Some comments from North American drivers

• I am very jealous of your car! I wish they sold them in the U.S. That car would be a hit for sure.

• I am insanely jealous you own one and i don't. However, i take comfort in knowing lampredi designed whats under my hood.

• Real bummer can't get one in the US. Love my Spider though.

• I have fallen in love with a car that I'm not even sure that I'll be able to get in Canada, BUT, I'm trying really hard to find a way.
• An import agent in California has written to me stating that the licence fees, retrofit, and import costs may send the price of this thing through the roof, but I have asked him to try and nail down some numbers for me to consider - SO I may still get it.
  [Not quite... -Marc]

• Of course I love the car. Can't someone find the loopholes in the DOT rules to bring them through without the average guy going broke? Doesn't Fiat see what the American market is like now? As long as they provide a quality vehicle for a reasonable price they can give the Miatas, Z3s, and Mercedes SLK a run for the money.

• Oh, OHHHH, I have got some news for you. I have received this information from a very reliable source. Fiat may be coming back to the U.S. They will be importing a Coupe the first year, and then likely a Convertible the next year. I'm not sure exactly what models, but there is hope then that I just might be able to get a new Fiat in the next few years. They will not be going through Bricklin or anyone else. They will be using Independent Dealers such as Alfa Dealers. So the one Dealer that we have that would be doing this in our area would be a Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Dealer.
  [Not entirely true... -Marc]

• I want a car with some style (for when my Spider gets too old!)!!! Bring the Barchetta to the U.S.!!!!

• Fiat will never come back to the US...The sight of another 124 Spider rusting away, timing belt clanking on the hood...I loved my 124 until it broke in half....then I bought an Mr2..... Long Love Alfa.....

• I just bought a Spider, and yes I wish Fiat would import the New Spider to Canada. Luv your car!

• [this is from an employee of Fiat USA, kindly forwarded to me by a friend]
  Thank you for your inquiry about Fiat. Unfortunately, the company for the time being will not be operating in the U.S. market, instead focusing on key emerging markets such as Brazil and Argentina where growth potential is greatest. Fiat's new "centerpiece" model in this initiative is the Palio, otherwise known as the "World Car" because of the extreme flexibility of the vehicle's production process (different models can be produced off the same platform, with consistency across international markets).
  I will share your comments with our headquarters in Italy, where I'm sure they will be much appreciated. Again, thanks for your interest in Fiat and best of luck with your Spider.
  Sincerely,
  Rob Lewis
  External Relations Manager
  Fiat USA
  P.S. If you haven't already, you might want to check out a nice Fiat enthusiasts' home page at www.mirafiori.com

• Every time I see the car, I drool uncontrollably. I can't wait until Fiat comes back to the U.S. You can count on me to be on of the first "satisfied" customers.

• Nice page. I wish I could buy a Barchetta in the US.

• Hello Marc, you lucky dog! I'd love to have a Barchetta. On the other hand I have owned four X1/9s and two 124 Spiders. At the moment, I own a '81 124 FI 2000 and a '81 1500 FI X1/9.
  Fiat no longer will import into the US, and I'm stuck in a backwater known as Dallas, Texas. There is an effort being started by the Fiat/Lancia Club of North Texas to.... repair the error concerning our import problem.

• I completely agree that FIAT should make another attempt at the U.S. market. But, they HAVE TO understand that they are entering with a serious handicap, that being that they are Italian. [...]
  If FIAT returns they really need to make a SERIOUS effort, delivering half baked good won't cut it. If we recieve the Barchetta (Oh, please, please, please) we'll need to get something that is AT LEAST comparable to your wonderful car!!!

• Gimme!

• I want a Barchetta!!! Unfortunately they don't sell Fiats in the US.
  My first car was a 74 Fiat 124 Spider Sport and it was a lot more fun to drive than my sisters Miata. The Barchetta is a beautiful car and I think it would sell great in the US. I wrote a letter to Fiat on the Fiat official home page telling them that. Maybe if more of the Fiat fanatics over here did the same, Fiat might listen.

• I can;t wait to graduate so I can afford this Italian WONDER

• Barchetta is a better design statement than any of the German roadsters

• Since the first time I saw the Barchetta in Switzerland, I have been trying to get one for myself.
  I live in California. I want to know if it is possible to get one. And if so, how?

• I have a 124 Pirir Farina Spider 2000. Where can i find out more information about this car. Oh the Barchetta looks like a kick ass car! How much did it set you back?

• Every day when you get in your Barchetta, please take a moment and thank the heavens that you live in a place you can actually BUY one of those. I would be first in line for one if they'd ever have the sense to send 'em over here!!!

• I had a 124 Spider when I was in college and would like another one. I don't suppose Barchettas will ever be sold in the US???

• How many time we have to wait in USA..
  This car is a real DREAM!

• Like your car. It's too bad, America is missing out on a car that could be a classic.

• to begin with, I have a fiat spider 2000 and i am browsing around in a desperate attempt to find any and all additional information about my car (parts,dealer,etc...) and now that i have seen what other beautiful cars fiat has produced, i have become upset because fiat no longer maintains dealers in the united states. after seeing your barchetta, i would love one as well ;)
  it's absolutely lovely. please don't rub it in too much. it's alright, i will live since i have other cars, but my fiat holds a special place with me.
  hope your fiat runs forever.

• I live in the United States, but I have spent a considerable time in Florence, Italy. I am very impressed by the design of the car. I currently own a 1983 Porsche 928s. But there is always room for another sports car. I have tried to obtain a Barchetta in the States or to have one shipped here and it is impossible. Do you have any suggestions?

• Too cool. I hope that I could be able to import one soon.

• To answer the questions on your survey; I wanted to see a Barchetta (sadly, we don't have that option in America) and I drive a 1968 FIAT 124 Sport Spider, hence my curiousity over the Barchetta. No matter what anyone here in America says, I know that they are truly wonderful automobiles, regardless of the difficulty in finding parts or a good mechanic for the work that I cannot perform myself.

• What a beautiful car. What is the retail?

• I am in LOVE with the Fiat Barchetta, and though I am only 15, my father promised me a red one for my 16th birthday. It is nearing and I want to get as much info as possible about the car, because I want it so badly. One of the things I like about it is that, like you mentioned, it is so exclusive. No one has it at my school, or in my city that I can see.

• Time for true globilization. Let the consumer pick and choose.

• I am going to smuggle one of these here into the U.S. Do you have any tips on how to get past Customs?

• I'm so jealous! Can ANYONE find out what it would take for FIAT to return to the US? Maybe now that the dollar is getting stronger, (So the price of the cars here would be lower...?

• Do you know of anyone who has travelled to Italy, driven a Barchetta around and then imported it back to the USA? I would love to know how yo go about doing that.

• It just makes me sick- the US is THE LARGEST NEW CAR MARKET IN THE WORLD, and FIAT, with it's best product lineup in probably 25 years, doesn't want to play. About 2 years ago, they announced a huge factory in Mexico, and 2 weeks later the Mexican economy dropped 75%, so of course, they changed their minds. BMW and Mercedes just LOVE having factories here in the southeastern US!
  Best of luck with your wonderful car. I visited Italy a few weeks ago, and LOVED watching a Coupe' rip down the autostrada at about 200 kph!

• I WANNA, WANNA, WANNA!!!

• I think the barchetta would kick a lot of ass in the American market. Fiat please for me. [Bmw 750-driver]

• The Canadian Rock Group "Rush" has a song called "Red Barchetta". My kids love the song, but had no idea what one was, now i want one

• I am frustrated that I cannot purchase one in the USA.

• I just returned from London where I saw a used silver Barchetta on the show room floor. I fell in love with it! I've been interested in the BMW Z3 and the Miata, but the Barchetta looks slicker in every way.
  There is no comparison with the others. And the used price (with 4K/mi) was only about $27,000. If they were available now, I would push up my purchase date to get one. I hope Fiat decides to sell them here, soon.
  If you know anything, let me know.

• Sometimes it sucks to live in America.

Road & Track: "Too bad Fiat's management has decided to ignore the U.S., which could easily be the largest market for the Barchetta."

Car and Driver: "Fiat has no plans to return to the United States. So unless you come to Europe, you won't experience the most touchy-touch door handles extant."

European Car: "With minor faults rectified, the Barchetta could satisfy demanding North American customers. [...] Oh, but if there were only an affordable Italian."

Finally, this letter was sent to and published by Road & Track:
The all-new Fiat Barchetta is a stubby, little, unexciting car. Besides, it bears a name that earned a rather dubious reputation in the U.S. Even with a Miata-like sports car, it would be a major mistake for Fiat to try to come back to the U.S. market.

GENE S. SELIG
Victorville, California