General might be getting one.

[JonnyBoy]

Have you got any quotes Alex? It might not be as bad as you think! I was looking at quotes for my Capri a few weeks ago, I was expecting it to be a nightmare to insure me, a 21y/o male student with no NCB (been drving for 4 years now on my dads policy 'cos its mega cheap), on a 2.0 Capri. But it actually wouldn't cost much more to insure than the Punto.
e.g. from Tesco I got a quote of around £650 fully comp on the Punto, for reference, then changed it to the Capri (again fully comp) and it was just under £800. Not too bad considering it's nearly twice as powerful and a hell of a lot more desirable to theiving scum!

 

[Alex]

cheers jonny, I'm not that woried, I prefer to psych myself up for it to be huge, and then get the releife of it not, rather than know exactly how much it'll cost and have it in the back of my mind.

I'm going to wait until i've narrowed it down to a choice of cars, and then I'll get some quotes.

What I need at the moment is a guide to what to look out for, so I can compile some sort of checklist, and see what is what, and for what money if ya get what I mean?

 

[Nino_1975]

Things to look out for on a Barchetta.

Variator - Has it been replaced, pre 99 models suffer from these going.
Hood condition.
Cam belt should be changed every 30/40k as it's a varible valve engine.

FIATS are not the best build quaility so check everything, I bought mine brand new and have had, the heat sheild replaced, the water coolier replaced, speedo replaced. Check the panels line up. It needs a FSH.

Check the exhaust, is it Fiat orignal? replacements are best, steel!.

CHECK THIS OUT ASAP
http://www.fiatbarchetta.com/club/uk/ all the info you need.

 

[Alex]

cheers, thats just what I needed... and there is a link to an associated insurer, might also be worth a try!

 

[gralegrrrrr]

there nice lookin cars and the steering wheel is on the proper side too!! what ever you do dont get a right hand drive conversion i here there bloody awful!!

 

[Nino_1975]

The above chap is so right, never buy one that has had such work done on it. Any car that has had the steering wheel changed needs to be checked by any insurance company 1st. Never do anything like this with out the factory. OUCH.........

It;s the major part of the car that is being tampered with, also it's harder to sell as people don;t trust it.

 

[Alex]

don't panic, one of the reasons I want one, is because its LHD... I wanted an impractical car so why not go all out?

 

[Alex]

Ok, best quote so far £945 TPFT with 3yrs n/c and a non-fault accident!

Current car £431 F/C - I thought that was bad!

Looks like i'm going to wait a few years, and get a one in as good condition as possible, rather than scrape the barrel and buy one that that I can't afford to insure ! Although having said that I'm still very tempted. I've just given my car away (couldn't sell it - too much wrong). Dialemma - what am I going to drive now? *goes off to buy a copy of autotrader*

 

[Alex]

Right, time to bump MY 'might be getting one' thread... instead of spamming somebody elses

Think I should be getting one around april :woot:

 

[Nino_1975]

Alex

Now this is April 2006??????

 

[The Negotiator]

2009

He is keeping us in suspense. He will decide soon he doesn't even need a car!

 

[Alex]

Yes April 2006 (i mistyped 3006 the first time ), maybe earlier if I get my bonus confirmed in january.

 

[Alex]

Right. I'm going to go to DTR maybe this weekend, or next weekend... need to refresh myself with one in the flesh... Lust is so good, and yet so painful

 

[Nino_1975]

Oooo Danger danger, the last time I did that I walked out with the top of the range one!, I only wanted to spend 4K. Bought a brand new one instead, it called out to me, "BANK CAN PAY, BANK CAN PAY" So thanks to Cahoot I bought it. Many hours of overtime and bonuses paid it off!

You will come away wishing you bought one there and then!!!!!!

You said silver, but look at Red or black or blue. Theses I think are the best colours.

Best to buy in the winter as the prices drop.

 

[Marco84]

red or silver! black barchetta looks optical smaller - for my eye

 

[Iskander]

Hi all, have not posted in a while, been real lazy lately
Mmm which colour to choose... Got to be Elisir blue or red. Having said that, some of the earlier blues were a bit naff :yuck: sry!!
Lots of silver cars out there already and black is a nightmare to keep clean and will show up any and every blemish in the paintwork But then the car is so pretty it'll look great in any colour
There's a pic of mine on this site somewhere and steve's red B as well.

 

[Nino_1975]

Yellow / Orange, I think is a no no (Sorry to people who have them). Agreed with my friend above; red or blue do look very nice (Red better LOL).

Silver looks more like an MX5, must admit I have had more admiring people look at mine because it's red and less at my friends being silver. OK there are all little children who think because it's red and a convertible it's cool.



Red looks more like a Ferrari!!!! LOL am I shallow????

 

[Marco84]

they think that is ferrari and when they come closer ena read fiat why does silver look like mx5? I saw mx5 more in red color.
I was choosing betwen red and silver barchetta and choose silver...why? because red color of 98 model is quite poor for me...looks "older"...but if i had a ferrai i would choose red color for sure, but face it, we are driving fiat

 

[Nino_1975]

Arrr mine is debadged, ferrari wheels. It's only the little boys who think wow look at that red car, they don;t care, it's red!!! where you not the same as a child???

Hope I don;t sound stupid!!"!!

 

[Alex]

NINO... you're shallow

I like silver I would prefer electric blue though but they are harder to find, seen loads with >50K km.