HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

JOIN US AS WE FIND THE RIGHT RIDE FOR BIG FAMILIES ON THE MOVE... PAT GOSS SHEDS LIGHT ON SOME ANNOYING CAR CARE PROBLEMS... ZACH MASKELL CATCHES UP WITH A COLLECTOR WHO ALWAYS DRIVES ITALIAN...

FOLLOWED BY AN ALL-NEW ITALIAN TEMPTATION THAT'S HARD TO RESIST...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE, FOR EVERY SEASON.

TIRERACK.COM.

John: IT'S THAT TIME ONCE AGAIN.

TIME TO GATHER A GROUP OF THE NEWEST OF THE NEW TOGETHER, MEET UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM, AND FIND OUT WHICH VEHICLE RISES TO THE TOP.

THIS TIME WE'RE TACKLING THAT EVER SO POPULAR AND FAST BECOMING NECESSITY OF AMERICAN MOTORDOM, THE 3-ROW FAMILY UTILITY.

THE 3-ROW, 7-8 PASSENGER, MID-TO-LARGE SPORT AND CROSSOVER UTILITY SEGMENT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE OUT THERE.

WHETHER, ITS HAULING KIDS EVERYWHERE DAILY, OR GETTING PACKED UP FOR LONG DISTANCE VACATIONS, THEY ARE A NECESSITY FOR MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES.

AUTOMAKERS ARE RELYING ON THEM MORE THAN EVER AS WELL, TO BOOST THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE COMPARED THIS SEGMENT MANY TIMES BEFORE, THIS GO AROUND SEES THE FRESHEST ENTRIES YET, AS ALL OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE EITHER ALL-NEW OR HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HEAVILY REVISED.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S MEET OUR CONTESTANTS...

THE LARGE-AND-IN-CHARGE DODGE DURANGO...

THE EVER-POPULAR FORD EXPLORER... GMCs SMALLER BUT BETTER ACADIA...

THE ALWAYS STRONG HONDA PILOT... HYUNDAI'S NOW-LARGER SANTA FE... ITS CORPORATE COUSIN, THE KIA SORENTO... MAZDA'S RE-BORN CX-9... AND FINALLY, THE CAPABLE AND COMFORTABLE NISSAN PATHFINDER... A PRICE CAP OF $45,000, MEANS THAT WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF BOTH POWERTRAINS AND OPTION PACKAGES.

WE KEPT IT LOCAL THIS TIME AROUND, HERE AT MOTORWEEK WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN MARYLAND, AND AS USUAL, ENLISTED SOME HOMETOWN HELP IN THE MARKET FOR NEW FAMILY CARRYALL.

TOO MANY VEHICLES AND NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR A FULL RUNDOWN HERE, SO FOR THE COMPLETE SCORING BREAKDOWN, HEAD OVER TO CARS.COM.

BUT FOR NOW, HERE'S A RUN THROUGH OUR TOP-4 FINISHERS.

AND IN THE 4TH SPOT RESTS THE ALL-NEW MAZDA CX-9.

THERE'S NO DENYING THE CX-9s SPORTIER ATTRIBUTES OR ITS SLEEK DESIGN INSIDE AND OUT, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE SHORT ON SPACE AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES FOR OUR JUDGES.

ALSO, NO HELP WAS THE HIGHEST STICKER AT $44,915, DESPITE SPORTING THE ONLY 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, THOUGH THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT ITS ACCELERATION.

Jennifer Newman: THE CX-9 SHOULD BE THE CLEAR WINNER, WITH ITS SPORTY GOOD LOOKS AND ITS FUN TO DRIVE ENGINE; HOWEVER, ITS 3RD ROW COULD INDUCE CLAUSTROPHOBIA.

Mike Hanley: I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE CX-9s INTERIOR QUALITY; IT HAS RICH LEATHER, REAL ALUMINUM TRIM, AND ALSO REAL WOOD TRIM.

THE CX-9 ALSO WASN'T AS SPACIOUS AS SOME OF ITS COMPETITORS, ESPECIALLY IN FRONT WHERE IT FELT LIKE, A MUCH SNUGGER CAR.

John: IN THIRD, ANOTHER STYLISH ENTRY, THE KIA SORENTO.

IT OFFERED A LOT MORE SPACE THAN THE CX-9, AS WELL AS A V6 ENGINE, AND MORE FEATURES FOR THE MONEY COMING IN AT $43,295.

Fred Meier: WHILE, THE NEW SORENTO SHARES SOME MECHANICALS WITH THE SANTA FE, I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEATEN ITS CORPORATE COUSIN IN TERMS OF RIDE AND QUIET CABIN.

Brian Robinson: WITH THE SORENTO, I LOVE THE MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE, VERY EASY TO FIGURE OUT, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE LOTS OF BIG MANUAL CONTROLS, I LIKE THAT AS WELL; MATERIAL QUALITY IS VERY GOOD, RIDE QUALITY IS NOT THE BEST, FIRMLY MID-PACK; I LIKE THE LOOKS OF THE EXTERIOR, LOTS OF SPACE INSIDE.

John: GMCs ACADIA, OUR RUNNER UP, MAY HAVE SHRUNK WITH ITS '17 REDESIGN, BUT ITS SIZE IS NOW MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE, WHILE, BEING LESS BULKY TO DRIVE.

JUST $30 MORE THAN THE SORENTO, AT $43,325, THE ACADIA LOOKS GREAT, FELT ADEQUATELY ROOMY AND WAS ONE OF THE BEST RIDING RIGS IN THE BUNCH.

Jennifer: FOR 2017, THE GMC ACADIA LOST 7.0 INCHES, BUT IT GAINED SO MUCH MORE.

IT NOW HAS USB PORTS IN EVERY ROW AND LOTS OF STORAGE CUBBIES FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH FAMILIES.

Brian: THE ACADIA HAS MOST OF THE TECH AND SAFETY FEATURES YOU'D WANT AT THIS PRICE, IT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE NICEST RIDES HERE.

PROBABLY THE THING I DON'T LIKE MOST ABOUT IT IS, THEY'VE MADE IT A LOT SMALLER WITH THIS GENERATION, SO I FEEL LIKE, I'M PAYING ABOUT THE SAME MONEY AND GETTING LESS FOR IT.

John: THAT LEAVES THE HONDA PILOT AS OUR WINNER.

IT WASN'T A SURPRISE REALLY, AS IT ALSO WON OUR 2016 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY.

THE PILOT IS WELL DESIGNED, AND AS SOLID AS THEY COME.

AND IT'S PRICED JUST ABOVE THE ACADIA AT $43,700.

Fred: THE NEW PILOT ISN'T THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE, BUT IT EXCELS AT THE THINGS THAT PROBABLY MATTER A LOT MORE TO BUYERS IN THIS SEGMENT; IT'S LOADED WITH REALLY SMARTLY DESIGNED FAMILY FEATURES FRONT TO BACK, AND IT'S GOT LOTS OF SPACE FOR PEOPLE AND CARGO.

Jeff Givens: FOR PRACTICALITY AND FOR OUR LIFESTYLE, WE'VE GOT TWO KIDS, I WOULD CHOOSE THE HONDA BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO FIT OUR LIFESTYLE, AND IT HAS A LOT OF FEATURES THAT WORK AROUND THAT.

BECAUSE THE KIDS CAN GO FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, AND IT ACCOMMODATES CHILD SEATS VERY WELL.

John: THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS IN THE 3-ROW UTILITY ARENA THAN EVER, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THEM IN THIS TEST.

BUT, FOR THE NEWEST OF THE NEW ENTRIES, WHEN IT COMES TO PACKING THE MOST FEATURES AND SPACE, INTO AN EASY TO DRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PLATFORM, THE HONDA PILOT LEADS THE WAY.

* Lauren Morrison: THE FUTURE OF FARADAY FUTURE IS BECOMING A LITTLE CLEARER, AND OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURED THE PICTURES TO PROVE IT.

THE UPSTART EV BRAND HAS BEEN CAUGHT TESTING THIS HIGHLY-CAMOUFLAGED CROSSOVER ON THE STREETS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS AT A SECRET TEST FACILITY JUST SOUTH OF L.A.

NATURALLY, FEW DETAILS ARE BEING REVEALED AT THIS POINT, BUT WE DO KNOW THE CALIFORNIA DMV HAS GRANTED AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING PERMIT TO FARADAY; WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO START TESTING AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES ON PUBLIC ROADS IN THE STATE.

AND WE ALSO KNOW, IT WILL BE THE FIRST VEHICLE TO GIVE THE TESLA MODEL X SOME REAL COMPETITION WHEN IT ARRIVES IN 2018.

John: IT'S TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE, LET'S SEE WHAT PAT HAS TO ENLIGHTEN US WITH THIS WEEK.

Pat Goss: WELL, MOST OF YOU CALL THEM "IDIOT LIGHTS."

NOW WHY, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE A VALUABLE PART OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND OTHER PARTS OF YOUR CAR.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE ONLY IDIOT INVOLVED HERE IS THE PERSON WHO IGNORES THEIR SO-CALLED IDIOT LIGHTS.

BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

AND NO, THEY DON'T LIE ALL THE TIME.

THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY, AND I DO MEAN VERY, RELIABLE.

NOW, THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE GRADES OF WARNING LIGHTS.

THERE IS THE GREEN LIGHT.

THE GREEN LIGHT MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS WORKING AND IT'S WORKING PROPERLY.

SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

GREEN MEANS GO.

BUT THEN, YOU HAVE YELLOW LIGHTS.

WELL, YELLOW LIGHTS MEAN, JUST LIKE THEY DO AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THEY MEAN CAUTION.

SOMETHING IS OR IS ABOUT TO GO WRONG, AND YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION.

AND YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT LIGHT MEANS, SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT EVASIVE MANEUVERS YOU NEED TO PERFORM.

BUT THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL, AND THAT IS THE RED WARNING LIGHT.

NOW, IF YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU COME UP AGAINST A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT'S RED, IT DOESN'T MEAN STOP ANOTHER BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD, OR ANOTHER MILE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT MEANS STOP RIGHT NOW.

AND THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON YOUR DASH, WELL THAT MEANS EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

BECAUSE A RED WARNING LIGHT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE OIL PRESSURE, OR YOUR ENGINE IS SERIOUSLY OVERHEATED, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, THAT EXTRA MILE OR EVEN THAT EXTRA BLOCK COULD COST YOU AN ENGINE.

SO, THE KEY HERE IS PAY ATTENTION TO WARNING LIGHTS.

NUMBER ONE: LOOK AT YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND SEE WHAT EACH ONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON YOUR DASH MEANS, SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN ONE OF THEM COMES UP.

AND REMEMBER THAT GREEN MEANS GO, YELLOW MEANS CAUTION, AND RED MEANS STOP RIGHT NOW!

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: WE'RE AT 4-MONTHS AND 8,000 MILES WITH OUR LONG TERM 2016 KIA OPTIMA, AND NOTHING HAS DIMMED OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR MIDSIZE SEDAN YET.

WELL, MAYBE NOTHING EXCEPT THE MYSTERIOUS SUNROOF FLUTTER NOISE.

OUR LOCAL DEALER SUGGESTED THE SUNROOF WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, BUT AFTER AN ADJUSTMENT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE.

PERFORMING MOSTLY COMMUTING DUTY THIS TERM, HAS SEEN MILEAGE SLIP TO A STILL GOOD 28.8 MILES PER GALLON.

AND ALL OF THAT SEAT TIME HAS US APPRECIATING THE LUXURIOUS INTERIOR EVEN MORE, WITH ONE STAFFER NOTING, "CANNOT SEE WHY YOU'D WANT TO PAY MORE FOR ANY OTHER MIDSIZE CAR FROM ANY BRAND."

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND FALL, THE OPTIMA HAS BEEN BOTH A GREAT LONG AND SHORT DISTANCE CRUISER.

BUT NOW, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT WILL SURVIVE OUR MID-ATLANTIC WINTER.

STAY TUNED.

AND WITH THAT COLD WEATHER ON THE WAY, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE HAS BOLTED FOR WARMER CLIMES.

WE SURE WILL MISS HAVING THIS FLASHY 2-DOOR AROUND, AS IT BROUGHT US PLENTY OF FUN AND PEPPY PERFORMANCE, WITH MORE THAN A FEW THUMBS UP FROM OTHER VW DRIVERS.

IN ITS 4-MONTH STAY, WE PUT JUST SHY OF 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND AVERAGED 30.5 MILES PER GALLON FROM ITS 1.8-LITER TURBO-4.

SUMMING UP OUR TIME WITH THE DUNE IS ONE DRIVER'S COMMENT, "IT'S NOT THE MOST PRACTICAL VEHICLE AROUND, BUT IS SURE IS FUN AND LOOKS COOL TOO."

NOT TO WORRY, THE DUNE'S PARKING SPACE WILL BE OCCUPIED BY THE MOTHER OF ALL MINIVANS, THE NEW 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA.

WE'LL HAVE MORE INFO ON THAT AS WELL AS OUR HONDA PILOT ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: NOW, LET'S HEAD INSIDE TO THE MOTORNEWS DESK, AND YOLANDA VAZQUEZ WITH THE LATEST.

Yolanda Vazquez: AS WE RACE TOWARDS AN AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FUTURE, REGULATORS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, WHILE MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER SAFETY.

THE SELF DRIVING COALITION FOR SAFER STREETS IS REACTING TO CURRENT FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS.

THE COALITION INCLUDES AUTOMAKERS AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.

THEY'RE URGING REGULATORS TO UPDATE SAFETY REGS THAT REQUIRE A HUMAN OPERATOR.

IN MARCH, A REVIEW OF CURRENT FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS FOUND THAT THEY "DO NOT EXPLICITLY ADDRESS AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AND OFTEN ASSUME THE PRESENCE OF A HUMAN DRIVER."

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUED ITS LATEST POLICY FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES IN SEPTEMBER.

IT INCLUDES A SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY.

THE SELF DRIVING COALITION SAYS, "THEY SUPPORT ONE SET OF RULES FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, AND HOPE FEDERAL REGULATORS WILL DISCOURAGE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM SETTING THEIR OWN RULES."

THE COALITION IS ALSO, CALLING ON CONGRESS TO HELP GET SELF-DRIVING TECHNOLOGY ON THE ROAD FASTER.

THE DOT SAYS, "THEY PLAN TO UPDATE THEIR SELF-DRIVING POLICY EVERY YEAR."

IF AND WHEN AUTONOMOUS CARS ARRIVE, ONE CAN ONLY WONDER HOW LONG OWNERS WILL KEEP THEM ON THE ROADS.

IF RECENT REPORTS ARE ANY INDICATION, IT MIGHT EXTEND BEYOND WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK, AS CONSUMERS ARE HOLDING ONTO THEIR VEHICLES LONGER THAN EVER.

NEW RESEARCH FROM IHS MARKIT, A PROVIDER OF BUSINESS INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, SHOWS THE AVERAGE AGE OF CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS IN THE U.S. IS NOW 11.6 YEARS, THAT'S UP FROM 11.5 LAST YEAR, AND A NEW RECORD.

IHS MARKIT SAYS, "THE MAIN REASON IS IMPROVED QUALITY IN TODAY'S AUTOMOBILES, BUT LONGER CAR LOANS ARE ALSO A FACTOR."

ANOTHER OVERLAPPING IMPACT, THIS TREND COULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESSES.

THAT'S THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: WHILE, MOST COLLECTABLE CARS HAVE A STORY TO TELL, NONE ARE QUITE AS UNIQUE AS THE SILVER STREAK.

THIS 1926 MODEL T SHUTTLED A HOST OF YOUNG LADIES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE LATE 1930s AND EARLY '40s.

IT SEEMS DARLENE DORGAN OF BRADFORD, ILLINOIS HAD SOME SERIOUS WANDERLUST, LOADING UP THE MODEL T EVERY SUMMER WITH FOUR OR FIVE FRIENDS AND HITTING THE ROAD.

THIS INCLUDED TRIPS TO NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, AND EVEN UP TO DETROIT TO MEET HENRY FORD HIMSELF.

JOHN G. BUTTE GREW UP HEARING STORIES OF THESE TRIPS, AS HIS MOTHER AND AUNT WERE BOTH PASSENGERS ON A FEW OF THESE EXCURSIONS.

HIS BOOK, "DARLENE'S SILVER STREAK AND THE BRADFORD MODEL T GIRLS" IS AN EXCELLENTLY RESEARCHED, IF A BIT REPETITIVE, ACCOUNT OF ALL OF THOSE TRIPS.

BUT, THE AUTHOR SAVES THE BEST FOR LAST, AS IN 2011, HE WAS ABLE TO TRACK DOWN THE SILVER STREAK, JUST AS DARLENE HAD LEFT IT, AND PURCHASE IT FOR HIMSELF.

ENSURING THAT THESE GREAT STORIES WILL BE TOLD FOR YEARS TO COME.

WHILE, FIAT IS WELL KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR DIMINUTIVE 500, OR CINQUECENTO; IT'S THE 124 COUPE AND SPIDER THAT FIRST INTRODUCED MOST AMERICANS TO THE BRAND BACK IN THE LATE 1960s.

AFTER USING THE 500 TO RE-INTRODUCE THEMSELVES HERE IN THE STATES, FIAT HAS NOW LAUNCHED AN ALL-NEW 124 SPIDER FOR US TO ENJOY.

BUT, THIS IS NO THROW-BACK ITALIAN TWO SEAT SPORTS CAR!

* UP TO NOW, THE CARS MAKING UP FIAT'S U.S. RETURN HAVE INDEED BEEN DIMINUTIVE, MOSTLY ECONOMY-MINDED AFFAIRS.

BUT, THE OVERALL EFFECT OF FIAT'S RETURN HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT SMALL, MERGING WITH CHRYSLER IN 2014 TO CREATE FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES.

AND NOW, THINGS GET A WHOLE LOT MORE EXCITING WITH THE 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER.

NOW, THIS WHERE WE TELL YOU THAT THIS 124 IS ACTUALLY BUILT ON THE SAME CHASSIS AS THE MAZDA MX-5, AND FURTHER, COMES OUT OF THE SAME JAPANESE PLANT.

BUT THIS IS FAR FROM A STORY ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BADGE ENGINEERING.

THEY REALLY DO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT, AT LEAST OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

WHERE THE MX-5 HAS GOTTEN MEANER LOOKING OVER THE YEARS, THE 124 LOOKS CLASSY, WITH A NICELY MODERN UPDATE OF '60s ITALIAN-STYLE.

THE 124 SPIDER CERTAINLY HAS A SPORTY CHARACTER, BUT INSTEAD OF BEGGING YOU TO SEEK APEXES, IT YEARNS FOR MOUNTAIN PASSES, AND A MORE RELAXED GRAND TOURING PACE.

IT'S LESS EDGY AND MORE COMPLIANT; A KINDER, GENTLER, AND SOFTER MX-5 IF YOU WILL.

VERY REMINISCENT OF THE FIRST MIATA.

THE ENGINE IS ANOTHER CLEAR DEPARTURE.

IN PLACE OF THE MIATA'S NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER IS THE SAME 1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO-4 FOUND IN OTHER CURRENT FIATS, INCLUDING THE RAUCOUS 500 ABARTH.

HERE IT SPINS UP 160 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT WINDS UP QUICKLY.

BUT, DESPITE MORE HORSEPOWER, AND TORQUE, AN INCREASE IN SIZE, AND WEIGHT MAKES THE 124; A TAD LESS SPIRITED OFF THE LINE THAN THE MX-5, THOUGH THE EXHAUST NOTE ADDS TO ITS MUCH ENJOYED ITALIAN FLAIR.

AND IT SURELY FITS IN WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE ORIGINAL 124 SPIDER, WHICH WAS AN EVERYMAN'S TAKE ON A FERRARI.

WE HIT 60 IN 7.6 SECONDS, AND CLEARED THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.8 SECONDS AT 91 MILES PER HOUR.

REFRESHING!

OUR TESTER CAME WITH THE OPTIONAL 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IN PLACE OF THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL.

IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH, WITH SMOOTH SHIFTS; BUT REALLY COULD USE SOME PADDLE SHIFTERS FOR TRULY LIVING OUT THE ITALIAN DREAM.

YES, YOU CAN SHIFT MANUALLY WITH THE SHIFTER ITSELF, BUT IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME.

AFTER TAKING A FEW TRIPS THROUGH THE CONES, OUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS WERE CONFIRMED; THE 124 SPIDER DOES RESPOND SOFTER THAN A MIATA.

STEERING IS NUMB FEELING, BUT ACCURATE, AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF SNAPPING THE REAR LOOSE; AS EVEN WITH THE CUSHIER FEEL, THE CAR REMAINS PLENTY RESPONSIVE.

BUT WHILE, UNIQUE OUTSIDE AND UNDER THE HOOD, THE INTERIOR IS ANOTHER STORY.

IT'S ALMOST A DIRECT MX-5 COPY, INCLUDING DASH-TOP INFOTAINMENT SCREEN THAT RESPONDS TO TOUCH AND A CONSOLE-MOUNTED CONTROLLER.

TO GET NAVIGATION, YOU HAVE TO OPT FOR LUSSO TRIM AND THEN ADD THE PREMIUM COLLECTION PACKAGE.

THE 124s GAUGES LOOK GREAT AND STEERING WHEEL PLACEMENT IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.

ALSO, THERE'S STILL NO DASH-MOUNTED GLOVE BOX, RATHER A STORAGE BIN IN BETWEEN THE SEATS, BUT YOU DO GET AN OUTSIDE TRUNK RELEASE.

AND, WITH 5.5 INCHES MORE LENGTH, THERE'S MORE ROOM IN THE 124s TRUNK, 4.9 CUBIC-FEET VERSUS THE MX-5s 4.6.

AND WE LOVE THE FACT THAT TOP OPERATION IS STILL ONE-HAND FOLD DOWN SIMPLE; THANK YOU FIAT FOR NOT COMPLICATING THAT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED JUST 27.1 MILES PER GALLON, AND THIS TINY TURBO DOES REQUIRE PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS STILL GOOD HOWEVER, AT 11.4 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

THERE ARE 3-MODELS OF 124 TO CHOOSE FROM, STARTING WITH CLASSICA AT $25,990.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THAT MAKES IT THE LOWEST PRICED TURBOCHARGED CONVERTIBLE IN AMERICA, BUT ALSO, $240 MORE THAN A BASE MX-5.

SO OVERALL, IF YOU LIKE THE MX-5, YOU'LL LIKE THE 124.

THOUGH, WHILE CLEARLY NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT, WE DO THINK THE 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER WILL EASILY APPEAL MORE TO FEMALE BUYERS; THOUGH IT WILL CERTAINLY ATTRACT FANS OF THE ORIGINAL 124 AS WELL.

MAZDA SAYS, "THAT WITHOUT THE FIAT PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 124, A NEW MX-5 MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED."

NOW, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CALAMITY.

SO, WE'RE ECSTATIC THAT FIAT DECIDED TO BRING BACK THE 124 SPIDER, FOR A GLOBAL TIE-UP THAT EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO DRIVE SHOULD GO OUT AND CELEBRATE.

FOR OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, WE KNEW THE NEW FIAT 124 SPIDER PROBABLY WON'T SUFFICE.

TIME TO CRUISE WITH ZACH MASKELL, AND A COLLECTOR WITH ENOUGH OF THE ORIGINAL 124 SPIDERS, TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR AN ITALIAN WEDDING PARTY.

Zach Maskell: POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, SITTING ABOUT 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF PHILADELPHIA, IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND SHAUN FOLKERTS AND HIS FAMILY.

AND THEY HAVE MORE FIAT SPIDERS, AND OTHER CLASSIC ITALIAN HARDWARE, THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC.

Shaun Folkerts: I MAINLY SPECIALIZE IN FIAT, LANCIA, PININFARINA, BERTONE, AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER OFF-BRANDS.

BITTERS, CITROEN, ALFA ROMEO.

Zach: HE WAS A SCIENTIST, BEFORE HE MOVED FULL-TIME TO AUTOMOBILOLOGY.

THIS BUILDING HOLDS MOST OF THE 200 MOSTLY FIATS CARS HE OWNS.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR THEN WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND?

Shaun: "MY FIRST CAR WAS A 1981 FIAT SPIDER, RED, THAT I BOUGHT WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND THREE DAYS.

AND THE SECOND ONE WAS A PARTS CAR THAT I NEEDED TO FIX THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THAT VERY FIRST FIAT SPIDER.

Zach: SO, IT WAS CHEAPER FOR YOU TO GET A PARTS CAR, THEN IT WOULD'VE BEEN FOR YOU TO FIX THE REAR DIFF.

Shaun: THAT'S CORRECT AND I ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF SPARE PARTS IN THE PROCESS.

Zach: SHAUN HAS A FAVORITE CAR FOR EACH PURPOSE.

WHETHER, THAT'S OUT TO DINNER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, OR TAKING HIS SHOP HELP TO SOCCER PRACTICE.

Shaun: MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE GREAT HELP AND THEY SHARE MY PASSION FOR ALL THE CARS AND WE HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THEM.

Zach: FRIENDS GET TO HAVE FUN, TOO.

HE AND HIS WIFE KNEW THEY HAD THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR GETTING THEIR WEDDING PARTY FROM POINT A TO B. Shaun: THERE WAS NEVER A CHANCE OF HIRING A LIMOUSINE.

WE HAVE ALL THESE GREAT CARS TO USE, SO BASICALLY, EACH OF OUR GROOMSMEN GOT A SET OF KEYS AND A BRIDESMAID AND WE USED ALL OUR CARS IN THE WEDDING PARTY.

Zach: AND FAMILY VACATIONS, WELL, THEY'LL OFTEN INCLUDE A PIT STOP.

YOU SEE, SHAUN CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING HE LIKES, BUT HE CAN ACCEPT SOME.

REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, IF THE OWNERS CAN'T KEEP THEM ANYMORE...

THEY'RE LOADED ON A TRAILER AND ADDED TO HIS COLLECTION.

SHAUN WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LET US CRUISE IN HIS PRIDE AND JOY, A FIAT 124 SPIDER.

Zach: OH, YEAH!

SUPER EASY TO DRIVE, COMFORTABLE SEATS, I LIKE THE GEAR SHIFTER.

CLUTCH IS SIMPLE.

WHAT ARE WE IN RIGHT NOW?

Shaun: THIS IS AN '82 SPIDER WHICH AH, THE MODEL WENT FROM ABOUT 1966 UP TO 1985 AND A HALF.

UM, THE 85 AND A HALF WAS ITS OWN MODEL, AND THE 83 AND 85 WAS ITS OWN MODEL.

SO, THIS IS SORT OF THE LAST OF THE FIAT BUILT SPIDERS.

Shaun: THIS IS MY FAVORITE CAR EVER.

IT'S A TWIN-CAM LAMPREDI DESIGNED ENGINE... FOUR-WHEEL DISK BRAKES... FIVE-SPEED SYNCHRONIZED TRANSMISSION...

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING I DON'T LIKE.

THERE'S A VERY SHORT LINKAGE ON THIS TRANSMISSION; IT'S AH, MAYBE 6 OR 8 INCHES, OTHER THAN THAT YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE TRANSMISSION HERE.

SO, YOU GET A REAL NICE DIRECT FEEL.

Zach: AAH!

Shaun: NOTHING TO GET IN YOUR WAY.

Zach: OKAY!

NOT FIVE MINUTES INTO OUR DRIVE; WE WERE BEING POINTED OUT OF THE CROWD.

Crowd: LOOK AT THAT CAR!

Shaun: [LAUGHS] YOU HEAR EVERYBODY YELLING, "LOOK AT THAT CAR, HA-HA, I LOVE THAT."

Zach: IN FACT, VISITORS FROM EUROPE, CANADA, AND THE WEST COAST, FREQUENT THE WAREHOUSE.

IF YOU NEED A REFERENCE POINT OR A TIP, THIS GUY IS HAPPY TO HELP.

Shaun: THESE CARS CAME WITH POWER WINDOWS BUT IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GET THEM UP.

Zach: THAT'S ONE WEAK MOTOR.

Shaun: ANYONE CONSIDERING BUYING ONE OF THESE MAKE SURE YOU GET THE MANUAL WINDOWS.

Zach: WHY ALL THESE CLASSIC ITALIAN CARS?

SHAUN FEELS THEY EMBODY THE SAME PASSION THAT MAKES OLDER FERRARI'S AND LAMBORGHINI'S SO DESIRABLE...

BUT WERE MUCH EASIER TO BUY, AND LIVE WITH.

John: WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, AS WE FIND IF EVEN MORE OF A MINI DRIVES AS SWEET... AND A REALLY BIG UTE TRIES TO SHAKE UP A HOT SEGMENT... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHY TIRES ARE LIKE SHOES... WE'LL UPDATE THE FUTURE OF FUELS... PLUS, MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS... UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS; WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.

TIRERACK.COM.

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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