Jason Cammisa on the Fiata - Fiat 124 Spider - Vintage Motor Trend Ignition Full Episode 160

[@Sean-rc1rx]

I love my 124 Abarth. A lot of the problems that were mentioned were fixed in the abarth edition. I do have the monza exhaust which makes it sound phenomenal. I have driven mine across the country, did the tail of the dragon and many canyons of colorado and utah. It has been the best car that I have owned so far. To bad they stopped making them in 2020.

[@barneyrubble957]

I’ve had my 124 abarth 4 years now , absolutely love it , can’t imagine another car I would enjoy driving as much

[@stanleymasterson1135]

Lol, not even a real Fiat, built by Mazda. What a joke. My 1980 2000 Spider is a REAL Fiat Spider

[@gravity45b]

Pretty sad they never refreshed the 124 Spider after the ND2 came out . Would have been nice to see it have some tweaks to match the ND2 but I guess it didn't sell well enough. However, with today's crazy market I think it could have sold better. Like MX5 sales are waaaaay up since COVID

[@philipschmitd6854]

@@stanleymasterson1135 and you are a REAL [insert slur]

[@cdpond]

@@stanleymasterson1135 - well, when you decide to join the rest of us who live in the 22nd century, you'll be surprised to learn that there are very few vehicles completely manufactured solely from components of one particular company. Point being, even your "real" Fiat Spider utilizes some non-Fiat components. But if it helps you sleep better by trashing other people's vehicles, knock yourself out. lol

[@tealruby1]

Thanks Jason, we appreciate you bringing this content back greatly! Would love to see the original ND1 or NC2 review if they're floating around.

[@em1699]

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaseeee

[@LS3ftw15]

Ditto! I was hoping to hear more about the NC2 vs the ND

[@triaxe-mmb]

I am not sure if this is actually him...happy to see the videos if it is...🤞🤞🤞 If it isn't, we can expect to have enriched some shmuck by watching all these vids before it gets copyright striked

[@Dylanbforthree]

@@triaxe-mmb This is the man himself! You'll see him commenting from this channel occasionally on Hagerty as well.

[@JasonCammisa]

@@LS3ftw15 Oh, well, we just recorded a Carmudgeon Show on that very topic. Spent some time in an NC3 and ND2 this weekend to make exactly that decision. I think the episode is a couple weeks out, at least. And it's moving to its new location starting next week, but you should be able to already sub at thecarmudgeonshow.com

[@eckartmusic]

Even better, is the ABARTH 124 spider. Completely different Bilstein shocks and springs, Brembo brakes, LSD instead of the open diff on the lusso/classica, stiffer anti-roll bars, upper strut tower brace, performance tires, the exhaust and a sport button that takes the boost up from peak 14psi to 22psi. Would love to see your review on the Abarth 124. Makes the decision choosing which car, easy (I know, because it’s what I bought) and I’m sure you would agree with me. Love the video! We need more cars like these, and content with them!

[@jamesferrel6692]

As a proud owner of a '20 124 Abarth, I totally agree! If this fella was bored with the base model....I'd have happily let him borrow mine! No doubt his pick woulda been the Fiat haha

[@BibtheBoulder]

But the Fiat 124 is for people who aren't bothered about the extra power, for people who want the fun without the race-track experience, for people who's aim isn't beating every other car away from the lights and around the bends...so you see, the ABARTH is only better if that extra is what you really need (or more realistically what you WANT). So the ABARTH is not necessarily better, it's just different...vive la difference....

[@GordonoRamo]

I have an Abarth as well and I know I would regret it if I went with one of the other models. You can't settle. Have you made any modifications or added any accessories? Someone gave me some cool floor mats, a 124 badge for the grill and Abarth Seatbelt covers. I'm wondering what else I can get for it.

[@BibtheBoulder]

@@GordonoRamo How about a Bugatti Chiron engine, some Ferrari styling, and a new wife (because clearly you won't be happy with her either as she's also 'not quite what I want').....Incidentally, when you go to sell the bastardised monster you create (costing you many thousands possibly) you will cry when the dealer tells you "all those mods actually knock value OFF the vehicle" (vee-hickle for people in the USA)....

[@savagetuner2404]

@@BibtheBoulder clown alert lol

[@Zeroniner3]

We need more Cammisa in our lifes!!

[@scottlehuray7062]

Hes not always right on style, needs to live in europe for a decade or two to hone it.

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

Camissa for President

[@threeer02]

How in the world does somebody like Demuro have sooooo many more subscribers than Camissa? I like me some Doug, but Jason’s reviews are giddy nuggets of joy and happinesss! His knowledge of each car (not to mention the history and story of each manufacturer) and sheer excitement during each video is “must see” production!

[@Gentleman...Driver]

Carnissa had basicly no content a few days ago on this channel.

[@threeer02]

@@Gentleman...Driver true, but even looking at all of Camissa’s work, he should have a ton more following. His reviews and content are superb.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@threeer02 I mean he kinda has at other channels. They are uploading older videos here on this channel now, I dont know exactly the reasons for that. But sooner or later he will have more followers on this channel, too. I am located in Germany (born in Greece) and he is somewhat famous even here in the English-talking community.

[@kdpwt]

Because there’s a lot of stupid people and doug makes videos for people who are stupid

[@bhr788]

I've always thought the Fiata is an absolutely beautiful car. I love seeing them around town- definitely on my list of future buys.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@Sideways G Unfortunateley, if you do this here in Europe, then your car will be highly illegal because emissions and taxation and stuff. There is no way in swapping an older engine to a newish car.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@Sideways G Yeah, different story in Europe. In Germany you have to let them check your car every two years and they will do every test they can.

[@cremino17]

spoiler: it’s abarth

[@maxcactus7]

I think the Fiata is gorgeous as well. I just wish I could drop the MX5 engine into it and skip the Italian grenade that comes in the Fiat. :-(

[@ZackariahGG]

@@maxcactus7 Me too! Imagine having the cornering capabilities of the Fiata with the engine power and fuel economy of the Miata. Would be a perfect car.

[@stron2004]

Watching these re upload is like watching a vintage Motor Week’s contemporary counterpart, but with a lot more wisdom to make it timeless.

[@commandergeokam2868]

Why they re-upload them?

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

I couldn't have said it better myself thanks for going inside my head and straightening that out

[@mrofftopic2802]

Jason deserves A LOT more views than what he's getting, here and on Hagerty. Such a great and entertaining content, I could watch his videos for hours and hours.

[@user59371]

I disagree

[@betteroffdeadd]

I remember all of these episodes. Love to watch them again. Thanks for uploading! PS: I wouldn't buy the FIAT.

[@betterbeavailable]

I wouldn't buy Mazda either.

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

FIAT fix it again tony

[@GreyCrowe]

@@salvatoredigrigoli3210 ok boomer

[@edombre4637]

@@salvatoredigrigoli3210 yawn

[@bramasole66]

Thanks Jason for the fun test. One thing I must say I disagree about, and that is matter of taste: the historic Fiat 124 Spider was a design masterpiece of Pininfarina and quite a commercial success. It was a beauty. Today‘s 124 spider I find also very beautiful, much much more than the Miata. For me I chose to drive an historic Alfa Romeo Spider / Duetto - beauty and fun in one

[@romanpaladino]

I agree, Pininfarina designed a beauty with the original 124 Spider

[@phillipeffertz6346]

Jason, your content is the best by far. Your humor and knowledge blend into the best car content out there.

[@schwifty9520]

With the volume at a reasonable setting on the TV, that turbo is ear piercing 😅

[@JDMDRIFTAE86]

BEEEP

[@slalomkayaker1]

Not a fan lol

[@p00pie]

Jason, Im in bed with extreme back pain and binging your reviews and its very comforting

[@GetOffMyLog]

You and me both

[@atmartens]

I love these old MotorTrend videos. I wish I knew more about what happened, but they lost a star. You do a great job as a journalist and I appreciate it.

[@jamesbeta8614]

This is a strange, but enjoyable and really well-produced review. Jason starts out like he _HATES_ the thing, (turbo lag, no exhaust note, ugly looks) and somehow he seems to have ended up liking it... kinda? I daily drive my 2019 124 non-Abarth Classica, and it brings me more joy than I could ever have imagined! Open country roads are a delightful treat. and city driving isn't even that bad. The trunk (boot) space is decent, especially since the rag top doesn't ever intrude in that cavity. I happen to appreciate the lack of an annoying exhaust drone note. For the average driver who doesn't have race tracks on the brain, doesn't long for those attention-grabbing farty sounds from the exhaust, and who wants a value-priced, decent-MPG, reliable, practical, and arguably better-looking "Miata" , (and who is under 6-foot-something in height) .... I think the 124 is a real winner! My $0.02

[@pnrnr3847]

Out of all the online car content out there, Jason puts out the most engaging and entertaining without resorting to all the goofy, gimmicky, schlock that some other presenters do. He's a real talent and I hope we see a lot more of him.

[@dmalikovski]

Save us Jason! Save us from mediocre reviews that noone wants to watch! You are the New Top Gear!!!

[@scarbourgeoisie]

I love my 124 Spider Lusso and actually prefer a quieter exhaust because the thing has a phenomenal stereo system. I get so many compliments on the car when going through drive-throughs, and they all come from females. So Jason is pretty much spot on about the perception of the 124.

[@ireallycouldntcareanymore7702]

My dad bought a 17’ Abarth and absolutely loves it, when we’d bring it to meets Miata guys would come over and we’d talk about it, sounds amazing and pretty much rips around while it brakes on a dime, he had a 2013 Miata before but likes the fiatta more now

[@thebagnechannel3183]

I love the review. I have a 124 and it’s fantastic.

[@firasmusa2521]

I’ve been looking for this video for months I still remember watching when it was first uploaded

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

Thanks for reposting these old Ignition videos Jason. Lots of fun re-watching them. I don't remember hearing the whistling sounds as you drove along the back roads in the original videos 5 years ago.

[@Topsnap_Podcast]

Thx Jason and Crew for putting these awesome Rad videos together. Entertainment , information and cars all rolled into one amazing plate of smiles laughter and giggles

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

I feel the same way he's the perfect man for the job

[@seahil]

The Fiat is more sophisticated looking. Great looking I think. Thanks J

[@froggy0162]

The Fiat engine is not old school - it has the Multiair valve system that is incredibly advanced and simply the best variable cam timing design around. It doesn’t need direct injection to meet power targets. It’s a wonderful engine.

[@basstard13]

Glad someone said that

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

I agree with all of that unfortunately it's a Fiat product and Fiat reliability scares the shit out of me

[@froggy0162]

@@salvatoredigrigoli3210 The Multiair engines are fine. They’re sensitive to poor servicing - old oil contamination will damage the plungers and solenoids in the Multiair unit. But feed them the right oil and keep the oil clean and they’re fine. The Multiair system is genuinely genius - google how it works. And you’ll also see why it only has one camshaft ;)

[@youcanrunnaked]

Iron block, single cam, making power from 22 psi is not at all "advanced." MultiAir is VVT on the cheap; prone to oiling and other problems.

[@froggy0162]

@@youcanrunnaked You clearly don’t understand how Multiair works if you think it’s backwards for have one cam ;) It’s much more advanced than any other vvt system and is not cheap to make!! Go and do some research. And nothing wrong with an iron block. As I said, it’s sensitive to poor maintenance. Don’t leave the oil in past it’s due date and it’s fine.

[@thegiant17]

The funniest thing about car culture is that all the car guys think the new, hot sportscar will attract ladies... but it actually just attracts other car guys

[@kimcheebowl]

😂😂😂😂 so true

[@mmilike]

He is the reason why I got my 124 spider.

[@R8andGT3Fan]

I think the Fiata looks great (I like the old one too), but the engine definitely makes me want the Miata...

[@emhezmfe]

The more reliable manual transmission--plus turbo, looks, and less body roll--make me prefer the Fiat. (I owned both--a 2016 Miata and 2017 Classic which I own today).

[@R8andGT3Fan]

@@emhezmfe That's great! Congrats! 😎👌🏾

[@Lorentz_Driver]

​@@emhezmfereliable? Ha! And trust, the Miata is better in the corners but to each their own.

[@Sylvain_code]

That's an old video, from Ignition S13E14 (2016). Nice to see it back on KZbin!

[@miklos182]

thanks for do this Jason...

[@NOrlando952]

I think both cars look very good Ngl, I like the styling of both, different but both good imo.

[@ericbrammer2245]

Jason, I love your Autocross 'Giggle'! It says so much, in so little time.

[@_anty_]

Abarth 124 is a great drivers car. Easy to add more power and way-way more torque than nd2 and compatible with Miata parts for suspension.. You can drift pretty much every corner just with the throttle))

[@Gentleman...Driver]

Yesnt. I own an Abarth 124, and lets say, its not that easy to tune the engine. First you have to know that most Abarths dont have the promissed 170hp. They are around 160 in most cases (there are always exceptions from the norm, but that is the most common figure on the dyno). 190 hp should be possible with just a mapping, but if you want to go beyond... oh boi. Not that easy and most of the time very frustrating and expensive. Also the MultiAir unit is very delicate, and quite often gets damaged by "excessive" tuning. I dont say that it is a bad or unreliable engine. As long as you have it on works specifications and you maintain it properly you should be fine. But getting more power out of it will cause some malfunctions to happen. Maybe sooner, maybe later. I love the car, too. I have been with it on alpine roads here in Europe, and you can feel that it is made for exactly this purpose. Its short wheel base makes it very nimble, and the limited slip differential makes every tight corner into a drift/rally experience. However, the car behaves on track and on the German Autobahn like shit. The suspension setting from the factory is all over the place. Luckily you can set up nearly anything (camber, toe). But the rates of the springs in the back tend to stiffen the car up in the corner, and that makes it very hard to control at high speeds (+150 kph). Also the short wheel base makes the car nervous on higher speeds and the aerodynamics are not optimal (of course not, its a roadster!). I had serious difficulties to exactly place the car on bumpy tracks like the Nordschleife. I can forgive that, because its not the intended design focus of the car. So yeah, its stylish, people dont know what it is, it seems more expensive as it was, its very unique. Sound is great, too. A very emotional daily driver for the city and for country roads.

[@alexdavila1356]

what's the point of the extra tiny bit of torque when you still get beaten in a drag race vs. an mx5?

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@alexdavila1356 This isnt a car for a drag race, isnt it? A Miata isnt as well. And the difference is not that big either. I dont care for drag races. This car is for small mountain roads. To enjoy driving. Maybe for the city, too. So you can enjoy daily driving with it.

[@Davix-tt9sh]

@@Gentleman...Driver Not easy to tune? in Italy we get those 1.4 Multiair to over 300HP in all other Abarths and Alfa (it's also used on the Mito QV and the Giulietta). But yeah, the multiair is absolutely delicate, because of the variable valve timing. The older T-Jet (same engine as multiair, just without VVT and a different engine head) was much more tunable and also more durable.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@Davix-tt9sh I didnt say you can not, just that it gets more difficult and expensive to get it to over 200 hp without the engine to malfunction at some point. I dont know about car inspections in Italy. In Germany we unfortunately have also emission tests to pass every two years.

[@joeleonard9965]

I love the Hagerty episodes and everything you put out, hell I work for Hagerty, but I can't deny that the new cars of today just don't make for as interesting content. You can fire a Lucid Air off of a Saturn V and I still don't care because it doesn't display any of the sensory aspects that make me love cars and car videos. Love these old episodes even though I've binge rewatched them quite a few times with an occasional motortrend renewal.

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

Lmfao my dude you hit the nail on the head

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

"Lucid air Saturn V........I still don't care " 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@DDd-hr6mz]

Umm, the "original 124" penned by Tom Tjaarda is a design icon. It's not "horrible." No one ever thought that.

[@cliffrusselliv7642]

I learn a lot from your videos. Any car reviewer can tell the what, but you explain the why.

[@db8556]

Jason, please consider revisiting this with an ND2! Great comparison, btw. I was really drawn to the 124 Abarth style & sound (truth: I owned an ur-124 Spider back in the day, purchased in Traverse City no less). However the ND2 won out and now one resides in that big room attached to my house.

[@njasicko]

ND2 is way better. I also drove the ND1/NC3/124 Abarth/S2K (AP1/2) ND2 ended up in my garage as well.

[@johntechwriter]

Not everything Jason says adds up -- even he would admit that -- but his description of the Miata's rear end getting squirrely on fast corners exactly matches my experience when hunting down WRXs in my ND2. No other reviewer has mentioned the raggedy transition between forward thrust and heeled over, and given a logical reason why. So thank you, Jason. I will take you more seriously from now on -- except when you are in drag!

[@gmain1977]

I have watched car reviews on KZbin since day 1 and Jason is one of the best

[@johntechwriter]

As a fellow ND2 owner I agree, its back end gets squirrelly in high-speed corners. (But it is not in danger of the dreaded snap-oversteer spin.) The fix can be as simple as a pair of Flyin Miata sway bars, replacement bushings, and an alignment to FM’s specifications. If you drive at 7/10s or below, however, the stock suspension does not get unsettled. People need to understand every Miata is delivered in a soft state of suspension tune, to make the ride acceptably compliant to retain the car’s appeal to the 50 percent of its ownership who never exceed the speed limit. Mazda leave all the alloy suspension fundamentals in place, and numerous coil-over kits are available via the aftermarket to make this car a track day demon.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

8:40 You can hear the turbo "whine" and the bov ... sounds kinda like a supercharger

[@ClickingPixels]

Please bring more videos, it's hard to have enough of you lol

[@JNAMOTORSPORTS]

I owned a ND1 and now after owning a Manual ATS 2.0 coupe I’m going to get a 124 abarth With how expensive the boxster is now it makes sense and I really enjoy the Italian sprinkled charm on the chassis and the engine

[@BibtheBoulder]

I've been married 6 times. I like to chop and change too....

[@MohamedAli965]

Glad to see this content back Jason

[@alsanpi]

The Perfect mix between both cars? Abarth 124 😁

[@pikapika4558]

thank god, this is finally back!!!

[@DirtRoad-g3x]

Great video. I never considered the previous generation Miata as a contender so thank you for that closing note. I have been thinking about trading in my muscle truck for something small/nimble. These two cars are on the list, but with that last note, the older (and much cheaper) Miata makes the cut now as well. I really want an S2000, but the prices have climbed pretty high in recent years for well preserved examples.

[@gangstagarf]

Entertaining is the perfect word for these

[@josephgomes9777]

Let’s go!!! Jason with the Fiata!!

[@teekay_1]

A couple things, a slower entry speed to the corner may help you control the corners better, second, you can change the MX-5 springs pretty inexpensively and get rid of the body roll. But you can't fix that lump of an engine in the Fiat. I would also point out that the GT version includes Bilstein shocks and LSD, which helps.

[@djw5415]

just realised this was filmed in San Diego!!! love it, hope you enjoyed the city!!!

[@robertedwards7430]

I have a 124 Abarth. I drove both the MX 5 and the 124 Abarth, the Abarth had the quad tip optioned Monza exhaust. I chose the 124 Abarth for many of the reasons you mentioned. I just felt like the Miata looked like a kids power wheels toy. The 124 being 5 inches longer it just looks so much more like a real substantial sports car comparatively speaking. At the time the 124 Abrth had a rear LSD the miata did not. In the end it came down to styling, mine is black, with the red mirrors and front splitter as well as the red and black leather interior. With the Monza exhaust the car has soul and a joy to drive. When I drove the Miata the engine sounds like a sewing machine motor. For me it was just the overall driver experience.

[@haveaseatplease]

I always thought that FIAT mist a golden (once in a lifetime) opportunity to put their 1750 TBi 16V 235 engine (or 1750 TBi 16V 240 TCT variant) in the 124 Abarth. That combo would have been a Boxster killer.

[@marvinrieger7129]

All those first reviewers thinking they were so clever calling it a fiata, including this guy. The later reviews by others are much better. This was a joint venture between Mazda and Fiat Chrysler and it created two great cars including the Abarth 124 which I own.

[@scottruhl4710]

I have a 2018 Lusso trim Fiat. I LOVE it! Every time I get in I have a damn ball!

[@manejandoenusa]

Thanks for the great review. That is why I keep my miata NC

[@roydrink]

“the most fun you can have in a car without a girl in it”. best line in the vid.

[@M-PASTA]

That is my favorite mountain pass to drive almost no traffic and perfect twistys with smooth pavement 🥰 I’m lucky to live close to it

[@septopus3516]

Jason, you've reached legend status

[@daigosaito888]

I was behind a Fiata today, and my NA is just SO much more of a driving machine. I was behind because he wouldnt let me pass. But i let him. Thats what makes us roadster drivers friends.

[@BibtheBoulder]

I was behind an Abarth today. He moved over because I have a Rolls Royce...and if he hadn't have moved I'd have smoked him anyway...

[@56Gumball]

Swapped my MX5 for the Fiat, no regrets, enough said. 🇮🇹

[@hardcorehardo]

With the front design I prefer the Mazda but I like the back of the fiat more.

[@timknight5644]

As a 2018 Classica owner I approve this message.

[@Arun999]

After watching this I really want the Mr2 to come back

[@johnbehneman1546]

Thank you so much!!! All of them are awesome!!! Great video and a great education. Thanks, for sharing.

[@williambarnebee40]

The MURF!!! That was an awesome stadium

[@aaronbritt2025]

One nice thing about the engine... A factory forced induction engine is so much easier to make faster. Intake, turbo back exhaust and a tune turn this thing into a totally different car.

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

100% True and accurate

[@solracer66]

A lot of the lag can be fixed by buying an Abarth and toggling the Abarth-only tuning switch on the center console to performance mode. Sure that gives you a whopping 3 extra horsepower on paper but it also gets rid of about half the lag making it a lot more fun around town. I am sure that the gas milage gets even worse but it's still worth it.

[@gori277]

First thing I do is toggle that switch to Sport even before taking it out of the garage. Only exception is in rainy slippery conditions.

[@EdDale44135]

Caught a cone with the Fiat - 2 second penalty

[@Bretana]

Visually, I preferred the 124 Spider and that's what I went with. You're spot on about the lag, fun on the backroads and curves lol

[@jpm8782]

Excellent video & analyse thank you

[@EdwoodCA]

5:00 Noooo, wait. Such perfect pronunciations of German names/words, etc... *and then pronounces the silent 'h' in Abarth.* You're still beyond awesome, Jason!

[@mulder19x95]

I feel like the 124 is a return to the "classier" sports car. Back in the 60s and 70s you had your sports cars for the teens (in this case the Miata) but then you had your sports cars more for adults. The Saint drove the Volvo p1800, Jim Rockford drove the Firebird Esprit, and now today we have the Fiat 124 Spider

[@mrmanfitz]

Shout out to the autocross course at the parking lot of the now demolished Qualcomm stadium!

[@alexanderwooldridgesmith6629]

Nice to see someone test a car like I would drive it. Composure wins every time on a back road, especially one you have not driven before.

[@lawrencebmarshall]

Such a pity that Fiat did not advertise this. I had an 18 Abarth. Wonderful car. White with black hood/deck lid. Stunning car, reliable, cheap to run and so much fun.

[@jdm3gee14]

Just realized the autocross course is in San Diego at what used to be Qualcomm Stadium. RIP to that place.

[@MrMarkOlson]

Thank you for highlighting the substantial differences between between these two cars beyond just looks. I value handling and looks so that would put me with the Fiat Spider, a name much older than the Miata. I've never been fond of the look of the MIatas (and I'm a gay man).

[@Anamnesis]

The ND2 Club basically addresses all of these criticisms.

[@leafylotus]

Thanks J

[@edgarsdzerins]

Thank you, sir!

[@akshatjain7005]

I really wanted to buy one once I graduated but they ended production now which makes me depressed

[@benjaminlibertarianscorpio]

I drove one in Phoenix as a rental car and it was a great fun to drive

[@nadersoli815]

Jay, how did you not fly off the cliffs at any random point? You're nuts. And an amazing driver. Simply perfect videos. So high class and hilarious.

[@mathewhumvee]

Styled by Italians built by the Japanese. So it looks awesome and doesn’t brake down. Love it.

[@tealruby1]

Styled by Italians, built by Japanese...and powered by an Italian engine. It's a mixed bag!

[@_anty_]

@@tealruby1 Engine is totally reliable in it.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@tealruby1 Every car has issues, even my Porsche Cayman GT4 had some very nasty ones. But they fixed it. lol. My Abarth 124 Spider had the roof broken (Mazda part), the suspension was not set up right from the factory (Mazda), the leather of the handbrake leaver was not mounted correctly (Mazda), and the lambda probe had a failure right from the start which resulted into the destruction of the catalytic inverter (Fiat). So, yes. Its a mixed bag. But dont expect any car to be perfect.

[@tealruby1]

​@@Gentleman...Driver Did my comment imply I thought every car was perfect? For the record, Fiat could have gone with any suspension in the world, if you didn't like it out of the box, that's on them.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@tealruby1 Nope, I just wanted to share my experience with the car. Also, the suspension wasnt faulty, but the settings were all over the place. Thats not Fiats part if it leaves the Mazda factory like that. I heard that from the Miatas as well, so...

[@homebuiltcamperdave5226]

I LOVE my classica! I’ve had several different roadsters and I’ve never loved one like I LOVE the classica. I sort of bought it on a whim not knowing what to do with a 2003 vw beetle convertible I inherited. I like the vw but not the complexity of things going wrong. Ended up with an offer on the vw I could not refuse from a man looking for one for his daughter and then I saw the classica on a lot. They had 2 124s. Both 2020. Both brand new. A lusso and the classica. And being that fiat was discontinuing the spider I was even more interested in them as they had a limited run in the USA and were somewhat unique. As I wanted this as a long term keeper the lusso kind of turned me off with the moving headlights and such. Just seemed like stuff to break that would be way expensive and complex to repair, which I had already faced with with vw. So I test drove the classica. It had exactly 4 miles on it. And oh I fell in love. Bought it that day. I did notice some of his complaints about laggyness, till I wore the engine in. Now at 18,000 miles with everything nicely worn in every time I drove it I love it more. The car loves to be pushed. It loves to be played with. And it just keeps giving more and more and more fun! And now that they are no longer available, I love it even more. People ask all the time what’s that? Only 6500 sold in the USA. And they think if cost twice what it did. And I have to say. There is just something to be said about the feeling of saying, yeah I love my Italian roadster! I know it’s a Mazda with a Chrysler engine. But to me it’s an Italian sport car dream come true. Never have I loved a car so much. It’s just fun pure and simple.

[@thatoneotherotherguy]

In 2018 I was taking a 300 mile round trip through twisty canyons to a lake and back. I rented a car because my car's reliability was very questionable at the time. I rented a simple sedan. At the desk, they didn't have it, and by chance offered to upgrade me to the Fiat 124 Abarth sitting outside. I fell in love and determined I had to have it. Once the realist in me thought it over, I decided to go with the ND2 Miata for reliability and established brand reasons. Thanks to happenstance and the Fiat 124, I have happily owned a terrific uber-light sports car for the last three years.

[@desertsoldier41]

Both are just as reliable, the 1.4T is a pretty old and established engine. Also no DI carbon issues like the Skyactiv.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

@@desertsoldier41 Aye, in Europe it's known as the toughest of small turbo engines, that doesn't have issues of other brands and can take a lot of punishment. It's basically a turboed FIRE which is known for reliability and durability.

[@joeharkins7476]

Jason - Terrific review of two cars that you would think are a lot more different than they really are. I like the styling of the Fiat only because it looks so different from the Miata. I think the Miata is a beautiful car probably 90% of these car sold are Miatas. Keep up the great work, your content is always amazing.

[@davidbattaglia2336]

It’s back! I’ve missed this review, glad it is back. My girlfriend (now wife) and I used to laugh about the Italian sports car analogy

[@christophgollob3118]

If the Miata is faster on the straight and always sideways in the corner the fun battle should have a clear winner.

[@spavatch]

Until there’s an universal measure established to precisely gauge the amount of fun there won’t be a clear winner in this competition.

[@wakjob961]

"Better to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow." -- fiik

[@MrDjh66]

Got mine today love it

[@Krezo200]

Welcome back jason

[@driesdebruyn4372]

4 years and 65.000km in...the 124 is still the best for me. In my country they have a saying "the truth comes out of a child's mouth" well I can't count the number of times I passed a kid in the street and they started pointing and yelling "nice car", last ones were sitting on some doorsteps and as I passed them they frantically jumped up pointing. Now if you really wanna have some fun, you take a holiday to Italy in your azuro blue 124...italians going: "bella macchina!"...everybody asking you about your car while their eyes are transfixed, turn your back...people start taking pictures next to your car.

[@frankburns8871]

Other than the grill, I think the Fiat looks great!

[@karlInSanDiego]

Qualcomm Stadium lot? Those dam dips crashed the hell out of my 2002's struts. Hated courses there.

[@keithkruger7270]

The Abarth 124 was my choice. A little more Italian flair than the base Fiat, better exhaust and slightly firmer suspension tuning. Another 25 HP would make it perfect.

[@spavatch]

You can squeeze up to 500 hp out of this unit. Your 25 extra hp target is just an ECU reflash away 👍🏾

[@jplater9191]

They are awesome to look at.

[@Dh-de9op]

your really good at this.

[@Kalepsis]

Since this video was filmed a couple years ago, did Fiat make a 124 Abarth that fixed some of the issues?

[@petrsvetr6083]

I am thinking about the 135kW ND Do you think aftermarket(stifer) suspension would sort it out?

[@tmo2798]

Yes. Obviously. Got Megans on an NB a few days ago... Turns so much better...

[@richardg8651]

Proof's in the Fiata . Love it !

[@JETZcorp]

Love my NC2. Super underrated generation.