I'm trying to arrange a look at both a 124 and an X1/9 this weekend as I've been in the market for a 124 Spyder for awhile, but an X1/9 popped up and may be a better deal.
One thing, the owner of the X1/9 says there's an issue with the ignition control module, parts searching found $8 examples and $700 Bosch examples. I'm a bit stumped on that, if anyone can explain I'm all ears on that component in particular...
Note that I'm not a FIAT guy, except that I know what FIAT stands for. Fix It Again, Tony.
The answer to most ignition issues is: MSD. On something of that era, it should be a no-brainer. Other common fixes of various ignition systems (including Bosch injected Lotus) involve a generic GM (Delco) part. The other thing with X1/9's I hear is a somewhat weak transmission. My friend's had several grenaded gears in it, but he kept driving it anyway.
My friend owned one for years -- lightly modded. Lots of fun, but not much power. They are interference motors, if I recall correctly, so pay attention to the timing belt.
You can use a GM ignition module in place of the analog bosch one.
Better yet, run MS Extra!
My roommate in school had an x1/9- trans mount bolts kept backing out and after a while of hard driving the front strut mounts started splitting from metal fatigue (something was probably loose that added). Slow, but a lot of fun.
Biggest issue on X1/9s is rust. Oh, and more rust and then some more...
Condition of the rear shock towers are the make-or-break point as they're rather hard to fix. They'll rust anywhere else, too, so keep an eye on the multi-layered panels like windscreen surround and IIRC the roll bar, too.
They handle well, but really need more power. People have stuck all sorts of engines in there, from Fiat Uno Turbo engines to twin cams and IIRC at least one Alfa V6.
Front strut mounting plate strengthening pieces are available.
Big brake kits
adjustable coil-over struts
A GM-style one-wire alternator, upgraded main battery wires along with repairing the grounds fixes most of the electrical problems. Increasing the size of the main power lead into the column and re-routing it through a relay decreases issues with the ignition switches.
The fuel injection is straight forward Bosch EFI along with the ignition.
The 1300 likes to rev while the 1500 doesn't. Ultimate power output is similar.
Combine a 1300 with a 5-speed and some work will get you a pretty nice little ride.
A/C system is a major PITA to repair or keep working.
Power windows are usually a switch problem, otherwise manual windows are a better solution (lighter and you can reach the handles from driver's seat fairly easily)
They are heavy for their size (about 2000lbs), but they're incredibly strong. Gutting them helps a little but there isn't that much to remove.
Front/rear suspension is a combination of Fiat 128 pieces. Yugo's are Yugoslovian produced Fiat 128's with smaller motors.
Tons of info here:
http://xwebforums.org/
http://www.mirafiori.org
Oh and Dr. Hess think you could have come up with something more original for your attempt at humor? Honestly, it isn't even amusing or clever. I feel the same way about Found On Road Dead, etc.
ZOO wrote: My friend owned one for years -- lightly modded. Lots of fun, but not much power. They are interference motors, if I recall correctly, so pay attention to the timing belt.
"Not much power" - - - so you have to lighten it up a bit. 
I've had two, one for Auto-X [pictured] and the other was just weird. It was OK, but sports cars shouldn't have A/C, overly bolstered pleather interiors and 400 lbs. of insulation. The second one was shiney, attractive by most standards, but we didn't bond with it.
Define your needs first. If you're an avid racer or Auto-Xer, don't go for the X-1/9 unless it's gutted, cammed and slammed. If you want a nice little topless car for Sunday brunches or taking the girlfriend out, yeah, a Bertone is OK.
I don't know what year, but they went from being called X-1/9s to being Bertones, no idea why.
Dan
914Driver wrote: I don't know what year, but they went from being called X-1/9s to being Bertones, no idea why. Dan
Fiat pulled out of the USA and Bertone\Pininfarina wanted to keep selling the X1/9 and Spider.
Bertone eventually took over the entire production of the X-1/9 from Fiat. So they went from Fiat X-1/9's, with bodies designed and built by Bertone (hence the badges) to Bertone X-1/9's. The later cars also tended to rust less since Bertone spent more money on rust prep and slightly better paint.
Same cars really, but Bertone added a bunch of useless crap to make them more luxurious to increase the profits. Easily removed and rectified, hook up with the Xweb guys and they'll sort you out.
To be honest, Fiat never really liked the cars and wanted to concentrate on FWD family cars, but they sold relatively well, so they stuck with it until they found an out.
BTW, interesting trivia: The door handles are shared with the Lamborghini Countach and the trunk release handle is shared with the Ferrari 308. I think the taillights were used on another vehicle as well.
turboswede wrote: BTW, interesting trivia: The door handles are shared with the Lamborghini Countach and the trunk release handle is shared with the Ferrari 308. I think the taillights were used on another vehicle as well.
Also Volvo 780 Bertone coupes.
They are not a bad little car... if you can get yourself a nice rust free one (their big bugbear) they can be a lot of fun to drive. Because they are such small cars, be aware that some things are hard to get at. The Manual Master cylinder for the brakes (no booster here) is on one side of the steering column under the dash.. the mounting bolts go THROUGH the column support to bolt the clutch MC in place as well...
They are neatly packaged through.. and look drop dead sexy with their bumpers removed
turboswede wrote: Oh and Dr. Hess think you could have come up with something more original for your attempt at humor? Honestly, it isn't even amusing or clever. I feel the same way about Found On Road Dead, etc.
You mean you've heard that one before? Really? Gosh. I just found it. And I always thought it was Fix Or Repair Daily. Good thing I don't know the one for Lotus.
I bet that Bosch system uses the same ignition as a Bosch Lotus 910 motor. Little thing in the dizzy? It's a GM part.
I recall seeing an article on an ultimate cornering G force competition. There were basically only three car models competing against each other, with multiple examples of each model. The three were: X1/9, Europa and Seven clone (Locost type or Cat, etc.). That's pretty tough competition to be in.
Dr. Hess wrote:turboswede wrote: Oh and Dr. Hess think you could have come up with something more original for your attempt at humor? Honestly, it isn't even amusing or clever. I feel the same way about Found On Road Dead, etc.You mean you've heard that one before? Really? Gosh. I just found it. And I always thought it was Fix Or Repair Daily. Good thing I don't know the one for Lotus.
Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious
:)
mattm wrote:Dr. Hess wrote:Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious :)turboswede wrote: Oh and Dr. Hess think you could have come up with something more original for your attempt at humor? Honestly, it isn't even amusing or clever. I feel the same way about Found On Road Dead, etc.You mean you've heard that one before? Really? Gosh. I just found it. And I always thought it was Fix Or Repair Daily. Good thing I don't know the one for Lotus.
This is serious!
Apologies to those who do not have young kids.
As I recall.. back when you could still buy an X new.. Road and Track modified one with struts, springs, swaybars and tyres.. and easly reached 1g on the skidpad for not much money
My buddy has one, and refers to it as the heaviest small car ever made. He said it's 2400 lbs, but can't figure out where it all is.
In reply to m4ff3w:
To quote George Carlin (Joe Pesci rest his soul) I am here to entertain and inform.
Leave Out The Unbreakable Stuff?
Run away. They don't handle well, can't be made fast or sound good, and are ugly. Here's proof:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1731023/fiat_x1_9_autoslalom_alfredo_giamboi/
In reply to m4ff3w:
The "Wonder Pets" are horrible. My 4 year old goofs around and talks with a lisp because of that cartoon. ...OK, it is kind of funny...in a really obnoxious, annoying kind of way.
Oh, yeah. X1/9s ROCK! One day...one day...I will either have an X19 or an Alfa GTV6.
Hasbro, I LIKE that Exxie! 
I've had 2, a '79 carbed 1.5 and an '81 FI 1.5. I have the most seat time in the '79 and I loved it. They are probably the most fun handling car ever built and that is saying a lot. The interior actually fits a big guy pretty well.
Rigid chassis (if not rusty). The body is overbuilt and does not flex much at all, very well designed. Too bad the steel wasn't as good as the chassis engineering.
Simple suspension (how about no swaybars???) that responds well to the usual tuning, the motors are actually pretty reliable. The 1.3's (pre- '79) were interference motors, the 1.5's are freewheel. Neither engine makes a lot of power and from what I understand do not accept boost very well without majorly expensive modifications (never tried it myself).
The 4 speed trannys are tough as nails, the 5 speeds not so much. The 5 speeds are hard on reverse idlers, if you ever have one apart you'll see why; there is no support for the reverse idler shaft. Stick it in reverse and the idler shaft will try to bend away from the cluster, this eventually cracks the case, then the idler makes poor contact and good bye idler gear. A new idler is a Band Aid, the case crack is the real culprit. Strada tranny guts will go in an X 1/9 case and they don't command nearly the premium that Exxie boxes do.
Weird 4x98 mm wheel bolt circle, there are 'wobble bolts' which allow using common 4x100 mm wheels. Brakes are great, with one problem: the calipers are for whatever reason VERY prone to corrosion, this is worst on the rear. The master cylinder is in a bitch of a spot, too.
Typical Italian electrics of the era; way too many wires, a whole bunch of relays for no particularly good reason, corrosion prone. The fuse/relay box is under the glove box, lower that puppy and you won't believe what you see. 
Strangely, neither of mine had any switch issues.
If you have to refill the cooling system, there is a bleed screw on top of the radiator on the right side. It's, IIRC, a 7mm Allen. It's also unviewable. You have to feel around till you find a hole, then stick the Allen wrench through that hole and looesn the bleed screw. Lots of cussing goes with that one.
The aforementioned ignition module is perched at the bottom of the right side 'sail'. There's a drain under it which can easily get clogged with leaves etc and each time it rains the ignition module goes swimming. It's easy enough to convert it to a GM HEI. The really dumb thing: the FI cars have the ECM inside the spare tire well which is inside the car, well protected from the weather. Why didn't FIAT do the same with the ignition module? 
Window regulators are done with a 1/8" cable going every which way. Must be seen to be believed.
m4ff3w wrote:mattm wrote:Dr. Hess wrote:Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious :)turboswede wrote: Oh and Dr. Hess think you could have come up with something more original for your attempt at humor? Honestly, it isn't even amusing or clever. I feel the same way about Found On Road Dead, etc.You mean you've heard that one before? Really? Gosh. I just found it. And I always thought it was Fix Or Repair Daily. Good thing I don't know the one for Lotus.
Jensenman and turboswede are the only ones that brought real tech to this discussion. Listen to them.
I owned a couple, drove many, and worked for a Fiat dealer for awhile. While I was into 124 spiders at the time, I think now I'd lean towards the X1/9 as it's more of a driver's car than the old-style sports car that is the 124. The only other car I've owned that handled with go-kart reflexes is my Mini. The X's really are a ton of fun to drive, and like my 850cc Mini, they are a momentum car that helps teach good driving habits.
They have some downsides, but the driving experience makes you overlook a lot of them as minor annoyances. Low on power, yes. The 1500 FI cars actually make an excellent base for a turbo swap. One of our techs cobbled one together with a old Subaru 1.8 turbo, Saab intercooler and some plumbing and the damn thing was a rocket. The stock clutch couldn't hold much over 8-10 psi though. They like bigger valves in the head and increased compression (a Yugo 1.1 head on a 1.3 block accomplishes that) in n/a form, and a 34 DATRA Weber and a header also do wonders. The suspension really just needs Konis and maybe springs. The sway bars are truly optional to your taste. Wider wheels and a bit more rubber too. The brakes are sufficient but as noted have maintenance issues and you will curse Mussolini and every other Italian that you know when you have to replace the master cylinders. A/C system is useless, power windows slower than tapping maple syrup from a tree. Most electrical glitches can be fixed by just cleaning connectors and grounds. The FI system is pretty bulletproof as is the electronic ignition (far better than the points of the early cars). Timing belts are an every 30k item but they are easy to do on these. Biggest thing is watch for rust...everywhere...I had one come through that the main crossmember under the engine had rusted through, but only on the front side, which you wouldn't be able to see just looking under the car from the back. Jack it up and poke around. Now that they are old, some of the poorly maintained ones have shown corrosion in the main cooling tubes that run under the car. The 4x98 wheel bolt pattern is used by, well, nobody else and makes finding aftermarket wheels a chore.
They were Fiats through 1982 then were sold as Bertones through 1988. Nothing really better about a Bertone; marginally better build quality but also more 'fluff' to make them appealing. Some people with long legs or big bellies find them a little cramped, though I'm fairly tall and never had a complaint. They were a very successful car for Fiat and a great value when new. There was nothing comparable when they were introduced in 1974 and were the only affordable mid-engine sports car until the MR2 came out (which Toyota admitted using the X as a basis). No, the Fiero doesn't count as a sports car.
Raze, the final point really is which type of car you prefer as the X and 124 are very different. If you want to autocross or really carve corners the X is the better choice. If you just want a nice roadster that is comparable to a Miata and more modern than the British cars, then the 124 is going to be more comfortable and easier to work on.
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