RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf
Discussion
Having owned 2 (both with over 120k) and covered 40k in these cars...Never let me down, my last one was 50k overdue for a service (bangernomics). The engine and feel of the thing constantly eggs you on to give it some beans, which was fantastic when you did. I actually found they handled very well on bumpy country lanes - brilliant involving sensory drive. At least 30mpg too. Yes they're not the fastest, but they're better than the figures suggest, and when you're not giving it some abuse, they felt a little ordinary compared to my bmw compact and 530i...but a fantastic value fun car. Drive one before making a sweeping judgement.
Brilliant SOTW
Brilliant SOTW
I like these, along with the 146...
My dad had a red 146Ti around 1997, had it for about 18 months and loved it...only thing that went wrong was the rear electric windows jammed (switch had always been backwards, it turned out the connectors just came off...switch was removed, turned around, rewired and all was good). He originally set out to look at a Mondeo Estate but decided the Alfa was better, it was the only hatchback we ever had whilst we were growing up (this was what led to us keeping it for such a short amount of time, lack of space for a family of 4 to go on holiday in). Its also the only car he's had where I can remember the number plate....P896 LRF, where are you now?!
My memories of it were:
Fantastic engine note and brakes (the first was obvious, the latter, 'so I was told' given I was 12 at the time...)
Nobody knowing quite what it was other than it was red and looked sporty
My dad hitting 115mph on a road somewhere between Inverness and Ullapool and getting moaned at by my mum....
Supportive seats, bizarre dash cut out on the passenger side, decent stereo (philips 6 cd changer on the boot)
My dad had a red 146Ti around 1997, had it for about 18 months and loved it...only thing that went wrong was the rear electric windows jammed (switch had always been backwards, it turned out the connectors just came off...switch was removed, turned around, rewired and all was good). He originally set out to look at a Mondeo Estate but decided the Alfa was better, it was the only hatchback we ever had whilst we were growing up (this was what led to us keeping it for such a short amount of time, lack of space for a family of 4 to go on holiday in). Its also the only car he's had where I can remember the number plate....P896 LRF, where are you now?!
My memories of it were:
Fantastic engine note and brakes (the first was obvious, the latter, 'so I was told' given I was 12 at the time...)
Nobody knowing quite what it was other than it was red and looked sporty
My dad hitting 115mph on a road somewhere between Inverness and Ullapool and getting moaned at by my mum....
Supportive seats, bizarre dash cut out on the passenger side, decent stereo (philips 6 cd changer on the boot)
alfa daley said:
This is identical to my old black '98 145 QV.
Such a good car, even though I'm in something faster now I still miss it. Supersprint exhaust, fantastic Alfa sound and and a cracking engine that just asked to be revved. I have never seen a better standard cloth interior on any car.
Brings back fond memories of trying to force down the ,malfunctioning electric window at 75 odd on the motorway. Terrible MPG, not great handling really but so much fun. In the end sold for £350 to a genuine Italian from Slough (needed some brake fixes)
Likewise. I had a grey 98 one from 99 to 2001. Great car. I thought the handling was much better than the equivalent Golf IV or A3 at the time, particularly the sharp steering and a supple yet sporty ride/handling compromise. In that class/age (late 90s warm hatches), I've only driven a Focus ST170 or 306 that had a better chassis set up.Such a good car, even though I'm in something faster now I still miss it. Supersprint exhaust, fantastic Alfa sound and and a cracking engine that just asked to be revved. I have never seen a better standard cloth interior on any car.
Brings back fond memories of trying to force down the ,malfunctioning electric window at 75 odd on the motorway. Terrible MPG, not great handling really but so much fun. In the end sold for £350 to a genuine Italian from Slough (needed some brake fixes)
Really practical as well. And totally reliable over the 60,000 hard miles I did in it.
I liked mine. But 'company car forced sale'.
anomaly said:
I had one of these for a few years and loved it. I also think that they're actually very good looking cars, just a bit different from the norm. Despite the above typical comments, mine was completely reliable.
My god, with those wheels, the 145 looks absolutely fantastic!!My nan, at the age of 78, bought a 146. Only a 1.6 but a twin spark engine with 120 bhp (a good output for the time), it begged to be revved and had such an eager feel to it. It seemed to take on a new life at 4000 rpm. Great great car.
I need a twin spark Alfa as well as another V6 Busso!! Ahh!!! Alfa, stop drawing me in AGAIN!
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