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General Demise of the 124?

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General Demise of the 124?

Wouldn’t surprise me, it can’t be a massive profit driver for Fiat, and may even be costing them money as they’re paying Mazda to build them.

Such a shame as the MX5 is an abomination, yet Fiat managed to make a very pretty car out of it which looked exactly how you’d expect a modern take on a 124 Spider to look.

I have been very tempted to chop in my Porsche Boxster for one, but as I have an early Boxster S with a proper Porsche flat 6 and they’ve now moved the Boxster to a flat 4, I suspect that financially I’m best holding onto the Boxster.

If I didn’t have a company car, I’d have been tempted by an Abarth with auto box and hard top as a daily, though.
 
Schumi2001 said:
Wouldn’t surprise me, it can’t be a massive profit driver for Fiat, and may even be costing them money as they’re paying Mazda to build them.



Such a shame as the MX5 is an abomination, yet Fiat managed to make a very pretty car out of it which looked exactly how you’d expect a modern take on a 124 Spider to look.



I have been very tempted to chop in my Porsche Boxster for one, but as I have an early Boxster S with a proper Porsche flat 6 and they’ve now moved the Boxster to a flat 4, I suspect that financially I’m best holding onto the Boxster.



If I didn’t have a company car, I’d have been tempted by an Abarth with auto box and hard top as a daily, though.
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Apparently the UK is the biggest market in the world for Abarth. Seems a strange decision. Best get one before they all disappear.
 
typecastboy said:
Apparently the UK is the biggest market in the world for Abarth. Seems a strange decision. Best get one before they all disappear.
Click to expand...

They stopped selling them in April. There are a few pre-reg'd ones floating around, but not at the kinds of prices you could pick one up for back in the Spring. Still kicking myself for not going for one then.
 
Yes I certainly know that all 124 RHD production ended almost 12 months ago, thought the it would still continue LHD, but think it has ended entirely
 
I certainly don't agree about the Fiat knock off of Mazda, the MX5 is a superior car all round. Unlike some on here who lambaste any non Fiat, I tend back up with facts. The 124 engine for starters is old hat, the emissions were not good either. There were better cheaper bargains to be had with the Mazda, the very fact that Mazda had been doing this for a long time & well.

I certainly don't dislike the Fiat, I just feel the Mazda does it better. No doubt the non Fiat haters will go into detail & use phrases that are rarely heard on most of other car forums, to slag off other car marks. I genuinely find it quite bizarre, still, if it makes some happy!!!;) Just my thoughts..:)
 
jimboy said:
I certainly don't agree about the Fiat knock off of Mazda, the MX5 is a superior car all round. Unlike some on here who lambaste any non Fiat, I tend back up with facts. The 124 engine for starters is old hat, the emissions were not good either. There were better cheaper bargains to be had with the Mazda, the very fact that Mazda had been doing this for a long time & well.



I certainly don't dislike the Fiat, I just feel the Mazda does it better. No doubt the non Fiat haters will go into detail & use phrases that are rarely heard on most of other car forums, to slag off other car marks. I genuinely find it quite bizarre, still, if it makes some happy!!!;) Just my thoughts..:)
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Mazda don’t do an Abarth version though.
 
Schumi2001 said:
The Mazda is ugly as sin, whilst the Fiat is a very pretty little thing.

You don't buy a roadster to be seen in an ugly car!
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In your opinion & that's up to you..;) The Mazda is still selling quite well & has been doing for a good number of years, but it appears no matter what, you seem to be falling into a forum trap by taking things too personally. Neither car is ugly as sin even alloying for the 124's frog eye headlights..:D By the way the 124 is bigger than the Mazda.
 
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I'm an ex MX5 and ex (original) 124 Spider owner... the new MX5 has lost all the elegance of the first 3 incarnations and now looks like it came out of a Japanese comic strip. The 124 looks like a 124, so it's a shame it has come to an early demise.

On the other hand, surely there's a good case for chopping down a Giulia platform to make an Alfa Spider and Fiat 124 Spider on the same RWD group platform?
 
I like the Mazda. It's a coherent design, unlike the 124, which is clumsy at the front and looks heavy at the back. Those jewelled tail-lights on the MX5 are a delight, as is the way it tapers after the rear wheel-arches, which helps disguise its bulk. The rear of the 124 accentuates its bulk, and not in a good way. But that's just my opinion. Others are fully entitled to theirs. Beauty is in the eye etc

What surely killed Abarth sales was non-existent marketing, and a stupidly high list price, which looked even more ridiculous when Mazda boosted the bhp of the (much cheaper) MX5 2.0 to an Abarth-busting 182.

Judging by the numbers of them sticking around on the forecourts, the Abarth heritage pack (matt black bonnet etc) wasn't a big hit with buyers, either. It's just too shouty, but without the beef to shout about. And why did they import so many of them with that lazy auto box? Daft.
 
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Seems to be Fiat's downfall with many cars apart from the 500 family zero marketing in the UK never seem a Tipo panda 124 qubo ect advertised even once other then online adverts on here or on Fiat's Instagram page
Bet a large % of the UK has never heard of most of these models
 
If you think the Mx-5 looks better than the 124 is very much a personal view. As to how the 124 & Abarths drive in comparison to the MX-5 again comes down to personal views.


MX-5 is a great car, but the looks are not for me. The 124 drives better for my circumstances, where I live and better suited to the urban environment, being that bit softer. I wanted the Abarth but because you can't shut the exhaust up, I went for an S-design. Otherwise I'd have got a fully optioned Abarth.


One thing for sure, not a month goes past where someone walks up to me and asks what it is and how they love the looks - this has been Fiat's failing, no one knew it existed!


Last week I met a through and through Jap car lover and owner, yet he has purchased the Abarth because of the MX-5 link and the way the 124 looks.


The Abarth's siting about on dealer forecorts are low spec (no LED lights, Bose) and usually auto
 
You know what, it's all down to the many, many drivers out there in car land having different ideas & wants/likes/needs in their personal choice of transport....fancy that....:D


Those headlights though in the 124 would take a bit of getting used to....;)
 
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