Monday 7th June 2004

Barchetta is Back

Bet you didn't realise it had gone...

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Many of us didn't realise that they weren't available any more but Fiat have just announced that the Barchetta is just become available again in the UK. The car has recently re-entered production and can now be ordered through Fiat Auto’s UK dealer network.

The left hand drive only specification will put off many buyers, but it's still found a niche amongst fans in the UK prepared to lean over at drive through McDonalds.

Mechanically identical to the original model which was restyled at the end of 2002, is powered by Fiat Auto’s 16-valve, twin overhead camshaft 1.8 litre VVT engine which produces 130 bhp, giving the vehicle a top speed of 124 mph, with 0-62 mph acceleration in 8.9 seconds.

Standard equipment includes power steering, ABS anti-lock braking, driver and passenger airbags, CD player, central locking, foglights, electrically operated windows and door mirrors, a leather steering wheel and gearknob, and an electric aerial.

The Barchetta returns to the UK market at a price of £11,995 OTR, some £1800 cheaper than the original model. It significantly undercuts opposition the opposition from the MX-5, MGTF and the StreetKa.

Basic	VAT	Total Retail	OTR charges	Total OTR
£10,018.72	£1753.28	£11,772.00	£223.00	£11,995.00

Links

• www.fiatbarchetta.com/
• www.amarsini.dircon.co.uk/

[jackthedog]

I tried sooooo hard to convince a girl at work that her money would be best spent on one of these things.
She wasnt having it though. She's now got a 206cc.

Shame, that.

[Steviejay01]

Well we just ordered 2 of these little beauties for our showroom!!

They always sell pretty quick, the last ones were sold before they even had a chance to be put on display.

For the money you just cant go wrong, plenty of grunt for your money, if you can live with the Left Hand Drive your laughing!!!

[junior mint]

Nice car. I always wanted one until I drove it. Unfortunately I tested a bad example, in winter, that had sat outside the shrowroom for weeks without moving.

My requirements/tastes had changed slightly in the few years I considered one so I'm getting an S2000 instead.

In the MGF/MXF/StreetKa market this beats them all.

Hopefully if the rumour about a Barchetta based on the VX220 comes true in the next few years I'll get one then.

Fiona

>> Edited by junior mint on Monday 7th June 11:20

[dinkel]

jackthedog said:

I tried sooooo hard to convince a girl at work that her money would be best spent on one of these things. She wasnt having it though. She's now got a 206cc. Shame, that.

Some even get a Miata . . . Best looking little cabrio. More a cruiser than a performer. Neighbour has one. A classic.

[veewhy]

FIAT are mad (what's new...), if they did a RHD version, it would be a best seller without a doubt. It is the closest yet to the perfect little cabrio.

[RichardR]

I had a Bravo HGT for a few years and always thought it was a shame that the 2.0 5 cylinder engine from that (now 2.4 as used in the Stilo) wasn't used in the Barchetta.

I don't like what they've done with high-level brake light arrangement...



There's an interesting article here about someone's experiences trying to find out about the Barchetta from a Fiat dealership.

Interestingly, there's no mention of the Barchetta on the UK website either.