General Thinking about buying one

[Boudreaux]

I love the model but was wondering as a whole what are these cars like for reliability I’m planning on using it daily with about 10K per year.

I told my mates I'm getting one later in the year but they say it’s a girly hairdressers, pig tail, toot, toot mobile. One of them drives a ford ka so he’s one to talk…ANYWAY what do you guys think? Girly car or cool hairy bloke mobile?

 

[Boudreaux]

Also what colour should I go for? I'm thinking between red & black

 

[dave]

they not girls cars, girls wont by a car with steering wheel on wrong side, i think they pretty good as we hardly ever get an owner posting a problem on here

 

[Alex]

Go for black IMO... red will fade.. The other colour that looks good is Electric Blue (not sure what the fiat colour is) or Silver.

They're cool... when was the last time you saw a barchetta on the road being driven by the architypal MX-5 driver??? Or indeed the last time you saw one on the road (err.. by that I mean they're rare)

Good luck getting one, there are loads of good low milage ones about for not much mulla... I plan on getting mine soon... *goes off to buy lottery ticket*

 

[Boudreaux]

I haven’t seen the electric blue one … Theirs a “build your own” section on the Fiat website where you choose your own colour but it’s not a real life photo so it’s hard to gage. I spotted a cool back one via Google image search with beige leather interior was a bit pricey though but it did look very nice!

I’m desperate to get one went into my local Fiat dealers today to have a chat about the model and the guy didn’t have a clue what I was talking about didn’t even stock a brochure! Otherwise I actually thought about a second hand MX5 not that theirs anything wrong with the car its just there so common everyone seems to have one! Plus I don’t think the styling is as classy compared with the Fiat.

 

[dave]

you tried ebay?

 

[Steven]

Barchettas are great cars. They use the same running gear as a Punto HGT, so reliabilty isn't a problem. They look better than any MX5. I would go for red personally, I would also find another dealer...

 

[Alex]

Fiat Dealers seem to be a little hit and miss... DTR specialise in Barchettas (just avoid the RHD converted ones). But they seem to have a reputation for being pushy.

 

[Nino_1975]

ALL

I have an 02 Barchetta RED (New red paint so should not fade) just keep them waxed.

I do 7k per year to and from work and the odd weekend. Beening honest I have had a few issues, and Fiat dealerships don't care much for the Barchetta, parts do take a while to arrive. Insurance high!!

But I love it, holds the road well, looks good, understated, unique, only 52k ever made. But yes keep an eye on them. FSH needed.

I only drive mine in the summer as the 1st year I had it found it a nightmare in the winter, salt in my engine bay!!!, so the next year I decided to buy a cheap run around for 5mths, then the Barchetta comes back.

So yes you can use it as an everyday car (Hard top recommended) but I would advise against it. And yes the engine is a punto engine with out the turbo, some minor changes.

Any advice neede mail me ([email protected])

BUY A B

 

[Boudreaux]

The insurance is the only draw back at the moment. I've shopped around with direct line, the aa and elephant who I'm with at the moment and all come in the region of £700 smackers. I know it would be more logical to go with a lower insurance group motor but the Barchetta is just so nice!

 

[Nino_1975]

Go to http://www.fiatbarchetta.com/club/uk/ they have a link to an insurance company. Also not bad for hints and tips.

 

[Iskander]

I love the model but was wondering as a whole what are these cars like for reliability I’m planning on using it daily with about 10K per year.

I told my mates I'm getting one later in the year but they say it’s a girly hairdressers, pig tail, toot, toot mobile. One of them drives a ford ka so he’s one to talk…ANYWAY what do you guys think? Girly car or cool hairy bloke mobile?

This is mine in Elisir Blue. I may be biased here but nothing comes close.https://www.fiatforum.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
Smile
And it aint no hairdressers car!

 

[Nino_1975]

Nice, but Red 1st then Blue.

 

[Iskander]

Nice. Red is a great colour for an Italian car, still prefer blue tho... hehe.
You mentioned your's is putting out around 145hp, how damn it?! Any pointers?

 

[Nino_1975]

Hay ho (RED) LOL

OK, exhaust is a must, should add 10bhp, so thats 130 to 140, induction kit say 5bhp (Green AIR) also stripped some weight by changing the exhaust. I have also had a friend tinker with it, but it has to be serviced every 7k or she complains, not much you can do with a B. Not enough of them on the road for anyone to be concerned about them (SHAME) People go on about inductions but they only add a little BHP, but lots more torque!.. YOU any mods?

 

[Iskander]

Hi mate,
That's exactly what i want to do! Tho i may go for a CDA from BMC. Superchips do an ECU mod giving another claimed 7hp for just under £300 but that's for later (much later).
Only mods to mine are the sound system really, ditched that paper speaker crap and fitted pheonix components and a 150w powered sub from Alpine that fits under the dash in the passenger side. Plenty loud for me.

 

[Nino_1975]

Yeah I fitted some Alpines, makes it a little better, look on E-bay under my ID, I am selling a bass sub box, I can not fit it in mine due to the roll bars.

£300 for 7+ BHP, not worth it. My friend has a Seat Leon and for that price gets 40BHP, also you have a new B so what I did for the 1st 3yrs was things that could come off. The Lamba sensor is very sensitive on theses cars.

Also you looved at the Fiat Uk club? ok web site. they don;t do anything but some times something good comes up. We should advertise a meeting day. Not many B's around here!. 51K every made.

So how do you like the face life model?

 

[Iskander]

Got my vote for organising a meet, true not many around but there are three new Bs in Cardiff (inc mine)! And i guess around 5 others i see on a semi regular basis.
I love the new face of the B, looks really agressive. I'm still amazed how many people have no idea what it is, always gets a look.
The chip is expensive i agree still, same kinda cost as an exhaust for similar gain. Not a fan of that kind of mod tho, last resort i think.

 

[Nino_1975]

I live in Sunny Swindon for my sins, so Bristol may be a good meeting place.

Thing is now, Barchetta owners have class so we must think what to do, how to do it etc.

Maybe we could get loads of B owners together and swop / sell parts.
Chat, drive, advice.

I'll start the balls rolling.


p.s I agree, great when no body knows what it is!!!

 

[Iskander]

Nice one
Never been accused of having class before hehe