At one point, the Fiat 124 Spider seemed poised to knock the Miata off its pedestal. Back in the summer of 2016, the Fiat offered a brand-new, sharply styled, turbocharged platform-mate to the ND Mazda Miata that, at the time, still ran its lower-revving, lower-fun engine.
We got even more excited after we compared the two cars on track at …
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Despite my typical Italian car ownership experience, the Fiata has a certain charm of its own that I miss sometimes. Especially paired with the Goodwin System One exhaust, which mine also had, it's quite possibly the best-sounding four cylinder engine of all time. And the non-Abarth body (like Goodwin's car in the article) I think is better looking than the blacked-out angry-face Abarth. Maybe one day they'll become collectible.
Yeah but what's it's lap time at the Firm?
jk
In reply to maschinenbau :
I'll be surprised if they don't become collectible, even if it's the Bring A Trailer/Cars & Bids kind of collectible.
I'm by no means a market expert, but I'd say it's the kind of car worth buying sooner instead of later if you have an interest.
I prefer the way these look compared to the current Miata. I'd swap the motor though. 
In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :
Taking a stock 124 Spider to the FIRM isn't a bad idea.
Anyone have one we can run? (I'm only half-joking.)
Cool. I have always liked the Fiata.
Although $14,000 in parts feels like... a lot.
I'd probably lose all the carbon fiber aero bits and it'll be a lot cheaper and a little more sleeper looking.
On track, the Fiata feels like an ND with 100 lbs strapped to the nose and softer throttle response - because that's what it is. I don't know if we still have lap times for our in-house development car, but it sure would be interesting to see the traces from the FIRM.
Greg414
New Reader
8/1/24 3:37 p.m.
Yes, quite the extensive (pricey parts list). While the result is something unique and fun, you're well into 987 Boxster S price territory at this point...
Jerry
PowerDork
8/1/24 7:13 p.m.
I remember test driving one when they first came out, while the Abarth 500 was in for scheduled maintenance. I'm not a convertible fan, even if I still want another Miata, but I also agree I thought they looked better than the ND. I was disappointed to learn the Abarth version didn't have the same angry exhaust.
