Left Side story: Fiat's MX-5 alternative can be a lot of fun, but watch out for the quality issues

摘要

It's indisputable that, if you want an inexpensive, sensible and entertaining roadster, you should probably just buy a Mazda MX-5. But what if you don't like Mazda's diminutive roadster? What if you want something with a little more character, a little more elegance? You could consider a Fiat Barchetta. Its Punto underpinnings may have resulted in a less sporting drive than the MX-5, and it was only available in left-hand-drive form, but its sleek lines and intricate detailing make it a potentially more interesting proposition. The Barchetta originally made its debut at the 1995 Geneva show. Under the bonnet was a 1.8-litre four-pot that produced 130bhp and 121lb ft, sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. Thanks to a kerb weight of just 1060kg, the Barchetta had a fairly sprightly 0-60mph time of just 8.6sec, which was comparable with that of the MX-5 of the same era. Suspension was by MacPherson struts at the front and an independent beam with trailing arms at the rear, while stopping power was provided by disc brakes all round.