Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Review: How Much Fun is the Fiata?
Behind the Wheel
While the engine may be the biggest distinction between the Miata and the Fiata, there is so much more to the driving experience than that. Being a lightweight, rear-wheel drive roadster, means that the Fiat 124 loves to play when the road gets windy.
As previously mentioned, the 6-speed manual transmission is a must-have. The clutch pedal is communicative, which is something of a rarity in modern cars. The gear shift is delightfully mechanical and it is as communicative as the easy-to-use clutch. Buying this car with an automatic transmission simply should not even be an available option. All of this means that hunting for power from that odd Italian power plant is enjoyable and rewarding, as a sports car should be.
The steering is a touch light, but it’s fitting given the lightweight, compact nature of the car. That said, the ride is notably firmer than the Miata, offering much less roll in the corners. Part of the this is due to the suspension, as the Fiata uses firmer shocks, the other part of the equation is mass. While the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is feather light at a sneeze over 2,500 pounds, it is still about 170 pounds heavier than the Miata upon which it is based.
That said, the handling balance is sublime, with the Fiat having a mild tendency towards oversteer. And, while it is firmer than the Miata, the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is never harsh, and is happy to soak up the miles on the open road. It will never chew you up and spit you out, but, again, it rewards drivers that reach the limits of adhesion. This is a very pleasurable car to drive.
The Final Verdict
Let’s be upfront, the only car truly comparable to the Fiat 124 Spider is the Miata. Sure, the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ has a similar price point and similarly sporting intentions, but that’s not what this is about. Bottom line: Should you buy the Miata or the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth?
Well, this Fiata needs an important disclosure. While the 124 Abarth starts at $29,540, this particular car has quite a few available options on it. First up are the Brembo performance brakes, a $1,495 option. On the street, these aren’t necessary for every day use. However, if any sort of track day or performance driving is in your car’s future, it’s a box that must be ticked. Okay, so now we’re at 31 grand. There is also the $1,495 Navigation and Sound Group option, which is basically a navigation system and 9-speaker Bose audio. Skip it. No one uses in-car nav, and the standard speakers are fine. After that is the $995 Visibility Group option, which includes the cool LED running lights and adaptive lighting. That’s a box worth ticking.
All of this brings the price tag up to a not inconsequential $33,325, which is a good chunk of change. That said, the Abarth badge gives the Fiat 124 a limited-slip differential, the upgraded 17-inch wheel and tire package, and sports suspension as standard. A comparable Miata with all those goodies results in a comparable $33,820 price tag. So, pick your poison.
And picking your poison is really the answer as to which you should buy. As to which one is better, I advocate that the Miata is the better car. It’s engine is less diluted, the car itself is lighter, and the overall experience more pure. However, I know there are people who find the Mazda’s busy styling to be a turn off. There will also be people who want the Fiat simply because it’s different, which is respectable. All of that said, however, the answer is still Miata.
Want more proof? For 2019, Mazda has just confirmed that the Miata is getting a big boost in naturally-aspirated power, 181 horsepower, to be specific. The new Miata will absolutely trounce the Fiata with performance, while still being the more enjoyable car to drive. A replica can’t beat the real deal. The Miata wins out over the Fiata, and a victory doesn’t get more concise than that.
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