Is there room enough on the market for two of basically the same thing? It all depends on what the differences are ... especially under the hood.
What It Is
The Fiat 124 Spider is an Italian-bodied two-seat roadster based on the Mazda Miata, with which it shares a common platform, suspension layout and most critical dimensions (including the same 90.9-inch wheelbase).
Both cars are also built on the same Mazda assembly line in Hiroshima, Japan. But those destined to leave the line as Fiats get a Fiat-built 1.4-liter turbocharged engine in place of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (with no turbo) that goes into Miatas.
Prices start at $24,995 for the Classica trim with six-speed manual transmission. The top-of-the-line Abarth, which includes a slight horsepower uptick and some performance and handling upgrades, along with carbon-fiber and suede interior trim, lists for $28,295.
What's New
The Spider is a new Fiat model.
The Mazda on which it's based was all-new last year.
What's Good
It makes for wastegate-popping, turbo-boosted fun.
It has a bit more trunk space than the Miata.
It's not as common as the Miata.
What's Not So Good
Its engine isn't as rev-happy as the Miata's.
There's no retractable targa roof option.
Fiat's future in the U.S. is iffy. If the brand goes away, getting parts and service may be tougher.
Under the Hood
The 124's engine is basically the same engine used in the Fiat 500 Abarth. Like the 500, it's a very small engine, with just 1.4 liters. In terms of physical displacement, this is about 25 percent less engine than the Miata's 2.0-liter.
But there is a replacement for displacement: Turbocharge it.
When the engine is under boost, more air plus more fuel equals more power. When it's not, you revert to less engine, which uses less fuel. That is, until you dial up the boost again.
So, you get 160 horsepower at 5,500 rpm (164 for the Abarth, which has a lower-restriction exhaust system) and 184 foot-pounds of torque at 2,500 rpm and a 6,250 rpm redline. The Mazda's non-turbo 2.0-liter engine has 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 148 foot-pounds of torque at 4,600 rpm and a 6,800 rpm redline.
You also get better gas mileage — if you can keep your foot off the pedal.
The Fiat has ratings of 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with the six-speed manual. You get 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with the optional six-speed automatic. The Mazda with the bigger engine has ratings of 26 mpg city and 33 highway.
On the Road
If you drive the Spider and the Miata back-to-back, you'll discover you don't need to shift the Fiat as often to maintain the pace when just driving along. The 124's engine is more immune to lugging in the lower gears because of the turbo-boosted low-end torque. Third gear works at almost any speed short of a crawl.
In the Miata, you're kept busier. But you may want to be kept busier. The Miata is a gear-jammer's best friend.
Both cars use the same six-speed manual transmission and have the same superlative short-throw shift action. But the run in each is different.
The Miata is first to redline at about 7,000 rpm — push the clutch in; give a hard pull on the lever down to second; pull off the clutch (Cue tire chirp!) and push back on the gas. In the Spider, the tires chirp at launch — remember the boost and the torque — and you'll want second just a bit sooner. The Fiat pulls harder in second and third gears, but by fourth, the Mazda is at the wine glass-shattering peak of its aria.
At the Curb
The kinship is clear, but there are differences.
Take overall proportions, for one. The Fiat is 159.6 inches long, and the Miata is 154.1 inches long, yet they ride on the same 90.9-inch wheelbase. The stretch was necessary to properly merge the Fiat-built engine into the car without mucking up the near-perfect 50-50 weight split front to rear or mucking up the lines of the car.
The twins have different faces, too, as well as hoods and front quarter panels and rear clips. These do not interchange.
Fiat stylists wanted the 124 to remind people of classic Fiat sports cars like the Sport Spider from 1966 to 1980, so the headlights are almost round (versus the Miata's cat-eye slits), and it has a more traditionally shaped and traditionally located grille.
The Rest
Though neither of these two are expensive cars, the Fiat is much more exotic than the Miata by way of there being so few of them. You do not see a 124 Spider on every corner and may have yet to see one in the flesh at all.
The Bottom Line
It's a great Japanese sports car with the heart of an Italian sports car.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
View Comments