Alfa 145 advice
Discussion
Hi All
I have been looking for a while at the alfa 145 and after a trip to italy recently i have decided to take the plunge and really start looking into these cars.
I am interested in the 2.0 clover leaf or the 1.8 either would be good in my eyes.
my questions are:
What is the mpg on these for stop start urban driving and long runs motorways etc.
they seam to be around the 1 - 1.5k mark is this right or are they going to be dogs?
what do i really need to look into history etc?
whats best to look or listen for when going to view one?
what are the general feelings on these cars?
are there any specialists around the dudley/birmingham area?
i currently own a audi 80 2ltr and this is far to big heavy so i fancy a small nippy car again like my old mk2 golf.
Cheers in advance
Ben
I have been looking for a while at the alfa 145 and after a trip to italy recently i have decided to take the plunge and really start looking into these cars.
I am interested in the 2.0 clover leaf or the 1.8 either would be good in my eyes.
my questions are:
What is the mpg on these for stop start urban driving and long runs motorways etc.
they seam to be around the 1 - 1.5k mark is this right or are they going to be dogs?
what do i really need to look into history etc?
whats best to look or listen for when going to view one?
what are the general feelings on these cars?
are there any specialists around the dudley/birmingham area?
i currently own a audi 80 2ltr and this is far to big heavy so i fancy a small nippy car again like my old mk2 golf.
Cheers in advance
Ben
Hi Ben
They are great fun cars and very practical too. Before you start, they will not be as well built as an old Golf or Audi 80 so don't even pretend they will be. However they have character, brio and an engine that more than compensates for a few rattles.
Around town mpg will be mid 20's - especially if you like visiting 7,000rpm. I would try and get the Cloverleaf - the 1.8 is great but you'll always be miffed you didn't go the whole hog. Buy on condition rather than low miles - better to have a mint 1996 one than a doggy 2001. There was a minor facelift in 1999 which brought round front fogs and colour coded bumpers plus Air cCon as standard but I wouldn't get too hung up on it. You need bullet proof confirmation that the cambelt, balancer belt, tensioners and preferably variator were changed within the last 3 years or 36,000 miles. If not budget £400 to have them done immediately!! Eight spark plugs need changing no later than every 60,000 - you can get them off Ebay for about £60 now. Check the oil level is clean and on max and once you get one check it every week. Suspension bushes are poor so listen out for knocks and clonks from the front end and check for even tyre wear across the tread. Brakes might not feel that great but should stop you dead when you really stand on them. Under the bonet check the bank of relays in front of the battery as it can corrode. One last and very important thing - these cars came from the factory with two bight red keys and one brown one. The brown one is the master key and you must have that if there's ever any need to work on the ECU. There are work rounds if you don't have it, but far easier if you do.
This might all sound doom and gloom but they are magic cars. However they cannot be run on £50 a year and crossed fingers.
WAD is not far from you... http://www.wad-alfaromeo.co.uk/
Something like Vantastic's car looks up your street...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/395295.htm
Good luck!
They are great fun cars and very practical too. Before you start, they will not be as well built as an old Golf or Audi 80 so don't even pretend they will be. However they have character, brio and an engine that more than compensates for a few rattles.
Around town mpg will be mid 20's - especially if you like visiting 7,000rpm. I would try and get the Cloverleaf - the 1.8 is great but you'll always be miffed you didn't go the whole hog. Buy on condition rather than low miles - better to have a mint 1996 one than a doggy 2001. There was a minor facelift in 1999 which brought round front fogs and colour coded bumpers plus Air cCon as standard but I wouldn't get too hung up on it. You need bullet proof confirmation that the cambelt, balancer belt, tensioners and preferably variator were changed within the last 3 years or 36,000 miles. If not budget £400 to have them done immediately!! Eight spark plugs need changing no later than every 60,000 - you can get them off Ebay for about £60 now. Check the oil level is clean and on max and once you get one check it every week. Suspension bushes are poor so listen out for knocks and clonks from the front end and check for even tyre wear across the tread. Brakes might not feel that great but should stop you dead when you really stand on them. Under the bonet check the bank of relays in front of the battery as it can corrode. One last and very important thing - these cars came from the factory with two bight red keys and one brown one. The brown one is the master key and you must have that if there's ever any need to work on the ECU. There are work rounds if you don't have it, but far easier if you do.
This might all sound doom and gloom but they are magic cars. However they cannot be run on £50 a year and crossed fingers.
WAD is not far from you... http://www.wad-alfaromeo.co.uk/
Something like Vantastic's car looks up your street...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/395295.htm
Good luck!
I used to own a 145 Cloverleaf and it was a magical car. I'm now on my second Alfa GTV. As already mentioned it is worthing waiting to get a really well looked after one as if you buy any old one then you could be in for problems.
Price wise 1.5k would get you a really nice example. Strangely enough my Fiancees sister was looking for something fun and different about a month ago, I found her a W reg 145 Cloverleaf with 51k on the clock, cambelt just been done and FSH for £2k. This is at the top end of QV prices but it was a beauty.
Happy hunting and when you get it enjoy revving that Twin Spark engine!
Roy
Price wise 1.5k would get you a really nice example. Strangely enough my Fiancees sister was looking for something fun and different about a month ago, I found her a W reg 145 Cloverleaf with 51k on the clock, cambelt just been done and FSH for £2k. This is at the top end of QV prices but it was a beauty.
Happy hunting and when you get it enjoy revving that Twin Spark engine!
Roy
Seriously, they are such fun cars, and have aged really well in my opinion. To think I nearly bought an Escort GTi instead. I see them knocking around, and shudder at the thought.
Put it this way, for the last 18 month I've had £10k+ to spend on a new car, and just can't find anything in that budget to replace the Cloverleaf. I bought mine in 2003 for 4k, and it's been the cheapest car to run that i've ever had (and I had an Astra before this one).
I've fallen for the brand, and as most people know in this section of PH, a GTV is my current target. Just looking for one nearby now, and can afford to bide my time as I'm still in love with the 145.
P.
Put it this way, for the last 18 month I've had £10k+ to spend on a new car, and just can't find anything in that budget to replace the Cloverleaf. I bought mine in 2003 for 4k, and it's been the cheapest car to run that i've ever had (and I had an Astra before this one).
I've fallen for the brand, and as most people know in this section of PH, a GTV is my current target. Just looking for one nearby now, and can afford to bide my time as I'm still in love with the 145.
P.
I used to have a 145 a couple of months ago.
i have bought a 156 to move away from the hot hatch look.
oh and i thrashed the be jesus out of it and she started falling apart.
but these cars are great, check the service history and make sure the cambelt and variator has been changed in the last 3 years as this will be costly budget-400 cambelt and 500 with variator.
regards alfamike
i have bought a 156 to move away from the hot hatch look.
oh and i thrashed the be jesus out of it and she started falling apart.
but these cars are great, check the service history and make sure the cambelt and variator has been changed in the last 3 years as this will be costly budget-400 cambelt and 500 with variator.
regards alfamike
I have a 145 1.6 boxer. It has lots of annoying little faults. The rear wiper will give up, then start working again for no apparent reason. The drivers door window stopped working then started again again for no obvious reason. The cigarette lighter doesn't work (not a problem, I don't smoke). I couldn't open the driver's door the other day because it was cold and it had frozen shut! The heater has decided to give up in the last few days, I think it's the thermostat as the engine also has decided not to heat up properly.
But!! I can't kill it! It's done 118,000 miles, totally abused mechanically for the last 20k of this by me, just keeps going, and still puts a grin on my face - because it's an Alfa, and as long as I put a bit of oil in it now and again, check the water, and give it a regular "Italian tune up" it just keeps going. Electrically it's a bugger, mechanically it's great. Buy one.
But!! I can't kill it! It's done 118,000 miles, totally abused mechanically for the last 20k of this by me, just keeps going, and still puts a grin on my face - because it's an Alfa, and as long as I put a bit of oil in it now and again, check the water, and give it a regular "Italian tune up" it just keeps going. Electrically it's a bugger, mechanically it's great. Buy one.
I agree with Rupert totally, mine (Cloverleaf) has 135k on the clock now and nothing has really gone wrong other than a faulty lambda sensor and the obvious consumables (LOTS of front tyres, cambelt) Mine has been used pedal to the metal probably 60-70% of the time and it still runs beautifully.
Sounds sooo nice past 3,000 revs!
edit: listen to the standard exhaust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbP0U3DqMdQ&fea...
Sounds sooo nice past 3,000 revs!
edit: listen to the standard exhaust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbP0U3DqMdQ&fea...
Edited by jamesgrrr on Sunday 6th April 16:53
I currently have a 146Ti- same engine as the 145 Cloverleaf. I would second what you have been told above- go for the Cloverleaf. The engine is great, the handling superb and the value amazing: I bought a 55K mile 99 plate last year for £1500: full momo leather, a/c, sunroof, multi- disc CD player, side airbags. Went to Le Mans a few weeks after I bought it- no problems (other than a dent caused by a rocket landing on it!). Problems? Cam belt nearly broke (despite the previous owner swearing it had been done). Petrol consumption isn't great. I had a black Ti a few years ago, sold it for peanuts, and regretted it almost immediately. I think the 146 looks better than the 145, but I am biased... they also look great in black.
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