Where Does Mazda and Fiat Hide The Key To This Door On the 2017 Spider and Miata?

Convertibles are unusual in that due to the soft-top they can be prone to theft. For whatever sinister reason, thieves will cut a convertible top when breaking a window is just as simple. Mazda and Fiat thought ahead to this hazard and have a lockable compartment in the center console. There is no glove box in the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider or Mazda Miata, so this is the only lockable compartment.

The difficulty for some owners, particularly those with keyless entry, is finding the mechanical key that operates the lock on that box. As you can see in the video, the fob has a small detent and a small lever that one simply pushes to release the inner mechanical key. This is not unique to the 2017 Mazda Miata and Fiat 124 Spider, but what is unusual is the need to access it regularly. Most cars with keyless entry have a hidden key in the fob that can come out.

The lockable box is certainly not a strong box of any type, but it will keep an honest person honest. There is another hidden storage compartment in the Miata and Spider too. That one is shown in our prior story. Sometimes out of sight is even better than in plain sight but locked.

Check out these other handy Miata stories for more tips:
- Hard Top For A Miata - What's a Fair Price?
- Fix the Cupholder flaw in Spider and Miata
- How To Plan For A Flat Tire In a Mazda Miata or Fiat 124 Spider