RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf
Discussion
Cheers Chaps, thanks for the enthusiastic comments! She won't be getting modified, but has 4 new boots going on this week and I couldn't resist squeezing her a quick slot in between all the GTV's etc currently on-going in the workshop for a couple of dents in the O/S rear quarter to be sorted to bring that up to the standard of the rest of the car. Finally, she will be getting a fluids & filters service to bring everything up to date.
I had a couple of red 145's in succession a few years back.
First one was an old 1.7 that my sister handed down, it sounded great, was fun, gutless, and needed 4.5k revs and lots of clutch to get away from traffic lights at any sort of pace. That one dropped onto 3 cylinders on the way to Denmark, was pronounced compression-less on the missing pot and finally limped back to London after completing the trip with even less power than it started (and while and spilling it's oil everywhere @ 1l / 100 miles from an unrelated kerb / sump incident in Amsterdam...
The Green Cloverleaf that followed was a much more convincing car, very easy to drive with enough torque, a lovely zing to 7k rpm and fool proof 'choose how much understeer' handling that still managed to be entertaining.
Enjoy - if you hadn't beaten me to it I'd have been sorely tempted to add another one to the story!
Dickon
First one was an old 1.7 that my sister handed down, it sounded great, was fun, gutless, and needed 4.5k revs and lots of clutch to get away from traffic lights at any sort of pace. That one dropped onto 3 cylinders on the way to Denmark, was pronounced compression-less on the missing pot and finally limped back to London after completing the trip with even less power than it started (and while and spilling it's oil everywhere @ 1l / 100 miles from an unrelated kerb / sump incident in Amsterdam...
The Green Cloverleaf that followed was a much more convincing car, very easy to drive with enough torque, a lovely zing to 7k rpm and fool proof 'choose how much understeer' handling that still managed to be entertaining.
Enjoy - if you hadn't beaten me to it I'd have been sorely tempted to add another one to the story!
Dickon
It's yet another example of just how out of touch with economics the SNP are. Inflation and with it, job security, growth and stability are directly linked to high street spending. Creating policies that increase the coffers of the taxman, Westminster or Holyrood based, directly takes money away from other types of circulation. In a period of recovery after recession, especially given the drop in oil price and other key tradeable commodities, it is naive at best to contribute negativity to the economy.
The SNP will prod and prod the more affluent until that demographic ultimately flexes it's muscles and engineer's the demise of the SNP. They see now as their chance to instill there policies and politics into us and are going at it hammer and tongs.
I agree personally that the older system of £180k no SDLT then flat rate above was far more just and believe that if you truly want equality for all, you can't pick and choose your shade of equality. Socialism for all or not at all.
athol said:
It's yet another example of just how out of touch with economics the SNP are. Inflation and with it, job security, growth and stability are directly linked to high street spending. Creating policies that increase the coffers of the taxman, Westminster or Holyrood based, directly takes money away from other types of circulation. In a period of recovery after recession, especially given the drop in oil price and other key tradeable commodities, it is naive at best to contribute negativity to the economy.
The SNP will prod and prod the more affluent until that demographic ultimately flexes it's muscles and engineer's the demise of the SNP. They see now as their chance to instill there policies and politics into us and are going at it hammer and tongs.
I agree personally that the older system of £180k no SDLT then flat rate above was far more just and believe that if you truly want equality for all, you can't pick and choose your shade of equality. Socialism for all or not at all.
Just a thought, but possibly you're in the wrong thread...The SNP will prod and prod the more affluent until that demographic ultimately flexes it's muscles and engineer's the demise of the SNP. They see now as their chance to instill there policies and politics into us and are going at it hammer and tongs.
I agree personally that the older system of £180k no SDLT then flat rate above was far more just and believe that if you truly want equality for all, you can't pick and choose your shade of equality. Socialism for all or not at all.
crosseyedlion said:
I had two 145 cloverleafs and dearly miss them.
1st in some rare dark blue, at 18.
Seeing as the car was only(!) 8 years old at the time it was in superb condition, and at 18 It was the coolest car I could get. 2k on insurance on a 1400 quid car. Massive fun, felt ridiculously rapid compared to the golf that went before and the sound and feel from the driving position was like a mini ferrari. Loved it. Then it did well looking after me in my only accident. Well over 70 through most of oxfordshire, with a 2 foot thick wall bringing me to a halt. Suprisingly solid and completely reliable at over 100k miles.
the 2nd, bought for 400 quid at 13 years old as a bit of a fun shed - needed a themostat and a fuel cap and it was good to go, was AT LEAST 50k since its last service and 70k overdue for a cambelt (it was on over 130k). Went like stink, I kicked its head in every day and it just kept begging for more. Eventually a little end bearing went and I sold it for 350 quid, this was after covering 13k miles. Cheapest + most fun motoring i'll ever do.
The driving position may not be as good and it may roll a bit more but it was a infinitely better car than the clio rs 200 cup I had earlier this year for me. The engine made it really, but they're fantasic all over.
Dammit. I want another.
Have just bought another.1st in some rare dark blue, at 18.
Seeing as the car was only(!) 8 years old at the time it was in superb condition, and at 18 It was the coolest car I could get. 2k on insurance on a 1400 quid car. Massive fun, felt ridiculously rapid compared to the golf that went before and the sound and feel from the driving position was like a mini ferrari. Loved it. Then it did well looking after me in my only accident. Well over 70 through most of oxfordshire, with a 2 foot thick wall bringing me to a halt. Suprisingly solid and completely reliable at over 100k miles.
the 2nd, bought for 400 quid at 13 years old as a bit of a fun shed - needed a themostat and a fuel cap and it was good to go, was AT LEAST 50k since its last service and 70k overdue for a cambelt (it was on over 130k). Went like stink, I kicked its head in every day and it just kept begging for more. Eventually a little end bearing went and I sold it for 350 quid, this was after covering 13k miles. Cheapest + most fun motoring i'll ever do.
The driving position may not be as good and it may roll a bit more but it was a infinitely better car than the clio rs 200 cup I had earlier this year for me. The engine made it really, but they're fantasic all over.
Dammit. I want another.
Seems to be a 145 QV every 6 years. I think I have a problem...
Readers Ride Thread to come.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff