rightly refer. Some are shared with MX5s (like hood rubbing) and some are peculiar to the 124. However, all new cars have latent faults to which prone, even BMWs, and this will be no exception. But thanks for your wise advice anyway, and like you I drive it to enjoy.
Don't forget I've owned a '73 Lancia Fulvia for 25 years, and a '71 Bertone coupe for 15, so know what works, if you want to keep a car like this a long time.
So I went out looking for a 'Brand new' manual Abarth (even if old stock) and found one with 800 miles on the clock, which inspected on a ramp before purchase. It was spotless on top and underneath, and having purchased in high Summer, it went straight home and spent a week in the garage on stands with the wheels off while I black engine-enamelled every inch and pumped waxoil diluted with new engine oil into every cavity.
This is essential as these cars are barely 'finished-off' underneath, and would probably only last 1 lease term, so I saw several low mileage, fairly new cars which, exactly as you say, looked like they'd been in the sea.
Mine has a warranty and I will not hesitate to rely on it for those well-know faults to which you rightly refer. Some are shared with MX5s (like hood rubbing) and some are peculiar to the 124. However, all new cars have latent faults to which prone, even BMWs, and this will be no exception. But thanks for your wise advice anyway, and like you I drive it to enjoy.
JONSCZ said:
Trevor555 said:
The dealer who I sold the car to said he'd just taken one in that had been remapped. He said it transformed the car.
I had one of the early 'numbered editions' in 2016 and had mine remapped to around 205 bhp. I can confirm that it did, indeed, transform the car....
Yes, I certainly plan on 'chipping' mine, too, once the warranty period's safely over, so FIAT Abarth can't jib at any of my modifications as a pretext to avoid liability.
That'll be a few years yet, but installing 205 bhp could easily match the power output of one of the few other cars I've bought brand-new - a 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD, it was. (The Scooby also one of the few cars I've owned where - if you really threw it about - you could feel quite car-sick just as a driver, never mind as passenger, so there's another nostalgic experience to look forward to again... ..)
Anyway, back to Trevor's helpful and accurate list of potential defects on a 124 spider, and allowing for the fact I've seen plenty of feedback from modern 124 owners who've clocked up very respectable mileages without any of these known faults ever occurring, let's take them one by one:
No, the roof on mine doesn't rub, although it's common enough and they say Mazda dealers are particularly adept at fixing them if they do; while water pump trouble usually seems to be associated with the long periods of inactivity typical of unsold stock (my '73 Fulvia often has to have its own replaced, always after too long spent without starting during its annual winter storage).
But, yes, the valve on my Abarth's 'Monza Record' exhaust had indeed stuck (see above: re 'inactivity') but 5 minutes lying down behind it with some molegrips, a wire brush, and a tube of copper slip sorted that easily enough and saved everyone a trip to the main dealers; while that alarm thingy hasn't happened to me, either (or not yet, touch wood).
However, Trevor's point about the rear bushes is very important indeed, not to mention expensive; so that's something well worth looking out for, whether as an owner or potential purchaser. When I spent a week underneath mine this summer; painting, wax oiling and undersealing everything; I was certainly struck by how complicated the arrangements for holding its back end off the floor are.
They would clearly be complex and expensive to repair if damaged or worn, because everything else attaches to this central rear subframe or cross-member which, as well as being a mud/water/salt and rust-trap, could - I imagine - be a real pig to replace. (Especially if the fixing bolts had rusted into place - although mine, at least, will not). And presumably, as is common with modern bushed components, you can't replace just the bushes but it has to be the whole blooming mullarkey. Hence the escalating cost.
Anyway, thanks at least to Trevor and this thread, perhaps forewarned is forearmed.
That'll be a few years yet, but installing 205 bhp could easily match the power output of one of the few other cars I've bought brand-new - a 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD, it was. (The Scooby also one of the few cars I've owned where - if you really threw it about - you could feel quite car-sick just as a driver, never mind as passenger, so there's another nostalgic experience to look forward to again... ..)
Anyway, back to Trevor's helpful and accurate list of potential defects on a 124 spider, and allowing for the fact I've seen plenty of feedback from modern 124 owners who've clocked up very respectable mileages without any of these known faults ever occurring, let's take them one by one:
No, the roof on mine doesn't rub, although it's common enough and they say Mazda dealers are particularly adept at fixing them if they do; while water pump trouble usually seems to be associated with the long periods of inactivity typical of unsold stock (my '73 Fulvia often has to have its own replaced, always after too long spent without starting during its annual winter storage).
But, yes, the valve on my Abarth's 'Monza Record' exhaust had indeed stuck (see above: re 'inactivity') but 5 minutes lying down behind it with some molegrips, a wire brush, and a tube of copper slip sorted that easily enough and saved everyone a trip to the main dealers; while that alarm thingy hasn't happened to me, either (or not yet, touch wood).
However, Trevor's point about the rear bushes is very important indeed, not to mention expensive; so that's something well worth looking out for, whether as an owner or potential purchaser. When I spent a week underneath mine this summer; painting, wax oiling and undersealing everything; I was certainly struck by how complicated the arrangements for holding its back end off the floor are.
They would clearly be complex and expensive to repair if damaged or worn, because everything else attaches to this central rear subframe or cross-member which, as well as being a mud/water/salt and rust-trap, could - I imagine - be a real pig to replace. (Especially if the fixing bolts had rusted into place - although mine, at least, will not). And presumably, as is common with modern bushed components, you can't replace just the bushes but it has to be the whole blooming mullarkey. Hence the escalating cost.
Anyway, thanks at least to Trevor and this thread, perhaps forewarned is forearmed.
Edited by CostaBrava1974 on Sunday 15th December 14:47
Trevor555 said:
Buying advice
Some views based on my 3 year old 55,000 mile Fiat 124...I looked under it at the MOT in October and was surprised at how much stonechip/underseal there was on the floor! More so than you'd expect in a modern car so maybe Mazda have learned something from the older gen MX5s. The subframes were mint as were all the bolts (surface rust on the bolt heads only). As you can guess from the age/mileage, mine gets USED! It also lives outdoors so it's not some pampered garage queen. One thing the MOT tester commented on was that because it does get used, the underside always has air blowing over it, unlike a car that's parked up all the time where water just sits there.
The roof thing is quite well known, my own car hasn't suffered it but a few people on forums/Facebook have commented on it so look out for marks on the backs of the roll hoops (not important) and corresponding scuff marks on the front edge of the roof (which WILL be a problem!).
I've heard of a few people with alarms going off while driving.
A common fault is thermostats sticking open, you won't notice it but the engine management system will as the car takes "too long" to warm up. This'll trigger the "money light". It's been traced to a dud batch of stats at Mazda but I guess they'll all have been replaced by now as it affected early cars.
I'm a bit baffled about the hub uprights story. I've heard this too but only from one guy (probably the same one because he went on about the cost being £3000). No one else on any of the forums or Facebook groups has reported this and a Google search for 124 suspension problems throws up nothing! My own car is fine (despite the high-ish mileage) and no-one on the Facebook goup he posted on could understand why this guy needed uprights when it was the bushes that failed. The part is common to the 124 and ND MX5 too, suspension-wise, the only differences between the various MX5 and 124 models are in the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, all the architecture (wishbones, uprights etc. are the same).
Mine's been 100% reliable so far, all I've changed have been the tyres, it hasn't even blown a light bulb yet! Despite being the "baby" 140 bhp version with no limited slip diff and softer suspension it's as quick as you'd want it to be on twisty roads, I find that even if I'm going for it I'm only at around 80% of what the car will do and driving any faster would result in points/licence losing/spreading yourself over the front of an oncoming tractor.
Here's a picture of it on the most recent breakfast blast (Cardiff to Llandovery). In answer to your next question:
The 124, by miles.
Edited by Mound Dawg on Monday 16th December 16:14
Sincere thanks to Motorsport3 for kind words of approbation.
And thanks too, to Mound Dawg for his welcome words of reassurance. Yes, I told you these are reliable cars! Every FIAT I've ever had has been; from that Broom yellow 1995 turbo Coupe we had in the 90s for main family car (kids in the back) to my wife's ten year-owned Grande Punto.
While of those two red beauties seen at rest in the Principality, it seems pretty obvious to me which one you'd want to be sitting in, on those wonderful, winding Welsh lanes.
So, no, I wouldn't have chosen the bigger barge either!
And thanks too, to Mound Dawg for his welcome words of reassurance. Yes, I told you these are reliable cars! Every FIAT I've ever had has been; from that Broom yellow 1995 turbo Coupe we had in the 90s for main family car (kids in the back) to my wife's ten year-owned Grande Punto.
While of those two red beauties seen at rest in the Principality, it seems pretty obvious to me which one you'd want to be sitting in, on those wonderful, winding Welsh lanes.
So, no, I wouldn't have chosen the bigger barge either!
Edited by CostaBrava1974 on Wednesday 18th December 10:39
Following on from the rear bushes discussion "Mound Dawg" got me wondering so I found the facebook post. It seems 3 people have had it done on that post.
I couldn't do a link as you have to be a member of the group so I copied the text, hope it works. Sorry, I'm a computer numpty.
Copy/pasted below.
If you have an early 124 Spider model get the 5 bushes checked in both rear hubs. I have been reliably informed that Fiat use a different set up from Mazdas 4 bush rear hub system. Both my rear hub assemblies are being replaced under warranty. Symptoms are lots of noise from rear worn bushes. Rattles/bumps on uneven surface. I bought car used with 8.5k miles and the noise got progressively worse. Initially I thought it was a loose exhaust, pads or items in boot/trunk rolling about. My friend has had his replaced for same reason. I found someone online who said the whole job would have cost 3.5k if not under warranty! My parts are still on back order nearly 2 months after they mistakenly ordered 2 of the same side 😠🕸🕷 Prior to this my car passed its MOT at a local independant garage. I had asked that they check for worn bushes on rear and they indicated a worn bush or pin at Macpherson strut. I did not trust their opinion and took it straight to Fiat who found both hub assemblies needed replacing. My friends car failed its MOT for this issue and this MOT problem can be accessed online in the future. 6/11/19 update parts are in and they are a 6 bush cast assembly I have a parts drawing which I will post later. The garage could not confirm when these parts were manufactured. They also tell me I have no gaurantee with new parts as out of warranty now. My thinking is they could fit any junk to my car it could fail and id be left with paying to fix it!
No photo description available.
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Chris Abbott
Chris Abbott I had mine replaced just in the warranty - otherwise would have cost £2500!!! Check for a loud creaking noise at low speed...both sides needed new rear hub assembly as the bushes were gone
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Mark Kneen
Mark Kneen Any idea how early? Ours is late 2017, 12,000 miles and no issues so far.
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Mark Kneen
Mark Kneen replied
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Adam Griffin
Adam Griffin Had mine done last week... Also did a 4 wheel alignment and now the steering wheel is off center! 😒
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Mike Widdall
Mike Widdall Like Mark said , how early is early ?
Have they used alternative parts for later models ?
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Agnes Howard
Agnes Howard Fiat or Abarth? All UK Abarths were produced over couple of months in 2016, so reg date doesn't indicate actual age of the car.
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Derek Byrne
Derek Byrne Parts replaced have solved the issue. Also had both seatbelt reels replaced under warranty. 🕷🕸😁
I couldn't do a link as you have to be a member of the group so I copied the text, hope it works. Sorry, I'm a computer numpty.
Copy/pasted below.
If you have an early 124 Spider model get the 5 bushes checked in both rear hubs. I have been reliably informed that Fiat use a different set up from Mazdas 4 bush rear hub system. Both my rear hub assemblies are being replaced under warranty. Symptoms are lots of noise from rear worn bushes. Rattles/bumps on uneven surface. I bought car used with 8.5k miles and the noise got progressively worse. Initially I thought it was a loose exhaust, pads or items in boot/trunk rolling about. My friend has had his replaced for same reason. I found someone online who said the whole job would have cost 3.5k if not under warranty! My parts are still on back order nearly 2 months after they mistakenly ordered 2 of the same side 😠🕸🕷 Prior to this my car passed its MOT at a local independant garage. I had asked that they check for worn bushes on rear and they indicated a worn bush or pin at Macpherson strut. I did not trust their opinion and took it straight to Fiat who found both hub assemblies needed replacing. My friends car failed its MOT for this issue and this MOT problem can be accessed online in the future. 6/11/19 update parts are in and they are a 6 bush cast assembly I have a parts drawing which I will post later. The garage could not confirm when these parts were manufactured. They also tell me I have no gaurantee with new parts as out of warranty now. My thinking is they could fit any junk to my car it could fail and id be left with paying to fix it!
No photo description available.
33
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Chris Abbott
Chris Abbott I had mine replaced just in the warranty - otherwise would have cost £2500!!! Check for a loud creaking noise at low speed...both sides needed new rear hub assembly as the bushes were gone
1
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· Reply · 6w
Mark Kneen
Mark Kneen Any idea how early? Ours is late 2017, 12,000 miles and no issues so far.
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Mark Kneen
Mark Kneen replied
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2 replies
Adam Griffin
Adam Griffin Had mine done last week... Also did a 4 wheel alignment and now the steering wheel is off center! 😒
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· Reply · 6w
Mike Widdall
Mike Widdall Like Mark said , how early is early ?
Have they used alternative parts for later models ?
Hide or report this
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· Reply · 6w
Agnes Howard
Agnes Howard Fiat or Abarth? All UK Abarths were produced over couple of months in 2016, so reg date doesn't indicate actual age of the car.
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Derek Byrne
Derek Byrne Parts replaced have solved the issue. Also had both seatbelt reels replaced under warranty. 🕷🕸😁
Yes, I've seen this online discussion before, but extracting its text provides a useful lift from the FB World Government site, whose ever-onward scrolling nature means helpful technical information like this very soon disappears without trace.
Happily, it's now captured here in a more-accessible reference source, so thanks for doing that. And at least the symptoms of it are pretty obvious for anyone to detect, so remedial action can be taken sooner rather than later. There's none to report here (yet, touch wood) though I do drive her rather hard.....
Any other 124 Spider owners with words of practical wisdom to share?
Happily, it's now captured here in a more-accessible reference source, so thanks for doing that. And at least the symptoms of it are pretty obvious for anyone to detect, so remedial action can be taken sooner rather than later. There's none to report here (yet, touch wood) though I do drive her rather hard.....
Any other 124 Spider owners with words of practical wisdom to share?
CostaBrava1974 said:
Sincere thanks to Motorsport3 for kind words of approbation.
And thanks too, to Mound Dawg for his welcome words of reassurance. Yes, I told you these are reliable cars! Every FIAT I've ever had has been; from that Broom yellow 1995 turbo Coupe we had in the 90s for main family car (kids in the back) to my wife's ten year-owned Grande Punto.
While of those two red beauties seen at rest in the Principality, it seems pretty obvious to me which one you'd want to be sitting in, on those wonderful, winding Welsh lanes.
So, no, I wouldn't have chosen the bigger barge either!
My first fiat was a 1987 fiorino that my grand father had while i was a student. Since then I went over a number of cars but now i am firmly devoted into motoring talian culture with a 4C and a QPV.And thanks too, to Mound Dawg for his welcome words of reassurance. Yes, I told you these are reliable cars! Every FIAT I've ever had has been; from that Broom yellow 1995 turbo Coupe we had in the 90s for main family car (kids in the back) to my wife's ten year-owned Grande Punto.
While of those two red beauties seen at rest in the Principality, it seems pretty obvious to me which one you'd want to be sitting in, on those wonderful, winding Welsh lanes.
So, no, I wouldn't have chosen the bigger barge either!
Edited by CostaBrava1974 on Wednesday 18th December 10:39
Here's a bit more on cross compatibility of parts between the 124 and ND from people who've pulled both to bits.
https://www.redlineautoparts.com/blog/fiat-124-spi...
There's also a nice video walk around the two sets of running gear side by side in there.
https://www.redlineautoparts.com/blog/fiat-124-spi...
There's also a nice video walk around the two sets of running gear side by side in there.
That cross-linking parts referencer you've just posted is a valuable info' source for making a rare car like the various 124s into a viable long-term keeper, now we know we can tap into the limitless sea that is the MX5 spares market.
Only leaving us with the 124's bespoke bodywork and lighting gear as a wee-bit trickier to source.
And I know you can't realistically compare the 170-brake 124 Abarth with a carbon-fibre tubbed, 250-brake 4C, but I should declare an interest here: we went to the original 2014 Alfa 4C launch (at Mangoletsi, in Cheshire) and I've since test driven both coupe and convertible versions. Personally, I liked the coupe version most, but they're all great cars, those 4Cs, once the tramlining is cured with an easy £400 mod, anyroad.
However, they're also a flappy-paddles car and, since I'm an unreconstructed '70s rallyman, unreasonably disliked that - and the extra cost, of course! - which both put me off. (Same as the new Alpine). Because even the very cheapest, higher mileage, rusty running gear, second-hand Alfa 4Cs will currently be asking c.£15k more than the very best, all-as-new 124 Abarths, hence my summer choice. We all have to cut our cloth, and of course I know we're hardly comparing like with like here, either....
Only leaving us with the 124's bespoke bodywork and lighting gear as a wee-bit trickier to source.
And I know you can't realistically compare the 170-brake 124 Abarth with a carbon-fibre tubbed, 250-brake 4C, but I should declare an interest here: we went to the original 2014 Alfa 4C launch (at Mangoletsi, in Cheshire) and I've since test driven both coupe and convertible versions. Personally, I liked the coupe version most, but they're all great cars, those 4Cs, once the tramlining is cured with an easy £400 mod, anyroad.
However, they're also a flappy-paddles car and, since I'm an unreconstructed '70s rallyman, unreasonably disliked that - and the extra cost, of course! - which both put me off. (Same as the new Alpine). Because even the very cheapest, higher mileage, rusty running gear, second-hand Alfa 4Cs will currently be asking c.£15k more than the very best, all-as-new 124 Abarths, hence my summer choice. We all have to cut our cloth, and of course I know we're hardly comparing like with like here, either....
Edited by CostaBrava1974 on Thursday 19th December 17:07
Mound Dawg said:
Here's a bit more on cross compatibility of parts between the 124 and ND from people who've pulled both to bits.
https://www.redlineautoparts.com/blog/fiat-124-spi...
There's also a nice video walk around the two sets of running gear side by side in there.
Thanks for posting that, hope fully clears that all up on the rear hubs being the same.https://www.redlineautoparts.com/blog/fiat-124-spi...
There's also a nice video walk around the two sets of running gear side by side in there.
I'll correct my earlier post.
This is what I love about forums, getting the right info.
Ref the above post from the OP, I didn't have a clue what car to go for when I bought my Abarth. I viewed some quite expensive cars, and was hooked on an Abarth after a road test.
The noise, simplicity of it, and the light feeling to the way it drives. Not to mention it was half the price of the others I was looking at.
Too many modern sports cars are now heavy, have countless drive modes, silly expensive wheels, auto only, and are getting quieter.
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