[Bulldog66]

Finally, a modern classic that has grabbed my heart!! Really excited for the 124 Abarth!

I have been looking for years for a car that meets a seemingly difficult list of requirements.
1. FUN! (anytime, anywhere)
2. A modern classic that will age well, as I want a long term relationship with it
3. Easy, fun and affordable to modify
4. Good at altitude and great in the mountains
5. Reliable
6. Fun at autocross

In high school I had a Triumph Spitfire and TR7 (not so reliable....) then a Fiat X/19. I loved the Fiat, so much fun. It did go through fuel pumps randomly, though I think I had the pedal buried most of the time! Which lead to replacing it with the first GTI (new), which was also a great car. But the Fiat was special.

So for me a Fiat resonated with me on an emotional level. Even though it is a Mazda in part (but in a good way). But the designers at Fiat did an outstanding job with the design language and in my opinion really captured the old and blended it into the new seamlessly. This will be a rare car that has soul.

I have looked and thought a lot about the Mazda MX-5 for a few years, but it just doesn't connect with me. The new one, though I think the design is good, has lost its' connection with British and Italian speedsters of the past. It is VERY Japanese in its' ID. As such I don't think it will age well.

My future 124:

Abarth
Manual
White
Red Leather Interior
Matte black hood and trunk (even if they don't offer it)
Red exterior highlights (seems like they are not offering this, classic design by committee. I will follow the ID lead and add them back in)
Brembo Brakes
Luxury Collection

Modifications:
1. Piggyback ECU upgrade (TBD)
2. Ohlins Coilovers (better handling (road and autocross), dial in over steer/under steer, lower the car, etc)
3. Pedal box (maybe, TBD)
4. Intake (maybe, TBD)

I am sure there will be more goodies, and ones that are cosmetic only.

Anyway, pumped to be here and part of something very cool!

CHEERS!!!!

 

[Greg]

Hi Bulldog,

Welcome! I have has a couple X1/9s and I fondly remember my uncle's Spitfire. I never did drive a TR7 though.

I am supremely confident that the new 124 will bring us all the fun of the old Fiats, but in a modern reliable package. About a week or so from now I should be able to provide a virtual flood of new information on the car, and some performance upgrades.

Greg

 

[Stewie]

Hey welcome to the forums ! Glad to see you have everything planned out so precisely, you definitely know what you want. I see you have some minor performance modifications there, guess you'll be tracking or are you more of a canyon carver ?

 

[Bulldog66]

reply

Well, really both. One of the things I like about the Ohilns, the ability to adjust for both. As well as some tuning options like the piggy back from 500Madness, that you can use Bluetooth to adjust as needed. The "sports" switch is cool and all, but a bummer in that new programs/product will need to be developed around it versus current product already in the market for the 500 Abarth. oh well

 

[Greg]

Well, really both. One of the things I like about the Ohilns, the ability to adjust for both. As well as some tuning options like the piggy back from 500Madness, that you can use Bluetooth to adjust as needed. The "sports" switch is cool and all, but a bummer in that new programs/product will need to be developed around it versus current product already in the market for the 500 Abarth. oh well

I am not sure that the madness product is end user tuneable. You can definitely switch tunes with it from one pre-set tune to another, but that's not the same thing.

Eurocompulsion will be offering a box which in my view is not only superior, but offers a true self tuning option. Disclaimer, I made the tunes for Eurocompulsion so I am biased. Right now we have two tunes specific for the 124 which we will be testing the moment we get the car. The self tuning option will follow shortly after. This product is ready to go, it's not a fantasy product, I just don't want to unveil it yet.

A note about switching tunes. I don't switching tunes remotely with a piggy back box to be all that useful. The ECU needs to readjust every time you do that. So you can't run one tune and then switch to the "race" tune at the track and then swtich back for the drive home. If you do you won't get the full effect of the race tune while at the track. It takes a while for piggy backs to adapt, sometimes as much as 80 miles of driving.

Greg

 

[ForzaFiata]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Bulldog66]

I am not sure that the madness product is end user tuneable. You can definitely switch tunes with it from one pre-set tune to another, but that's not the same thing.

Eurocompulsion will be offering a box which in my view is not only superior, but offers a true self tuning option. Disclaimer, I made the tunes for Eurocompulsion so I am biased. Right now we have two tunes specific for the 124 which we will be testing the moment we get the car. The self tuning option will follow shortly after. This product is ready to go, it's not a fantasy product, I just don't want to unveil it yet.

A note about switching tunes. I don't switching tunes remotely with a piggy back box to be all that useful. The ECU needs to readjust every time you do that. So you can't run one tune and then switch to the "race" tune at the track and then swtich back for the drive home. If you do you won't get the full effect of the race tune while at the track. It takes a while for piggy backs to adapt, sometimes as much as 80 miles of driving.

Greg

Yes, I have read about that as well. Really open to options at this point. What are your thoughts on the "Sport" switch in the Abarth? Seems like an opportunity to pick two tunes and have them at your finger tips.

 

[Bulldog66]

Welcome to the forums!

Thanks!!

 

[Greg]

Yes, I have read about that as well. Really open to options at this point. What are your thoughts on the "Sport" switch in the Abarth? Seems like an opportunity to pick two tunes and have them at your finger tips.

The Sport button will allow switching between tunes once flash tuning is available on this car. As an example, a very popular combination on the 500 Abarth is to run a clone of the 695 Tributo Ferrari tune in NON Sport mode, and our Phase 2 in Sport mode. The TF tune is the most powerful factory tune ever released for this engine and has 190 horsepower (officially 190, actually a little more). It also sounds great. Phase 2 is pretty extreme and requires a lot of matching upgrades, but has around 250+ horsepower.

This combo allows the use of a more mellow but still fast tune in normal mode. This is useful in inclement weather, when you are concerned about fuel quality, like on a road trip when you have to fuel at Leon's Good Gas and Eats, or when a less experienced driver is at the wheel.

However, since we haven't seen the 124, let alone opened up the ECU, I don't know how long it will be before such a product is ready. In the meantime we will have one other solution, and I think you guys will like it.

Greg