A little bit on the gawpey side.......

[highlander]

........But always quite liked these, and looks pretty good in MAF yellow
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/fiat/barchetta/fiat-barchetta-1999-lhd/7287940

 

[zagatoes30]

I fancy one of these for the summer but finding one that isn't rotten underneath can be a challenge

 

[allandwf]

Handle very well, as mentioned, rot can be an issue. I have looked at a few as toyed with the idea. Some of the mot history's make scary reading!

 

[Contigo]

Why you wouldn't buy an MX5 over one of these I don't know.

 

[allandwf]

Why you wouldn't buy an MX5 over one of these I don't know.

Sheep, I had a Mk1 1.8 MX5

 

[highlander]

Why you wouldn't buy an MX5 over one of these I don't know.

Because it would be a girly MX5......enough said.

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

There's a RHD one on eBay or AutoTrader
Saw it last night. Can't recall exactly where.

 

[Contigo]

Because it would be a girly MX5......enough said.

And the Barchetta isn't?

Plus the steering wheel is on the wrong side in 99.999% of the cases.

 

[allandwf]

And the Barchetta isn't?

Plus the steering wheel is on the wrong side in 99.999% of the cases.

Now that surely depends where you drive it

 

[Paul - H]

Nice and so much character, great for creeping around the green lanes in Europe, and not to difficult to use here, reaching for parking tickets a bit of a pain, wouldn't go for yellow though

 

[zagatoes30]

So much more character than and MX5 well it would have it's Italian might not ultimately handle as well but I would have one every day over the the over clinical Japanese alternative.

Blue is the best colour

 

[Andyk]

Why you wouldn't buy an MX5 over one of these I don't know.

Did it get better reviews in the head to heads over the MX5 back in the day....or was that over the MGF.....It certainly was regarded as a good sports car...Weren't they all LHD though ?

 

[Corranga]

I had a Punto HGT as a daily a few years back, and my other half has owned 2x MX-5 mk1.

The Barchetta is based on the Punto floorpan, has the same engine and gearbox, and probably shares a lot more than just that.
I can say with 100% certainty, that'd I'd buy a mk1 mx-5 every day of the week before the Barchetta (despite the Barchetta being the prettier car).

The build quality on the Mazda wasn't amazing, but the Punto felt like it would fall apart. The electric power steering on the Punto was vague and unreliable, the mx5 was a hoot with average tyres and a decent geometry set up.

I think the mx-5 mk1 is a beautiful car. It has the classic British sportscar look about it and still looks great today.

The whole mx-5 is girly thing is getting very old. It was bought by everyone, including woman, simply because it looked good, the roof came down and it was cheap. I honestly think Mazda really got it right - then ruined it with the bland mk2

 

[davy83]

Driving a Punto diesel turbo as a rental here at the moment and its not a bad car, rides a little hard, but it handles well and the engine is surprisingly gutsy. fuel consumption is more or less negligble, sat nav is rubbish, but its not a bad car.

 

[zagatoes30]

I will probably get shot down by Phil but as much as the MX5 drives and handles well to me it is just soulless, it always has been it is just bland and bland is one thing I really hate. The Barchetta on the other hand just oozes style, pretty, light with some lovely interior touches. Drives OK not a patch on the MX5 but convertibles are about the occasion as they are the ultimate get up and go and this is where the Barchetta has the MX5 beats hands down.

 

[Contigo]

It's not ever a pretty car though! The mk1 is stunning in every way, what a proper roadster should look like, it even took design inspiration from the Elan too. I think you need Specsavers Andy.

 

[Rwc13]

A Mk 1 MX5 "stunning in every way"? Really? That's a **** of description for a cheap Japanese copycat car. I've owned one and seen thousands and have never considered them even remotely "stunning" to look at. And I would say the Barchetta is far more interesting to look at


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Contigo]

It's funny how some think the e-type is gopping too but again each to their own.

 

[allandwf]

Exactly, each to their own, or we would all be running around in wee Mazdas! Mine was a Merlot, apart from the colour the only thing of note was it had a superb heater.

 

[Andyk]

It's not ever a pretty car though! The mk1 is stunning in every way, what a proper roadster should look like, it even took design inspiration from the Elan too. I think you need Specsavers Andy.

Remenber seeing first review of an MX5 and then had a classic Elan by the side of it. Mazda jumped into a niche that that all others had left and nailed it with the MX5.....it started others making cars like it. Whether you like it or not it is an iconic little car and that's not something you say about cars from from the rising sun often.