Fiat Barchetta (95-05) - Review Review by Parkers on 01 January 1995 The Barchetta should be a runaway Fiat success story in the UK. It's undeniably beautiful, has Italian brio in its drive and is available new for under £12,000. But there's one big reason why buyers haven't abandoned the MX-5 and MGTF in droves - it's only available in left-hand-drive. And that's its only major problem; reliability issues seem to be sorted and it's quite well equipped, but most buyers won't even try the Barchetta because the steering wheel is on the wrong side. They should. It's rather good. 3.5 out of 5 Other Fiat reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery 3.5 out of 5 Performance The 1.8 16v engine provides good acceleration in lower gears. It has 130bhp and low weight, making it very nimble on the country roads. It needs to be revved hard to get the best of the power, so it can sound a bit strained but it's fun when dong so. The gearchange feels substantial, although it's light enough for comfortable town driving. The light body means it's pretty economical too. View full gallery 4.5 out of 5 Handling In short, it's a hoot. The precise steering provides accurate, sharp cornering and the large comfortable seats provide a flowing journey for driver and passenger, minimizing jolts and knocks. It grips the road well and takes full advantage of its all round independent suspension. In wet weather, Barchetta slides around a lot more, but it's controllable. It's based around the original 1994 Punto, so unlike many convertibles, it's front-wheel-drive. View full gallery Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Fiat Barchetta cars for sale We have 2 models like this for sale. Find Fiat Barchetta cars for sale Previous: Equipment Next: Comfort