Abarth 124 Spider 12 month review

[@abbaspalgharwala1559]

You are the first reviewer of this car that actually talked about the stuff that most people are thinking about when purchasing this car. Also I like that you talked about what you actually liked and disliked about this car as a daily drive car, and not just read the spec sheet and then top it by saying its fun or I like it/dislike it. So overall the best review I have seen of the abarth 124 spider. This is why I am subscribing to your channel. Please review other cars in this way. thanks.

[@davidb7358]

Agreed 100%

[@Blaze49AzSd]

I found a 2017 fiat 124 spider in San Diego. Price is right , beautiful leather tan seats a door trim. The only doubt I have it’s a automatic transmission. Had my heart on a manual 6 speed. I will be test driving it soon. Might like it , has a manual mode when I need spirited drive. Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[@wimcerstiaens5818]

I have got the Abarth Spider for 6 months now. Everyday it puts a smile on my face. What is also special is the positive reactions I am getting from strangers... This is the first car that does that. I would buy it again if I had the choice.

[@SupremeChief1]

Wim Cerstiaens I bought my car too early, I would trade in my car for this beauty

[@nickb8321]

I must have watched every English speaking KZbin review of the Abarth 124 Spider and this is by far the most comprehensive and compelling review of this gem of a sports car.

[@davidtaylor8304]

For a non-professional road tester you gave us an excellent appraisal of this fine car. Packed with real-world info and a rough road test route to boot, but £33K's is a bit on the steep side for me and many others I would suspect. I'm told that every body panel is different to the MX5. Thanks for the gearbox insight.

[@ag4allgood]

They are very different in character. They are not the same car with different badging ! Everything as a driver feels much different. The brakes might be THE only thing that felt the same to me.

[@gori277]

Ah, watching this only now in 2024 when I’ve had my Abarth for nearly 4 years. Such a liveable sports car and understated fun. Still gets quite a few looks and stands out as most people have no idea what it is. Fully agree on the steering, best electric steering but definitely falls short of a decent hydraulic one, making me constantly wonder about how a Lotus would feel like. Strangely, my gearbox is another qualm with the car, pretty notchy and 1st is sometimes hard to get in. It’s my spare car but definitely not a garage queen as I don’t hesitate to use it if I don’t need more than 2 seats or too much luggage space (still surprisingly spacious for such a little car).

[@Tony-hc9fw]

Hi, Gori, greetings from Italy. One question for you. I'm about to purchase an Abarth 124 spider as a second car. Would you recommend this car or the normal version Fiat 124? Did the Monza exhaust bother you?

[@gori277]

@@Tony-hc9fw Hi Tony, My Abarth did’t come with the Monza exhaust but still has a nice sound, I believe the Monza only gets a little more sonorous once you put down the throttle. I definitely rate the Abarth highly and would always favour it over the standard 124 version because it’s more powerful and better sprung, giving you a more sporty feel and ability. Great second car for sure!

[@Tony-hc9fw]

@@gori277 Oh, many thanks Gori. Nice answer, you are very kind. Greetings from Italy. Ciao!

[@JoeBidensLastFart]

Try a fluid change, bronze shifter bushing, there’s specs on the forum for fluid.

[@stereoheadmtl5944]

One of the best vids as retrospective on time with this car. Shopping for one and debating manual vs automatic. Gr8 vid!

[@Kstxrd]

Going on three years and I still love driving my 2019 Abarth 124 Spider.

[@cmorsley]

Excellent review and I enjoyed the stories. I also like the way you would pause for quite some time - i found myself thinking about what you said. You really seem to know what you are talking about too so…great stuff.

[@danielescobedo8460]

Great review, I'm on the fence between the 2019 Mx5 And 2019 Abarth. Your video has put me closer the the Abarth. I will got test drive one here in California. Thanks.

[@martytah653]

I own a 2018 Arbart spider. I love the car. It's fun, handles like a cart. Fast in traffic and very agile and when the tops is down and the stereo is blasting, man it feels like you're driving a formula 1 car. Look for a manual though. I live Colorado, so on the switch backs, talking about an adrenaline rush.

[@cdpond]

They're both really nice cars. The way I think of my Spider is that it has all the quality underpinnings of the MX5, but with a better engine and a far more unique and exotic body. They took a really good Japanese base and gave it some Italian sex appeal.

[@AlumarsX]

@@martytah653 I live in Kansas, but if I buy this car I will plan on moving to Colorado within the next few years. It'd be a shame to own it without some proper twisties.

[@gravity45b]

@Drk RE the fiat engine is pretty reliable, used for about 10 years, forged internals (except pistons) and has better factory cooling than the MX5

[@danielescobedo7968]

I Ended up buying the same Abarth as you With the Manual transmission. Red as yours. Fantastic review. Bought it with 8000 miles on it. Looks brand new in and out. Fully loaded

[@andrewmedhurst9933]

Great review, thank you! Took the automatic for a test drive yesterday, loved the car, exhaust note and general feel, but not the automatic gearbox. I'm now on the search for a manual. Thanks again.

[@alfazedz1791]

I knew of the 124 and wanted a 124, but seeing one in the flesh for the first time left me a little stunned. These cars are *very* good looking. I was picking up fall leaves from the gutter on a bit of a curve in a city street and was stooped over a bit when I looked up and saw a 124 coming straight on. My heart leapt a bit as I thought, "What is that? It's gorgeous." Great review, mate. Some people got it, some people don't got it. You got it.

[@ttorretta]

Thanks for this detailed review. I am very interested in buying a 124 Abarth for all the reasons you mentioned, but haven't seen many reviews from people who have owned one for a while. Your review is exactly what I have been looking for and has helped make my decision. Cheers!

[@cdpond]

I owned a 500 Abarth, and sold it to purchase the 124 Spider Abarth. Loved the 500, but love the Spider even more. I agree with 95% of the assessments made in the review. Its a really, really nice car, and it generates some really interesting conversations. They're still not all that common in North America where the majority of folks have no clue as to what an Abarth is. :-)

[@superspotter]

Thanks very much for the most informative review I have found for this car. I am just about to buy a new one, now that they have reduced them new down to around the 22k mark. Unfortunately, it looks like I am going to struggle to find a manual version which I think I would prefer, the only ones I can find new are all automatic. I am taking one for a test drive in a couple of days.

[@anthonymackintosh4776]

Hi thinking of buying one, your review has made my mind up will go to my local dealer this weekend to have a test drive. Thanks for a great review the best on KZbin

[@waynegrossman3601]

anthony mackintosh I've had one for 3 months - so much fun

[@timstarac]

anthony mackintosh you bought it?

[@SteelyEyedH]

Thanks for this vid. I’ve been back and forth on wether to buy one, this video made it a yes. Just sold a 5l mustang, my dream car, but as you said, on public roads it became frustrating rather than exciting. You want the noise, you couldn’t make the noise without being way over the speed limit every time.

[@garryhendy5588]

Fab review thanks. Last year i sold my R8 and bought a 595 Abarth as a stop gap untill my next "fun car" i kept the 595 way to long as it was so much fun lol. So ive been looking at Boxsters, Caymans, Aston Martin Vantage and mustangs. But i keep coming back to the Abarth 124 as you say you have fun at safe, legal speeds... I would buy another TVR if someone came up with a one piece folding roof, like the 124.... But back looking for a reasonably priced.... Abarth 124 😊

[@ericgeisen4090]

Thanks.......this was confirming my first conclusions about this gem!

[@jamesmurray822]

Really enjoyed that video, thanks. I've had a chimaera & am considering an abarth so ur video was really helpful. Informative and entertaining

[@jamesclarkson3009]

Maybe I'm weird but I don't mind a bit of lag, think it makes it more fun.

[@frankwarren8829]

Thanks for a balanced view. Now I am interested in getting one. Fiat in the US is suffering reputation wise again. Between your review and Mr. Clarksons's, I am sold.

[@declanvillar5557]

Frank Warren do you mean Mr Hammond’s? I haven’t seen Clarkson’s

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

Thank you for this great video. I am on my way to pick one up.

[@triballing]

Yeah everyone has the mx-5 already and this car has a great stylish look and is quite similar

[@peterjones7538]

Very helpful real world review. Thank you

[@sbh1311]

I bought my wife a white Abath, but I amended the rims to silver...I own a new Carrera GTS cabrio, which costs 4 times as much , and I can vouch...the Abath is awesome

[@markakin3742]

I thought as much , the bang for the buck is difficult to beat,

[@Chipshot124]

I'm enjoying mine immensely (though not often enough during the winter)

[@kenkooldad8900]

Best review. I bought a new 2018 a few days ago. Waiting for it to be delivered. I drove the 2019 as well but for some reason I liked the 2018 Abarth more. Not sure why.

[@tandm86]

Informative. I want one now. Thanks

[@Manu-bo]

Me too, i want one. I dream of this car since its release ! beautiful design, low weight, power : everything for the pleasure of driving !

[@ag4allgood]

In 1st week of March 2017 I did a back to back test of the 2017 Fiat 124 Abarth Vs a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Club both Brembo but MX-5 also BBS wheels. The 124 Abarth was 1st in all White looking good with the black aero bits. Nice interior but no Recaro seats however the Red tach was a nice touch in the cluster. The immediate thing I noticed was the heavy clutch in this sports car. Just felt like it did not belong in this car. The shift gates were pretty tight. I had a hard time telling if I was in 1st or 3rd gear from a stop. Stalled the car twice & I've been driving manual transmission cars for a long long time. The other thing I noticed was the lag the tubo gives. You wait for the turbo to spool up. Overall I was let down on how I felt about this 124 Abarth. I want a daily driver roadster & that clutch / turbo lag had me sending emails to the Fiat dealer with my thoughts. Next day was the 2016 MX-5 Club with the Brembo / BBS also in White with black aero bits. More curves exterior wise a different look to it but I liked it. The interior was alright but I really liked the shifter knob. Driving the MX-5 the 1st thing I noticed was the super light clutch with an instant throttle response from the naturally aspirated engine. It was easy to drive this car fast / or do the stop go traffic. The MX-5 also felt more athletic & nimble in the corners. The overall feel of this roadster was really great. So good I bought this car & now for 3.6 years it has been my daily driver in 4 season Illinois. When the cold weather hits the winter tires go on & its great handling in snow ! Have to say Mazda did a great job on the MX-5 overall. Love this car !

[@michaelwilson9160]

I have had my 124 Abarth for 18 month. Great fun, and totally agree with fun at legal speeds. Reminds me of when I was driving a Porsche 911 SC Targa, and had to fly interstate and rent a car. Datson 120Y. Driving that was almost more fun than the Porsche! 😅. My favourite car was a 1967 Alfa Duetto Spider which I foolishly sold 30 years ago. The 124 Fiat Abarth strongly reminds me of the 105 series Alfa - best Alfa Romeo's ever. Annoying? No glove box or door pockets, and totally agree about the speedo! Great review, thankyou.

[@roysonparsons3300]

Nicely done! A very through description of this cars strengths and weaknesses from an owner instead of the tester reviews others have posted. So far only the price has kept me from buying one, but your review brings me closer than ever to purchase.

[@davidb7358]

Great review! Looks like such a fun car. Driving here in California I really wish my car had the hazards turn on with hard braking. Had some close calls on the freeway here where traffic comes to a complete stop and driver's behind you don't notice.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Kudos good sir! Nicely done!

[@althor5550]

Thanks for the review. Looking for one used with some low miles...

[@kevinkeehn4523]

I bought a Classica and upgraded the exhaust to a 2.5 inch cross pipe and 2.5 inch mid pipe. The car has more hp and torque than the Abarth, but doesn't have all the other bells and whistles. I'm done with any other upgrades. Great cars, fun as fook to drive.

[@brianransom4778]

Awesome review. Helped me make up my mind. Started looking at a late model Camaro SS, dropped to a standard LT V6 'vert due to its "bruteness" and expensive upkeep. Drove okay but seemed huge and a little clumsy. Sitting in the dealer's show room and looked out at it with the top down. Was ready to leave immediately. So bland, no shape, boring. Down to the MX 5 and 124. Drove a 124 Lusso and MX 5. Really interested in the RF but to all your points, not nearly as interesting as the 124. Looked at all the 124 models and it was no option other than the Abarth. Did some more research and found the GT. REAL shame it has not make it to our side of the pond (US, Pennsylvania)! Maybe someday! Also found an upgrade kit for the 124 from Euro-Drive Lite, supposedly 200HP at the flywheel, $650-$700 USD. Plan on checking that out! Thank you so much for the review. I'm sold! (Now to sell my GMC Sierra 1500 standard cab/short bed. Back to a sports car!)

[@BradSchmor]

I bought one four weeks ago and I love the hell out of it.

[@moddude101]

A good well rounded review. I like the fact you mentioned HP on twisty roads. When my sport suspension was fresh on my supercharged 2.0 2000 Golf, my car's not that fast btw, I use to keep up with some really modified cars on the twisties.

[@MrKB087]

My only problem with getting one is daily driving during the winter without a garage.

[@killertron33]

Having driven one of these briefly I can tell you I prefer it over something twice the price...like an M4 for instance... :)

[@malcolmscott4150]

Abarth is a great looking and well engineered alternative to mx5 - great choice

[@markridgway6232]

We currently have both cars mentioned, my Audi TTS leaves our 124 Abarth standing both off the line and point to point. However the Abarth is a fantastic car and I love driving it and sound is unbelievable. Good review

[@gpajic1987]

You sir, are on the money with everything you've said 👍

[@jonathanparkes8394]

Exceptional review sir. Very well done

[@weege001]

i just got mine two days ago.. 2017 124 lusso edition

[@weege001]

@@scotttravis86 its quirky, but fun... i have the automatic, and it likes to go fast. gas milage is okay. gotten a few compliments on it when im stopped at lights. doing some mods on it. got new rims, window tint, side decals, and ive upgraded the sound system. i put subwoofers in the cubby holes behind the seats, and replaed the door speakers. overall, im glad i got it..

[@karlpeart1752]

Great vid. Subbed. Getting an abarth 595 with auto box in Modena yellow it arrives in 2 weeks can't wait. Keep up the fantastic work gonna watch vid about your tvr now

[@russodean2]

Nice review mate. I bought a BMW m240i a year ago. Going from a Skoda Fabia vRs. And I do love my bmw however I'm unable to use all its power on Sydney roads. It isn't the biggest car but it feels much bigger and heavier than my little Skoda. So in the end I'm not getting the thrills and driving enjoyment from it, unless I'm driving like an idiot. Regrettefully I have to say the Abarth is the car I should have bought. I miss a small car you can rev out everywhere.

[@michalmatousek542]

Compete understand, I have just sold my 997.2 carrera because of this tiny thing - I know, sounds crazy, but true :)

[@TrekBritain]

I'm picking one up at the end of the month, I'll flash my headlights if I see you! haha

[@markakin3742]

I got mine two weeks ago!!

[@SupremeChief1]

Mark Akin both of y’all lucky 😭

[@thedoble]

Great review thanks for sharing your experience and perspective

[@alpinea110channel4]

Great review with many interesting details!

[@michalmatousek542]

i am searching for exactly same color combination, beautifull piece, congratulation :)

[@jameskelley4089]

Nice review! Would like to have a beer with you and talk cars!

[@fentonwinmill]

Everybody forgets the Lotus Elise when comparing to other cars.

[@CarbinGarage]

It's definitely an often forgotten gem; I don't really see it as a competitor to the Abarth (but maybe it is?!), but it is something that I will talk about a bit more in some future videos especially. It's a car that I have massive respect for and could see myself getting one day, in pretty much any guise. They hold their value pretty well which has kept it slightly above what I'd want to spend on another car :(

[@rosemariepare7503]

Good video There are 16 of like minded Abarth owners going down to snake pass in June if your interested

[@nobbone]

I bought a demonstrator too, 3 months ago. Number is 1311 ;) Thanks for the review, could not agree more. Do you have problems with your Record Monza exhaust? Mine is already rusty, everything else is perfect. The warning blinking when braking hard is really annoying yes. All Fiat / Alfa / Jeep cars have it. Both my Giuliettas had it, my 3.2 159ti had it and both my Jeeps have it.

[@CarbinGarage]

No issues with the exhaust; still looks pretty much like new both at the tail pipes and the silencer itself; which part(s) are you seeing getting rusty?

[@nobbone]

The pipes that are going from the silencer to the tips, also the straight pipes and the tips themselves. All the rust appeared in the span of a few weeks. At that rate it (the exhaust) will be gone in a few months.

[@nobbone]

Actually I just went under the car again, it was all just very superficial fly rust. I cleaned it all up with a dose of WD40, seems fine again. Sorry for the alarm :/

[@ianmoon1223]

Great review thankyou, honest response works for me!

[@muhammadmore]

Amazing review, thank you so much

[@jameswilliamjones]

I like this better than the Miata but I'm worried it's going to be discontinued. It's no longer on the Italian site. Sales haven't been strong.

[@ErectileSceptile]

It may be discontinued, that's definitely a reality. That being said, this car largely shares most of the parts (barring body paneling and engine) with the Miata, so replacement parts will not be hard at all to find, even at the 10-15 year mark.

[@arrowlogproductions2509]

It’s still on the US site

[@steveaga4683]

It has been discontinued in the UK since 2018. All we get is unsold stock.

[@superandreanintendo]

It's discontinued and because of that late sales have been made with discounts. Because of that prices got lower both for new and used. You can find nowadays for 20 grand a used 124 lusso with 10000 km, abarths for 5 more grands

[@superandreanintendo]

I'm considering buying one

[@paulfrancis4824]

Great review, by coincidence the speedo is there same style on my 100HP Panda so I'm used to it. Getting one after seeing your review. Cheers mate 👍

[@Love500]

I so want one of these. Have a 595 at the moment which I bought crashed damaged for a bargain. MultiECUScan will switch off that annoying hazard light. Shame they don’t have the digital speedo like my Fiat 500X

[@JayTee124]

Nice review! I’ve started tuning my Spider now... 😈 what do u think!? 👍

[@danielthomas2621]

Interesting, review, not convinced I'd buy this over the mx5 though, even my 91NA turbo mx5 would win the day over this, can't beat those early miatas for bang for bucks, this is a nice cruiser...and the more power always good, cheers from new Zealand...

[@TheBongomeister]

West Lothian at it's best! Good review - thanks

[@manuelcruz1921]

Kool Fun Factor with exclusive style

[@isaachunt5799]

great video. i'm close to buying one. just a few questions if u please. how does the clutch feel and where does it start to bite. also i'm 5,11 and worried i might be too tall

[@AirbournKatana]

You should fit nicely any taller then 6'1 then your struggling to fit from what I could tell from test drives

[@coriolisforce]

how would you say this car compares to the classica or the lusso?

[@acchaladka]

Quite right about the old sports updated, desire. I have a 1989 944t and it's glorious every time I drive it, but I'm also constantly fixing it and wondering what will happen in an accident without airbags, no cruise control, working AC, etc etc. It's time for a new owner for her...and I'm debating the 124 vs mx-5 vs nothing for a bit.

[@philiprogers4071]

The hazard warning is to alert a vehicle behind you that you are breaking hard, it's there to help stop them running up your arse...

[@flight69twa]

Very informative thank you

[@user-zj1eg2iv6m]

Fantastic car👍🏻

[@getdealtwithquick]

Hard to read speedos are a feature in Italy. Plausible deniability when you argue with your local Carabinieri.

[@bondy284]

1st rate review. Well done 👏👏👏🇦🇺

[@vantheman2599]

I own a Lusso edition, and the only thing I dislike about the car is that the rear view mirror is ridiculously huge, especially for such a small car. Tragic, actually. I'm tall, especially in the torso, and this monster mirror blocks a lot of the road. The only complaint in an otherwise fabulous machine.

[@alexisamtosta]

I know this video is 3 years old. But that thing of when you brake hard and the hazards turn on, it was heavily criticized by many people but all manufacturers are doing it. Lol

[@treeskier802]

Did you test drive the Lusso or Classica? I wonder what your thoughts on those editions are. Nice video.

[@davidclark3980]

I enjoyed this review and found it very informative. So much so that I am seriously considering buying an Abarth 124. Perhaps you would answer a query for me? Sometimes I have to use a smallish car ferry, the sort that has drop down ramps fore and aft. I drive down the slipway, then up the ramp onto the deck. I think it's very similar to the Colintraive ferry, but with probably slightly bigger approach, break and departure angles. Have you had any problems with the Abarth grounding its spoiler, diffuser or exhaust in any similar situation - sleeping policemen/speed bumps perhaps?

[@CarbinGarage]

Good to hear, David -- definitely recommend arranging a test drive and seeing how you find it. I've never had any issues with ground clearance, and haven't caught any part of it on anything so far, including some pretty severe speed bumps. It's high enough that it doesn't even really cross my mind when I'm going over bumps, or into car parks, etc. so I think you'd probably be ok

[@JayTee124]

Carbin Garage even if u lower it it’s fine 😅

[@garethstroud5586]

I want one now at age 18 but have nowhere near enough money, look to get one second hand when I'm 20

[@ilpatongi]

Good luck with that, they're not sold anymore.

[@garethstroud5586]

@@ilpatongi second hand....

[@ilpatongi]

@@garethstroud5586 Well good luck with that too. Here in italy they're difficult to find and also run for insane prices, I had to settle down for the flat 124 because a comparable Abarth was almost 10.000 euros more.

[@krisjames1081]

@jeremy clarkson you sound like an idiot

[@tony2227]

10:00 for the negative stuff thank me later.

[@ilpatongi]

Why would I thank you for something so useless?

[@philipsprangers8977]

Great review. Cool.

[@treeskier802]

One thing that looks annoying on the 124 is how the infotainment control is directly in front of the shifter. Perhaps I’m wrong but it looks as though you’d be apt to hit that button and switch things on the infotainment while resting your arm there to shift.

[@mistert7958]

It was designed in Japan, RHD. did not switch it for U.S.

[@rickardroach9075]

@@mistert7958 Yup, not a problem here in Australia. 😏

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Great review!!👍👍👍

[@perseus068]

Just one question. What about the roof quality? Also, is it full compatible with the MX5 one?

[@xDiaborosx]

Soft top is entirely identical between MX-5/124

[@ag4allgood]

@@xDiaborosx Agree , the soft top has to be taken care of though. No automatic car washes ! Also I use a 303 Kit that includes a cleaner / fabric guard. So every manual car wash I use a soft brush & the 303 cleaner. Every fall I use foam brushes to apply the 303 fabric guard. I am careful not to park it under trees or near trees as they shed leaves / twigs that get stuck in the roof drain filters ( so far cleaned them once last year with little debris ). Quality has held up fine as the back glass window has built in defogger which really helps in winter.

[@Blaze49AzSd]

Thank for the great informative video. I’m here in San Diego to test ride a 2017 fiat 124 spider Lusso. Love the unique color and tan leather seats and the price. The only doubt it’s an automatic transmission. I prefer 6 speed manual. Thinking it might be sluggish, but it does have manual mode for a occasional spirited ride… Going to be difficult for me. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@gori277]

Go manual, it transforms the experience and if you can get an Abarth version it’s also well worth the upgrade.

[@awesomefrankrapid]

The automatic will have the flappy paddles which the manual is missing, and the steering wheel feels much nicer

[@eugenux]

manual mode means nothing; a sluggish automatic is the anti-option to have in this car; manual for sure!

[@eugenux]

@@awesomefrankrapidif you don't know or want to know how to properly drive, don't try to steer others into your habits and preferences.

[@awesomefrankrapid]

@@eugenux I have the manual, you donut

[@m0cheeze]

I heard you can chip these out to 200 HP? any comments?

[@CarbinGarage]

It's not something I plan to do myself (anytime soon anyway), but there are a few options out there for getting a fair bit more power. I've never looked into re-mapping on its own. If I was after more power I'd probably go for a kit like www.tmcmotorsport.com/product/9836 which allegedly takes it to around 250BHP or so (and roughly the same power to weight ratio as something like an M2)

[@teggsy2165]

My long legs make it a no no for me sat in the Fiat 124 at a local dealer,but the newer Mx5 with 2 steering wheel adjustments is better if you got long legs like me. But loved the Abarth one since it's launch,worth it for it's exhaust over a MX5,but i dont like how many Abarth badges it has,great owners review.

[@LukeEvans55]

You missed out on one of the other british alternative to this car... a Lotus Elise! Lovely car to drive but so, so impractical haha.

[@Dornpunzel]

Thx for the video. Just some thoughts: Could you please do some timestamps in the description like 22:28 Thing i hate MOST about my Abarth 124 Spider It's a lil bit time consuming to scrub thru the whole video which seems a bit tooooooooo long u know. Try to pinpoint the facts and your feelings after 12 months. Cause this is why we came here. ;-) You don't need to tell us loooooong stories about everything. There are too many videos to watch. ;-) Oh and btw: Your wheel is on the wrong side. :D

[@sincutti]

Amazingly in depth review, you know your stuff!

[@japanesecinema6736]

are there differences between the model years 2016-2018? I cant find the answer to this anywhere...

[@CarbinGarage]

I don't think much has changed so far. I've read rumours that they will at some point get the upgraded dash display that the hardtop MX-5s have, but don't think that's happened yet and also not seen that from a truly 'authoritative' source so may not even be true.

[@markakin3742]

Yes, You are limited to what was shipped to your geographic region.. Evidently the real Abarths are only in Europa..

[@morgandrives]

So in what ways is the ABARTH better than the Audi TT? I’m considering a used manual Audi TT with the 3.2l V6. Was your TT manual?

[@CarbinGarage]

A lot of it will be personal preference, but for me the TT was just not a terribly inspiring car to drive. Immensely capable, yes, particularly in wet conditions where it seemed to push the laws of physics. But despite that it very rarely brought a smile to my face. I just found it dull. Mine had the DSG gearbox, which whilst an impressive piece of engineering definitely didn’t help the cause! Whilst it was a very capable ‘box when you wanted to go quickly, and very smooth when you didn’t, it was utterly horrific for anything in between - and most of the time when you want to go ‘quickly’ on the public road you aren’t wanting to go flat out - as an example, if you wanted to go straight across at a wide/open roundabout, you’d probably want to choose either second or third gear which inevitably precisely 2 gears lower than what you were approaching in. Because of how a double clutch gearbox works with the set of ‘odd’ and ‘even’ gears, shifting two gears is horrifically slow, which meant you had to downshift early on approach to the roundabout before you started slowing down, which meant that you end up at 5,000RPM like some sort of prat. So yeah, if you do go down the TT route and plan to ‘make progress’ in day to day driving, the manual gearbox would be my suggestion. (Otherwise, the DSG is still good)

[@morgandrives]

Carbin Garage Thank you for replying. I’m in a manual gearbox A5 right now. I agree with your comment about defying Physics. I am waiting for my local dealer to get an ABARTH with a stick so I can test-drive it. One issue I have a very snowy winters, so my Audi is really great in that way. Too bad I couldn’t afford to own both! That would be perfect!

[@Neo7Geo]

Thanks, great video review. Would love to see the next video without the jelly wobble.

[@CarbinGarage]

Camera & mount have changed following this one because of that, so should be good. Check out some of the TVR ones and let me know what you think

[@nahidkhan1234]

It's a beauty

[@acchaladka]

I agree the dealer is full of it about the warranty. I’d ask Fiat / Abarth directly about that. Seems more that it would affect your insurance more than anything to do with the warranty -?

[@CarbinGarage]

Yeah - I will ask again at the next service and see if they have changed their mind... it’s a pretty crazy stance for them to take. Failing that I can live with it until the warranty is up. The insurance angle is an interesting one; I’d be surprised if the broker/underwriter I’m with would care, but always safer to ask/tell them!

[@acchaladka]

Carbin Garage Just to super-clarify, by ‘asking Fiat/Abarth’ I meant going to Abarth UK Corporate HQ - the manufacturer - and sending an email to their customer relations staff asking ‘the dealer told me this, is this true?’ The dealer is an independent business and does not speak for the manufacturer. I assume you know that so apologies if I’m pedantic here, but it wasn’t clear from your response that I’d been successful.

[@anthonykaiser974]

@@CarbinGarage dealers often are full of it when it comes to stuff like this. Sometimes the reality is they know it's possible to do it, they just don't know how or want to take the time to do it, so they use a B.S. warranty claim to basically ignore the request. If folks know how warranties are supposed to work, they can more easily call B.S. This one sounds like the pure, unadulterated variety, since a signal logic program has nothing to do with the car reliability whatsoever.

[@steveh8]

I suspect it's more to do with homologation / road use approval, I think all new cars have to have this feature. My KTM 690 manual states the ABS should not be switched off for use on public roads as the homologation will be voided. Typical new vehicle BS!

[@tomosjohn230]

Random question does this car have cup holders?

[@Giga_Josh]

Tomos John yes

[@pbb547]

Hey mate, I’m around 6ft3, do you think space inside this car would be an issue for me? Cheers

[@22NL22NL]

Hi I'm 6ft 1 and it's a snug fit. Getting out requires skill not to boot the dashboard when getting out. But overall fairly comfortable

[@resnonverba137]

Did I understand correctly; are you suggesting that this is a better car than a three-year old Boxster?

[@CarbinGarage]

A Boxster will unquestionably be faster on most roads, and it will do 'better' everything you can compare on paper (except for running costs) . But in terms of the less tangible stuff, the ability to put a smile on your face on an otherwise mundane journey, I think for a lot of people -- myself included -- the Abarth is 'better'.

[@resnonverba137]

@@CarbinGarage Interesting, thanks.

[@savagecub]

The Abarth is easily 15k cheaper as well.

[@jameskelley4089]

Great video-I like your presentation. Come visit us in the USA!

[@hansballenglans]

Nice video, just a bit too much personal details, and one of the most important KPIs is missing: OPEN driving. Whereas its roof is the most brilliant aspect of this pocket rocket. At the first rays of sunshine you can switch from coupe to convertible literally within 3” (and back again at the first drops of rain). It is precisely this simple but extremely effective construction that keeps the entire car down to a featherweight. What does bother me is the excessive amount of cheap, hard plastics in the interior and the fact that you are constantly steering on the highway. in other words: straight-line stability is a scarce resource. That's why I'm having the Spider realigned next Monday and hopefully corrected. I will post the result shortly. Regs. from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 :-)

[@hansballenglans]

Okay, had my Spider realigned today - it needed just a tiny correction (starting at the rear axle, perfectly neutral now). And boy what a difference that made! One happy puppy again :)

[@robertshetsen8691]

Do you think it will be reliable its fiat after all

[@ilpatongi]

It's actually a Mazda, apart from the engine which is an improved, everlasting MultiAir. No problem regarding reliability

[@ErectileSceptile]

It's mostly Mazda, with exception of the engine. The engine itself is fiats multi air 1.4 which has proven reliability (think of all the Fiat 500s you see around.)

[@ag4allgood]

@@ErectileSceptile Nope , all the body parts are unique to Fiat. Windows are Mopar branded. There are interior parts that are also Fiat ... Red Tach / Speedo / gauges. Engine / exhaust / suspension are ALL Fiat ! Also 124 owners complaining of oil consumption problems which Fiat dealers have not fixed.

[@ErectileSceptile]

@@ag4allgood That's fair, I kinda wrote my sentence under the pretense the reader would assume that the styling is Fiat. On that note though, all of the body paneling is still assembled in a Mazda factory by Mazda workers. The oil consumption is real, but I don't really see it as an issue but more just a characteristic of the engine. Fiat 500s noticeably have this engine as well. The oil consumption being the main and really only issue the engine faces, it's a pretty tough little motor.

[@ag4allgood]

@@ErectileSceptile Casty , oil consumption problem is not a good problem to try to fix. Fiat 124 owners this is a roll of the dice. It might take 1000 miles before you realize your down a quart of oil. I like Scotty Kilmer's explanation of this oil problem ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWqVZYx_aaqeapY

[@alexanderbreschi90]

You're very charismatic lol

[@K03sport]

recommend to all to increase your playback speed to at least 1.25; normal is just too slow and drug out. Interesting argument as to why to choose a Abarth 124 over an MX-5. However, I'm not sure how UK car market behavior translates across the pond. Did you try out the GT-86/BRZ? I know they are hardtops, but did you even consider them? How do you think they compare to the Mazda/Fiat twins. Additionally, you can point the camera at the road instead of you since the mic would still pick up your voice, you wouldn't be tempted to keep looking at the camera while driving. Mounting it on the other headrest would have been better than where you put it on the windscreen (image stabilization is your friend...)

[@cdpond]

I've seen a vdieo review comparing the MX5, 124 Spider and the 86. Aside from the 86 not being a convertable and not really in the same category of vehicle, the reviewers who drove all three both noted that the 86 has a bad gap in the mid range of the power band. It dies off around 3500 and doesn't really come back into play until 5500.

[@Riley_1955]

I think they should have supercharged the engine instead of turbo to eliminate the turbo lag ......Having that instant power on tap for such a light weight car would be so much better than waiting for the turbo to spool up.

[@potatochobit]

the turbo lag is not the problem, it is the 160hp in a sportscar which is ridiculous. they could have just put an abarth 500 engine in this and it would have been better. instead they use multiair which is a gas saving feature taken from fiat economy cars and they wonder why no one buys it.

[@grahameinoz5321]

@@potatochobit easily remapped to 200bhp with no loss of drive ability. Do you own one?

[@potatochobit]

@@grahameinoz5321 yes i do own a bianco gelato 124abarth and it has a stage one tune and the power is decent but nowhere near as fast as my RX7 was which is over twenty years old now. 200hp is plenty fast for this car but it is a total joke for a car that costs 35,000$ which puts in in the same league as a V6 GT stinger and an SS camaro or charger RT.

[@grahameinoz5321]

@@potatochobit serious question, why did you buy it?

[@potatochobit]

@@grahameinoz5321 Fun and fast are not the same thing. I do not hate my fiat I am just telling you what is wrong with it. If you are expecting your sportscar to be really fast you better look elsewhere. Turbo lag is only a problem when you are trying to get out of the mcdonalds parking lot. The turbos on a car that is already in motion are always spooled up, that loss of power when you stomp the gas pedal is not lag it is just low horsepower and the fiat in particular loses horsepower the higher the RPM range and makes most of the power around 3000 RPM which is more fun around town to drive.

[@muhamedd]

I thought the review is gonna be 12 months long

[@cheungman83]

The problem with this car if any problems then it’s difficult to get the parts compared to the mx5 parts you can find easily anywhere.

[@awesomefrankrapid]

Not really