Pretty cool chance to get a nearly brand new Fiata 124 abarth. This model is the better modding platform of the ND/NE/NF generation. This and a tune will make about as much power as a ND with $10k worth of power mods and supporting transmission swap. Fiata has turbo from factory and the more robust NC transmission big power builds need. You can even tune for corn or meth.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/KmXxR8Mx/2019-fiat-124-spider-abarth

2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth - ~15,300 Miles, Turbocharged 4-Cylinder, Florida-Owned

This 2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is for sale on Cars & Bids! Auction ends August 3 2023.

@Mark but it's an automatic...
@drawks oh bummer. I didn’t even look for that because most of the ones on these sites are manuals. It’s still a great car for someone. These cars are relatively rare, especially with low miles.
@Mark @drawks And it’s still shiftable…

@ZeKik @Mark true or not, I'm not interested in a "Miata" without 3 pedals...

I'd guess most in the market for a high spec miata-alike are of the same mind, probably why it isn't attracting much of a bid.

@drawks @ZeKik same. I wouldn’t even take a automatic miata for free. I feel like if you want an auto sports car there are better options. If you really want a small convertible and an auto I guess Miatas are an option. I just think go for a bigger car with more comfort and power. Corvette convertibles are nearly free and a torquey V8 works great with an automatic transmission.

@Mark @ZeKik let's not go too overboard here, id totally take a free one. Dunno how long it'd keep its automatic transmission, but I get a lot less picky about the details when it doesn't cost me anything.

Some cars, the automatic version ends up being more desirable for subsequent conversion to manual because they often have lead a less abused life and sometimes have a wider trans tunnel which gives you more options....

@Mark @drawks This might sell for more than I’d be willing to pay. I did a quick search on #CarGurus in SoCal, and nearly all of them are selling from $20-28K. Even with an automatic.

The search turned up 22 locally, of which 14 were the 6-spd auto.

None of them had anything but the black interior, so maybe that was all that was offered? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

@Mark @drawks bidding now up to$15K with 5 days left. Chances seem high that this will sell above $20K, so no longer such a bargain, and it might go considerably higher than that. 😱

I don’t think I’ve ever once seen anything that could be described as a bargain on #CarsAndBids

@ZeKik @Mark yeah I feel like some people that are buying on these auction sites are in for a rude surprise when they figure out that most of the pricing in that space is outlier high compared to much more common person to person private party sales.

@drawks @ZeKik I have to be honest with you, these days person to person sales have become a pain in the ass. I’ve just given up on searching hard for a Honda fit.

This is a pretty rate low volume car that was only sold a handful of years. It’s quite low mileage. I honestly could see this car hitting $30k, just because there is no supply. You can’t buy one new. If two people want a new auto fiata prices could go nuts.

@Mark @drawks the last time I completed a person to person sale was in 2000. Volkswagen Passat VR6 in what I like to call British racing green (metallic), with a beige genuine leather interior. Fabulous engine and transmission (auto).

Not sure I have the social skills to do it again.

@Mark @ZeKik cars.com has 70 of them for sale on dealer lots, the vast majority are under 29k from a dealer and have less than 20k miles on the clock.

One with 1,600 miles is selling for 27.7k

My favorite one is this rough track special with 12k on the clock a bit of body damage and a trunk full of aftermarket parts for 14k

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/c8f672aa-3996-473e-a95c-c36f62509bd4/

@drawks @ZeKik I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as an NE.
@drawks @ZeKik I wouldn’t because parking is so difficult where I live and I have no space. I need to get an inspection for every car every year plus registration every two years. It really makes being Craigslist Jay Leno while working two jobs a hassle.
It’s hard to explain, but when you street park in my city I have to live the car every single day during the winter and there are not enough spaces. We can only park on one side of the street all winter. It’s a weird system.

@Mark I’d want it just because it has a 1.4L turbo with QUAD exhausts! 🀣

Still, that’s a lot of affordable fun for not much. πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

Pity the seats are *white instead of some delectable Fiat red leather (not leatherette).

*meant to type β€œblack”, belatedly edited. πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ

@ZeKik don’t say that too loud you might offend β€œillin’ day”.
@Mark @ZeKik
Oh no, no, it’s fine. I guess some of us just have better taste than others πŸ’…

@Mark @Dylan I also wrote white when I meant to write black.

I love white seats, but maybe not in a white car. πŸ€”

@Dylan @ZeKik it’s lonely at the top.
@Mark I’d happily drive it. A manual would be better, but it still has enough fun-factory to make me smile. That current bid is crazy low, too.
@Larzzzz I daily drive a manual ND. So a automatic fiata would only get driven when the weather is nice but I am too tired to enjoy shifting gears. I have no interest in an auto fiata, but I would take nearly any automatic corvette with a fixed roof. I’m a huge fan of small roadsters, but to me three pedals is part of the formula. If I was going auto sports car I would want so@etching with a DCT like a 4C or even an auto GTI or Elantra N with a tune (arguments about what is a β€œsports car” aside)