I’ve been watching tons of review videos on the 124, and they all complain about the lack of storage space or no glove box, and not one ever mentioned or showed us the ones behind both seats....to me that’s better than a glove box.... thank you for this video. Love my 124🏎🇮🇹💪🏼
Thank you! The truth is, the 124 has a tad bit more cargo space than a MX-5. Anyone who is considering purchasing any roadster, be it a 124, MX-5, Z4 or whatever, needs to understand cargo space is NOT a selling point for the vehicle. Unless you travel light, it is a weekender, not a 2 week vacation car. That said, I plan on taking it on a week long trip to the beach at Jennifer's and my first opportunity! :)
I’ve only owned my 2019 Lusso for a couple weeks and there were several things I didn’t know, so thanks very much. The hidden compartments behind the seats, way cool!
Thanks so much on all your information. I will be picking up my “ new to me” 2018 Fiat 123 Spider Lusso this weekend with 6 speed manual. I had been looking for quite awhile & found one with only 5000 km in pretty much new condition in Red with black leather interior. Previous owner took excellent care of it and kept it well serviced. Looking forward to it. Your videos will be so helpful in acquainting me with this vehicle. Great videos!
Jeremy Clarkson said “it has a boot which IS big enough for things.” Nice video. I have been daily driving a 2017 FIAT 500X in sky blue metallic since new. Contrary to popular belief, the FIAT has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned by far. In three years I’ve only had one flat tire and recommended oil changes.
I agree. 19 months and 18,000 miles after we bought it new, it has yet to have any issues. So, can't say it is the best car reliability but it is tied with the best I have had. I have had the check engine light come on 1 time but that was due to a mod and the dealer reset the light no charge and told me I needed a tune...lol I told him that was in the works and then we stood around and talked cars for the next 20 minutes.
I believe it! Even if you bought the car new, fiat sales people seemed to have been focused on other marques at their dealerships and took very little time to learn about 124s.
I have a 2017 Special Edition and love the car. I installed the same exhaust you did, love that it’s a tab louder/sportier without deafening the radio/phone. Enjoy!
Only in America would cup holders be such a big deal. It’s as if we can’t bare to go any length of time without ingesting calories. I don’t bring food or drinks in my cars besides a bottle of water. Great video though very informative. I owned a 72’ 124 sport. I loved that car. (No cup holders though, maybe that’s what conditioned me?) I’ve flirted with the idea of getting an Abarth spider. This video was helpful. These aren’t selling however, so values are dipping, can’t decide if I should pick one up now or wait til they depreciate.
When a car has cramped space, the ability to put a drink in a location that does not impede on the passenger IS a big deal; as is the ability for the driver to shift a drink to a more easily reachable position if there is no passenger. No sure how calories enter into the equation. Classic 124s are awesome! As for depreciation... Used, similar model, 124s with 10-20K miles are on the market for more than what we paid for our new one in 2018. Not sure how quickly depreciation will set in.
I powned a 1969 124 Sport Coupe. Purchased in 1972 with 24 K miles and a slipped timing belt. 3 hours and $15 later, fantastic auutomobile. I miss it. Resale localyl on the new 124 is lower than equivalent MIATA models. Many of these FIATS have very low miles. Cup holders, the bain of auto making. What BS... and a nuisance. pre cupholders no problem, post cupholders, inconvenient, sloppy, an invitation for disaster. Can't belive it is such an issue. Drinking ( anything) while driving is no less a problem than using a cell phone or texting. Yuppie junk, looks good , doesn't work.
My wife and i just took possesion of our white fiat lusso with tan leather,its a second car as we have just relocated to Alloway in Scotland which is at the ocean,we love the car and this video has been a great help.Thanks for posting it,happy driving.Kieran and Mary👌
Thank you! Check out the others, as well. I would say I hope you enjoy your Lusso, but I know beyond a doubt you will! :) They are awesome little machines!
Thankyou so much guys!!!! I was so confused why I couldn’t get my cup holder into the slip that looked exactly like it should fit in!!! Now I did it with the passenger cup holder! Now I can get to my Starbucks easily! Also the trunk opener under the trunk lip was new learning for me too!
It will definitely sound better! And you'll be able to enjoy music much better at speed! We upgraded our stock speakers, added an amp and put speakers in the cubbies. Looking to add a 10" sub-woofer in the front of the passenger footwell. There is foam under the floor lining the Bose system uses for their sub that you can cut to fit a sub. It lets you add a bigger sub and doesn't take up any cabin space.
You forgot something. The card holder in between the sun visor. The only thing I didn't know is that you are not able to open the trunk with the interior switch if the car is locked.
Yep _ it is above both of them when you flip them down. I guess if you have a situation where you know you will need a card soon, it makes sense; like to pay a parking fee at an airport or something. Or maybe if you are military or some company and need your ID to get into the base/plant. But, who in their right mind would ever leave a card up there?
I really enjoyed watching you and your son show the car. Like always in life your son started off a little nervous trying to make Dad proud but as the video progressed father and son nailed it. I look forward to seeing more videos by the dynamic duo .
@@jeffholt181 I am retired USAF '77-'97. His twin brother is also in - at Yokota on CV-22s. You were in at the really crazy time. At least people are more accepting of the military now.
you're still missing some tips: - if you open the trunk there is a sort of hidden compartement behind a removable trunklining panel on the right hand side, the panel is easily removable. This is where I store my tire inflater kit. - if you lower your sun visors you will find a card holder on each side in the plastic molding surrounding the windscreen, perfect for storing business cards or storing your fuelcard
This is possibly the most useful series on the 124 I've found, great info - I didn't know about the online 124 unabridged manual. Subscribed. Unrelated: I'm a cardiac patient at 47 years old, and you have some shortness of breath. Please talk to your doctor about it, it's a potentially symptom of something important.
Thank you. No, no need for a doctor...lol. I have allergies here and there, so sometimes it will sound like that because I hold the camera kind of close to my face when I record so I can see what is on the picture.
Here's a tip. This happens on occasion to some people: the satnav crashes and shows "loading navigation" but never loads. Hold the sound off button and the nav button at the same time for about 10 seconds and the computer does a hard reset.
Yeah - I have never had that happen in 11 months of driving, so I've never had the chance to confirm it works, but I have seen multiple people say this is what to do. I don't mess with electronics that are working...lol....learned the hard way.
Ive got a 2018 model I think of the Abarth 124 Spider here in Germany. It was sold new to me in march 2019. This video was very helpful. Couldnt get along with the trip computer. lol. Driving is fun. I love the car. :)
I'm thinking of getting a used 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth and was doing some research. Found your video, and man, you covered some really cool features. Thanks :)
@@DropTopTees My kids are all grown, I'm single, so what the hell. I miss the feeling of shifting gears. my first car was a 1973 Chevy Nova with a 4 speed trans.
My Abarth infotainment clear faceplate is de-laminating inside at the corners, apparently a very common problem with Mazda/Fiat. I found a replacement faceplate but cannot find any videos showing how to replace it without removing the entire system. Any suggestions.
@@Canaz73 Not an obvious thing actually. As the person indicated, useful for those who are new to their vehicles as they highlight things that are not common on other styles of car and which the salespeople do not explain. If you don't appreciate it why watch it? Let other people learn.
David Amini 1) I watch anything 124, 2) if you are in the drivers seat, look left above the hood opening - no chance you can miss it. 😂😂 maybe this video is for those that never drive their 124? 🤣🤣🤣
I actually showed the interior trunk release because, unless you lock the doors, if you leave the top down, people can use it to get into your trunk. - something people may overlook.
Thanks guys, I've been wondering for months what these holes between the seats are for. Cup holder! :-) I am looking forward to more videos - Greetings from Germany
Thank you. There are more secrets - like the hidden VIN and such but we haven't done a vid on them. Be ready to smile - a LOT when you get your car - it is a blast to drive!
I absolutely love my Abarth. I have had it a year now. I learned 3 things I had no idea. I didn't know about the AC plug in under the passenger seat. I didn't know about storage behind the seats and I always wondered how to get the passenger door open. The double click was very helpful...Thanks. BTW...I was out and thar wrench light came on. I freaked and didn't know. Your video put me at ease before I went into the party I would have been miserable at.
lol...Well, they are not gallon cups; I think they are 32 oz, but they are great for long days away from home. Double insulated stainless steel, they keep drinks cold all day long even in our hot Texas sun.
lol...We go on long trips, so we use the appropriate sized cups. Even with smaller cups, hitting the cup with your knee is an issue. No biggie. If your passenger does not mind, go for it!
Great video and lots of useful info on this awesome car but just a small tip for future videos, don’t use such a wide lens for shooting because you distort the look of the car and it gives the video a funhouse look to it and is a tad distracting. Just my opinion, shared in respect to yours.
A very useful video showing some of the features that are not quite as obvious as they might be. Thank you. I'm in the process of buying one of these cars here in the UK and wanted to know where you obtained the clip-on hood for the satnav display. The display's brightness is not as high as it could be so this may well be a useful extra for me to purchase when I get the car.
I have a 25,000 mile and 35,000 mile review on site and will soon be making a 50,000 mile review. My experience has been complete reliability. Itsy, our Classica (and the car in this vid) is pushing 49K and has never had anything go wrong. Saxy, our 2017 Abarth 124, is approaching 30K and has only had normal routine maintenance, as well. I think the 2 most frequent problems owners encounter are with the seat belt retractors (in some cars they stop retracting properly) and, in some cars, the top rubs on the roll bars when putting it up and down. Both problems are fixable and covered under warranty. As I say in the review videos, 124s give you the best of both worlds - Japanese reliability and Italian looks. In fact, in this case, the 124 has proven more reliable than the Mazda MX-5 ND1 because Fiat chose to go with the transmission from the NC because they feared the new tranny for the ND would not be able to handle the 124's torque. It was a wise decision, as the ND1 transmissions are notorious for failing under heavy loads (think track use).
Great tip about the cubbies. I am going to put my tire kit in there. I have a 2018 Lusso; my doors lock automatically about five seconds after I close the door. Will have to check to see if that is true with the top down. (I've only owned it for one month,)
@@DropTopTees I didn't know about the trunk release on the outside of the car. My battery died the other day and my cables were in the trunk. Not sure if it would've opened up from the outside. The inside button didn't work. I moved my jumper cables to the cubbie hole behind the passenger seat for now.
Great video looks like a lil more space than i thought do you think it can fit two suitcases and a small backpack im renting one for a week with my gf and want to be able to fit a small suitcase, a bigger one (my girls ) ,and at least one backpack or two in total ?
Great video, I learned a lot of things like the chests behind the seats. I will go to your channel to try to find out what you did to have a nice sound .... thank you
Excellent videos. Very clear and very useful. Thank you. A couple of questions. You appear to have a cowl over the screen. Was this an accessory? Does it help make things clearer? In a later video you replaced the standard Fiat Bonnet, Boot (trunk) and steering wheel logos with your own Spider logos (cool). Did you use your heat gun method to remove them? Many thanks. Keep them coming.
Yes, it is an accessory (from Amazon). Unfortunately, it looks much better than it works. Top down, there seem to be very few (very few!) angles where it helps makes your screen more visible. I did not remove the Fiat badges to put on my Spider emblems. I simply cleaned the top of the Fiat badges and placed the emblems on top of them.
Most people think mine is a Porsche when I tell them no they then guess it's an Alfa Romeo. I tell them it's a Fiat on the low, then all interests fade out🤣. But I still love it. It's rare and sounds beautiful.
I am an instructor pilot. You sound like you are former military. I liked the way you pointed out things, and how you went about it. I am glad you had a demonstrator on site, it fine tuned your demo. Thanks. .-.-.-I know that service members can get the 124 overseas at about 3K cheaper. Did you get it overseas and picked it up at the dealership in TX?
I am retired USAF Special Ops Weather Team (now called Special Reconnaissance). We bought the car in Ft Worth brand new for a wee tad under 20K at the end of 2018.
By the way, although he was never military (he is now a retired cop with 30 years of service), my next younger brother is a civilian instructor pilot. :)
Thank you SO much. Lot of good information that I wasn't aware of. I got a 2018 Abarth because of the deal , a 1600 mile trade in. I don't care for the flat black hood and deck but I love the car. Thanks again.
robert hinklin I have a 2017 Lusso in Tri coat white and ceramic coated. The sun glare on the windshield is really noticeable while driving. I would think a flat black hood would reduce that glare, wouldn’t it?
@@ral19777 I would think that it would. I think that was the original reason it was used on rally cars. It is a very popular look right now, even on non-124s.
Nancy - there are 3 different reasons the light can come on - all are service reminders. Here is the link to the video you want to watch: ua-cam.com/video/M1_IltvYhYU/v-deo.html
Thanks!! I realized you had Volume 2. I will try pumping the gas pedal!!! I wish in 2017 I had watched your video. 😂 I had to figure out everything you showed. Love ❤️ my Fiata!!
thanks man great video! This is top on my list because a.) there are plenty available with manual transmission and b.) the top is manual! I wish car companies would start selling simpler cars instead of adding more gadgets to eventually have to repair.
I've been in the market for the Fiat 124 spider 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.
Fiat recommends 91+ octane. It can handle mid-grade (89) with only a performance degradation, however 87 octane can cause knocking, which can, in turn, become severe enough to harm the engine. Octanes below 87 are warned against.
89 works great. There is no performance degradation if you are still running factory tuning. I have 95K miles on mine and drive it like a raped ape on 89 octane the whole time. Now, maybe on a very hot day, driving uphill, with a fully loaded vehicle the computer might pull some timing, but I've never experienced it. Here and there I'll run a tank of 91 and I get zero performance improvement when I do.
I have a 2018 that I hardly drive. Stupid question, but was the dealer supposed to give me the SD card for the navigation? (It was a horrible dealership and they didn't show me anything). I the SD card online on Amazon on ebay, and they aren't that expensive but before I buy I thought I would ask. Great video!
Great video. Just got a 124 Spider 2018 Lusso and you answered many questions i had. I purchased my from Carvana, so you really don't get much help. Very informative and appreciated. Also it came i with the compression not the sealant. thinking of a tire plug pack. any recommendations.? BTW - i didn't see any hoodies on the website - do you sell any? Thanks again.
I don't normally include hoodies because if I add all the possible products, it gets too cluttered to find anything. If you tell me which design you want, I can add a hoodie to the lineup for it. email me at droptoptees2019@gmail.com
I would buy a sealant bottle and add it to the bag for the compressor. That is how it comes stock. Believe me when I say Carvana isn't any worse than the original Fiat sales reps in the US. They were Alfa or Dodge Chrysler peeps who didn't know much about the Fiat line-up.
@@maxlacrossehighlights6299 Generic. I'm sure you could go to a Dodge parts place and buy a mopar one, but you can probably get them from any auto parts store.
@@DropTopTees Throwing out a question maybe you have experienced. Had the car a few weeks now (love it) however one issue i have is sometimes the music from my phone doesn't play. The phone shows up and syncs, however nothing from my playlist plays. I also ran google maps and wasn't getting anything either. The first time this happened I deleted the phone and reset. However it happened again. Any experience with this or thoughts? And thanks again for the videos, very informative and helpful.
I there any sense in getting 2016 fiat 124 with Abarth exhaust and low mileage, BUT in a country where there will be just a few months of warm sunny weather, and mostly just rain, heavy rain, maybe even snow, and also gas costs 8,8USD per gallon?
Are there any engineers out there who can explain why a car manufacturer the size of Fiat would design a driver side cup holder to be removable with no place to relocate it? I am pretty sure a stationary cup holder would be a lot easier, and less expensive, to make.
It's pretty interesting to see how similar the 125 is to my 2015 MX-5 Club. When you double-press the unlock and hold the unlock button on the second press does it roll the windows down as it does on the MX-5? I need to look for the DC power port. I have one directly under the AC controls with the aux audio port. BTW I'm in the DFW area too.
Drop Top Tees.. got myself a 2017 limited edition spider..damn good fun..awesome car ..someone has stuck your steering wheel on the wrong side of the car though..oops..😂😂
Flat head screw driver does the job, however if you are like me, I would use a plastic tool that you can get in the 99 Cent Store, or a stiff unusable credit card. Metal may scratch the car, but that's just me. .-.-.-Did I just see a US Army Free Fall HALO wings by the trunk key hole? AWESOME!
I always wash it by hand. I know some who take them through car washes but Fiat recommends against car washes with high pressure jets. The entire idea of automatic car washes in a rag top just makes me wince.
Any car should be washed by hand. I am a former factory rep ( District manager No Calif Region) for Mercedes-Benz of No America.. Clearly stated in the owners manuals ( pre Chrysler) wash by hand.
Beautiful car. I hope I can get myself one. Looking to purchase something in the next month or so, and this is at the top of my list. It is, however, an extra $5K from what I can get a nice 500 Abarth for, so I will have to consider the extra $100/month payment.
Nice vid for new owners like me! I gotta question for you: How do you turn off the warning voice that says "you are over the speed limit". I have searched the manual, screens, etc but cant find how. thanks !
@@nancyfleming8038 I assume you are talking about using the NAV System? I do not use the Mazda NAV system because it is terrible, especially in North America where you can not get Live Traffic with it. I will look at it this weekend and see if that is possible.
@@DropTopTees I know what you mean about the Nav being useless and I don't use it. I bought this used Classica recently so I'm not the first owner. Not using Nav, a woman's voice comes out of the side speaker and says "you are over the speed limit". I can't seem to get rid of it. It might be ok to be reminded on a highway, but on a side road I Do like to speed up. geez. So you do not get any voice reprimand ever? There has to be a way to get rid of it.
@@nancyfleming8038 I never get a speed warning from the NAV, but I don't use the NAV, so... Like I said, I will turn it on this weekend and see what I find. I used to have an Escort 360 Max and had it set at 70, so it would tell me to slow down every time I went above 70. I used it as a reminder since our local interstates are mostly 70 in town. My new Valentine V1 Gen 2 doesn't do it.
Don't know if this common knowledge, but I had mine for a year before I realised there's a boot (trunk) interior light, but it's manual. Usually they're automatic on modern cars but here I've been struggling in early British evenings all this time! It's on the front left inside the boot, kind of as though behind the rear left brake lights.
Great video! Just ordered mine last Monday. I'm so excited but the salesman said it could take up to 6 months to come in because of C19. So I'm stuck watching videos until it arrives.
@@DropTopTees Virginia. Right now there is very limited stock in the US and rumor has it there will not be a 2021 production year. So I ordered one from the factory, but because of C19 they told me there will be delays and may take 6 months. Could be sooner but I'm not going to get my hopes up.
@@seanstrickland6760 yes. It is near its end because the new ceo of fiat is changing the course for the company. I think he will end up completely killing off the brand in the us
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.
Most of the car is the same as a MX-5; it is made in the same factory as the MX-5. The suspension tune, the engine and the exterior styling are FIAT. Kelley Bluebook recently rated the 124 the most affordable sports car in the US over the next 5 years of ownership. They rate both the 124 and the MX-5 at 4.9/5.0 for reliability. With Fiat's future in the US in doubt and Fiat desire to continue the 124 in doubt, dealerships are offering great prices on them. If you are serious about getting one, now is a great time to buy! I should add, the motor has been used on Fiats since something like 2013. All it's kinks have long been worked out and it extremely reliable. The transmission is Mazda, but it is not the one on the MX-5 ND (the newest MX-5) because that was a new transmission and FIAT didn't want to risk it, so they opted to use the transmissions from the MX-5 NC (the previous version of the MX-5) because it was tried and true.
Most owners are very satisfied, however, once you "soup them up" by tuning for higher HP, it stresses other parts and sometimes causes problems, and may void the warranty. Mine has been a peach with over 23,000 fun miles and is plenty fast for me!
I’ve been watching tons of review videos on the 124, and they all complain about the lack of storage space or no glove box, and not one ever mentioned or showed us the ones behind both seats....to me that’s better than a glove box.... thank you for this video. Love my 124🏎🇮🇹💪🏼
Thank you! The truth is, the 124 has a tad bit more cargo space than a MX-5. Anyone who is considering purchasing any roadster, be it a 124, MX-5, Z4 or whatever, needs to understand cargo space is NOT a selling point for the vehicle. Unless you travel light, it is a weekender, not a 2 week vacation car. That said, I plan on taking it on a week long trip to the beach at Jennifer's and my first opportunity! :)
Actually there is a glove box, it's between the driver and passenger seats behind the cup holders.
I’ve only owned my 2019 Lusso for a couple weeks and there were several things I didn’t know, so thanks very much. The hidden compartments behind the seats, way cool!
You're welcome!
Thanks so much on all your information. I will be picking up my “ new to me” 2018 Fiat 123 Spider Lusso this weekend with 6 speed manual. I had been looking for quite awhile & found one with only 5000 km in pretty much new condition in Red with black leather interior. Previous owner took excellent care of it and kept it well serviced. Looking forward to it. Your videos will be so helpful in acquainting me with this vehicle. Great videos!
Jeremy Clarkson said “it has a boot which IS big enough for things.” Nice video. I have been daily driving a 2017 FIAT 500X in sky blue metallic since new. Contrary to popular belief, the FIAT has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned by far. In three years I’ve only had one flat tire and recommended oil changes.
I agree. 19 months and 18,000 miles after we bought it new, it has yet to have any issues. So, can't say it is the best car reliability but it is tied with the best I have had. I have had the check engine light come on 1 time but that was due to a mod and the dealer reset the light no charge and told me I needed a tune...lol I told him that was in the works and then we stood around and talked cars for the next 20 minutes.
Right .. my fiat 500l is crazy reliable ! ..
The rear exterior trunk switch was new to me, as was the DC port. Thanks for the great video.
Thanks. Believe it or not, I didn't know any of these tips and we've had the car three years
I believe it! Even if you bought the car new, fiat sales people seemed to have been focused on other marques at their dealerships and took very little time to learn about 124s.
I have a 2017 Special Edition and love the car. I installed the same exhaust you did, love that it’s a tab louder/sportier without deafening the radio/phone. Enjoy!
Which exhaust is it?
Great video, but too much information about the cupholders. Ive never seen anyone in Europe to use those
Fortunately, the vast majority of viewers are from the US, where we cherish our cup holders.
Only in America would cup holders be such a big deal. It’s as if we can’t bare to go any length of time without ingesting calories. I don’t bring food or drinks in my cars besides a bottle of water. Great video though very informative. I owned a 72’ 124 sport. I loved that car. (No cup holders though, maybe that’s what conditioned me?) I’ve flirted with the idea of getting an Abarth spider. This video was helpful. These aren’t selling however, so values are dipping, can’t decide if I should pick one up now or wait til they depreciate.
When a car has cramped space, the ability to put a drink in a location that does not impede on the passenger IS a big deal; as is the ability for the driver to shift a drink to a more easily reachable position if there is no passenger. No sure how calories enter into the equation. Classic 124s are awesome! As for depreciation... Used, similar model, 124s with 10-20K miles are on the market for more than what we paid for our new one in 2018. Not sure how quickly depreciation will set in.
I powned a 1969 124 Sport Coupe. Purchased in 1972 with 24 K miles and a slipped timing belt. 3 hours and $15 later, fantastic auutomobile. I miss it. Resale localyl on the new 124 is lower than equivalent MIATA models. Many of these FIATS have very low miles. Cup holders, the bain of auto making. What BS... and a nuisance. pre cupholders no problem, post cupholders, inconvenient, sloppy, an invitation for disaster. Can't belive it is such an issue. Drinking ( anything) while driving is no less a problem than using a cell phone or texting. Yuppie junk, looks good , doesn't work.
My wife and i just took possesion of our white fiat lusso with tan leather,its a second car as we have just relocated to Alloway in Scotland which is at the ocean,we love the car and this video has been a great help.Thanks for posting it,happy driving.Kieran and Mary👌
Thank you! Check out the others, as well. I would say I hope you enjoy your Lusso, but I know beyond a doubt you will! :) They are awesome little machines!
Thankyou so much guys!!!! I was so confused why I couldn’t get my cup holder into the slip that looked exactly like it should fit in!!! Now I did it with the passenger cup holder! Now I can get to my Starbucks easily! Also the trunk opener under the trunk lip was new learning for me too!
i got my 2017 lusso a month ago. im putting subwoofers in the cubby holes behind the seats with new speakers, amp, and crossfade.
It will definitely sound better! And you'll be able to enjoy music much better at speed! We upgraded our stock speakers, added an amp and put speakers in the cubbies. Looking to add a 10" sub-woofer in the front of the passenger footwell. There is foam under the floor lining the Bose system uses for their sub that you can cut to fit a sub. It lets you add a bigger sub and doesn't take up any cabin space.
@@DropTopTees awesome! thanks for the tip there too
You forgot something. The card holder in between the sun visor. The only thing I didn't know is that you are not able to open the trunk with the interior switch if the car is locked.
Yep _ it is above both of them when you flip them down. I guess if you have a situation where you know you will need a card soon, it makes sense; like to pay a parking fee at an airport or something. Or maybe if you are military or some company and need your ID to get into the base/plant. But, who in their right mind would ever leave a card up there?
I really enjoyed watching you and your son show the car. Like always in life your son started off a little nervous trying to make Dad proud but as the video progressed father and son nailed it. I look forward to seeing more videos by the dynamic duo .
Well, he is now in the USAF working on C-130s, so I don't get a chance to make many videos with him any more :/
Either way it seems you did a good job raising him. I pray for him that he stays safe in this crazy World we live in. I am a Vietnam Veteran.
@@jeffholt181 I am retired USAF '77-'97. His twin brother is also in - at Yokota on CV-22s. You were in at the really crazy time. At least people are more accepting of the military now.
you're still missing some tips:
- if you open the trunk there is a sort of hidden compartement behind a removable trunklining panel on the right hand side, the panel is easily removable. This is where I store my tire inflater kit.
- if you lower your sun visors you will find a card holder on each side in the plastic molding surrounding the windscreen, perfect for storing business cards or storing your fuelcard
Yep. I added the sun visor tip to the video about to be published
The dc outlet is actually sold as the tyre inflator port, for when you get a puncture
Yes, it is used as that, but that is not its only purpose.
This is possibly the most useful series on the 124 I've found, great info - I didn't know about the online 124 unabridged manual. Subscribed.
Unrelated: I'm a cardiac patient at 47 years old, and you have some shortness of breath. Please talk to your doctor about it, it's a potentially symptom of something important.
Thank you. No, no need for a doctor...lol. I have allergies here and there, so sometimes it will sound like that because I hold the camera kind of close to my face when I record so I can see what is on the picture.
You can change the settings of the door lock button. So that you only have to press it once to open both doors. Cool video, learned a few things
Yep! You can change the driver's door to open both doors (like the passenger door lock does), or just the driver's door.
Here's a tip. This happens on occasion to some people: the satnav crashes and shows "loading navigation" but never loads. Hold the sound off button and the nav button at the same time for about 10 seconds and the computer does a hard reset.
Yeah - I have never had that happen in 11 months of driving, so I've never had the chance to confirm it works, but I have seen multiple people say this is what to do. I don't mess with electronics that are working...lol....learned the hard way.
DC port, rear trunk switch and interior light dimer are new to me
Ive got a 2018 model I think of the Abarth 124 Spider here in Germany. It was sold new to me in march 2019. This video was very helpful. Couldnt get along with the trip computer. lol. Driving is fun. I love the car. :)
Thank you. Yes - I think it is the best car no one knows about.
I'm thinking of getting a used 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth and was doing some research. Found your video, and man, you covered some really cool features. Thanks :)
Buy it! You will be glad you did.
@@DropTopTees My kids are all grown, I'm single, so what the hell. I miss the feeling of shifting gears. my first car was a 1973 Chevy Nova with a 4 speed trans.
@@gumpster66 Get ready to smile :)
My Abarth infotainment clear faceplate is de-laminating inside at the corners, apparently a very common problem with Mazda/Fiat. I found a replacement faceplate but cannot find any videos showing how to replace it without removing the entire system. Any suggestions.
I haven't had that issue yet. ua-cam.com/video/GiMKgJnTvVs/v-deo.html
Thank you for this I’ve been trying to figure out how to move my cup holder!!!
you're welcome
Fiat makes a refined high-end product, I have a 2012 500 sport and am in love with the thing . I want the 124 , I must have it , I will have it.
watch places like car gurus, but dont neglect checking out local dealers, too
Great job guys! I've had mine a while and didn't know there was an interior trunk opening button or a DC outlet!
What??? How could you not know?? especially the interior trunk opening.. I can’t believe a video is needed for this.
@@Canaz73 Not an obvious thing actually. As the person indicated, useful for those who are new to their vehicles as they highlight things that are not common on other styles of car and which the salespeople do not explain. If you don't appreciate it why watch it? Let other people learn.
David Amini 1) I watch anything 124, 2) if you are in the drivers seat, look left above the hood opening - no chance you can miss it. 😂😂 maybe this video is for those that never drive their 124? 🤣🤣🤣
You would be surprised how many people ask about these kinds of things in the FB groups. That is why I made the video.@@Canaz73
I actually showed the interior trunk release because, unless you lock the doors, if you leave the top down, people can use it to get into your trunk. - something people may overlook.
Thanks guys for the tips! Bought a 2016 Lusso a month ago and love it! Any ideas how to delete the Sat Nav history?
Thanks guys, I've been wondering for months what these holes between the seats are for. Cup holder! :-) I am looking forward to more videos - Greetings from Germany
This is great! Thank you so much! Any advice on cleaning the rain gutter, to prevent water entering the cabin?
You're welcome. ua-cam.com/video/NnfhQJ-RbOU/v-deo.html
Great video, thanks!!! I just ordered a 2020 Abarth spider last week and already feel like I know its innermost secrets! ;-)
Thank you. There are more secrets - like the hidden VIN and such but we haven't done a vid on them. Be ready to smile - a LOT when you get your car - it is a blast to drive!
I just got one on satuday.🙂
Did not know about the DC port or the adjustment for the cabin lights. Thanks.
The cover around your touch screen monitor I need one what’s it called?
They are on Amazon but you don't need one. I've discovered they don't really block the sun from the screen.
I had this car for three years and I didn't know about the cubby holes behind the seats.
Exactly why we make the videos :)
Thanks bud for this great informative video, I've recently bought Spyder in UK and new nothing of what you showed, thumbs up from me. Stay safe .
I absolutely love my Abarth. I have had it a year now. I learned 3 things I had no idea. I didn't know about the AC plug in under the passenger seat. I didn't know about storage behind the seats and I always wondered how to get the passenger door open. The double click was very helpful...Thanks. BTW...I was out and thar wrench light came on. I freaked and didn't know. Your video put me at ease before I went into the party I would have been miserable at.
Thanks so much! Only thing is most people will not be using the gallon cups as you show in this vehicle
lol...Well, they are not gallon cups; I think they are 32 oz, but they are great for long days away from home. Double insulated stainless steel, they keep drinks cold all day long even in our hot Texas sun.
Thanks for explaining the white sticker tab. That thing is driving me nuts.
If you choose cups that are able to hold beverages which you do not run the risk of drowning in, the cup holders aren’t really an issue.
lol...We go on long trips, so we use the appropriate sized cups. Even with smaller cups, hitting the cup with your knee is an issue. No biggie. If your passenger does not mind, go for it!
Did not know about trunk button at the trunk or the double tap to open both doors! Well done sir!! Next, can you do a video on changing the halogens?
I'm not so sure. I have no desire at the moment to switch to halogens. I may do one to show how easy it is to switch out your exhaust, though...
double tap to unlock door option can be changed to allow one button push to open both doors.
Yes, it can! Our next video is going to be on many of the options from the screen and it will include that.
Great video and lots of useful info on this awesome car but just a small tip for future videos, don’t use such a wide lens for shooting because you distort the look of the car and it gives the video a funhouse look to it and is a tad distracting. Just my opinion, shared in respect to yours.
Great video, useful info for my 2018 Classica. My first "time" was in this park in 1980 with a girl named Nadine in my 1975 Pinto. Good times...
OMG! - THAT is what the stain on the bench is?
Thank you, great Job; just 1 week with my new car, help me to understand better all his features...Thanks
A very useful video showing some of the features that are not quite as obvious as they might be. Thank you. I'm in the process of buying one of these cars here in the UK and wanted to know where you obtained the clip-on hood for the satnav display. The display's brightness is not as high as it could be so this may well be a useful extra for me to purchase when I get the car.
Thank you!
@@DropTopTees Did you have an answer to my question?
They are available from Amazon or E-bay. They list them for the MX-5 though.
I already knew most of it but thanks anyway. Was great to get a reminder of some.
The dynamic duo. Great review.
thank you
Thank you, can you comment on the reliability at this time? We all hear of Japanese reliability, such as in the Miata--the Spider?
I have a 25,000 mile and 35,000 mile review on site and will soon be making a 50,000 mile review. My experience has been complete reliability. Itsy, our Classica (and the car in this vid) is pushing 49K and has never had anything go wrong. Saxy, our 2017 Abarth 124, is approaching 30K and has only had normal routine maintenance, as well. I think the 2 most frequent problems owners encounter are with the seat belt retractors (in some cars they stop retracting properly) and, in some cars, the top rubs on the roll bars when putting it up and down. Both problems are fixable and covered under warranty. As I say in the review videos, 124s give you the best of both worlds - Japanese reliability and Italian looks. In fact, in this case, the 124 has proven more reliable than the Mazda MX-5 ND1 because Fiat chose to go with the transmission from the NC because they feared the new tranny for the ND would not be able to handle the 124's torque. It was a wise decision, as the ND1 transmissions are notorious for failing under heavy loads (think track use).
Great tip about the cubbies. I am going to put my tire kit in there. I have a 2018 Lusso; my doors lock automatically about five seconds after I close the door. Will have to check to see if that is true with the top down. (I've only owned it for one month,)
Yes - it is a setting you can turn on or off in the infotainment center.
@@DropTopTees I didn't know about the trunk release on the outside of the car. My battery died the other day and my cables were in the trunk. Not sure if it would've opened up from the outside. The inside button didn't work. I moved my jumper cables to the cubbie hole behind the passenger seat for now.
@@BallroomTeacher Good idea.
Great video looks like a lil more space than i thought do you think it can fit two suitcases and a small backpack im renting one for a week with my gf and want to be able to fit a small suitcase, a bigger one (my girls ) ,and at least one backpack or two in total ?
We were able to take 9 days worth of clothes when we went cross country 2 summers ago. ua-cam.com/video/UvsVSQS5D6s/v-deo.html
Great video, I learned a lot of things like the chests behind the seats. I will go to your channel to try to find out what you did to have a nice sound .... thank you
Great info ! Ithankyou 🤙🏽
Excellent videos. Very clear and very useful. Thank you. A couple of questions. You appear to have a cowl over the screen. Was this an accessory? Does it help make things clearer? In a later video you replaced the standard Fiat Bonnet, Boot (trunk) and steering wheel logos with your own Spider logos (cool). Did you use your heat gun method to remove them? Many thanks. Keep them coming.
Yes, it is an accessory (from Amazon). Unfortunately, it looks much better than it works. Top down, there seem to be very few (very few!) angles where it helps makes your screen more visible. I did not remove the Fiat badges to put on my Spider emblems. I simply cleaned the top of the Fiat badges and placed the emblems on top of them.
I have a Prima Edizione and wondered if the trunk could be opened with the interior button while locked. Thanks for the confirmation.
Nope
I watched all your videos on the 124 spider, all helpful thank you.
You're welcome.
Love all the helpful information. I love my mistress. Great substitute when you don't want too spend all your money on a Porsche. Thanks.
Thank you!
Most people think mine is a Porsche when I tell them no they then guess it's an Alfa Romeo. I tell them it's a Fiat on the low, then all interests fade out🤣. But I still love it. It's rare and sounds beautiful.
@@seanin1990 I haven't had anyone lose interest when I said it was a FIAT yet...lol...that is cold...lol
@@DropTopTees New York"s a cold place 🤣
@@seanin1990 True. Upstate is pretty cool. NYC: not so much...
I am an instructor pilot. You sound like you are former military. I liked the way you pointed out things, and how you went about it. I am glad you had a demonstrator on site, it fine tuned your demo. Thanks. .-.-.-I know that service members can get the 124 overseas at about 3K cheaper. Did you get it overseas and picked it up at the dealership in TX?
I am retired USAF Special Ops Weather Team (now called Special Reconnaissance). We bought the car in Ft Worth brand new for a wee tad under 20K at the end of 2018.
By the way, although he was never military (he is now a retired cop with 30 years of service), my next younger brother is a civilian instructor pilot. :)
Thank you SO much. Lot of good information that I wasn't aware of. I got a 2018 Abarth because of the deal , a 1600 mile trade in. I don't care for the flat black hood and deck but I love the car. Thanks again.
You're welcome!
robert hinklin I have a 2017 Lusso in Tri coat white and ceramic coated. The sun glare on the windshield is really noticeable while driving. I would think a flat black hood would reduce that glare, wouldn’t it?
@@ral19777 I would think that it would. I think that was the original reason it was used on rally cars. It is a very popular look right now, even on non-124s.
nice informative video other then it sounds like someone is running a shop vac in the background.
Hi guys, do you know how to delete the wrench warning light. I tried to update maintenance on my screen. Did not go away this time. It worked before.
Nancy - there are 3 different reasons the light can come on - all are service reminders. Here is the link to the video you want to watch: ua-cam.com/video/M1_IltvYhYU/v-deo.html
Thanks!! I realized you had Volume 2. I will try pumping the gas pedal!!!
I wish in 2017 I had watched your video. 😂 I had to figure out everything you showed. Love ❤️ my Fiata!!
Very informative! I❤️my new spider abarth!!
thank you
Love your work.....I have had my A124 for just on 3 years and .......I still found out new stuff
Thank you! How do you like your Abarth after 3 years?
@@DropTopTees Still loving it !!
Cheers
I have that exact same color, altho got the carbon rims.
thanks man great video! This is top on my list because a.) there are plenty available with manual transmission and b.) the top is manual! I wish car companies would start selling simpler cars instead of adding more gadgets to eventually have to repair.
I think in this case, it has to due with keeping the weight down as much as possible. But, I agree - simple is better. Less to break!
every trunk in Europe works that way. I'm from Germany and it was like really funny because for me its so normal haha
Thank you, this was a great tour. I knew all of it except the DC port. I am heading to my garage now to find mine :)
Yes, it is amazing how well they tucked it out of sight.
I've been in the market for the Fiat 124 spider 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.
Fiat recommends 91+ octane. It can handle mid-grade (89) with only a performance degradation, however 87 octane can cause knocking, which can, in turn, become severe enough to harm the engine. Octanes below 87 are warned against.
@@DropTopTees thanks
@@DropTopTees Thanks
89 works great. There is no performance degradation if you are still running factory tuning. I have 95K miles on mine and drive it like a raped ape on 89 octane the whole time. Now, maybe on a very hot day, driving uphill, with a fully loaded vehicle the computer might pull some timing, but I've never experienced it. Here and there I'll run a tank of 91 and I get zero performance improvement when I do.
I have a 2018 that I hardly drive. Stupid question, but was the dealer supposed to give me the SD card for the navigation? (It was a horrible dealership and they didn't show me anything). I the SD card online on Amazon on ebay, and they aren't that expensive but before I buy I thought I would ask. Great video!
Sometimes, you get it and it is in one of the storage areas. Other times, you didn't buy it, so it isn't there.
Lots of good tips. Thanks for sharing.
thank you
Great video. Just got a 124 Spider 2018 Lusso and you answered many questions i had. I purchased my from Carvana, so you really don't get much help. Very informative and appreciated. Also it came i with the compression not the sealant. thinking of a tire plug pack. any recommendations.? BTW - i didn't see any hoodies on the website - do you sell any? Thanks again.
I don't normally include hoodies because if I add all the possible products, it gets too cluttered to find anything. If you tell me which design you want, I can add a hoodie to the lineup for it. email me at droptoptees2019@gmail.com
I would buy a sealant bottle and add it to the bag for the compressor. That is how it comes stock. Believe me when I say Carvana isn't any worse than the original Fiat sales reps in the US. They were Alfa or Dodge Chrysler peeps who didn't know much about the Fiat line-up.
@@DropTopTees are they generic or is it a specific model. sorry, just never used and there was nothing about them. thanks again.
@@maxlacrossehighlights6299 Generic. I'm sure you could go to a Dodge parts place and buy a mopar one, but you can probably get them from any auto parts store.
@@DropTopTees Throwing out a question maybe you have experienced. Had the car a few weeks now (love it) however one issue i have is sometimes the music from my phone doesn't play. The phone shows up and syncs, however nothing from my playlist plays. I also ran google maps and wasn't getting anything either. The first time this happened I deleted the phone and reset. However it happened again. Any experience with this or thoughts? And thanks again for the videos, very informative and helpful.
I there any sense in getting 2016 fiat 124 with Abarth exhaust and low mileage, BUT in a country where there will be just a few months of warm sunny weather, and mostly just rain, heavy rain, maybe even snow, and also gas costs 8,8USD per gallon?
They get good gas mileage so a high cost for gas would be an incentive to buy one.
Well done mister! 👍
thank you
u r an awesome dad man
thank you
Are there any engineers out there who can explain why a car manufacturer the size of Fiat would design a driver side cup holder to be removable with no place to relocate it? I am pretty sure a stationary cup holder would be a lot easier, and less expensive, to make.
I think it uses the same style attachment as the passenger side so it saves production and design costs.
Thanks for info, just picked one up. Also subscribed
You will love it!
It's pretty interesting to see how similar the 125 is to my 2015 MX-5 Club. When you double-press the unlock and hold the unlock button on the second press does it roll the windows down as it does on the MX-5? I need to look for the DC power port. I have one directly under the AC controls with the aux audio port. BTW I'm in the DFW area too.
It does not appear to. What color MX-5? I see a few around. Today, I also saw a very well kept Spitfire. Looked great!
Does anybody know if a 6ft 2inch person car fit in the driver's seat?
Yes, they can. I know several 6'3" owners. That seems to be the limit.
Looks like I just made it.
Good and thoughtful content. Grazie.
Great video guys..few things I didn’t know there..well worth the watch..cheers
Thank you! Our next one will be out in about 2-3 days.
Drop Top Tees... very good..subscribed so will have a look for sure..
Drop Top Tees.. got myself a 2017 limited edition spider..damn good fun..awesome car
..someone has stuck your steering wheel on the wrong side of the car though..oops..😂😂
HALO wings on the trunk, did you happen to be a parachute rigger in a previous life? EDIT: I just saw your SOWT license plate holder, very cool.
Nope! Riggers packed 'em; I jumped them. I am retired Special Operations Weather Team. (They changed the name to Special Reconnaissance last year.)
Amazing new information. Very helpful. Thank you!!
Thank you!
What a excellent review 👏 Thank you
You're welcome!
Flat head screw driver does the job, however if you are like me, I would use a plastic tool that you can get in the 99 Cent Store, or a stiff unusable credit card. Metal may scratch the car, but that's just me. .-.-.-Did I just see a US Army Free Fall HALO wings by the trunk key hole? AWESOME!
Yep! I am retired USAF SOWT. We are all HALO qualified.
auto reccombi resignated exhaust?
yes
Love this car! What would be the best way to wash it? Is it safe to take through a car wash?
I always wash it by hand. I know some who take them through car washes but Fiat recommends against car washes with high pressure jets. The entire idea of automatic car washes in a rag top just makes me wince.
Any car should be washed by hand. I am a former factory rep ( District manager No Calif Region) for Mercedes-Benz of No America.. Clearly stated in the owners manuals ( pre Chrysler) wash by hand.
Beautiful car. I hope I can get myself one. Looking to purchase something in the next month or so, and this is at the top of my list. It is, however, an extra $5K from what I can get a nice 500 Abarth for, so I will have to consider the extra $100/month payment.
500 is more practical, 124 is more fun...lol
Did you replace the stock exhaust to quad exhaust?
Yes. We switched to an AutoRicambi resonated exhaust. We have another video where we show how to do an exhaust swap.
Nice vid for new owners like me! I gotta question for you: How do you turn off the warning voice that says "you are over the speed limit". I have searched the manual, screens, etc but cant find how. thanks !
I believe that is internal - only you can control it.
@@DropTopTees Hi and thanks for your reply. So I am not able to set some value in Settings to stop the voice?
@@nancyfleming8038 I assume you are talking about using the NAV System? I do not use the Mazda NAV system because it is terrible, especially in North America where you can not get Live Traffic with it. I will look at it this weekend and see if that is possible.
@@DropTopTees I know what you mean about the Nav being useless and I don't use it. I bought this used Classica recently so I'm not the first owner. Not using Nav, a woman's voice comes out of the side speaker and says "you are over the speed limit". I can't seem to get rid of it. It might be ok to be reminded on a highway, but on a side road I Do like to speed up. geez. So you do not get any voice reprimand ever? There has to be a way to get rid of it.
@@nancyfleming8038 I never get a speed warning from the NAV, but I don't use the NAV, so... Like I said, I will turn it on this weekend and see what I find. I used to have an Escort 360 Max and had it set at 70, so it would tell me to slow down every time I went above 70. I used it as a reminder since our local interstates are mostly 70 in town. My new Valentine V1 Gen 2 doesn't do it.
very informational! thx
There are three glove boxes between and behind the seats
As discussed in the video...
What if they unlock car manually when you lock it, will thieves be able to open trunk?
Unless you have the fob close by, the manual unlock button will not work.
GREAT REVIEW 👍
Thank you.
Good old Tim!
Don't know if this common knowledge, but I had mine for a year before I realised there's a boot (trunk) interior light, but it's manual. Usually they're automatic on modern cars but here I've been struggling in early British evenings all this time! It's on the front left inside the boot, kind of as though behind the rear left brake lights.
It should default on when you open the trunk but there is a rocker switch on the top of it to toggle it on or off.
Really obsessed with cup holders :) I don't even have any for mine.
WE take it on trips so we use the cup holders a lot.
Was hat der Wagen hinten auf den Kofferraumdeckel ?
Mein Fallschirmabzeichen von Special Operations in der USAF.
Great video! Just ordered mine last Monday. I'm so excited but the salesman said it could take up to 6 months to come in because of C19. So I'm stuck watching videos until it arrives.
6 months? Where the heck do you live?
@@DropTopTees Virginia. Right now there is very limited stock in the US and rumor has it there will not be a 2021 production year. So I ordered one from the factory, but because of C19 they told me there will be delays and may take 6 months. Could be sooner but I'm not going to get my hopes up.
@@seanstrickland6760 yes. It is near its end because the new ceo of fiat is changing the course for the company. I think he will end up completely killing off the brand in the us
@@DropTopTees Glad I got my order in.
bellissima 124
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.
Here's a tip for the cup holders......dont bother, just drive.
You got two seats, open top and a six-speed. 😀
Nah. When you are on long drives, the cup holders are good to have.
Awesome vid
Thank you.
How reliable are these cars? I’d love to have one.
Most of the car is the same as a MX-5; it is made in the same factory as the MX-5. The suspension tune, the engine and the exterior styling are FIAT. Kelley Bluebook recently rated the 124 the most affordable sports car in the US over the next 5 years of ownership. They rate both the 124 and the MX-5 at 4.9/5.0 for reliability. With Fiat's future in the US in doubt and Fiat desire to continue the 124 in doubt, dealerships are offering great prices on them. If you are serious about getting one, now is a great time to buy! I should add, the motor has been used on Fiats since something like 2013. All it's kinks have long been worked out and it extremely reliable. The transmission is Mazda, but it is not the one on the MX-5 ND (the newest MX-5) because that was a new transmission and FIAT didn't want to risk it, so they opted to use the transmissions from the MX-5 NC (the previous version of the MX-5) because it was tried and true.
Most owners are very satisfied, however, once you "soup them up" by tuning for higher HP, it stresses other parts and sometimes causes problems, and may void the warranty. Mine has been a peach with over 23,000 fun miles and is plenty fast for me!