Discussion
I like the look of these, slightly more interesting too than the other Euroboxes that contend with them in the same market sector/price range.
Are they a cheap but slightly unusual runabout or more trouble than they're worth?
Seem to be able to pick them up with a few months T&T for £500-£900. Cheap enough to dispose of if something big goes wrong and to park on the street and not worry if it got clouted every now any then.
Something like this:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1942450.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1844747.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1870721.htm
Are they a cheap but slightly unusual runabout or more trouble than they're worth?
Seem to be able to pick them up with a few months T&T for £500-£900. Cheap enough to dispose of if something big goes wrong and to park on the street and not worry if it got clouted every now any then.
Something like this:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1942450.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1844747.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1870721.htm
I always wanted one myself, and still would. That or a 145. The only thing that really put me off was the Twin Spark engines. Pretty much everywhere reports them as being a maintenance nightmare. They apparently rust quite a bit too.
Just what I've read.
Just what I've read.
Edited by Deluded on Saturday 14th August 19:30
I had a 146ti when they were new (bought as an ex-demonstrator, so nearly new) and it remains one of my favourite cars. No idea what they are like at the age of the ones you linked to, but mine was pretty faultless, apart from a couple of bits of interior trim that came loose over time.
Put it this way, even after some very long drives I always took the twisty route for the last few miles
Put it this way, even after some very long drives I always took the twisty route for the last few miles
TSpark engines are fine so long as you regularly check the oil and change the cambelt on 36k miles / 3 years. A full service at a local garage, including belt change will be under £300.
They're galvanised, so rust is usually a sign of accident damage.
At the money they're now worth, I'd go for it.
One of the last proper 'hot hatches' before everything got bloated.
Final facelift versions are the best option, as you usually get air con in them, earlier cars often come without it.
They're galvanised, so rust is usually a sign of accident damage.
At the money they're now worth, I'd go for it.
One of the last proper 'hot hatches' before everything got bloated.
Final facelift versions are the best option, as you usually get air con in them, earlier cars often come without it.
Had a 145 Cloverleaf and liked it and it didn't give any real problems. As said, a cam belt service will be half the cost of what its worth , so ideally you want one that's been done and with proof of it being done too.
The only thing I can remember I didn't like too much was the seating postion.
The only thing I can remember I didn't like too much was the seating postion.
I've got a W plate 146 1.8 as my daily hack and I adore it.
Very light, handles beautifully and although I am sometimes tempted to upgrade to something newer with more toys, I cannot bear to part with it.
It's so pretty and you can leave it anywhere. No-one is going to steal it - besides, they'd never find reverse
As for maintenance, as with any car of that age, it's down to how money you want to pour into it and not neglecting the cambelt.
Some of the electrics are no longer with us (remote central locking for example) but hey, it's Italian.
I doubt you'd regret buying one but the Ti will give you a bit more horsepower.
Very light, handles beautifully and although I am sometimes tempted to upgrade to something newer with more toys, I cannot bear to part with it.
It's so pretty and you can leave it anywhere. No-one is going to steal it - besides, they'd never find reverse
As for maintenance, as with any car of that age, it's down to how money you want to pour into it and not neglecting the cambelt.
Some of the electrics are no longer with us (remote central locking for example) but hey, it's Italian.
I doubt you'd regret buying one but the Ti will give you a bit more horsepower.
As the above have said about cambelts and checking oil, you need to get under the car and search, despite being galvanized the rust in the floor pan, usually around the drain holes, also worth checking under the carpets and around the seat belt mounting points.
Twin spark engines are little gems, only unreliable if neglected (i have had 3 and an Alfa boxer and my current V6)
If you are a competent mechanic they are not that hard to do cambelts yourself, you do need the correct cam locks though, there are detailed descriptions with pics online.
Have a look in the 145 section on Alfaowner.com or Alfa145.co.uk
Twin spark engines are little gems, only unreliable if neglected (i have had 3 and an Alfa boxer and my current V6)
If you are a competent mechanic they are not that hard to do cambelts yourself, you do need the correct cam locks though, there are detailed descriptions with pics online.
Have a look in the 145 section on Alfaowner.com or Alfa145.co.uk
I've had two 145 Cloverleafs and they're great cars. Watch them for rot though - the sills and floorpans on both my cars were pretty bad. I also run a 1.8 155 as a daily hack and am thoroughly impressed with that. 1.8's are much better on fuel and are just as quick as the 2.0 with a Squadra chip installed. You do have to rev them though, but thats all part of the fun. Mines now done 132k and averages 41mpg, despite getting driven on its door handles day in, day out.
145/146/155 really are bargains too. Less than a grand will bag you a cracker of any model. Look for cambelt change history, rattly variators (sounds like a diesel on start-up) and general electrical gremlins, although in my experience (34 Alfas and counting...) this is more stereotype than reality.
145/146/155 really are bargains too. Less than a grand will bag you a cracker of any model. Look for cambelt change history, rattly variators (sounds like a diesel on start-up) and general electrical gremlins, although in my experience (34 Alfas and counting...) this is more stereotype than reality.
DamienB said:
I've got a 146 Ti as a courtesy car at the moment. Not a fan. Looks and drives much like a Rover 420, but manages to feel underpowered into the bargain. Can't seem to find a seating position that doesn't give me a sore right ankle either.
Not sure how you came to that conclusion as they couldn't be more different!The 146Ti is a proper old-school hooligan hot hatch, with firm ride, screaming twin-cam and pointy handling.
The 420 is completely forgettable.
I've got a 145 Cloverleaf (97MY) and it's been no more unreliable than any car I've owned. I first owned mine back in about 2000 and I have recently come to own it again.
Mine lived for abour 5 years in a very salty environment by the sea in northen Scotland, and whilst it has gone noticebly "crusty" underneath, there is barely a spec of rust visible on the upperbody. I did however have to replace the rear brake pipes for the MOT.
The dry weather handling is still good, although was shockingly bad with worn rear shocks until replaced. I find understeer in the wet a bit excessive, but that may be cured with some better tyres. I'm currently on Yokos, but seem to remember the OEM P6000's (which get a bad rep on here) were better. I'm sure a more modern tyre would be infinitely better.
As said already, just keep on top of oil checks/changes and cambelt services and the motor should give many miles of good service.
The only real issue mine has had was a failed ABS unit - I forget whether it was the pulse generator or the ECU. The part was v.expensive from Alfa at the time so I found one secondhand.
I have also had a few exhausts on it and they are more than £200, so in hindsight I wish i had fitted a stainless system.
Mine lived for abour 5 years in a very salty environment by the sea in northen Scotland, and whilst it has gone noticebly "crusty" underneath, there is barely a spec of rust visible on the upperbody. I did however have to replace the rear brake pipes for the MOT.
The dry weather handling is still good, although was shockingly bad with worn rear shocks until replaced. I find understeer in the wet a bit excessive, but that may be cured with some better tyres. I'm currently on Yokos, but seem to remember the OEM P6000's (which get a bad rep on here) were better. I'm sure a more modern tyre would be infinitely better.
As said already, just keep on top of oil checks/changes and cambelt services and the motor should give many miles of good service.
The only real issue mine has had was a failed ABS unit - I forget whether it was the pulse generator or the ECU. The part was v.expensive from Alfa at the time so I found one secondhand.
I have also had a few exhausts on it and they are more than £200, so in hindsight I wish i had fitted a stainless system.
z06tim said:
The dry weather handling is still good, although was shockingly bad with worn rear shocks until replaced. I find understeer in the wet a bit excessive, but that may be cured with some better tyres. I'm currently on Yokos, but seem to remember the OEM P6000's (which get a bad rep on here) were better. I'm sure a more modern tyre would be infinitely better.
I've got Michelins on mine which are excellent in the wet. CinqAbarth said:
Not sure how you came to that conclusion as they couldn't be more different!
Separated at birth...
CinqAbarth said:
The 146Ti is a proper old-school hooligan hot hatch, with firm ride, screaming twin-cam and pointy handling.
The 420 is completely forgettable.
Well I admit I've only had a day and 100 miles or so in the 146 versus quite a lot of use of my other half's 420 but I found the handling remarkably similar. The 420 had a much more forgiving ride but was just as chuckable and even with a big turbo diesel lump up front it felt lighter and faster than the 2.0 petrol 146 I was driving today. The 146's back end felt like it wanted to go a different direction at times - the Rover only ever did that in the wet. The 146's big fat arse doesn't help rear visibility and the interior styling... well, there isn't any style there at all. Even the mock wood dash in the Rover looks classier than the ergonomic disaster of crappy black plastic in the 146. Definitely not one of Alfa's finer moments.The 420 is completely forgettable.
Edited by DamienB on Monday 16th August 21:41
I'm convinced you're trolling.
Alfa interior:
(Not the best interior they've done in recent years, but get a tan and black interior and it'll look lovely)
Rover interior:
Alfa exterior:
Rover exterior:
Rover: 103bhp (woooo!), 1250kgs
Alfa: 150bhp, 1275kgs
I really can't see how you can claim the Rover feels 'faster'. As for any claims that it handles anywhere near as well or is anywhere near as entertaining as the 146Ti suggests you really haven't got anywhere near the limits of either. This is if you've even stepped foot inside a 146, which is very much in doubt.
Alfa interior:
(Not the best interior they've done in recent years, but get a tan and black interior and it'll look lovely)
Rover interior:
Alfa exterior:
Rover exterior:
Rover: 103bhp (woooo!), 1250kgs
Alfa: 150bhp, 1275kgs
I really can't see how you can claim the Rover feels 'faster'. As for any claims that it handles anywhere near as well or is anywhere near as entertaining as the 146Ti suggests you really haven't got anywhere near the limits of either. This is if you've even stepped foot inside a 146, which is very much in doubt.
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