Seasonal
Now that autumn has arrived, it is time to look for a compact roadster for next spring. That sounds stranger than it is. After all, in the cold months there is much less demand for these types of sun worshipers than when the days are longer. And you know: less demand means lower prices. Moreover, you still have the whole winter to prepare your new toy and possibly dress it up to your taste!
A compact, reasonably affordable roadster is an extinct breed these days. Only Mazda’s MX-5 holds up bravely; twin brother Fiat 124 left quietly. A distant ancestor of this was the funny Barchetta. We portray them next to them good old MX-5. Roadster is an English word, so a British representation should not be missing. We found that in the MG TF. A nice trio for nice days!
Fiat Barchetta 1.8-16V – 2003 – 126,559 kilometers – €6,940
When asked who the biggest sun worshipers are, British, Italians or Japanese, we would guess the Southern Europeans, so we start with the Fiat Barchetta. This Fiat Barchetta shows exactly what we mean above: the 9-XFS-15 (import, built in April 2003, so just before the facelift) is honestly put in the shop window by the seller: with some signs of wear (including a crack in the rear bumper ) and air conditioning that does not cool properly. Nice job to fix yourself during the winter months, for example for the change of our €7,500. This ‘boat’ is delivered including a service with a fresh timing belt. Fine! Initially (from 1995) the 1.8 (actually 1.7) was not flawless, but its reliability gradually increased. A new belt provides additional security. What always remained is the nice and fierce character of the 130 hp machine with a somewhat raw engine sound during acceleration. However, such a sports car can easily handle that!
Yet the Barchetta does not manage to evoke the real roadster feeling in all areas. Certainly, you sit nicely encapsulated and look out on a sporty dashboard with the beautifully curved hood behind it, but it also sends some light, shifts are not ‘short’ enough and the chassis is quite comfortably tuned. This shows the relationship with the ‘good’ Punto. Is that disadvantageous? Well, if you like to hit the track, the TF seems like a more rewarding alternative, while the MX-5 will do better on mountain passes. The Barchetta is more of a boulevard cruiser. Or in other words: perhaps the most suitable for the novice roadster driver. He does not challenge you, but is ready if you ask. Moreover, the Punto origin ensures that many parts are interchangeable and therefore do not have to cost a lot of money. Another advantage: more than a million units of all generations of MX-5s have now been built, the Barchetta ‘only’ rolled off the assembly line 58,000 times. Exclusivity guaranteed, that is!
Signaling
Brand Fiat
Type Barchetta 1.8-16V
Construction year April 2003
Mileage 126,559
Asking price €6,940
Where to buy? Automotive company Van As, Apeldoorn
Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in line, 1,747 cc
Max. assets 96 kW/130 hp at 6,300 rpm
Max. couple 164 Nm at 4,300 rpm
Luggage compartment 165 l
Max. trailer braked 450 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 11.8
0-100 km/h 8.9 sec
Top speed 200 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
MG TF 135 – 2002 – 85,812 kilometers – €7,749
We come across this MG TF – also in Apeldoorn – which is slightly above our budget. Still, we would like to save some coins: three Dutch owners have driven less than 86,000 kilometers with it in 21 years. The 86-JJ-GL has led a quiet life and that is how it looks: tight fits in all the sheet metal and the hood connections. Under the hood we see a luxurious interior with seats covered with a combination of leather and Alcantara. The fake wood on the dashboard and steering wheel, on the other hand, is unnecessary.
The brand history also plays a role, but the Barchetta is more exclusive. MG F and TF together sold more than 117,000 copies. This must certainly have had something to do with the design of this four-wheeler: with its transverse mid-engine à la Toyota MR2, it undeniably offers more fun than the Italian, but you need more experience to actually get this out of it. The difficult – or nice – is: with its direct steering and the willing 1800 engine directly behind your eardrums, the car pushes you further and further until the limit is reached. Then it is all hands on deck to get things back in order, partly because aids such as ESP and traction control are missing. ABS and two airbags, that’s what you have to make do with. The TF is not everyone’s friend like the Barchetta. Maintenance is also not possible for everyone, given the difficult to reach power source. Fortunately, such a TF has improved a lot in terms of reliability compared to its predecessor F, but if reliability is your most important starting point, the MX-5 will naturally come to the fore. If you find it a challenge to occasionally take your roadster out on the track, then the exotic MG TF is perfect for you.
Signaling
Brand MG
Type TF 135
Construction year April 2002
Mileage 85,812
Asking price €7,749
Where to buy? Frans Wientjes Auto’s, Apeldoorn
Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in line, 1,796 cc
Max. assets 100 kW/136 hp at 6,750 rpm
Max. couple 165 Nm at 5,000 rpm
Luggage compartment 210 l
Max. trailer braked nb
Avg. consumption 1 in 12.7
0-100 km/h 8.8 sec
Top speed 205 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Mazda MX-5 1.8 Touring – 2006 – 177,322 kilometers – €7,440
It’s not hard to find a Mazda MX-5 for $7,500. Not for much less, by the way, but then you are stuck with old and often rusty ones. We came across this Mazda MX-5 within our budget: a lot younger than the other two, but with a higher mileage. The 60-ST-JT (three previous owners) has been used for what it was intended for: driving! Rightly so, because from the very first meters you can tell that this third generation MX-5 (the so-called NC) is a real roadster: a nicely encapsulated, low seat with an attractive clock shop in front of you and very direct steering and shifting behavior. .
It is full of sportiness and thanks to the empty weight of 1,055 kilos, the 126 horses from the 1800 are also enough to travel smoothly here. To a winding mountain pass or dike road, for example, because the Japanese string the bends together with almost palpable pleasure. Here the rear-wheel drive pays off, in combination with the multi-link suspension all around. The chassis of the TF is exactly the same, the Punto-based Barchetta has front-wheel drive in combination with independent McPherson suspension front and rear. Our experience shows that the somewhat sober interior conceals good build quality; better than the Barchetta and the TF, especially as the years start to count. The relatively young age of the Japanese is also pleasant in terms of the safety and luxury facilities on board. We mention things like side airbags, ESP and traction control, but also a windshield that the other two do without. A disadvantage is the limited storage space (only 150 liters) and of course the success story of the MX-5. More than a million have been built since 1989, making it the most successful roadster of all time. As a result, you don’t drive as special as in the Fiat or the MG.
Signaling
Brand Mazda
Type MX-5 1.8 Touring
Construction year April 2006
Mileage 177,322
Asking price €7,440
Where to buy? Autohuis Zeewolde, Zeewolde
Technical data
Engine 4 cyl. in-line, 1,798 cc
Max. assets 93 kW/126 hp at 6,500 rpm
Max. couple 167 Nm at 4,500 rpm
Luggage compartment 150 l
Max. trailer braked nb
Avg. consumption 1 in 13.7
0-100 km/h 9.4 sec
Top speed 196 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Which of these compact roadsters suits you?
In summary, the MX-5 is suitable for those who have outgrown the Barchetta, while the TF will appeal to the most experienced MX-5 riders. That’s how we would like to put it in short. And less short? The Barchetta is the most exclusive, but underneath it is a lot of Punto, with all the pluses and minuses that entails. In terms of brand and engine setup, the TF is the exotic of the three and therefore the least popular. The MX-5 is the latter: you can drive it straight away and experience the pure roadster feeling every meter, without having to worry about it breaking down quickly. No wonder it’s so popular!
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl