Maybe I’m biased, what with Italy being my second favourite country (after Scotland of course), but as far as I’m concerned if something has an Italian connection, no matter how tenuous, then it is immediately bestowed with a certain amount of ‘cool’.
This especially applies to cars and I’m not just talking about the exotics. Even their more mundane machines seem to have an extra dose of style added at the factory which other European counterparts don’t have. Of course this isn’t strictly true and over the years Italy have churned out more than their fair share of rotters – literally. Previous generations became associated with having a tendency to morph into a pile of rust coloured powder, so fine you could put it through an espresso machine. It’s fair to say that Italian cars suffered from a less than âperfectoâ reputation in the build quality and reliably stakes.
Of course, itâs no big secret that the new Fiat 124 Spider isn’t actually that ‘Italian’. Instead it is heavily based on the latest generation MX-5 and is even built in the same factory in Japan. Something which should put any reliability issues to bed, but does it still retain that Italian flair?
While the Mazda lineage is obvious, it’s not just a rebadging exercise. Bodywork, engine and suspension settings are all Fiat. The engine is the 138 bhp 1.4 turbocharged four cylinder, shared with the Alfa Mito, which places it roughly between the 1.5 and 2.0 litre naturally aspirated options available with the MX-5. While that sounds pretty meagre, the 124 shares itâs siblings lightweight philosophy, weighing at just 1050kg, so the resulting performance is quick enough to be fun. Just donât be expecting to be winning many drag races.
Styling wise, I think it looks better in the metal than in photos, and there are some obvious styling cues to the 1960âs original 124 (lights, bonnet contours etc). Whether you prefer it to the sharper edge Mazda will be a personal preference but itâs a decent looking thing.
Inside, itâs all familiar territory to those used to the MX-5, and that has positives and negatives. Overall itâs a nice place to be, material quality is maybe a touch better than the Mazda in places but there is little to choose between them. Some plastics are a bit hard and scratchy but the main issue is space, or lack of it. For a modern car it is surprisingly snug inside, especially if youâre much over six foot tall. Leg room is limited for both driver and passenger and it wouldnât be my first choice for a long distance schlep. I reckon a Lotus Elise actually has more space inside, though the Fiat does dispense with the need to be a contortionist to get in it. That said, with cars seemingly getting larger and heavier with each generation, it feels a tad unfair to criticise a small, lightweight sports car for ⌠err being small. The driving position is pretty good and has a definite sports car feel. It would benefit from being able to lower the seat more, and pedals that were centrally placed rather than being offset to the right, but you quickly adapt. Other than that, all is as expected inside the 124. The Mazda sourced infotainment system, which includes Nav, DAB, Bluetooth and USB audio integration, is simple to use and works well. Additionally on this Lusso Plus model four of the nine BOSE speakers are integrated into the seat headrests, to help you enjoy some ‘taps aff’ tunes.
A two seat sports car should be all about the fun of driving and here the 124 is largely successful. That engine, while only 138 bhp, is punchy enough to be fun – lag is noticeable though and you need to take that into account. Below 2000 -2500 rpm nothing much happens and attempts to pull away quickly from junctions can result in it bogging down until the turbo gets spinning.
Once on the move though, with the revs up a wee bit, you can punt it along a decent pace. The six speed gearbox is excellent, with a short throw and a nice notchy feel to it â in a positive, not obstructive way. The gear level is well placed and changing gears to keep the turbo on song becomes part of the enjoyment, making use of the decent mid-range performance. For a forced induction four cylinder, it sounds suitably âsportyâ too.
The 124 rides noticeably softer than the MX5, soaking up bumps well, with more compliance, and steering which feels a wee bit less âpointyâ. Depending on what you prefer, it either offers a more relaxed drive or one that isnât quite as sharp as its relative. In most circumstances it retains that more laid back feel, but can get a bit unsettled, losing some composure when driving more aggressively, especially over rough surfaces or undulations. Itâs a car that seems happier being driven at 7 or 8 tenths, rather than being rung out fully, which is probably in keeping with Fiats remit. Roof down on a sunny day, itâs hard not to enjoy.
Speaking of the roof ⌠the fabric top on the 124 (again, shared with the MX5) is great and perfectly suited to the car. No overly complicated electrical theatrics, just a brilliantly simple manual mechanism, which you can lower/raise with one hand, from the driving seat in seconds. Big thumbs up.
Comparisons with the MX-5 are inevitable and the majority of the 124’s strengths and weaknesses are shared (unsurprisingly) between with two, but there are differences. Which is better is probably as much down to your driving style as much as the car itself, with the Spider offering that extra element of Italian cool, even if it is a bit questionable.
Fiat 124 Spider
PRICE:Â ÂŁ25,050
ENGINE:Â 1.4 litre, 4 cylinder petrol turbo, 6 speed manual
POWER: 138 bhp
TORQUE: 177 lb ft @ 2250 rpm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 134 mph, 0-62 mph 7.5 secs
CONSUMPTION: 44.1 mpg (combined)
CO2: 148 g/km
TT Rating:Â
