Would you buy a brand new Fiat 124 Spyder?

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

The new fiat was underpowered, had horsepower of cars 30 years ago. America did not accept it. It is already gone like the fiat 500. Never to return.

Horsepower wasn't the issue. Size and america's insatiable appetite for SUVs and crossovers are what killed the car. At the end of the day, with the 5 speed, it was a FUN car to drive. Quirky but fun.I'd buy another one to bomb around in. I paid 16k out the door for it. Brand new. There wasn't a car on the market that could come close to it's options and features at that price point.

[KevinTodd]

I chipped my wife's 2012 500 Sport. That along with a Magnaflow exhaust gives it two more HP than the comparable stock Abarth version, for 162 total. More than enough to motivate a 2512 pound vehicle.

We also bought ours new, and it has been trouble-free. Amazing what a little suspension drop, some larger wheels w/Michelins and the above mentioned mods have done. It does its job just fine, and it sounds great doing it.

[DanielDudley]

If my son was looking between the Miata and the Fiat, I'd get the used Fiat or a 2019 or newer Miata. The Miata can be supercharged to make it a genuinely fast car. The Fiat has a stronger gearbox than the earlier ND Miata, and can be chipped. Both were assembled in Japan.

I like the 2019 Miata because it makes more power, revs better than the earlier versions and has better internals in the engine. The balance is a little better than the Fiat as well. These are real drivers cars. I had a chance to buy a supercharged 2016 ND Miata, and I probably should have, as I knew the owner. These are great cars that can also be greatly enhanced for reasonable money.

My old NA Miata has been the most trouble free sports car I have ever owned. It is respectably fast with a supercharger, and is remarkably original for a 28 year old car. The new Miata is a better can in every regard, but particularly in chassis stiffness and power. There is a lot of aftermarket support for these vehicles, and if you can get past the stigma of it being a Miata, they are wonderful driving cars.

[Nick Triesch]

If SUV’s killed the Fiat, then why is the Miata and the Boxster still selling?

[oldE]

This thread is a perfect answer to that question.
First: Miatas and Boxsters are the established bench marks in their classes. Compared to mainstream conveyances, their numbers are small, but significant for sports cars.
Second: History. Fiat will struggle in North America for their here again gone again market strategy (or seeming lack there of) and like so many posts above, many will shy away even though the current 124 has nothing in common with its predecessor other than badging.
Third:The weakest member of the herd is always the first to go. Building a clone of a best selling car in a segment might seem to be a good way to break into a market, but the new offering has to be significantly better (or cheaper, or something) to make people spend the money.
Case in point, the nearest Chrysler dealership to me has had a couple of 124s in their possession almost since they came out. I looked them up on their website. asking price for either of the two is right around $40k Canadian.
I think that is too much considering the factors listed above.

Best
Les

[beran earms]

Thanks for the input. Yes, that is one problem there, the Miata stigma (of course I am not sure how much better something is that is referred to as a Fiata...). But thanks again for the feedback, if there is any more we would appreciate it.

[Sunroof]

I owned a Fiat 124 and a Fiat 850 back in the 70's and they were both RUST BUCKETS!! Of course going to school in Florida and driving down A1A down to the Keyes in that salt spray was not a help.

My Fiat rust story: I was with a buddy in the Keyes and we were driving back in my 1972 Fiat 850 on US 1 when I noticed my friend slowly slouching in his seat while he was asleep. I pulled over, looked under the car and the damn floorboard was about two inches off the ground! The damn passenger side floorboard rusted away and this was a two year old car! When I complained to FIAT-ROOSEVELT they said, tough toe nails on the rust perforation warranty. Being good with fiberglass, I made stringers from metal coat hangers and fabricated a new fiber glassed floorboard, which held up through my ownership. Somewhere is some junkyard or landfill is a fiberglass floor board from a Fiat 850 with no car around it.
No doubt the new 124's will not have any rusting issues, but I had my turn with Fiat's and I will pass. I would take a Mazda Miata any day.

Bob
73.5T

[87maniac]

repeat: F.I.A.T.
'Fix It Again, Tony'

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by 87maniac

repeat: F.I.A.T.
'Fix It Again, Tony'

That's like telling someone looking at a 997 to check the head studs on the engine. ;-)

The truth is nowadays when you see a car being towed, it's old or it's been in an accident. Our definition of unreliable has changed from "could leave you stranded" to "annoying light on the dash during 15,000 miles of trouble-free driving."

Someone on VWVortex did a comparison of old JD Power rankings with modern ones and the least reliable modern car scores are about half what Toyota and Honda used to get. Like a lot of measurements now, it's hyped minutae that has little real-world impact but makes for good entertainment ("This M-car is .2 seconds slower to 60 than the AMG - what's happened to BMW!")

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by epbrown

That's like telling someone looking at a 997 to check the head studs on the engine. ;-)

The truth is nowadays when you see a car being towed, it's old or it's been in an accident. Our definition of unreliable has changed from "could leave you stranded" to "annoying light on the dash during 15,000 miles of trouble-free driving."

Agreed. Spend some time in Europe. Every other car is a Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, or Fiat. They have actually made some decent cars since they stopped selling them in the US 40 years ago.

[recycled sixtie]

Both the Fiat 124 and Miata ND are just too small. If I was going to choose one I would choose the Miata ND as having more dealerships available and more known about it. I am pretty sure I am done with Miata's and Fiats now. A Boxster or Cayman is more solid. Too many near misses to have a car that is not noticed.

[oldE]

There is some truth to that.I found it was best to drive the Miata like a motorcycle:assume they don't see you.

The OP and the fellow who revived the thread were asking about experiences with the current generation 124. Most of the posts have no relevance to his question. I suspect the current offering is just fine.
Best
Les