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Edmunds Rating
6.4 / 10
Consumer Rating
(17)
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Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible

Type:

Pros & Cons

  • Nimble, lively handling
  • Excellent feel from brakes and steering
  • Fast and easy-to-use convertible top
  • Abarth trim's sporty experience punches above its weight class
  • Frustrating, underperforming automatic transmission
  • Cramped interior and limited cargo space
  • Loud, rough ride, especially on freeways
  • Problematic seating adjustments for taller drivers
Other years
2020
2019
2018
2017
FIAT 124 Spider for Sale
2018
2017
List Price Estimate
$16,500 - $18,458
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Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible for Sale

Dealer Notes
CarMax Curbside is now available at select stores. Enjoy online car shopping with contactless pickup at participating locations. Choose your car at carmax.com, get pre-approved for financing, and receive a trade-in offer - all from the comfort of home. Then come in for a solo test drive and complete the sale from the driver?s seat of your new car. We stand behind every used car we sell with a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 90-Day/4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Limited Warranty. See store for details. Price assumes final purchase will be made in CT, and excludes tax, title and tags. Some fees are location specific and may change if you transfer this vehicle to a different CarMax store. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if this vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. Inventory shown here is updated every 24 hours.
Dealer Notes
CarMax Curbside is now available at select stores. Enjoy online car shopping with contactless pickup at participating locations. Choose your car at carmax.com, get pre-approved for financing, and receive a trade-in offer - all from the comfort of home. Then come in for a solo test drive and complete the sale from the driver?s seat of your new car. We stand behind every used car we sell with a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 90-Day/4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Limited Warranty. See store for details. Price assumes final purchase will be made in MA, and excludes tax, title and tags. Some fees are location specific and may change if you transfer this vehicle to a different CarMax store. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if this vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. Inventory shown here is updated every 24 hours.
Dealer Notes
CarMax Curbside is now available at select stores. Enjoy online car shopping with contactless pickup at participating locations. Choose your car at carmax.com, get pre-approved for financing, and receive a trade-in offer - all from the comfort of home. Then come in for a solo test drive and complete the sale from the driver?s seat of your new car. We stand behind every used car we sell with a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 90-Day/4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Limited Warranty. See store for details. Price assumes final purchase will be made in KY, and excludes tax, title and tags. Some fees are location specific and may change if you transfer this vehicle to a different CarMax store. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if this vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. Inventory shown here is updated every 24 hours.
Dealer Notes
During these uncertain times, Carvana is dedicated to ensuring safety for all of our customers. In addition to our 100% online shopping and selling experience that allows all customers to buy and trade their cars without ever leaving the safety of their home, we're providing Touchless Delivery that make all aspects of our process even safer. You can get the car you want, and trade in the one you have, while avoiding person-to-person contact with our friendly advocates. There are some things that can't be put off. If buying a car is one of them, know that we're doing everything we can to keep you keep moving while continuing to put your health, safety, and happiness first.
Dealer Notes
CarMax Curbside is now available at select stores. Enjoy online car shopping with contactless pickup at participating locations. Choose your car at carmax.com, get pre-approved for financing, and receive a trade-in offer - all from the comfort of home. Then come in for a solo test drive and complete the sale from the driver?s seat of your new car. We stand behind every used car we sell with a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 90-Day/4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Limited Warranty. See store for details. Price assumes final purchase will be made in OK, and excludes tax, title, tags and $299 CarMax processing fee (not required by law). Some fees are location specific and may change if you transfer this vehicle to a different CarMax store. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if this vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. Inventory shown here is updated every 24 hours.
Dealer Notes
CarMax Curbside is now available at select stores. Enjoy online car shopping with contactless pickup at participating locations. Choose your car at carmax.com, get pre-approved for financing, and receive a trade-in offer - all from the comfort of home. Then come in for a solo test drive and complete the sale from the driver?s seat of your new car. We stand behind every used car we sell with a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 90-Day/4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Limited Warranty. See store for details. Price assumes final purchase will be made in CA, and excludes government fees and taxes, any finance charges, $85 CarMax document processing charge (not required by law), any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. Some fees are location specific and may change if you transfer this vehicle to a different CarMax store. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls to learn if this vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. Inventory shown here is updated every 24 hours. Prior Use: FLEET
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Which 124 Spider does Edmunds recommend?

The Abarth (especially with the optional Brembo brakes) is truly the standout of the 124 lineup, dramatically improving handling for a moderate price increase over the midtier Lusso. However, for buyers more interested in a forgiving ride quality, the Classica trim, with the optional Technology Collection package, should cover most of the bases, and the extra tire sidewall on the smaller wheels will help with ride quality. In either case, we highly recommend the manual transmission since the automatic is frustratingly ill-matched to the 124's small engine.

Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

6.4 / 10

When Fiat decided to revive its famous 124 Spider nameplate last year, the company chose a partner known for making great modern roadsters: Mazda. Indeed, much of the 124 Spider's underlying structure comes courtesy of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. But the 124 is more than just a Mazda MX-5 in a costume. Fiat uses its own engine, transmission and suspension tuning, which in turn give the 124 Spider a distinct character all its own.

Like the Miata, the 124's diminutive figure is both part of its appeal and the cause of many of its shortcomings. Similarly, the small, turbocharged engine is likewise a distinctive trait with its own appeals and pitfalls: It's punchy and eager high in the rev range, but it's distinctly underpowered at low to medium rpm.

The Lusso and Classica express these traits very differently from the hot Abarth. The former are softer, and in some ways more relaxed, while the latter pairs exceptional handling with a ride that borders on harsh. Knowing what you want from the 124 Spider is important in choosing the right trim.

Other convertibles on the market come with fewer compromises. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro convertibles offer more interior space, more usable trunks and back seats (small as they are), and they are available with significantly more power. The VW Beetle convertible and Mini Cooper convertible have small-car aesthetics and are easy to drive while asking for fewer sacrifices than the 124. But as generations of Miata owners (and owners of the old 124 Spider) will tell you, driving is more about the connection you feel with your car rather than how much you can fit in the trunk. And in that way, there's simply no substitute for the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider.

2018 FIAT 124 Spider models

The 2018 Fiat 124 Spider is available in three trim levels: the relatively bare-bones Classica, the more comprehensively equipped Lusso and the aggressive Abarth. All three trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 160 horsepower in Classica and Lusso trims and 164 hp in the Abarth, and 184 pound-feet of torque in all three. Power goes to the rear wheels through either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic.

The Fiat's base Classica trim offers little more than the necessities. Buyers get 16-inch wheels, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, a manual tilt-adjustable steering wheel, and a four-speaker stereo system with a 3-inch display screen and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Pleasantly, the Classica also comes with keyless entry, pushbutton start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

One package is available for the Spider Classica: the Technology and SiriusXM Group package. This adds a rearview camera, proximity entry, rear parking sensors, and an upgraded infotainment system with a 7-inch screen, voice controls, streaming music app integration, satellite radio and GPS capability. (GPS navigation is a separate dealer add-on.)

Moving up to the Lusso trim gets you 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, automatic windshield wipers, a rearview camera, automatic climate control, and leather-upholstered and heated seats, along with the 7-inch infotainment system and all its features.

Fiat offers several packages for the Lusso. The Comfort and Convenience Group includes heated auto-dimming mirrors, rear parking sensors, a security alarm, universal garage door opener, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Opting for the Navigation and Sound Group adds navigation and a nine-speaker Bose stereo system. The Visibility Group adds turn-swiveling LED headlights and headlight washers.

There's also the Lusso Red Top Edition, which comes with a red convertible top, 17-inch wheels, Bose audio, the adaptive LED headlights and navigation.

The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth gets a performance-tuned suspension and a limited-slip differential, along with a driving mode selector with Sport and Normal modes, leather and microfiber-trimmed seats, and a handful of unique interior and exterior styling cues. The most notable option is the upgrade to Brembo brakes.

The Comfort and Convenience, Navigation and Sound, and Visibility packages are all available, as are Recaro seats.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso (turbo 1.4L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current 124 Spider has received some revisions to the distribution of options in its packages. Our findings remain applicable to this year's 124 Spider.

Driving

7.0
Steering, handling and braking performance are definite strengths for this lightweight roadster. Unfortunately, the peaky turbo engine and upshift-happy, efficiency-minded automatic transmission are a poor match, frequently leaving you without sufficient power.

Acceleration

7.0
The tiny turbo-four is weak down low, only feeling eager and punchy at higher revs. Out in the real world, with the transmission's fervor for upshifting, you're often left lugging until the drivetrain catches up. Still, our measured 0-60-mph time of 6.6 seconds isn't bad for such a small engine.

Braking

8.0
One of the 124's strong points. The pedal is firm and communicative, and the car tracks straight during panic stops. Brakes inspire confidence and work just as well in stop-and-go traffic as on back roads. Our tested panic-stop distance from 60 mph of 111 feet is average for a sports car.

Steering

8.5
The steering is quick and very precise and offers useful road feel. Weighting is lighter than many sports cars, but is well-suited to such a small and maneuverable car. The steering, however, can be darty at highway speeds.

Handling

7.0
The 124 changes direction well and exhibits minimal body roll around turns. But midcorner bumps can unsettle the chassis.

Drivability

6.0
The 124 is slow off the line, but the car starts smoothly and consistently. The transmission is overly eager to upshift, and it frequently leaves you without power. This leads to lots of hunting around for the right gear during spirited driving, on hills, and while maneuvering through traffic.

Comfort

6.5
The 124 doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of comfort. The ride is better than in many performance-oriented cars, but the seats are tight, and there's a significant lack of sound insulation. Plenty of other convertibles have more to offer when it comes to everyday comfort.

Seat comfort

6.0
These seats are quite narrow. For larger drivers, the bolsters are prominent enough to be uncomfortable, but they're not big enough to effectively hold you in place. There's no lumbar support to speak of, and the headrests with integrated speakers are uncomfortably hard.

Ride comfort

6.5
The ride will be too stiff for some; bumps and dips are translated throughout the car. However, it isn't harsh, and smaller imperfections are absorbed well. Undulating road surfaces or regular freeway seams cause an uncomfortable hobby-horse effect due in part to the car's short wheelbase.

Noise & vibration

6.0
Wind noise with top down is well-controlled below 50 mph. With the top up, there are lots of mechanical noises, and at highway speeds it's a tossup whether wind and tire will be just noticeable or intrusive, depending on road conditions. The 124 Lusso's restrained exhaust avoids engine drone.

Climate control

7.0
The knob controls are straightforward, and make switching between automatic and manual modes easy, though temperature selection isn't really graduated. The system can combat even high heat but works hard to do it. Having only three vents can add frustration to driving with a passenger on hot days.

Interior

6.5
Some buyers will value the 124's diminutive stature, but there's no getting around the fact that being such a small car forces compromises in terms of seat adjustability and ingress and egress. Being a convertible, it also has some visibility issues, but the manual top is exceptionally easy to use.

Ease of use

7.5
This car's small size brings all of the controls within easy reach. Drivers with long arms will find the infotainment control knob's placement awkward, especially when drinks are in the removable cupholders. Its few controls are clearly marked and easy to understand.

Getting in/getting out

6.5
The door is long enough, but the tall, wide sill and low roof with the top up create some problems. Taller drivers and passengers will just about fold themselves in half to get in or out. The experience is about average for such a low-slung convertible sports car.

Driving position

6.5
The seatback must be upright for the seat to slide fully aft, so tall drivers must choose between legroom or reclining. Beyond that frustration the driving position is appropriate, with the seat set low in the car. More adjustments might be nice, but there's no room for them in the cramped space.

Roominess

5.0
The 124 is tiny, and it feels tiny on the inside. Not much lateral leg space or elbow and shoulder room. The low and thick windscreen frame adds to the claustrophobic feeling, even with the top down. The transmission tunnel takes up passenger-side floor space, making for a cramped experience.

Visibility

7.0
Forward visibility is good, and rearview mirror visibility is better than average for this type of car thanks to the low, sloping rear deck. Rear three-quarter visibility is laughably bad with the top up, and the side mirrors are quite small, so blind-spot monitoring is a helpful extra.

Quality

7.0
There's a mishmash of Mazda and Fiat parts in the cabin, so it doesn't feel all that cohesive. The sense of quality is a bit hit-or-miss: Soft-touch surfaces mix with flimsy-feeling plastics, and some pieces (notably in our tester, the rear folding-top release handle) felt looser than we'd like.

Convertible top

8.0
The manual top is easy and straightforward to operate. It can be opened and closed very quickly, and it requires only mild contortions to reach. Taller drivers should exercise some caution. If they lean too far outboard, they'll find their skulls in the path of the upper side-window frame.

Utility

5.0
You can't expect much utility from a tiny, two-seat convertible, and the 124 certainly doesn't deliver much. A weekend trip for two is about the most this car can handle. Other convertibles might offer more practicality, but that typically comes at the cost of size, weight and nimbleness.

Small-item storage

5.0
The tiny armrest box is just enough for a wallet and keys, and there's a cubby for a phone in the center console. The "glovebox" behind and between the seats, while big enough for a purse, is difficult to access, and it's blocked if you're keeping something in the removable cupholders.

Cargo space

5.0
The trunk is minuscule, with a small opening that's flat in the rear deck. Fortunately, the car is low to the ground, which keeps the liftover height from feeling overly problematic. Two soft overnight bags will fit, but don't plan on packing for much more than a weekend.

Technology

7.0
The 124's infotainment system — borrowed from Mazda — is an easy-to-use unit with a good knob-based interface. It offers the features you expect, with the biggest omission being Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Driver aids are optional, and there are only a few.

Audio & navigation

7.0
Navigation is easy to use, although it's not the easiest system to navigate points of interest with. Audio quality is middling, and the system has to be turned up quite a bit to compete with all the background noise. The tinny in-headrest speakers feel more like a gimmick than a necessary addition.

Smartphone integration

6.5
Bluetooth is easy to connect and works well, including displaying incoming messages — although it will only recognize one message and one email app, at least with an Android phone. There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but two USB ports mean passenger and driver can each charge a device.

Driver aids

7.0
Optional blind-spot monitoring is a welcome addition with the small side mirrors, as is rear cross-traffic alert thanks to poor top-up visibility. The rearview camera makes it easy to take advantage of the 124's small size in tight spaces.

Voice control

8.0
The Mazda-sourced system does a reasonable job interpreting commands and offers prompts to help you along. It's capable of entering navigation destinations and finding points of interest. Still, only a limited set of functions is available, and there's no Google or Siri compatibility.

EdmundsScorecard

Overall6.4 / 10
Driving7.0
Comfort6.5
Interior6.5
Utility5.0
Technology7.0

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2018 FIAT 124 Spider.

5(82%)
4(12%)
3(6%)
2(0%)
1(0%)
4.8
17 reviews
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Most helpful consumer reviews

A Go-Kart for Grow-ups!
M. Edwards,03/31/2018
Classica 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I came close to buying another MX-5. It's been a few years since my last one and I'm not getting any younger. But after the test drive, I decided to test-drive a Spider at the dealer down the road. To me, it was more refined, inside and out. The ride felt more comfortable as well, and the steering was quick and true. When you gave it the gas and the turbo kicks in, it really gives you a thrill. I'm going on 3,000 miles, with my Classica, and it's still a joy to throw the top down and go for a spin (trouble-free). It's like a go-kart for grown-ups, with a rocket on the back! Update at 8500 miles. Absolutely perfect! Getting right at 31 mph with mostly city driving. Put new Autoricambi exhaust on it because it was so quiet I kept forgetting to change gears. The new muffler-delete pipes are great! Great balls of fun!
Best car I ever owned
J. L. Pifco,02/18/2018
Lusso 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I have a 2018 Spider Luzzo with all the options. It is the most fun car to drive that I have ever owned and this includes 2 Corvettes, a Triumph, and numerous non-sports cars. It would run circles around the 1980 or the 1978 Corvettes I had. The quality appears excellent as I haven't found a single defect. Very comfortable seating, however very tall or obese folks would not fit. The Bose radio system sound great.
Test drove this and an Mazda MX5
Brian,03/19/2018
Classica 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
I test drove both the Fiat and the Miata. The Miata delivers its power in a more linear fashion. The Fiat needs to get up in the Revs before it really goes. So, it feels slower off the line. A little more like a Honda S2000. So it is really down to which one appeals to you more. I would rate the Fiat at a 4 and the Mazda at a 4.5 from an everyday driving standpoint. However, I am considering this purchase for weekend pleasure drives and I find the Fiat is more exciting to me. I like the bit of quirkiness that it has over the Miata. To me this gives the Fiat a bit more excitement. If you are deciding between the Mazda and the Fiat you really need to spend some drive time in both. The interior is similar in most ways. It's really about do you fit and are you comfortable enough to enjoy the car. Also, I would mention that the edmunds review of the Fiat is a 3 and the Mazda a 4.5. This seems to me to be because of different editors approach to the car and because the Fiat review, I believe, is for the automatic which I agree is not very good with this engine. If you want an auto the Mazda is the better choice. I took a brief drive of each car with the auto but for me the manual is the way to go. I would recommend reading each edmunds review with the mindset that it applies to both cars outside of the engine. I am disappointed that Edmunds editors seem to have written these reviews in a vacuum ignoring the relation of the cars to each other.
Fantastic Fiat
Spiderman,04/30/2018
Lusso 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
The Mazda guts are evident in this car and that’s a good thing.The Lusso handles great, looks fantastic and is a blast to drive. Great soft top with added sound deadening to make for a quiet interior when needed. Turbo lag takes a bit to get used to but once you drive the car a bit you learn to increase the revs in 1st and then then enjoy that turbo boost. Safety package is a great add to the Lusso.Can’t say enough about the way this car drives.
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Features & Specs

Abarth 2dr Convertible
1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M
MPG
26 city / 35 hwy
Seats 2
6-speed manual
Gas
164 hp @ 5500 rpm
Lusso 2dr Convertible
1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M
MPG
26 city / 35 hwy
Seats 2
6-speed manual
Gas
160 hp @ 5500 rpm
Classica 2dr Convertible
1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M
MPG
26 city / 35 hwy
Seats 2
6-speed manual
Gas
160 hp @ 5500 rpm
See all Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the 124 Spider models:

Enhanced Accident Response System
Cuts off fuel to the engine, unlocks doors, blinks hazard lights, and turns on interior lights in the event of an accident.
Blind-Spot Monitoring
Alerts you to other vehicles that are lurking in your blind spots.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Warns you of oncoming perpendicular traffic when reversing out of a parking space or driveway.

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More about the 2018 FIAT 124 Spider

Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible Overview

The Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible is offered in the following styles: Abarth 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M), Lusso 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M), and Classica 2dr Convertible (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M).

What's a good price on a Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible?

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertibles are available in my area?

Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible Listings and Inventory

Simply research the type of used car you're interested in and then select a prew-owned vehicle from our massive database to find cheap used cars for sale near you. Once you have identified a used or CPO vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible.

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 FIAT 124 Spider Convertible for sale near you.

Can't find a used 2018 FIAT 124 Spider 124 Spider Convertible you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Find a used FIAT 124 Spider for sale - 3 great deals out of 18 listings starting at $21,869.

Find a used FIAT for sale - 10 great deals out of 23 listings starting at $9,907.

Find a used certified pre-owned FIAT 124 Spider for sale - 10 great deals out of 11 listings starting at $14,792.

Find a used certified pre-owned FIAT for sale - 6 great deals out of 14 listings starting at $9,113.

Should I lease or buy a 2018 FIAT 124 Spider?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

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