True with the FIAT 124, not with the ABARTH 124. With this one the chassis comes from Japan, but the final assembly is made at the Abarth workshop in Turin.
Compared to the Fiat and the Mazda this is a more powerful car (170 bhp), with limited slip differential, revised bilstein suspension, better brakes, a few other bits and pieces.
From my perspective, it ticks all the boxes.
- it isn't a supercar wannabe (quite the contrary),
- it is a convertible
- Should be good to drive up twisty mountain roads, and/or in selected track days.
- it is a good car (but not too comfy) for some longer trips within Europe, and with a different tune both from the Plus 4 and the M3W, so the "palette" of options to choose from is even wider.
- it is italian, and has a service network in Portugal that makes me feel safe from another UK adventure (this time with Lotus, still the "other" contestant for my next purchase)
- It is exclusive enough. (At least in Portugal, I have yet to see one on the road)
- Although heavily influenced by Japanese engineering (MX-5 chassis and gearbox), it still carries a lot of the italian modest "racey" sports car heritage that Abarth represents.
(and my M3W has a MX-5 gearbox, probably one of the best parts in the entire car, so I'm not new to MX-5 engineering anyway).
