So I have falling in love with a different kind of car and..

[ESOG]

....and it will be my next purchase by Spring. I have owned many different cars since my first car being a 1989 Mustang GT 5.0 ( of which i had 3 before the age of 20).

As I get older (turning 37 in Sept) I find myself gravitating towards smaller, zippier cars. Larger cars are becoming a turn off for my taste amd have been for some time. This time around I find myself in the market for a smaller car, but one that is nimble, sporty and unqiue i.e. not the usual choices like a BMW 135i Sport or a Mini Cooper S, both of which I owned in 2008 from new. Both of which I had the ECU's tuned and both were very nimble im their own right.

For almost a year now I have found myself drawn to a Fiat 500 Abarth. Despite my friends laughing at me for being so attracted to them, but I simply cannot help it.

Saturday I accompanied my sister and my 2 nephews, my mother and my brother in law to the state fair and they had a large portion showing cars by Kia i.e. i saw and sat in the new Kia Stinger with its 8 speed paddle shifter tranny. $48,000!!! I had to do a double take on that sticker price. Then I came upon the Fiat tent and there was a 500 Abarth which I excitedly showed my mother and sister and then behind it a Fiat which I didn't even know existed and just like that I was hooked and now I know what I want. I have been obsessing over it and have watched just about every Youtube video I could find on it.

The Fiat 124 Spyder Abarth. It is exactly what I have been looking for all along. Unique, different looking (definitely not to everyones taste, the styling that is, but I happen to like it). Beautiful interior, beautiful engine, easy non motor top, and I love the rear end and I love how long the front is. The car has so many different styling cues from so many different cars. It looks like a S200 in some ways, a Jaguar at the rear in some ways and of course a MX5.

Lovely car and priced perfectly for a 2016 with 30k on the clock can be had for around $22k. Everything allures me to it. I am going to test drive one soon enough. I want it in white or black, preferably white as all my sport cars have been white and I can already picture exactly what I am going to do to it i.e. subtle black highlights in all the right places to accentuate its lines.

My friends can laugh at me all they want but I have nothing to prove and have only myself to satisfy.

Does anyone on here own one? If so, how do you like it?

For non owners, what is your take on it?

[soad]

Not seen many yet. Cheap to lease, I believe?

[ESOG]

soad said:

Not seen many yet. Cheap to lease, I believe?

I dont recall seeing any except one 124 Spyders on the road few months ago and i remember thinking to myself "what is that?" And not being able to figure out what the hell it was. Couldnt get close enough either to read the badge.

I haven't checked the leasing option because financing is a better fit for me giving the mileage i put on yearly, but advertisements dor leasing on the 500 is VERY attractively priced. I think i remember seeing a leasing price of only around 180$ a month for the standard 500 (not an Abarth). I could be off some $ on that quote though as it was some time ago.

Edited by ESOG on Monday 27th August 06:29

[ESOG]

What is the consensus of opinion on preference for the 124 Abarth vrs the MX5?

I actually think the front end of the MX5 is alot nicer and I love the headlight design, although I know many do not. But I feel like the MX5 loses its styling on the short and stubby rear end.

[Front bottom]

I watched James May review one, and he reckoned that Fiat had taken the MX5 and made it worse.

Someone I vaguely know has one. I think he is gradually falling out of love with it.

[donkmeister]

ESOG said:

What is the consensus of opinion on preference for the 124 Abarth vrs the MX5?

I actually think the front end of the MX5 is alot nicer and I love the headlight design, although I know many do not. But I feel like the MX5 loses its styling on the short and stubby rear end.

I love the 124, it's a very pretty car.
I recall the consensus of journalists being that the nature of the Fiat and Mazda engines is what defines each. One is a rev-hungry machine for twisty roads, one is a torquier less demanding drive. I can't remember which way round though!!!
I'd say drive them both just so you know, but get the 124 as that's the one you want (me too!)

[dazwalsh]

That one looks rather smart in the all black thing going on, not sure white is best colour for that car. it removes all the aggression from its nose if that makes sense.

[Jasandjules]

I think they are not a bad looking bit of kit. If you like the drive, then go for it!

[RemyMartin81D]

I quite honestly would swap my 500 abarth for one. They look great I'd even be happy if it's 75% the car the MX5 is on the road to be honest.

[Front bottom]

Maybe Fiat have tried to make it more of a GT car. So the comparisons to the MX5 are a little unfair, even with shared underpinnings.

It looks the part, and has those future classic looks that Fiat have mastered so well in the past.

[Mike335i]

I understand it to be almost identical handling wise, just the engine and gearbox being different in character (gearbox is previous gen Mx5).

https://youtu.be/lBBBQwsKzck

[unsprung]

Front bottom said:

I watched James May review one, and he reckoned that Fiat had taken the MX5 and made it worse.

Someone I vaguely know has one. I think he is gradually falling out of love with it.

it is not only language that divides Britain and America

[nunpuncher]

A friend of mine works at a company where one of the directors recently sent round an email declaring that he would hence forth be living as a woman. His email had a very similar tone to the original post.

[Ahbefive]

nunpuncher said:

A friend of mine works at a company where one of the directors recently sent round an email declaring that he would hence forth be living as a woman. His email had a very similar tone to the original post.

You can't say that around here. Half of the thread was deleted for suggesting that a cars aesthetics can have connotations.

There was very nearly a riot with several people being offended on other peoples behalf left, right and center (is suggesting directions even allowed? Too suggestive?)

[ilikejam]

If you do some searching on the lease threads quite a few people got them on the cheap deals over the last couple of months. I would have been straight onto it if I hadn't needed 4 seats.

I might have been inclined to go for black with the heritage pack

[Mike335i]

Ahbefive said:

You can't say that around here. Half of the thread was deleted for suggesting that a cars aesthetics can have connotations.

There was very nearly a riot with several people being offended on other peoples behalf left, right and center (is suggesting directions even allowed? Too suggestive?)

I wondered what happened to the thread. I must have missed the interesting bit.

The engine in this is similar to our Alfa so decent midrange, but no real top end to enjoy.

Edited by Mike335i on Monday 27th August 17:12

[Edible Roadkill]

Always see these at the Arnold Clark garage down the road from me, wondered what they were but never stopped to look or thought much more of it.

Not really something that ticks my box but I suppose they look ok, a bit different to everything else on the road.

[ESOG]

I think i will be looking for the Heritage package as well in white with the black hood and mirrors and trunk lid. But the black with the red highlights looks rather aggressive as well so i know i will be happy finding either one.

165hp and 180lbs of torque give way to a more gt feel as states in road tests versus the miatas higher revving motor. But they also said for less than $1k you can get 50hp more to the 124 Abarth so i reckon that will make a huge difference and make a fun car even more enjoyable.

I love how exclusive it is. Never see them on the road.

ESOG

Almost has a Maserati look to it as well doesnt it.

Edited by ESOG on Monday 27th August 21:08

Edited by ESOG on Monday 27th August 21:09

[nunpuncher]

ilikejam said:

If you do some searching on the lease threads quite a few people got them on the cheap deals over the last couple of months. I would have been straight onto it if I hadn't needed 4 seats.

I might have been inclined to go for black with the heritage pack

Could have got 2 to satisfy the need for 4 seats. They were so cheap you might as well.

[Mr Tidy]

I just couldn't commit to either.

The Fiat looks great - the rear of the MX5 is horrible IMHO.

But the Mazda has a grunty 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated engine and an LSD so presumably drives better.

A Mazda drivetrain in a 124 Spyder would be great!