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We miss the Fiat 124 Spider, and that's only because we loved it so much. We remind you of the bits that made this roadster a joyful car.

Fiat's 124 Spider left butterflies in the tummies of car enthusiasts when it was revealed for the first time in 2016 - and yes, it shares its basic platform with the Mazda Miata MX5. Both are great sports cars, making them among the top sellers in the American market until the little Fiat's sales dwindled downward towards 2020. The 124 Spider is unmistakably Italian.

The Fiat was built in Japan but designed in Italy. Its small proportions remind us of the original 124 Spider from the 1960s, and that's a good thing since the Fiat had to remind us that it was not a copy-paste, re-badging job. It does share some setbacks with the Mazda, such as a noisy cabin.

Instead of the naturally-aspirated engine from the Mazda, Fiat had plonked in a turbocharged, 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. The Mazda may be faster, but the Fiat was no slouch either, thanks to the turbo-boost. Also, being a sub-2,500 pound car, with power being sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with paddle-shifters, a bundle of fun was around the corner.

If you opted for the Abarth version, you'd get a sportier-sounding exhaust, with a marginal performance bump of just 4 hp, which is a bit of a party-pooper, considering this was a car with a lot more potential. Its direct rival is the very same car it's based on: the Mazda Miata MX-5.

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All the bits that add up to the look of the Fiat 124 Spider, include body-colored side sills and door handles, 16-inch alloy wheels, premium black cloth seats, a black roll-bar finish, and halogen headlights, LED tail lights, and dual exhaust tips. The 'Classica' variant comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, silver-painted A-pillars, roll-bar cover, and dual chrome exhaust tips.

The 124 Spider is a perfect mix of modern and retro appeal, with the details that hark back to the original, along with all the modern touches of course. The almost circular headlights give it a cute face to look at, and the signature twin-cam hood bump design is worth a mention.

The Miata MX-5 looks more aggressive compared to the Fiat; the latter looks simpler and more elegant. The Fiat would fit right in if it were to feature in a romantic film, not the MX-5. In the Lusso trim, it looks fantastic with those aluminum wheels.

The cabin is similar to what you'll see in the Miata, but Fiat gave customers multiple upholstery options to choose from. Everything around is laid out simply, with lots of soft-touch plastics that have the feel-good factor. The Fiat 124 Spider Lusso variant features heated premium leather seats and a leatherette-wrapped cluster brow.

The lower instrument panel is also wrapped in faux leather, with Piano Black accents. In terms of comfort, the Fiat has plenty thanks to its supportive seats. The trunk, however, is a bit small. Our only gripe about the cabin is that it might be a bit cramped for tall and slightly broad occupants.

There isn't much storage inside either; all it gets are some very small cubbies, and surprisingly, no glove compartment. The quality inside was much better than that of the Mazda, and unlike the Mazda's body-colored upper door panels, the Fiat gets fully finished ones. Some don't like it, and some do. The trunk can hardly fit in a few soft bags, but it's a bit bigger than the MX-5's trunk.

Features-wise, the Fiat 124 Spider has no compromises whatsoever. It has everything a sports car needed in a market like ours. However, automatic emergency braking was absent. On the Classica model, you get cruise control, keyless entry, a 4-speaker audio system, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Lusso trim gets fog lights, LED headlights, automatic climate control, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system.

Related: This Is What Makes 2018 Fiat 124 Spider S-Design An Elegant Sports Car

This lovely budget Fiat roadster is powered by a 1.4-liter, MultiAir turbo, 4-cylinder engine - and this was the first time this engine had been used on a rear-wheel-drive Fiat like the 124 Spider. The engine puts out 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual.

It is reported that the Fiat 124 Spider is a bag full of fun to drive, and the handling had been tuned to suit the driver's expectations. Despite sharing much with the Mazda, the Fiat still felt different. From 0-60mph, the Fiat takes about 7 seconds; however, there is turbo lag.

Apart from the turbo lag, we're hard-pressed to scoff at it for anything at all. It's got the styling to impress anyone - and what's more, is that it isn't trying hard at doing it. It's naturally beautiful because it's designed in Italy. The peppy engine will put a smile on your face, and despite the modest outlay to acquire one, you still get to enjoy an Italian-flavored sports car. Although you can't buy one new, the used car market is full of good Fiat 124 Spiders.

Rehan got published for the first time at the age of 17, having written a feature on a Triumph Herald in print. He uses his writing as a tool to express his fondness for all things automotive even today, aged 28. Collecting scale models is a hobby close to his heart, and he wishes to sprinkle pixie dust on them only to see them grow into full-sized cars. He now represents HotCars.com.