RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf

[PhilipAlfa]

k-ink said:

I am due to collect my new Alfa Romeo Mito this week (Cloverleaf, carbon Sabelt porno seats). As much as things have moved on, I still feel a tinge of guilt for not getting yet another 145 Cloverleaf. I may be broken. There is something about them which makes me miss them more than many other "better" cars I have owned. I console myself with the fact I very much doubt a mint one will pop up for sale now. I suspect the best of the best will be firmly held onto by their current owners. However if anyone does have a lovely example to sell do let me know... BEFORE I buy my Mito in 2 days!!

Sorry Paul, for now its staying with me here it is in the Alps this summer - did 2,000 miles to Italy and back. Lots of fun across the Alpine passes:



Would be interested to hear how you get on with the Mito - what made you choose one over an Abarth 500/595 etc?

[k-ink]

Nice one Philip. Looking good! I just zoomed in. You fitted leather seats - good call.

Re: Mito Cloverleaf - I test drove one expecting it to be ok. But I was blown away to be honest. The pull in any gear from the turbo was amazing. Handling was superb. It also sounded ace. Then the looks inside and out were cool. The final decider was the carbon fibre seats.

The Abarth 500/595 are great too, but they miss out on a couple of things. Firstly they are very common where I live, yet I hardly ever see a Mito. Secondly the Fiat looks great, except from a rear 3/4 angle, where they can look *slightly* too tall and odd to my eyes. Finally the Alfa has a cooler looking body and badge, which is a bit shallow I know. I have no idea how the Fiats drive as I did not look past the Alfa.

I think I may have to pick up another cheap 145 project car at some point. Just something to tinker with! Here are the photos of our 145 from back in the day...


145 1 by s_worksair, on Flickr


145 2 by s_worksair, on Flickr


145 3 by s_worksair, on Flickr

[PhilipAlfa]

Hey Paul - good to see those pictures of my/your car in its youth :-)

I do know what you mean about the rear view of the Abarth. And I'm hardly in a position to accuse anyone of being shallow with their car buying habits

Good luck with the Mito!

[k-ink]

No worries. I have a load more high res pictures from all angles if you want them. I found them on an old HD this morning.

Would be good to meet up sometime and put both cars side by side for a photo

[bencollins]

turps said:

Great little cars these. Have had a 146ti for 5 years and 50K miles so far, still in great condition. Good fun to drive, nice noise, easily fits in the garage and plenty of room for the family. Just took my son and all his gear to Uni - 600 miles in a couple of days and 40ish mpg overall. Just buy a good one and look after it!!

Edited by turps on Saturday 4th October 00:32

Edited by turps on Saturday 4th October 00:38

nice, reckon these are a better shape and more boot.

[only1ian]

Dear PH

This was the one to have Zoe yellow last of the line y 2001 with the rear spoiler, correct teledial alloys and 155bhp engine. Ran for 3 months after selling a v6 nuvelo blue GTV. Cost £950 in 2006 with 64000miles so these must be turning the corner and starting to rise in value like all old Alfa's do eventually!!!

The last where solid cars well developed over the production. Airbag warning light often due a switch under the passenger seat that can be disconnected if you move the chair fully back too quickly. Engine great, gear shift short, 6 airbags on the last and cd changers with electric everything. Cream mono leather with sports seats an option

Sticks to corners like glue.... Girl friend at the time in Cirencester hated it!

Cannot upload pictures so have to borrow a forum example!

http://forum.alfa145.com/index.php?showtopic=16027

Edited by only1ian on Saturday 4th October 16:50

[PhilipAlfa]

k-ink said:

No worries. I have a load more high res pictures from all angles if you want them. I found them on an old HD this morning.

Would be good to meet up sometime and put both cars side by side for a photo

Sounds like a good idea! When you've got the Mito drop me a pm and let's see what we can organise.

[MadDog1962]

Another good effort. I never much liked the styling of this model, but heard good things about the driving experience.

Wheels and leather look very nice. I wonder how much life the clutch has got in it and if it's a difficult job?

[rallycross]

As an Alfa fan having owned a fair few Alfa Sud, Sprints, 33's and 75's these 145 and 146 just never appealed at all - a bit of a dogs dinner styling wise.

I have owned a few Alfas since and this model was the start of the end for Alfa, when they started to feel and drive like Fiats. If youve ever driven a 147 you will understand.

[DamienB]

Having driven two 145s and a 146 all three were utterly underwhelming, about as much as a Rover 400 series with even more things to go wrong. I really don't get the love for them. The 147 and 156 are far, far more fun.

[Ali_T]

k-ink said:

Re: Mito Cloverleaf - I test drove one expecting it to be ok. But I was blown away to be honest.

Same reasons that, replacing my Evo X, I've ordered a Giulietta QV. People think I'm mad, especially after testing the usual A45, Golf R, GTi, S3, Focus STand M135i suspects. But it's the only one that made me smile! And, yes, I've read the mediocre reviews and, no, I don't agree with any of them. Wish it would hurry up and get here!

[k-ink]

Ali_T said:

k-ink said:

Re: Mito Cloverleaf - I test drove one expecting it to be ok. But I was blown away to be honest.

Same reasons that, replacing my Evo X, I've ordered a Giulietta QV. People think I'm mad, especially after testing the usual A45, Golf R, GTi, S3, Focus STand M135i suspects. But it's the only one that made me smile! And, yes, I've read the mediocre reviews and, no, I don't agree with any of them. Wish it would hurry up and get here!

German cars are fine for transport. I've had a couple of S3, R32, CLS etc, plus quicker cars like the Prodrive Subaru etc. Overall they lack the simple fun factor and effortless style small Italians seem so naturally good at. I think a lot of peoples choices can get trapped by the desire to own a German badge or compete with the current BHP war. As good as cars like that can be in some situations, they are fairly poor in other respects. Numbers on paper cannot convey the pure fun factor.

The dealer sales guy tried to get me into a Giulietta QV. As much as I love the looks of them I was determined to stick to a small car this time.

[daveinaravecave]

I had 156 a couple of years ago which I wrote off and luckily walked away from. An elderly man changed lanes on a bend on a dual carriageway without checking his mirrors, right into my path putting me in a spin as I braked and swerved to try avoid a collision. While doing a 180, I luckily managed to stop the spin by locking up the front wheels, but hit 2 lampposts going backwards, flattening the newer one but the smaller, older one just bent and ripped through the petrol tank and rear axle launching the car into a mid-air spin, before landing on the nose with the rear of the car landing with a thud. We (me and my front seat passenger) had to kick the doors open to get out as the full chassis was twisted but walked away with minor cuts and bruises. I'll remember every moment of that crash for years as it gave me flashbacks for a few weeks and no sleep for almost 2 days.

It was only the 1.8TS but done 45mpg on the daily commute on the motorway. It was a 2001 with only 64k miles and had full cream leather. Everything electrical worked in it and had no reliability issues. I missed that car as it was a good runner.

So, I got a GTV recently with almost a full MOT and a few months of tax left. The 2.0TS but it corners very well, tyre squeal in the dry is replaced by slight understeer in the wet, and it's easy to left foot brake mid corner to pull the nose in if carrying too much speed. It's slow off the line and not the quickest in a straight line but the TS makes the acceleration linear from 2-3k, and the induction and exhaust noise picks up at 3k, then 5k, then again at >6k revs. The exhaust has 4 silencers making the radio drown out engine noise if not driven enthusiastically. It's fun to drive quickly and feels like it's attacking the corners whilst being very predictable to drive. The suspension is set up well and I'm sure I read somewhere that the independent rear suspension creates some rear wheel steer due to the geometry. I used to hate these cars after being a rear seat passenger in one a few years ago, but after picking this up at a good price and spending a few quid on it too, I think it's quite an under-rated car for it's output. The gearing is quite long (65 in 2nd, 90 in 3rd) and it could do with more power, but they never made the 2.0 turbo in the UK I don't think. A V6 Alfa is a must for me at one point but I'd prefer it in a 155 or 156 with an LSD.

[hornetrider]

Leins said:

My favourite feature on these was always the red "SEDICIVALVOLE" on the boot handle. I know that's all wrong to admit, but that's just the way it is!

I nearly bought one for that very reason

Nearly.

[k-ink]

The 2.0 GTVs handle really well. We had a new one back when S reg came out. You could get the back end out simply by carrying too much speed into corners. It was so forgiving, predictable and fun. Great cars for the money now.

I went to a 147 GTA later. The engine noise is on another planet. But unfortunately so is the handling. A V6 always seems to bugger up the ability of an Alfa to tuck it's nose in and turn into corners properly. So as good as the V6 noise and BHP may be, I'd always prefer properly sorted handling fun instead. Now if anyone decides to mid mount an Alfa V6 please let me know! That would be something truly special. In fact that sounds like a great future project to me.

[Alfa Al]

Well, SOTW now has a new home on the with me. I did a deal over the phone last week for a bargain £700 and went up with a one way ticket on the train to Bristol last night to collect her. Quite a risk with an old Alfa, but the owner seemed dead straight on the phone and offered up the only 2 known areas needing attention shortly without being asked, namely 2 rear tyres and a set of rear pads.

I had been looking for one about 18 months ago to rekindle my youth as I worked at Mithril Racing and did all the launch stuff with these cars when they came out, then owned one about 10 years later and still have fond memories of what fun they were. However, I looked at 3 and they were all crap and nothing like as described so I gave up. It was only by chance that I saw this one as it was SOTW.

I was very impressed with her overall appearance, she is as good as his photos look and she actually had a full service history too! And WOW! what a great drive home in her! Once I had got off the M4 I used the A32 to Petersfield from Winchester, it was wet, but no traffic and guess what? They are still great cars even another 5 years on! There are bills for new lower wishbones, cam belt, variator etc, new clutch and more all in the last 5000 miles and 12 months!

So, I end with a big thanks to PH for listing such a great SOTW and adding yet another Alfa to this serial Alfa nuts collection!

[hornetrider]

[RicksAlfas]

Well done Alex!

[silverback mike]

There's a lovely metallic green one owner 146ti on ebay for buy it now £495. I Saw it after I bought a different car

[glendon]

Great stuff, I'm a big fan of 145's and 75's having owned a few, always having a look on your site to see what you're working on. Glad its gone to a good home. Any plans to make it quicker?!!

Alfa Al said:

Well, SOTW now has a new home on the with me. I did a deal over the phone last week for a bargain £700 and went up with a one way ticket on the train to Bristol last night to collect her. Quite a risk with an old Alfa, but the owner seemed dead straight on the phone and offered up the only 2 known areas needing attention shortly without being asked, namely 2 rear tyres and a set of rear pads.

I had been looking for one about 18 months ago to rekindle my youth as I worked at Mithril Racing and did all the launch stuff with these cars when they came out, then owned one about 10 years later and still have fond memories of what fun they were. However, I looked at 3 and they were all crap and nothing like as described so I gave up. It was only by chance that I saw this one as it was SOTW.

I was very impressed with her overall appearance, she is as good as his photos look and she actually had a full service history too! And WOW! what a great drive home in her! Once I had got off the M4 I used the A32 to Petersfield from Winchester, it was wet, but no traffic and guess what? They are still great cars even another 5 years on! There are bills for new lower wishbones, cam belt, variator etc, new clutch and more all in the last 5000 miles and 12 months!

So, I end with a big thanks to PH for listing such a great SOTW and adding yet another Alfa to this serial Alfa nuts collection!