2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth - Phil's Morning Drive - S2E14 

I have an identical - same color and all except my seats are all black and mine is manual transmission - 2017. The car is great, it drives great, it has more than enough power to be fun to drive and always puts a smile on my face except when it rains! Something I find really helps is the automatic dim mirrors, when your driving position is low and you're being followed by an F150 with LED headlights rated at 1.000.000 lumens you'll need it!

I have one like that and I love it. Got it for my 64th. birthday. I could have gotten the stick shift which I would have preferred in my younger days, but now with bad knees and at 6 feet tall and around 260 pounds, the automatic is wonderful. Especially in my area that is now full of stop lights and heavy traffic. Also, everyone misses the storage compartments behind the seats. There is a storage compartment behind each seat for additional storage. I've owned a lot of cars and this is one of my absolute favorites! So much fun...especially in sport mode. I think that the automatic shifts really well! I have never had paddle shifters before, and I love them! This car is a keeper...for at least as long as I can get in and out of it okay!

Did drive one of these for 2 hours, manual gearbox. Such a fun car to drive, love the handling and the gearbox is fantastic. It does feel like MX5 but its just a tiny bit more special, and looks better imo.

I just found Phil's channel. Wow, why haven't I heard of this guy? He is very good, thorough, and tells us everything we want to know without going overboard. Sounds like he got a degree in communication haha. Good job Phil, hopefully you keep making videos. Subscribed.

I have one and I really appreciate the blind spot detection. Obviously with the top down you're wide open to look around, but with the top up the blind spot is pretty atrocious. I've come to really like the blind spot detection feature.

It's so strange to see a 124 Abarth with the Fiat logo on the steering wheel....here (Italy) they are way more sophisticated and customized. Nice review, cheers.

I have the 2018 124 Spider Abarth and I love it. I got it with the automatic and it is fine. It gets a lot of looks and drives excellent. It has plenty of power. I think it looks a lot better than the Miata.The only change that I think they should make to the infotainment center is it should recognize two different phones. My previous cars recognized my phone from my partners phone. In this car it just shows two phones and does not post the name of the phone.

Amazing review ! Keep up the good work.

Excellent review and one of the best on RU-vid 👍🇦🇺

Thanks Phil great review answered all my questions watching this ,cheersd

Great review, great car!

Just came across your channel. Great video!

You deserve many more subs, enjoyed this episode thanks

Excellent Review!!!

Nicely done Phillip.

Nice review - on my way to get one.

I know this is an old review, however. I've owned and driven an UK version No 484 2018 Abarth 124 Spider since July 2020, While I agree most of your comments with the exception of one the points you were less than enthusiastic about. The Automatic Transmission!!! Ok the UK cars are slightly more powerful at 168 BHP as stock but the auto remains the same. Its not mediocre, its a mazing once you learn to drive and master it, In "sports manual mode" not only is its very quick changes with correct use of the paddles (extended paddles on my car, the stock one are too short) and coordination of the gas peddle. I'd pitch its against any manual stick shift gearbox version any time. Unless you're absolutely spot on with your clutch/hand and timing 100% of the time (which I seriously doubt most people are) then the sequential paddle shift changes up and down the gearbox are almost always perfect with lots of pops and bangs (on E10 fuel) pretty of throttle blips its just brilliant. Learn to drive a paddle shift auto would be my advice or come take a ride in mine.. you'll soon see.

Great video

UK models have thd Abarth badge on the steering wheel. Bit strange it has the Fiat badge here.

Fantastic Review Spot on all these main 👏 things of This sports car

what a nice review. automatic is good for someone like me who has failed to learn how to drive stick shift 3 separate times. it is also better for driving in a place where i live like brooklyn new york with constant red lights every few seconds (not exaggerating). manual soft tops are the best. there is no motor that will break and it comes all the way down. the miata rf is awful. you still feel like the top is up because the back is hard plastic.

Excellent review 👍🇦🇺

Brother you forget a special 2 gloves extra behind both seats

Love my red Abarth with heritage stripe!

First review watched...not bad, I like. I think differences from the Miata should have been highlighted more since they are 80% the same.

Great Review Just got mine Yesterday Same as yours Manual Transmission. The Abarth is much better than the mx5 And it's not Common and as of now They are not making any more. Parts should be no problem.

Such a pity that Fiat will most obviously end production :-( Got a 2019 Fiat 124 Spider in Magnetico bronze...it's such a great car! Totally in love with it...

Nice review. I LOVE my Classica! Lots less expensive than the Abarth, and only 4 hp less....PLENTY fast!!

I love my Abarth. Such a fun and rare car.

I've been in the market for one of these and was wondering what type of fuel you put in it. I know the owner manual states that the car should receive premium, but can take regular. I think the car has a knock sensor which changes the timing of the ignition caused by the difference in the fuel quality. Still, I would like to eliminate knocking altogether to preserve the engine.

If you get a 2017 model make sure you get the software update from a Mopar dealership before the warranty runs out, or you'll end up with a perfect running car that you can't inspect until you drop $450.00 because the PCM can't communicate with state computers.

I've been in the market for one of these and was wondering what type of fuel you put in it. I know the owner manual states that the car should receive premium, but can it take regular. Furthermore, I think the car has a knock sensor which changes the timing of the ignition caused by the difference in the fuel quality. Still, I would like to eliminate knocking altogether to preserve the engine.

Sad that they are stopping production of this fun car.

The original 124's top was just as easy to retract and, if you didn't bother with the snap-on cover., to put up too.

"It's more fun to drive a slow car - fast, than a fast car - slow" Great quote!

How’s the cisibility

I prefer the coloration to be white and black

Personally, the automatic is the way to go if you live in the city or suburbs. I know manuals give you more control over the engine and enjoyment but really I'd much rather have a free hand in traffic than constantly rummaging with the gear stick. I have no problem with manuals, I get their appeal if you live in a rural area where you can fully wring them out but in a city, I'd take an auto every time if that's going to be my daily driver.

Forza Italia🇮🇹🇮🇹👍

I think it looks gorgeous, reminds me of 1950's Ferrari Califonian. I think its MUCH nicer looking than the Miata, if only Fiat had started with a 1600 block!!

sport car, roadster without manual shifting? Next level could be, you get some driver with the car and owner just sits next to driver.

You could easily Plastikote the hood, fascia and boot for about $20 and save the cost of the Heritage package

First off even hydraulic / automatic tops require latching, also you should be more careful as you put the top down you want to watch and make sure the material folds as it should always.

so, it is not an Italian car??????????

I thought this was going to be an English video...

I've had one for two years now. I do like the car, but don't love it. The main things I dislike are the poor yellow non LED headlights and the hassle of having to rip the wheel trim off to change bulbs. The stick shift is a bit too 'snickity' and can sometimes feel abrasive. I think the headlights are a strange shape and I would have styled them differently. The seats aren't actually leather, but faux leather and wear very easily, especially on the bolster. However, the worst thing for me is the suspension. My car gets scuttle shake on bad bumpy roads (which there are a lot of in the UK) and it drives me crazy. That scuttle shake noise will haunt me till I die. I loathe it and unfortunately this car has it. On decent roads it drives great.

Manual tops are deffo way better.

Automatic transmission is a deal breaker. Come on manual is the only way

Best review yet of the 124/Abarth I am a long time FIAT owner and fan.. however.. no sale. Why?: 1. Chrysler, worst car maker in existence... they need to go away, example they nearly destroyed Mercedes -Benz (disclosure: I am a former M-B factory rep/district manager Nor Cal/San Francisco Western Region) 2. 1.4 turbo..single overhead cam ..... give me 1800-2000 cc no turbo 3. Resale poor, good for buying used but I do not buy newer (vintage excepted) used sports cars. Abusive, ignorant owners. 4. No longer produced.. good luck with service and parts which is what killed FIAT in the USA originally.

Video is great but the music is infuriatingly annoying.

It’s about 30hp more not 4

ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT FIAT OR MIATA ???

music. dont use it anymore please )

I drive an 01, 3r generation Miata for over 7 years. Loved it. Was Never going to sell it. Then I ran a Stop sign and hit a Full size Ford Pick Up Truck. I lost. So I love the Miata's. But I think the 4th generation is Horribly Ugly. I think this Fiat Spider has a Classic Body design. I would buy one for the looks alone.

The car looks nice but those factory rims suck. Automakers need to drop the black rim trend it ugly.

How come it has that awful Fiat badge rather than Abarth?

Jay Leno's review is more positive than yours!