(G) Any tips on buying?

I'm going to look at a 2005 Barchetta with a view to buying it today. Any advice would be more than welcome. I have never owned a LHD/ Fiat/ Barchetta before. Many Thanks.

If you havent driven a LH driver car before, dont be put off on a short test drive... its something you need a few hours to master but it's not a problem... check all the electrics work, especially the windows... good luck.

Steve

I was going to mention "Red Keys" but I wont.

Steve

Dear All, Many thanks for your replies, I have put a deposit on the barchetta!!!! but am unable to pick it up for 3 weeks now due to hols. Will post photos when able to but cross your fingers that I'll be able to drive it home from Ripon to Barnsley on my own minus incident.

Have you any advice on insurance? My current firm wants £555 but have got a quote for Kwik Fit for £424 and a free mot and with £100 excess. I'm 36 with 10 yeras no claims. I thought this sounded reasonable. Cheers.

Congrats Cath. You've made a wise choice. As for insurance, I have two cars already insured with Tesco, both with maximun no claims and Tesco wanted Around £550 for the Barchetta. I used Confused.Com and found at least twenty companies cheaper. I chose Elephant.Com and, including recovery, pay £380 ish without any no claims discount. I'm 51 but I think you should shop around a bit more.

Enjoy...

Steve

I'm 45 and paid £405 with no no-claims bonus. Being under 40 will up your premium a little compared to us fogies, but with full NCB you should be aiming for £300 ish I reckon.

Cheers,

Plug

I'm 21 and paid just over a grand fully comp with Egg Insurance.

£329 fully comp, clean licence. Bell Insurance.

Also told them of my mods.

hi and welcome
nice to know another b is coming soon. i pay £329 fully comp with adrian flux i have max no claims and i have mods on the B

I'm just shopping around for insurance too. Was with Sheila's Wheels but then discovered small print about 'cumulative' excess and found it added up to £450 excess! I did some searches last week and kwik fit and swinton were coming out best value, with a reasonable excess of 100 - 150.
xs

I'm with Adrian Flux as well .. beat everyone, around £300 with breakdown insurance, but I'm in the fogey category too ..

I am with Admiral on a multicar policy the Barchetta and the Missus Renault Twingo GT £520 for the 2 for the year .

Watch out in the second year, I found they were trying to sting me for loads!!
Now with More than? Not too bad so far!

My other cars (Golf and Punto) are with Admiral - I set up the multicar policy when I got the Barchetta, as I though it would be significantly cheaper and more convenient having all 3 with the same company. (Punto is g/f's)
I have a modified X1/9 with Flux - this is going to take a 'sabbatical' while we enjoy the B for a bit. However, when I got the quote from Admiral to add the Barchetta, it seemed pretty steep, so I asked Flux for a quote to transfer the X1/9 policy to the Barchetta. When you take the breakdown into account, they were about £200 cheaper!

I would never have set up the multicar policy in hindsight, I gained nothing from transferring the Punto from Direct Line.