Discussion
So I'm starting to think perhaps the GTV might be a step too far on the (lack of) practicality front and I couldn't help noticing a very shiny Alfa 145 parked on the street yesterday. It seems they can be had with modern goodies like leather and air con and they have a nice practical hatchback configuration. I took a quick glance at the classifieds and they seem to be rather cheap - actually conspicuously cheap - what's the catch?
Does anyone on here know anything about them? If so, can you answer a couple of questions...
Do the seats fold? (To get the all important bike in)
Do they handle well?
Are there any major quality or reliability issues?
Are they reasonably civilised (quiet/comfortable) for long distance use?
Does anyone on here know anything about them? If so, can you answer a couple of questions...
Do the seats fold? (To get the all important bike in)
Do they handle well?
Are there any major quality or reliability issues?
Are they reasonably civilised (quiet/comfortable) for long distance use?
Great cars - I've had two!
The 145 is hugely practical. The rear seats fold very flat, or with two bolts you can take out the base cushion altogether. I've had three bikes in mine plus me and a passenger and gear for a weekend away! The 146 is even bigger, but less stylish to my eyes.
They drive very well but in a raucous old school hot hatch way. You can bomb up and down the motorway all day long in them but a 156 will be more refined. It's getting harder to find unmolested ones now but they are out there. All checks are the same as other Alfas - check oil, cambelt history, clonks from suspension. In addition do have a poke about the sills and chassis for corrosion. Make sure you get the brown master key too.
The 2.0 cars are the ones to go for - that's Cloverleaf in 145 and Ti in 146 guise. Having said that I recently had a go in a 1.8 145 and was amazed at how well it went - 130,000 miles on it too!
Some good info here: http://www.alfa145.co.uk/
The 145 is hugely practical. The rear seats fold very flat, or with two bolts you can take out the base cushion altogether. I've had three bikes in mine plus me and a passenger and gear for a weekend away! The 146 is even bigger, but less stylish to my eyes.
They drive very well but in a raucous old school hot hatch way. You can bomb up and down the motorway all day long in them but a 156 will be more refined. It's getting harder to find unmolested ones now but they are out there. All checks are the same as other Alfas - check oil, cambelt history, clonks from suspension. In addition do have a poke about the sills and chassis for corrosion. Make sure you get the brown master key too.
The 2.0 cars are the ones to go for - that's Cloverleaf in 145 and Ti in 146 guise. Having said that I recently had a go in a 1.8 145 and was amazed at how well it went - 130,000 miles on it too!
Some good info here: http://www.alfa145.co.uk/
I can only echo what Rick has said - they are great cars and provided they are maintained well then they do last - we sold ours on at 119,000 miles simply because my wife wanted a 7 seater...
I would have another no problem. Regarding aircon this was standard fit only on the phase 2 models with the revised bumpers and alloys. Bushes and rear shocks can go, but otherwise it's fairly reasonable.
I would have another no problem. Regarding aircon this was standard fit only on the phase 2 models with the revised bumpers and alloys. Bushes and rear shocks can go, but otherwise it's fairly reasonable.They certainly are a bit of a bargain, picked mine up with 22k on the clock for £1400 last year. Certainly is alot of fun, and mines the 1.6 so can only imagine the bigger engines must be good! Just need to be looked after really, with the oil and cambelts but if you like cars I don't see it as hassle.
RicksAlfas said:
They drive very well but in a raucous old school hot hatch way. You can bomb up and down the motorway all day long in them but a 156 will be more refined.
The thing is, the 156 is a bit big (according to my missus at least) and the lack of folding seats on the saloons is a bit of a pain. A 147 might be an alternative, but there's just something a bit more old school about the 145 - I'm sure it's better than the 145 quantifiably, but I'm not convinced the 147 would offer much more excitment than the Focus I have as a runaround currently. What do you reckon?Do I take it the 145 is a bit noisy on the motorway? Not too worried about full throttle induction noise (in fact I'd quite like some more of that!) but I do quite a few long distance trips and something that drones or booms at a 0.9 lepton cruise might by annoying.
PS Quite jealous of your garage Rick - I think I've worked out why your username isn't, say, Rick's Datsuns...
Cheers JP. It was the 145 which started my problem interest so I've got a soft spot for them!
RicksDatsuns is my alter ego for when I don't want to be recognised.
The 145 will be fine on the motorway - certainly as good as any other 5 speed hot hatch. Me and the missis once came back from Brittany to Yorkshire in one go without any discomfort. The seating position is a bit whacko (like sitting on a bar stool) but you soon get used to it!
RicksDatsuns is my alter ego for when I don't want to be recognised.
The 145 will be fine on the motorway - certainly as good as any other 5 speed hot hatch. Me and the missis once came back from Brittany to Yorkshire in one go without any discomfort. The seating position is a bit whacko (like sitting on a bar stool) but you soon get used to it!
Sounds like a distinct possibility. I think I've more or less narrowed it down to this or spending a bit more on a Corrado.
I did have a glance on the Alfa Owners forum and there do seem to be a lot of technical questions going around about non starting and failed MOTs! I know a lot of what is said about '90s Alfas is exagerated or just plain made up, but do you reckon the 145 is more prone to issues than its competitors?
I did have a glance on the Alfa Owners forum and there do seem to be a lot of technical questions going around about non starting and failed MOTs! I know a lot of what is said about '90s Alfas is exagerated or just plain made up, but do you reckon the 145 is more prone to issues than its competitors?
I wouldn't think it would be any worse than say an equivalent aged Pug 306, Renault 19 and so on. Might not be quite as tough as a Golf of that age.
One thing which is crap is a big bank of relays in front of the battery in the engine bay. This is the Black Box of b
ks. It's nicely positioned to catch all the crud coming through the grill and eventually the BBoB corrodes and the car doesn't start.
All Twin Sparks (whichever car) suffer from duff (Bosch!) crank sensors which go open circuit when they are hot so if you do a drive, stop, and then start again soon after (e.g. fuel stop) the sensor doesn't let the engine start until it has cooled down. It's about a £20 part.
These are the two main non-starting issues. Both can be avoided through preventative maintenance.
One thing which is crap is a big bank of relays in front of the battery in the engine bay. This is the Black Box of b
ks. It's nicely positioned to catch all the crud coming through the grill and eventually the BBoB corrodes and the car doesn't start.All Twin Sparks (whichever car) suffer from duff (Bosch!) crank sensors which go open circuit when they are hot so if you do a drive, stop, and then start again soon after (e.g. fuel stop) the sensor doesn't let the engine start until it has cooled down. It's about a £20 part.
These are the two main non-starting issues. Both can be avoided through preventative maintenance.
Joe, go for it. They are bargains at the price and I've taken mine from ~90,000 miles to over 130,000 and it has been driven hard for the majority of those miles!
Apart from servicing I've needed a starter motor and that's pretty much it. Be aware over winter that the handbrake cable runs on the outside of the car underneath and is prone to perishing - Before I knew about it I had to put some hot water in my supersoaker and melt the water to release the cable!
A lot of the reputation (like the BBOB Rick mentioned) stems from lack of thought for positioning of vital parts!
The most fun car I've owned - so chuckable on A/B roads and can keep up with lots of stuff.
A friend has a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 and it is certainly on a par with that (only it looks better outside, much better inside and has a sense of occasion only Alfas can offer
)
Obviously this post is free from bias
Apart from servicing I've needed a starter motor and that's pretty much it. Be aware over winter that the handbrake cable runs on the outside of the car underneath and is prone to perishing - Before I knew about it I had to put some hot water in my supersoaker and melt the water to release the cable!
A lot of the reputation (like the BBOB Rick mentioned) stems from lack of thought for positioning of vital parts!
The most fun car I've owned - so chuckable on A/B roads and can keep up with lots of stuff.
A friend has a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 and it is certainly on a par with that (only it looks better outside, much better inside and has a sense of occasion only Alfas can offer
)Obviously this post is free from bias
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