2000 FIAT Barchetta Review - The Quirky Roadster That Time Forgot 

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Perfect for a trip through Iraq

So this is the car that provided the soundtrack for EVERY car in Gran Turismo of my youth!!!

The door handles are a work of art. They should have kept them one all the fiat /alfa cars

The Barchetta was used as the base of the 2003 Lancia Fulvia concept, it's a shame that it never reached production because it was gorgeous

Gran Turismo 2 was my first exposure to these.

Quirky and delightful!

Your ability to find and source these quirky gems is unsurpassed James👌🏻

Hi James, pleasure meeting you at shedfest with my Barchetta. I love my new name Mr Riveria Fiat Barchetta Man!!

I remember seeing a red one at the Paris auto show in 2000, as a 10 year old, I was there to see Countaches and Diablos but also knew I would get a chance to get in some of the new cars being shown. The Barcheta was on display and I remember playing with the door handle mechanism for a good couple minutes, I don't rember anything else that I thought was remarkable about the car except for those door handles, for years I would see one of these on the road and remember those handles and how different and special they made the car feel... I got to see a real Shelby Cobra, Shelby Daytona, a Countach and a McLaren F1 and the real car of my dreams at the time, a Ferrari F355. SMART had their "sport" car prototypes and were giving rides... Thank you JayEm for bringing some good memories back to me.

Glad to see your take on the Barchetta ! I bought one new in 2000 and used her as a daily driver for 13 years. Of these, a good number were spent in Ireland and others in Italy so the car experienced both the mediterranean sun and the wet weather of the atlantic coast. Really it's a fun car to drive, keeping in mind that today 130 hp aren't much to brag about. Different story when new, as it was a decent power for a car in that price range in those days. The MX-5 was always better but 4 cylinder Z3s were easily left behind. Different story when it came to build quality, it was a Fiat and it showed... nothing serious, simply the cockpit was very "plasticky" and creaks were common. As with many Fiats there was also the chance of some warning light turning on for no reason (don't know how many times I had the airbag checked only to find it was a problem with the warning light itself). Corrosion was never an issue with mine, Maggiora built cars were well protected against this. The worst part were the various rubber seals, with some of them breaking after a while and letting water in. I took good care of all these and overall I've been lucky enough, the only water entering during the first few days with the hard-top on, as the seals needed some time to settle in. I had no issue with the variator fortunately and really no major mechanical problem over the years. Actually my worst issues were with the fact that the car was almost unknown in Ireland and the guys servicing her sometime didn't know what to do... Now the vvt system often gives problems, I seem to remember there was an aftermarket solution to it though. The roof was indeed not particularly robust and the rear window could crack and break over time. It can actually be replaced quite easily, the problem is that nobody tells you. There was a rear deflector offered as optional, I did not have it and never bothered, I preferred to spend the money on a hard top. Those who will use it as a second car would likely not need the hard top of course. Speaking of optionals, I would advice to get air conditioning, not only it's good in summer but also helps keeping moisture off the cabin. Mileage was always pretty good, although more modern car will do better with more power. Performance is what it is, wasn't bad at all 20something year ago but today is nothing special. The car however handles pretty well for an FWD of the era and it's very fun. Even on irish B-roads I always enjoied driving this car. Of course, being LHD meant some hassles, overtaking needed more care and any time I had to enter a car part I had to get off the car to grab my ticket... it was funny however to look at the faces of policemen at road checks when I pulled down the window and they could see nobody on what they expected to be the driver seat ! Oh, and one thing you mentioned: the door handles. They never broke, they are really robust, however if the car is left outside in the winter they can actually get stuck if it's wet and the temperature drops below zero ! Happened to me a few times and the solution was always the same: take a bowl of warmer water and pour it over the handle. A similar problem occurred with the handbrake, the pads could get stuck in below zero temperature. Once I found out, I simply avoided using it if parking overnight in the open during the colder winter nights. Said that, I even used the car to go skiing... Would I advice someone to buy a Barchetta? I sure would! I agree that an MX-5 would be a better car but for the money it's a very capable alternative. I drove mine in the most diverse conditions, cruising under the sun or blasting through B-roads, going through the start-stop-start of urban traffic and touching 200 km/h on the German autobahns. I always enjoyed being at the wheel! Another great video from you, looking forward to the next ones !

Those things are such cute lil cars. The pre-facelift does absolutely look better, though the facelift's still good.

I bought a yellow one earlier this year. My wife was having trouble getting on and off the motorcycle and this seems like a good way to explore Spain's mountain roads. I've spent a bit of time and money on a few rough edges and cosmetics. All in all I've quite pleased with the Barchetta. It's fun to drive, looks good and is unique. I've had one person ask me if it's Italian followed by is it a Ferrari? For a 2002 Barchetta with 42k miles for €6800 I just can't find anything to complain about.

I own a Barchetta for over 2 years at this point. And I love driving it every single day. It is perfect and flawed at the same time. I love it.

Hi Jay, i owned a Barchetta and I really liked it! There is one important point. Believe me or not. Yes it's a Fiat - but the quality of the Barchetta is outstanding! A very important fact for potential buyers. It's a real daily driver.

I own mine 15 years and beat the s*it out of it constantly. This car was made for mass markets, a lot of money was saved on parts. So once you start replacing the suspension, decent tires, modded brakes, exhaust, and bushings, the character of this car is more like driving a motorcycle. And it's very reliable.

Such a pretty car.

I always remember Hammond driving one in the TG Middle east special. I seem to remember it being faster than Clarksons Mazda and James BMW. (Shame the Fiat is FWD)

That was a really cool era for Fiat. The Coupé is/was equally stunning...

Driving it felt like in a 60s Ferrari: the view out of the curved window on the fenders was just priceless. Despite the vintage feel it was rust protected and never used more than 9l/100km. Shame I crashed it after just 6 months 😭

James, I love them. The thing is that I took my Quad bike to go look at one and it towered over the car by miles. Yes, they are that dinky. 😊

The fiat barchetta is such a beautiful looking classy car, it has such elegant lines to it, i see lots of these down in southern spain where they really look the part, these and the fiat coupe are beautiful. Prices on the barchetta and coupe are rising fast

Like puppies for Christmas convertibles aren't just for summer, a drive in winter is glorious.

Quirky is an understatement from some angles the car looks like the duck time forgot.

I love how the center console looks like a sleeping Mr. Blobby. Sounds pretty neat too.

I saw the coupe concept of this it looked incredible. These compact cars were so badly under appreciated until now when everything is a electric suv and everyone clamours back to what they didn’t care for in the first place

Barchetta means little boat, partly explaining the nautical looks! After owning an NA and NB Miata, they were both incredibly ho hum I sold them promptly. The Barchetta looks and sounds more fun, at least when comparing stock to stock condition.

I’ve Owned 3 FIAT s and They Were All Wonderful!!!!

I don't always agree with what you say, but your correct in regards to buying convertibles after a monsoon summer

Excellent video James and well researched. I owned a 2001 pre-facelift Barchetta with third brake light for a couple of years in the late 2000s. It was originally a grey import from Italy, with no options, not even central locking or carpets, except for a 6CD changer in the glove box. I believe they were substantially cheaper to buy new in Italy than the UK. It handled and rode really well and was prefect on English A and B country roads and surprisingly practical with that boot. I had some issues, primarily with the engine cooling system, not the VVT though and had to replace the poor quality original hood. The main corrosion area on them is the floor pan behind the seats, as the hood seal fails and lets water in. The earlier Maggiora-built cars were also much better built than the Fiat built ones, with tighter body panel gaps.

I've always loved these. Such a pretty car. A bit silly maybe but it's always been the door handles. They're so unnecessarily elegant, I love that little detail.

The front actually looks really cool.. the back.. not so much imo But still a very unique looking car!

Barchetta means ‘small boat’ which actually describes the design quite well. It was original in its appearance but certainly not up to competing with a z3 or mx5, and indeed quirky instead of cool. This combined with poor specs it was always going to fail. With the more recent 124 Spider, Fiat actually (finally) got it right. Now that is a car that imo is very under appreciated.

We've had heatwaves down here in the South, glad to have cooler weather coming

11k back early noughties. Epic value. Today 2023 about 38k a non Chinese EV. 11k new. Oh to dream

Well done again James!

Crazy that you upload this video this week, I only saw one of these on Tuesday for what must be the first time in over ten years! good looking car

Great video James, brought back memories for me…cool cars an great price considering rarity.

Now i want one! lovely looking car.

compact and simple 2 seated runabouts were and are just great

Hammond really rated the little Fiat he had infact that's why he picked 1 for the middle East Xmas special in the days when Top gear was brilliant. It's the left hooker only that always put me off them. They have always held onto their value and didn't depricipate.

I also like the suzuki cappuccino would be great if you could review one

They're nice, but just a bit too cute. A couple of lines drawn a little bit different would have made all the difference.

I was a kid when I first saw one of these.... It was all red and I said: ---"woow....look! It's a Ferrari😮" 😅😂😂😂😂 Pretty lovable happy car 😊

I've got a 97 red barchetta! And love it. Thanks for reviewing it

I have the same engine in Project40 my Punto HGT, I got the the variator sorted when the timing belt needed to be replaced.

Good Sounding 4 cylinder

I do really like the looks of this!

Remember having a go in one in the 90s from the dealer. Handled better than I thought it would and was peppy enough. The only thing stopping me from buying was the left hand drive, which would have made overtaking.....interesting.

I have had one now for 5 years. A Riviera. The exhaust on the car in the video is by Super Sport. I have the same one. It is actually a must as it allows freeer revving and better throttle response. The pedals, contrary to the comment from James, are no good for heal and toeing. As I have had to modify mine. I am 6'5" with size 11 feet. I was totally unable to reach the throttle.. I have fully reworked the suspension to my own specification. The result is a Tarmac Terrier with a sporty GT ride. IT DOES NOT CRASH over undulations.. On the twisties here in Germany absolutely nothing passes me this side of a potent Caterham. Of which there are one or two in the village. Its a very underrated and under appreciated little charriot. You never get in a Barchetta. It is worn like your favourite jacket! Thanks James. Bw from the Forest of Blackness. Mike.

Only you forgot! Yellow is great but Love it in orange (or the 2 green).

Had a couple of these a few years, one black, fully loaded with leather, the other one yellow like the video, fantastic little cars, bought them both in winter, December used them until June before flipping them, the limitation was the LHD. But now I'm retired looking for one as a nice weather toy, as great fun and great looking and don't see many around, noted they've jumped up in price quite a bit

Hey? We had a glorious June, here in Devon - July and August were rubbish - then a nice spell at the beginning of September (as soon as school holidays were over!). Terrible for our chillies and tomatoes this year though, and not so great for a soft top... but I like this car.

I have one in red, withe a few mods and love it!

Loved these when thry were launched but could never justify owning one. But I'm not surprised that it's well screwed together and a fun drive. I bought a Mk 1 Punto (metallic yellow of course), and it was a brilliant little car that haulded me, a girlfriend, 2 mountain bikes and our luggage on a 2 week trip from Northern Ireland to Tuscany and back.

Always loved these, nearly bought one but didn't. Forget why, long time ago.

Always liked them, I’m not bothered if it’s FWD, it’s interesting & different from norm,

The most fun car I’ve ever owned. Autobahn is horrible. B roads is awesome. You only need the first three gears 🤣

Gorgeous lil car

OH man, I love the Barchetta! My dad used to have a 1995 in blue, which was also the first car I drove after I got my driver's license. I myself settled on a Fiat Tipo 16v for my first "own car", which was fun, but not as much fun as the Barchetta :)

Love it❤. Great looking car ( my eyes anyway). Followed the “ modern” incarnation of the 124 Spyder this evening, ah yes , once again related to the MX5., but my, how wide has it become . This looks far more neat a styling exercise, and prettier to boot. Think I would have chose the Barchetta over its competition at the time, and would chose one now , even over the modern 124. Nice video.

The Lotus Elan M100 predates the MX5. In fact, when the Lotus team first saw a prototype MX-5 at Mayflower (a UK engineering consultancy that had done most of the key work on the MX-5) they said "That's what we should have built." And, God, I wish they had. So, no, it wasn't chasing the MX-5 "success".

Great car, very reliable and fun to drive. The door are low, so you get an even better "sitting outside" feel. I personally like the design. It has so many nice details. Also drove a few MX5 and for me they are a bit "boring". Liked the MGF though.

Richard Hammond used to own one and, if I remember correctly, loved it.

If I recall, this is the starter car on Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast.

I owned and loved one of these… a long time ago. Little Boat.

these are actually great cars to drive and are pretty robust. Great design too.

Lovely little car

Always thought they were quirky, I liked the looks but just not the L/H drive, great review as always 👍

Had a dark metallic blue one for 3 years or so. Incredibly reliable and pretty economical. Nippy too, although overtaking was shall we say, 'exciting'.

The door pockets are super useful! Only place to put a 0.5L bottle :)

Lovely cabin. Had 6/7 cappuccino’s and couple GTV and Coupe Fiats in trade. These been illusive, then they went unobtainium as a common car

Great fun little cabrio, decent quality too. Sold really well. Much like the Fiat Coupe

Always loved the look of those, and how the price dropped to about a grand maybe 10 years ago - this made it a contender. But the FWD and the suspension setup always made me choose something else. No problem with LHD for me. Bur I still never went for it.

I Imported one from France in 1997. Loved it and made some money on it too. But a couple of watch outs - there was an inherent minor issue with the engine (which even got mentioned on Watchdog) that Fiat denied. Also, it was very expensive to insure, most likely due to repair costs. The front wings and centre section is all one part; likewise at the back.

Hi James, ever since i saw Hammond review this i fell in love with it. Style over substance motoring which is missing today. I personally am a fan of s2000 but an alternative to this would you consider an MG TF?

I had one, got it to perfect condition then sold it and always regret it. I'm looking for another but I'm in Italy so the LHD isn't an issue. But it's a great car.

Interesting car, James. I’ve never heard of it!

Never looked at this car as something to desire. It still is a FIAT, a "Fehler in allen Teilen" [Faulty parts everywhere]. It's front looks pretty nice, it's rear somewhat funky. Not bad to be honest.

Yes I have an MX5 which like any open top sports car attracts everyone (see 6.45 into vid) to drive a foot behind you as if trying to trying to prove something.

I wouldn't drive a left hand drive car if I lived in the UK. Story over.🥶

It's a great looking car.

Please note that the wheels and the gearbox lever (and the autoradio ) are not …. Let’s say from the Fiat Catalog

Bought a 330D convertible in April…was pretty pointless now need the coupe🤣 would love a 124spider to be fair

Seen a couple at the last Italian day I was at in Edinburgh. They do look quite nice in the flesh. I wouldn't discount one either

TY J 🙏🙏

It's a pretty little car, and better than the sum of it's parts. It's a shame Fiat mis-read the UK market. We do buy convertibles, despite the rain. We're used to the rain. But we're not going to drive the car from the passenger seat. If they'd made one with the steering wheel in the right place (The right place is on the right, that's why it's called right), then I think it would have sold by the boat load. It definitely gives the MX-5 a run for it's money.

Shed of a Megane welded to the rear bumper.

What was the boardroom at Fiat doing that afternoon? "Hey, guys, have you seen how the MX5 is selling?" "Sure, lets build one..." "And where is the biggest market for conviertible cars ?" "Britain!" "Ah, so they sell lots of soft tops, in Britain.. do we *really* have to make it right hand drive?" "Lets be bold and assume everyone will by a left hand drive car..its not as if we dont have a box of right hand drive Punto bits already...." "Cool... Now, next on the agenda... they styling of the Multipla..... "

The fact that RU-vid's auto-caption said [Applause] to the engine note in the very first seconds, kinda sums up my feeling toward this car

Heck that Renault Megane wants to get in yr boot 😂

Prettier than the MX5. very rare on uk roads even when they were new, due to the left hand drive only set up.

Hey, weres the toast? tomatos and cheese, olive oil drizzled opon toast? Lol love the car

Nice looking things, but I've always suspected that they'd be deficient dynamically as I saw them as a Punto cabrio in a posh frock. Very interesting then that James commented that there was very little scuttle shake. Engine-wise, I'd have thought these were up to par, being broadly equivalent to an MX-5, n/a Elan M100 & four-cylinder Z3 (though significantly lighter than the BMW)

Really liked those at the time - and the Fiat Coupe. Always fancied a pair of those two - but was working for another car company back then, so that never happened. Pretty little car.

I could have bought one of these with an employee group discount back in the day - but I also knew FIAT's attitude to the quality of what went into their cars and it was LHD and it would still have been pricey, so I bought a house instead. Reckon the house deposit would be worth more than one of these nowadays! I did like the looks and it preceded the 3rd gen Toyota MR2 by years - always wondered if Toyota had pinched the design, as spec-wise they were rather similar. I also could have bought a FIAT Coupe or an Alfa GTV at the time - monsters both - but that quality attitude always bothered me.

The floor mats are from a car dealer in Düren, Germany. Perhaps this one was imported to the UK later.

Left hook only put me off. Got an Alfa GTV spider instead. Loved it- and more exotic than the Fiat too

Could you please tell me what K&N Air Filter was used in your example car? I still drive with the original one.

Love the look ❤ but its too small for me unfortunately (windshield too low)