Fiat Barchetta 1.8 16V 2d (LHD) (2000/W) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Economy
Value
Compared to other cars in this class, it's one of the cheapest to buy.
Costs
Insurance group 16 doesn't help. Find a good independant Fiat specialist garage (like DTR) to service your Barchetta and you'll save a fortune on main dealer labour costs.
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On the road
Driving
Once you've got used to the LHD, it's an absolute dream. Car parks and fast food drive throughs are a problem when you're in the car on your own though :-)
Performance
Grips better than you'd think for a lightweight front wheel drive car. Don't let MX-5 owners put you down for not having rear wheel drive, it drives just as well and it's quicker!
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Living with it
Reliability
Mine suffered from a faulty variator. The electric windows don't work at their best in cold/wet weather. Other than that, everything else is fine (so far)...
Image
Individual, classic Italian roadster that looks the biz. Get a nice set of alloys and a loud exhaust and you'll be the envy of your friends!
Comfort
Excellent driving position in sports seats that hold you in place. It's also got the best heater I've ever experienced (essential for those winter mornings with the roof down).
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Security and Service
Security
Canvas roof = risk of vandalism, it's a fact of life :-( As remote central locking isn't a Fiat option, get an alarm that operates the doors too.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Depending on your Fiat dealer, variator will be fixed under warranty (you must have the full service history of the car though).
Other
Electric windows are a little slow to operate in cold/wet weather conditions.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
Used
Would you buy the same model again?
Yes
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
Yes