RE: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf | Spotted
Discussion
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Not the 145 but a 155, had spent all day cleaning it, popped into town to get some beers and petrol for the week ahead then decided to go for a drive. Ended up in Norfolk having a lovely blat. I lived in East Sussex at the time I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Had to refill petrol.
I love these, owned one for a couple of years, 2005 to 2008, and it was really quite reliable apart from one huge bill 1 month after buying it... bent crankshaft! It cost about £3k to fix which is what I'd just paid for it.
T91 DGM - Proteo red facelift Cloverleaf with tan leather Momo interior, lovely looking thing. I sold in on forum.alfa145.com in 2008 and it looks like it was sold again on there in 2013 after having some issues. The sad thing is how cheap it went for, about £200! I would have had it back in a heartbeat if I had known.
T91 DGM - Proteo red facelift Cloverleaf with tan leather Momo interior, lovely looking thing. I sold in on forum.alfa145.com in 2008 and it looks like it was sold again on there in 2013 after having some issues. The sad thing is how cheap it went for, about £200! I would have had it back in a heartbeat if I had known.
Greg the Fish said:
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Not the 145 but a 155, had spent all day cleaning it, popped into town to get some beers and petrol for the week ahead then decided to go for a drive. Ended up in Norfolk having a lovely blat. I lived in East Sussex at the time I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Had to refill petrol.
I had a 1980 GTV and I can fully relate to that! Every drive was a good time. Didn't matter where I was going or if I had nowhere to go. No car I've driven since has been quite so engaging.
My 145 was just a lowly TS bought to scratch an itch I had for a back lane hooligan.
It was fun and cost me peanuts to buy and run . Great fun down the twisty bits but on a motorway with an induction kit and rorty exhaust it would soon become tedious . The other problem was banging my head constantly on the sunroof surround .
A local pensioner has a light green metallic one in superb original condition, without sunroof .
It was fun and cost me peanuts to buy and run . Great fun down the twisty bits but on a motorway with an induction kit and rorty exhaust it would soon become tedious . The other problem was banging my head constantly on the sunroof surround .
A local pensioner has a light green metallic one in superb original condition, without sunroof .
An old friend of mine stuffed one of these through a dry stone wall at about 70mph racing with something far more exotic. He walked out with only a few bruises but it could have been a lot worse. Car was written off and only months old. I remember it looking the DOGS DUSTERS in Alfa red with the teledial wheels on it. Cool as f
k back when we were in our late teens. Even cooler to walk out of that smash unscathed! he replaced it with a green 147 which, by comparison, looked like a pair of beige slippers and a colostomy bag.
k back when we were in our late teens. Even cooler to walk out of that smash unscathed! he replaced it with a green 147 which, by comparison, looked like a pair of beige slippers and a colostomy bag.Greg the Fish said:
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Not the 145 but a 155, had spent all day cleaning it, popped into town to get some beers and petrol for the week ahead then decided to go for a drive. Ended up in Norfolk having a lovely blat. I lived in East Sussex at the time I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Had to refill petrol.
velocemitch said:
I can offer an Interesting comparison between a 145QV and a Renault Clio 172. A couple of years back I regularly navigate for my brother on night road rallies, a few years back we used a Clio 172, standard Car with just a cage and spot lights. One of our regular sparring partners was a guy with a 145QV, we tended to be seeded at about the same so had a number of interesting runs. It was mostly Lancashire events and they were locals and knew the roads really well, my brother mostly relied on me and my map reading skills... (he was at a disadvantage!!! ) on normal fast B and C roads we found we could never quite keep up with the Alfa, either on pure performance or on the bends. On the rougher 'whites' we had no chance.
The conclusion I would draw from this is that there really isn't much difference in the abilitiy of a 145QV and a Clio 172 on a typical UK back road.
Incidentally the Alfa is still out being used and is faster than ever, our Clio has gone to that great Rally Selective in the sky following a roll.
It's an interesting comparison, but probably not that scientific in reality. I guess on the road, the difference in pace between cars can be slight. It would be interesting to see back-to-back lap times between the two. Given that the Clio would have a weight and power advantage, not to mention being a bit more modern, you would expect it to be faster when at the very limits.The conclusion I would draw from this is that there really isn't much difference in the abilitiy of a 145QV and a Clio 172 on a typical UK back road.
Incidentally the Alfa is still out being used and is faster than ever, our Clio has gone to that great Rally Selective in the sky following a roll.
I'm sure the QV is a good fun car, as there were some very good hot hatches around in this era, but I can't help but think that some of the comments are a bit wistful
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
If you're talking regards the 145 Cloverleaf I think you mean the test In Performance Car ( March 96 issue if you're looking for it ) rather than Fast LaneI remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Fast Lane finished in early 94 and was replaced ( sort of ) by Complete Car magazine. The 145 Cloverleaf wasn't tested by UK mags till 1995.
s m said:
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
If you're talking regards the 145 Cloverleaf I think you mean the test In Performance Car ( March 96 issue if you're looking for it ) rather than Fast LaneI remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Fast Lane finished in early 94 and was replaced ( sort of ) by Complete Car magazine. The 145 Cloverleaf wasn't tested by UK mags till 1995.
I also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
I once had a 146ti for a short while. Bought it cheap as a temp thing but really liked it. It handled nicely, looked great in red, but i could never fix it's only issue. When accelerating, all was fine, but on a steady throttle it used to cut out for a fraction of a second and catch again. Did it constantly, and never totally stopped.
Luckily, I sold it for a total of £400, a profit of £50! Replaced by an Audi 90 20v for the same price. Far more reliable, but not quite the same. Wish I'd kept either now.
Luckily, I sold it for a total of £400, a profit of £50! Replaced by an Audi 90 20v for the same price. Far more reliable, but not quite the same. Wish I'd kept either now.
kiseca said:
Not sure either way. It probably would be given the times. I regularly read Performance car too. I can picture the cover still, but my mental picture has a Fast Lane logo at the top - which I guess means maybe I can't still picture the cover actually!
I also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Performance-Car-Magazines-March-1996/132975594996?hash=item1ef5f68df4:g:gWEAAOSw6PtcfVaRI also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
R400TVR said:
I once had a 146ti for a short while. Bought it cheap as a temp thing but really liked it. It handled nicely, looked great in red, but i could never fix it's only issue. When accelerating, all was fine, but on a steady throttle it used to cut out for a fraction of a second and catch again. Did it constantly, and never totally stopped.
Luckily, I sold it for a total of £400, a profit of £50! Replaced by an Audi 90 20v for the same price. Far more reliable, but not quite the same. Wish I'd kept either now.
I hired one of those at Bologna airport to drive to the San Marino GP ('95 or 'o6 IIRC). Was a nice car.Luckily, I sold it for a total of £400, a profit of £50! Replaced by an Audi 90 20v for the same price. Far more reliable, but not quite the same. Wish I'd kept either now.
I will never forget the conversation. I was saying yo my (now) wife I was a bit nervous about driving in Italy for the first time. There were two Irish guys at the desk next to us, it transpired one was going to Maranello after the race to see his new Ferrari being built, and he overhead me and said "sure it's easy, just go for the gap!" He was right of course.
Never drove a 145 but owned a 146ti with an alloy cam cover. My god what a gem of an engine, sounded raspy and energetic and was fairly torquey but wasn’t the last thing in speed to be honest. Bonnet lifted nicely when I booted it!
As for the handling, well it leaned a lot in the corners!
I sorted the front suspension and cambelt when I got it and it was reliable (watch the oil) but i sold it because I got the V6 bug which is still with me...
As for the handling, well it leaned a lot in the corners!
I sorted the front suspension and cambelt when I got it and it was reliable (watch the oil) but i sold it because I got the V6 bug which is still with me...
RicksAlfas said:
kiseca said:
s m said:
kiseca said:
Fast Lane tested one of these against whatever the equivalent Civic hot hatch was of the time.
I remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
If you're talking regards the 145 Cloverleaf I think you mean the test In Performance Car ( March 96 issue if you're looking for it ) rather than Fast LaneI remember their conclusion almost word for word because it reminded me what I liked so much about my even older Alfa: To enjoy the Civic you need a smooth road with fast, sweeping and well sighted corners. To enjoy the Alfa, you just need a road.
Fast Lane finished in early 94 and was replaced ( sort of ) by Complete Car magazine. The 145 Cloverleaf wasn't tested by UK mags till 1995.
I also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
Fast Lane mag was long gone by the time the 145 Cloverleaf was launched in the UK
RicksAlfas said:
kiseca said:
Not sure either way. It probably would be given the times. I regularly read Performance car too. I can picture the cover still, but my mental picture has a Fast Lane logo at the top - which I guess means maybe I can't still picture the cover actually!
I also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Performance-Car-Magazines-March-1996/132975594996?hash=item1ef5f68df4:g:gWEAAOSw6PtcfVaRI also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
Kubevoid said:
The only Pug to come close was the 106GTi. That had epic sharp steering. Although the power and rawness was some way behind the 145.
Anyway, the numbers may not have impressed. However the drive was wonderful. Makes almost any modern hatch feel dull as hell. Even supposedly superior cars back then such as the Type R EP3 had lame steering by comparison.
Speed and power was only a very small part of the puzzle here. Feel, noise, feedback, involvement were great.
Glorious engine. Pointy as fAnyway, the numbers may not have impressed. However the drive was wonderful. Makes almost any modern hatch feel dull as hell. Even supposedly superior cars back then such as the Type R EP3 had lame steering by comparison.
Speed and power was only a very small part of the puzzle here. Feel, noise, feedback, involvement were great.
k. kiseca said:
RicksAlfas said:
kiseca said:
Not sure either way. It probably would be given the times. I regularly read Performance car too. I can picture the cover still, but my mental picture has a Fast Lane logo at the top - which I guess means maybe I can't still picture the cover actually!
I also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Performance-Car-Magazines-March-1996/132975594996?hash=item1ef5f68df4:g:gWEAAOSw6PtcfVaRI also was convinced the author was Mark Hales, which would also have suggested Fast Lane, but I'm possibly wrong about that too.
The writer was Richard Meaden. ( now at EVO ) rather than Mark Hales though
Hi all,
The other Proteo car for sale is actually mine.
I have a feeling the Phase 1 alloys aren’t doing it any favours so I’ve only just managed to secure the correct Phase 2 teledials; I will be fitting these.
I must say though, having just reinsured it and taken it for a blast, it’s a bloody epic car!
The other Proteo car for sale is actually mine.
I have a feeling the Phase 1 alloys aren’t doing it any favours so I’ve only just managed to secure the correct Phase 2 teledials; I will be fitting these.
I must say though, having just reinsured it and taken it for a blast, it’s a bloody epic car!
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