Fiat Barchetta
A small 2 door, 2 seat roadster, there’s a lot to like about the Fiat Barchetta. Great designs, a quality driving experience and superb value for money are all big plus points, but possibly the best thing about this car is that it’s a lot of fun. If you can look past the fact it only comes in left hand drive, this perky Italian will do you proud and keep a smile firmly fixated on your face.
All in all, the Barchetta was produced for 10 years, from 1995 to 2005. An array of trims and several generations were available, but the car kept its size and quirky personality throughout. How Fiat came to give it a name that means ‘little boat’ in Italian is a bit of a mystery as there’s nothing nautical about it. It doesn’t even handle like a boat, or a bathtub. Despite this, the car exhibited a lot of sprightliness and drivability thanks to the front wheel drive setup, perky engines, minimal weight and soft top folding roof.
Very easy on the eyes it has to be said, the Fiat simply exudes Italian style and flair. The lovely lines that adorn the length of the bodywork combine very well with the classic front grille to provide quite an artistic design overall. Aside from the steering wheel being on the wrong side, the interior is just what you’d want from a small roadster- comfortable, stylishly designed and well organised. There’s no question it looks good and is easy to adapt to, and there’s also a generous amount of equipment. The boot is very small though, so practicality isn’t particularly good.
It’s remarkable to drive and really does provide a lot of fun. Lively and nippy, the handling is great and it really does corner well. The ride is soft and you can tell it holds the road nicely because it takes an awful lot to make it flustered. A 1.8 litre petrol engine definitely gives it some go, and motoring along back roads, pottering around town or cruising on the motorway are all done with relative ease. You also get good fuel economy due to the lack of overall weight.
The Fiat is one of those cars that you hardly ever see out on the road, but when you try to find one second hand there are more than you can shake a stick at. Motors.co.uk has a wonderful selection of high quality ones at some impressively discounted prices, so really you do get tremendous value for money. For those who want both class and fun on a budget, a used Fiat Barchetta is a brilliant buy.
At the end of the day, the Fiat Barchetta is a great little car that never fails to disappoint. If there’s one thing it has in abundance it’s character, and you can be sure it’ll put a smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel. Superb in summer with the roof down, bring this little piece of Italy to the UK and you’ll love it!