1997 Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf Review - Italy's Best Kept Secret?

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Today on the channel, I drive the mighty Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf. Powered by a 150hp version of the 2.0L Twin Spark engine, this was the range topper back in the mid-late 90s and a rival for the likes of the Golf GTI. Nowadays it is often overlooked, but for me deserves a second chance.
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#AlfaRomeo #145 #Cloverleaf
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4 сен 2023

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Комментарии : 429

@JayEmmOnCars 10 месяцев назад

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

@toyota420xp 9 месяцев назад

You drive a lot of sporty cars and I was just wondering if there was a list cars or couple you can think of that are comfortable for people that aren't small because I'm assuming some of them racing seats or just sporty ones that hug you in not often big or comfortable

@JayEmmOnCars 9 месяцев назад

@@toyota420xp honestly I tend to find bucket seats MORE comfortable

@toyota420xp 9 месяцев назад

@JayEmmOnCars that's surprising I know Jay leno doesn't anyway thanks for the reply. Cheers mate

@benzinapaul7416 10 месяцев назад

The 1996/1997 cars as is this one with aluminium engine covers had tubular manifolds and sound way better than the later cars with cast manifolds and plastic engine covers - the later engine came in during the Series 1 run - so not all series 1s are the same. They are great cars and so underrated, the seating position is a bit high and the seats don't have much thigh support but they are such a great drive. The MOMO leather interior cars had seats that were over stuffed so you sat even higher. The one you have reviewed is the best version. A humorous aside - the Green Cloverleaf badges on the sills quickly turned to a blue shade and we used to get lots of customers asking if we had any 145 Blue Cloverleafs in stock. What you really need to find and review which is probably impossible is a Fiat Tipo 2.0 Sedicivalvole 5dr pre cat - not the 3dr, I loved my 145 QV but the Tipo 16V that followed it was way more fun. I then went on to many examples pass through my hands as a used Alfa/Fiat dealer in the early 2000s. Good luck to Chris, how I started, bravo! Ohh thats another car you need to review a Bravo HGT....

@antonio.9698 10 месяцев назад

Yeah, he should review a well sorted Bravo Hgt, Cf2 if possible. Later 145/6s sound just as good if you remove the intake resonator, but it is true that the exhaust is more muted. My 146 Ti has a CSC catback plus the removed resonator and it sounds great. They are so evolving and they get under your skin in such a special way.

@expert20valvehlx 9 месяцев назад

Yess, TS CF1 is the best.. The pistons are forged not shitty alloy in CF2 CF3.. For seats i would go with Recaro seats, they are supernice

@antonio.9698 9 месяцев назад

@@expert20valvehlx What, forged pistons?? 🤔

@user-sf7kl9uh7k 10 месяцев назад

The shots of James revving it out and looking seemingly unimpressed are very funny. He's going from strength to strength, I'm a big fan of his.

@AlejjSi 6 месяцев назад

BBC prooably should have gone to him when they wanted to replace Clarkson. Because he is not trying to imitate him, but when watching Jay, I as a viewer get the same amount of information and entertainment as I do from watching Clarkson.

@dickononfilm 10 месяцев назад

Frickin loved mine! Bought for £1,100, was in great nick, not the most balanced handling, but managing the wheelspin and understeer was still fun, it revved sweetly to 7k and only really needed an exhaust in the 18 months I had it... Ah happy days... 😁

@Google_Is_Evil 9 месяцев назад

the QV came with quck rack steering, bigger brakes (1.8 had these both as well) and slightly lowered suspension (15mm, just springs) and a fabric for the interior that was only available as the QV. The side skirts with the clover leaves were also only for the cloverleaf. In some markets in 1998 they had a "junior" version of the 1.4 and 1.6 that had the quik rack and side skirts but with a "junior" logo. After the facelift there were some end-of-model marketing versions that also came with the side skirts but were not a cloverleaf.

@lenartsparovec5157 7 месяцев назад

Yes the newer ones were sport pack the same side skrits as qv and also includes a rear spoiler also the interior. I bought myself one for first car 1.6 TS 1999. Do you think that it has the suspension and other things same as qv?

@iannorton4463 10 месяцев назад

If I thought the alfa was still available I would buy it. Whoever ended up with it, please cherish it.. I'm disabled now and I cannot get in and out of many sports cars or lower hatchbacks now. But this car, i can. Good luck. Also, J, another well done video and story. That must have been difficult because of all the angles etc but blimey mate you told a concise, brief, straight to the point story... Well done.. I'm proud to be a subscriber.. ✌️👍🇬🇧

@chrispark9343 9 месяцев назад

We ran a 1997 1.6 16V TS for about 10 years from 2004. It was a LHD example which we used to drive backwards and forwards to Italy. It was relatively underpowered but was great fun to drive. Ultimately it failed its MOT on rust on the underside and had to be binned but still lived for 23 years. We look back on it with great affection.

@rickoshea1027 9 месяцев назад

Bet it took ages reversing all the way to Italy

@wackedoutdude 4 месяца назад

My brother had one for about a year. He had it in about 2012 paid next to nothing for it. He hammered the hell out of it. Never even changed the oil. Believe it or not it never broke down. Was flawless and the engine loved to be revved. Great cars.

@gurhanilter7175 10 месяцев назад

My first car😮 I was 19. It had 1.6 boxer type engine and corsa red. I loved it to bits. Handling was superb and people given me space or let me pass them in traffic. But it was in the garage every month for something gone wrong or was going too. So many times I said to to myself I am going to sell it but I was very emotionally attached to that car, unfortunately crashed and gone wrote off. Remember I cried when it has been picked up for the junk yard. Thanks James for reminding me my youth.

@Muty 9 месяцев назад

My sister had this as her first car with the boxer engine to get from A to B(a good 10 years ago), and I was always looking forward to the moment when me and my dad could borrow it and take it for a spin. Sure, it was underpowered, but the engine had such a nice buzz to it, and it drove very well, it made trips such a joy! Also, it is hugely spacious inside.

@leebridge9187 10 месяцев назад

Great cars and an interesting design. The boxer engined ones were underpowered but the 2.0l 16v cloverleaf is a gem. The busso can also be transplanted in.

@antonio.9698 10 месяцев назад

The busso will ruin the handling having to cope almost with +50kilos more and the 145 is not all about the engine. As bling as the transformation can be, the Ts16v forms a more homogeneous combo.

@benzinapaul7416 10 месяцев назад

Yes the Boxer cars were poor, catalysts had already spoiled the boxers in the late 33s so coupled with extra weight of the 145/6 it wasn't the right engine for the car. It's a shame the Twin Spark wasn't ready from the start of the 145/6, it would have got off to a much better start, same with the early 155s with the Nord engine which was not as good in transverse layouts as longitudinal and. Typical Alfa!

@matejzagar1986 10 месяцев назад

I have the boxer and it's far from poor. A lot more interesting drive than the TS. @@benzinapaul7416

@expert20valvehlx 9 месяцев назад

@@antonio.9698 Just use the steering rack and suspension from the 1.9 JTD one it will still be sharp

@user-xj2lh9cv9h 6 месяцев назад

@@antonio.9698so just put the battery i the trunk and everything is fine😂

@hexgraphica 10 месяцев назад

When I look at this car I smell the atmosphere of 1990s Milan. Many things built over the last 20 years there were in place of facilities that went abandoned since the early 90s. The Alfa Romeo "portello" and "Arese" factories followed the same fate about 10 years apart. The styling of this car, harsh but sleek, brings me the smell of cigarettes, industrial grease, humidity and fog everyone associates with the industrial chapter of Milan, now gone

@markc3884 10 месяцев назад

With cars like this, it comes down to exactly what you say at 10m 30secs “It puts a smile on your face.”

@oldmanwillyboy2786 10 месяцев назад

I bought one of these in 1998, and it regularly got me from central Bristol to Salcombe in 1hr 40mins...........leaving at 10pm on a thursday evening! It was even more fun than my Mk1 Escort Mexico! only sold it because my son came along................My only gripe was the turning circle!.........I had a Ford Ranger with a smaller turning circle!......But I Forgive it all of that for the fun it gave me!. My Mate tuned it up for me and it, and put a ridiculous pipe on it! II clocked 165hp on the rolling road. My Boxter owning neighbour hated me, because he could never catch me, on Straights or bends! It never broke down once, in 5yrs......

@LAVAracing 10 месяцев назад

Dear James. Again you have made my day. 145 was my first car. Later model and only 1.4 l. however, with the famous twin spark that has generated mind blowing 105 PS. It was something really special for me and this one has brought fantastic memories. There were few Alfa mood days but the car was amazing. And back then the quadrifoglio version was the unreachable dream. Thank you.

@revenanke3132 10 месяцев назад

I had a 1999 166 with the 2 litre twin spark and while it wasn't fast, I had a lot of fun revving that engine. Sounded great with an aftermarket exhaust, and the power peaks near the top making it very engaging to drive at the limit. A great example of an engine you can enjoy without risking your license.

@garydaniels1420 9 месяцев назад

Got the 2 litre t/s in my 916.GTV...😊

@martinb.770 9 месяцев назад

To me, too, the 145 is one of the most beautiful cars of the 90ies (and beyond). And owning a 33 and an Impreza, I am deeply disappointed, that Alfa and Subaru didn't merge their Boxer development (after all, they already worked together for the 33 4x4).

@beretka1389 9 месяцев назад

I used to have 1.4 boxer 145 it was a great car to have 20 years ago... i had no problem with it sporty sharp car to enjoy every day

@simonburleigh5551 10 месяцев назад

James, great video, it reminds me of a 145 1.6 that I had as a company car. Brilliant handling but everything squeaked and rattled at 1 year old and 14,000. Keep up the great work JM!

@PaulieNat 2 месяца назад

This was an amazing car. Had it for 17 years and it was still going. 1.4 Twin Spark. Never had problems, just good regular maintenance. The feeling on the steering wheel was amazing. Very communicative car on the road. There are modern expensive cars that looks like plastic toys compared to how this Alfa were built back then.

@aripenik 10 месяцев назад

This was one of your best videos, glad you enjoyed a little red thing. I like seeing you appreciate Alfas for what they are and not bashing them too much for what they are not.

@eze8970 10 месяцев назад

Thanks J, always good to see an Alfa! 🙏🙏

@murrieteacher 10 месяцев назад

I forgot about this car model. They did drive great in the 90's and seem to have held that special Alfa charm.

@alandowney5851 10 месяцев назад

Bangle was/is a bit of a genius. That "floating roof" look was used on the R53 Mini and it made the car - easily the best retro-styled design of them all. The E63 6 series was derided when new but if you look at it now, it's a sure-fire future classic. The Fiat Coupe could be relaunched tomorrow with a few tweaks. That Cloverleaf 145 is a brilliant little modern classic car. I had the twin spark in a GTV. Brilliant engine but make sure you keep on top of the timing belt change intervals and always do the variator. Otherwise €€€...

@anythingdiecast2880 9 месяцев назад

I really like you keep pumping out these gems. Keep it coming

@johang7498 10 месяцев назад

Always highly enjoyable to see a 145 or 146 pass by (happens far too little in real life these days). My first car was a 146 with the 1.6 boxer engine, I have very fond memories of driving that for 6 years. I always read that it was underpowered with the boxer engine, but it didn't feel that way to me at the time. Also, it never gave me any serious problem during its time, though I can confirm the electrics seemed to have a mind of their own sometimes 😀. But with a car that gives you so much pleasure in driving, you take something like that for granted (I do anyway). One thing that does strike me now, seeing that interior again, is the undeniable progress in car interiors since the 1990s.

@chriscarbaugh3936 10 месяцев назад

1.7 16v which I had was ok. 129BHP, fiddled the throttle stops and added a K&N w a Momo strut brace 😎

@Journey_Awaits 9 месяцев назад

I see these old ones literally constantly though never a clover

@harveydolden8572 10 месяцев назад

These are the sort of cars that remind me of old Fast Lane magazines 😎 when hot hatchbacks didn't weigh as much as an suv!

@simonh870 10 месяцев назад

I have had three of these, as well as three 146 TI's which was the 4 door version. One of the QV's suffered from a failed big end bearing after the previous owner had run it low on oil. They do tend to use a bit and once the light comes on the damage has been done, and it may not show itself for a few thousand miles.

@andysteele9918 10 месяцев назад

The 146ti is a very underrated car. I loved mine and still regret selling it years later.

@dugmeat5881 10 месяцев назад

My dad had a black 146 ti with a cream leather interior when i was younger, think he got it for all of £50 as a cat N. Was such a cool car to be picked up in and we never saw another one the whole time we had it

@James-cs2wi 10 месяцев назад

James always love your amazing talk over the cars 🚗 ❤

@davidfairbairn8 10 месяцев назад

Nice one Jay, used to be one round the corner when I was growing up, just loved them from then on. Still beautiful.

@lukamilic 10 месяцев назад

As soon as I saw the thumbnail, instantly clicked. As a Mito Turbo owner, and being driven in a 146 as a kid, this is a must see.

@benlancaster7925 10 месяцев назад

I recently bought a 1998 146 ti with only 27k on it, for quite a bit less than this one. Rosso Red, black leather interior, enough space for a family of 4 to do 900 miles through France and great fun too. I had on new back in the late 90's and I'm loving the trip down memory lane!

@TilenTMtube 9 месяцев назад

I had one. Loved it, still miss it today!❤

@user-jj1qo5vo8w 10 месяцев назад

I have a P Reg 145 Cloverleaf just like this one. Fantastic thing......such fun to drive. Mine is lowered a tad & has a modified intake & exhaust system. So, so free revving & it sounds epic. It's definitely a keeper !

@martinclapton2724 10 месяцев назад

Always love vids of previous Alfas ❤

@cindybetten7573 10 месяцев назад

So many cars that will never be available in the US. What a damn pity! I really like the looks and sounds.

@Mgoblagulkablong 10 месяцев назад

you can import it

@MrMarkusmulder 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for the vidéo and stay safe ✌️.

@mre7862 10 месяцев назад

Always loved these and the yellow you refer to is ‘Zoe Yellow’ which was also available on the Alfa Spider of the time, but not the GTV for some reason. Either way, it’s a lovely colour and this was a great video. Regards from an Alfisti.

@jefferysmith3930 10 месяцев назад

More USA forbidden fruit as we never saw these cars. You forgot to mention RUST..(Furious Driving, Mat) I really like the black bumper caps which I’m sure some people hate. For my American eyes it makes I’m look just a little bit more European = exotic. So much so that I Painted with black wrinkle paint the embossed top and bottom of my 1st gen Honda Odyssey’s bumpers to blend in with the black door trim and rocker covers and well as modified Suzuki SX4 fender arch trim to fit. I just love the contrast with the faded beige body color.

@howardlake6178 10 месяцев назад

The 5bhp in the last versions was to offset loss of power, due to air conditioning. After the previous Busso Alfa twin cam, him again, in production 1954-1994 and still highly rated after 40 years, a Fiat block with an Alfa head was likely to fail. But the twin spark 2.0 is epic. Cam belt every 3 years essential. Great video 💚🤍❤

@Journey_Awaits 9 месяцев назад

Could be just me being nostalgic for my youth but the straight streaked and “new edge” styling of 90s cars is underrated as hell, it looks like a past concept for todays future. Square covered wheel arches? give it to me. Hope it makes a return like it did on the Hyundai vision.

@midgeman90 10 месяцев назад

Love the Alfa content!

@llewsep 10 месяцев назад

Oh my word. I loved my 145 1.7 Boxer. Loved the styling. In & Out. Loved the sound it made too. Properly good fun on a country road with "spirited" driving Was unfortunately let down by the usual Italian electrics and failed to start one day.. Was most upset when it had to go.

@ulrichr.487 9 месяцев назад

Great memories! I once owned a 145 1.9 JTD. Black Momo leather, silver colour. I still like the styling very much.

@CumminsVoortman 10 месяцев назад

Yes great great car. They were very reliable too once the factory recommended service schedule was followed. Great fun to drive and definitely a stand out from the crowd car. It sold well on the continent but not as well in the UK.

@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X 10 месяцев назад

That's the kind of car I'd love to buy new today!

@whispjohn 10 месяцев назад

I have owned one of these cars, it was an absolute hoot to drive and could get down the road pretty well. It was a bit bangy and crashy on the move but on a flat tarmac it was good fun. It cost me £700 and I bought it on a whim, money well spent. It would probably cost around £5K these days.

@jammynem 10 месяцев назад

Oh I loved mine!! That engine is sooooo good!!

@PAC-fp9hy 9 месяцев назад

I had a pre-registered 'Zoe Yellow' 145 1.8 TS between 2001 and 2009. It must have been one of the last sold in the UK. I ran it for 70k miles before giving it away to a friend when I emigrated. It was 100% reliable and a fun daily driver, if a little buzzy on the motorway. I previously had a 155 1.8 but somehow the smaller 145 felt more refined. Even with a small child, it was practical and you could never lose it in a car park due to its colour! I think it is off the road now and probably gone to the scrap yard in the sky, but if someone offered me a decent one now, I would bite their hand off. I saw a very low mileage one last year on Autotrader, but it was a bit pricey - around 7k!

@skajme 10 месяцев назад

There's something so special about boxy little 90s hot hatches

@MarkB4444 10 месяцев назад

Damn was saving for a GTC4 Lusso but now I can get 100 of these!

@timpeach4518 10 месяцев назад

I had a 146ti from new in 96 and looked it. It feel to bits but still loved it.

@steveberridge4648 10 месяцев назад

Awesome cars these - love them, lots of character, not the sharpest maybe but one of the most interesting from the era. Now you’ve done this one can you please do one on my other favourite 90s hot hatch curio the Almera GTI please ?!

@davidmunro51 9 месяцев назад

I owned one of these. It was always great fun - and felt quicker than you might expect. The road manners were impeccable and mine was fairly rust free. Rust is the real enemy. Look hard at floor pans and inner sills . Front wheel arches can be iffy too. Nonetheless it's a truly fun and affordable Alfa.

@6ettinold 9 месяцев назад

As a young dashing bachelor, I slobbered for weeks at an identical one on a P plate on a local forecourt. It was 4 years old and was up for £5k. Hard to imagine now. I couldn't stretch to the £5k ( or the finance company wouldn't! ) and ended up with the Punto they had instead. I imagined these were a Bangle reinterpretation of the VW Polo breadvan. Would kill for one now.

@theodoregarcia8830 10 месяцев назад

Cool looking car, nice video

@MLC... 10 месяцев назад

Great review of this car. Pretty much of it applies to my 155 TS 16v as well, including ultimate grip. The problem there is a lack of performance tire options in the 195/55/15 size. Also you can get Bilstein B4 for it, but not Bilstein B6/8. You can go to bigger rims, but that would just destroy the ride quality.

@nvl2691 7 месяцев назад

There's the KW V1 coilovers too!

@happybirthdayiloveu 9 месяцев назад

I am so glad you have finally reviewed a twin spark 16v - touring car championship engine. Can I suggest the next. Try 155 2.0 16v and then 156 2.0 16v that are slightly modified.

@picardbs 9 месяцев назад

I had both, 145 1.4 TwinSpark 105HP and its successor 147 1.6 105HP, and the 147 was on another planet.

@Yorkyscott 10 месяцев назад

I owned a 146Ti the 5 door version. One of the best sounding 4 cylinder engines ever. Also owned a 146 1.6 TS. Not as quick but the smaller engine was super sweet.

@bavelnaard 6 месяцев назад

Yeah, these little Alfas are such a hoot to drive. Gotta love it. The 16 valve TS engines up until 1998 were the best, the ones with the aluminium valve cover. These are revvy engines, they need to be revved as much as we need to drive these hoots! The updated TS engines got a plastic cover and somehow started drinking oil like first gen TSI engines do which is just sad. I had a pretty worn out one with 400000 kms (original engine) with an aluminium cover and it barely used 1 litre of oil per 20000 kms. At that mileage the headgasket just started leaking outwards ever so slightly, but I fixed it and just drove on and on.

@niwouackermann8517 9 месяцев назад

Love these cars, I used to have a facelift one and it's probably the car I regret selling the most.

@stewroo 9 месяцев назад

This was my dream car for many years ever since I rode in one on Sicily when i I was a young man. This is where I developed my adoration for point & squirt hatchbacks. It helps that it's a gorgeously idiosyncratic Italian design also.

@klasseact6663 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for this video because I never knew this car existed

@francotrio3475 10 месяцев назад

I am lucky to own an example just like the one you test drove. Really great car to drive and has loads of character. Mine has 41k miles on the clock and is kept on a carpet in the garage 😂😂

@aripenik 10 месяцев назад

Lucky you!

@neilhudson7099 10 месяцев назад

Love the variety and content of your reviews. Another great one, could you mention the gear ranges if they are for example short or long geared cars? I was looking at these only a couple of weeks ago! When I passed my test in 1999, I wanted one even with its quirks, loved the front and rear view, sure they won’t lose value now either and can’t be many left

@user-xj2lh9cv9h 10 месяцев назад

Short geared.

@alfista-yr2sr 10 месяцев назад

I had a 2000 145 Q/V back in the day and it remains one of the best cars I ever owned. Unfortunately a friend crashed it for me. The only issue I had with it was tyre consumption. The camber on the front axle is extreme and the car chews the inner shoulder of the front tyre badly. You can obviously dial out the camber if you want to. GREAT car.

@yunusatas7020 8 месяцев назад

Still using 1998 145qv :) loving it after my 2018 guiletta :)

@Screamifyoumeanit 10 месяцев назад

I've always loved the Alfasud and then the 147... Beautiful (almost modern) cars.

@nikGhost1 9 месяцев назад

Absolutely love the exhaust sound. Would buy one if I lived in Europe

@darrenstables4171 10 месяцев назад

Dear James You have convinced me to buy an alfa. I currently own a porsche jaggggg beetle and a jimny! Cheers pal! Again if you happen to visit West Yorkshire ny jimny is ready to review!!!!!!! Keep up the good work regards darren

@callumwhitelaw4581 9 месяцев назад

Old man had a 146 in 1996 they were very rare had the boxer engine in it , I loved it. Where are you now N910 VSO

@alexjones4553 10 месяцев назад

I had one of these as my second car, 1 owner 28k miles for £1200, lovely car

@TheDwightMamba 9 месяцев назад

I put a scrapyard rolled-over 1999 Honda CRV engine into a 1998 CRV I bought for $300. With new spark plugs and an oil change, the total build was $550. I got 24,000 trouble free miles before the car was stolen and vandalized beyond repair. I still have the B20 with plans to put the head from a B16 on it. No idea what car it will go in.

@markgatland977 10 месяцев назад

I had an N-reg boxer engined 146 in dark green which I absolutely adored. Being an Alfa, the electrics were a little dodgy, but I still miss it

@mikegan73 10 месяцев назад

Wish Alfa Romeo had kept making their hatchbacks with a boxer engine, it made them stand out from the crowd of inline four hatchbacks, the Alfasuds and 33s were famous for their handling and boxer sound. Although saying that the twin spark inline four here sounds really good. I would love to see Alfa Romeo make a new hatchback with a really good boxer engine in it.

@heimatliebe116 10 месяцев назад

LOVED the "Gummipflege"...!

@nagaraworkshop 9 месяцев назад

I love the proportions of the car; reminds me of a Gen 3 Honda Civic I used to own; compact, roomy, light and thus very nippy.

@michaelheathcote9488 10 месяцев назад

Loved my 146ti I had as my company car for 130k miles, one of the last 2000 W run out models.

@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek 10 месяцев назад

Looks Endearing!!!!

@Keroppikun 10 месяцев назад

Wanted one of these but the wife wanted the 156SW. Loved the V6 sound but not the heavy front end. Drove the TS 2.0 and was hooked: sweet engine with a lovely power surge @3,500rpm onwards. Addictive. Economical too.

@allansr100 10 месяцев назад

At last I can (almost) forgive JayEmm for hating the Abarth. Anyone who likes and appreciates the 145 cloverleaf can’t be all bad. I had mine for almost 5 very enjoyable years and ( I do not use this term lightly) I absolutely loved it to bits. Practical, reliable, great to look at, engaging and rewarding to drive, what’s not to like.

@The_BenboBaggins 10 месяцев назад

Was sooo close to buying a few of these just before the panademick - there were three rough examples that I could have had for about £2.5k all in! (Thought was one good one for the road, a track day warrior, and a spares car)

@timgreen6952 10 месяцев назад

I had one just like it! Twin Spark engine for the win!!

@NickThornhill 9 месяцев назад

I absolutely destroyed the engine in one of these at a brands hatch open pit lane day. One of my friends booked on and we had no idea what he was turning up in, he’s a banger racer so we were expecting the worse, he rolls up in a flatbed with one of these on the back that he’d paid £200 for. It was a cracking car but worryingly soft suspension in the corners for a track car but well balanced, it felt like it was going to fall over but hung on well. It felt especially bad as the other car we had was an ex stage rally modified Mk1 golf GTI with Schrick cams and a 2.0 overbore and it was like it was on rails. The 145 was in a bad way from the moment it arrived burning oil and overheating in short order, we hot-wired the cooling fan so it worked, kept topping up the oil and water but I eventually killed the engine trying to make it through Surtees and Into McLaren flat out. The horrible sound of big ends having given up under the abuse. But I was on a hot lap so kept my foot in to the line (unofficially timing the lap was around 58 seconds iIRC) and it never made another lap. Just about limped it the back way into the pits. I was worried I was going to have to buy a new engine for it but the guy weighed it in for £300 which paid for the car and the trackday. 😂

@paulwardzynski3265 10 месяцев назад

Great video. Off-the-wall in typical Alfa style; great engineering and adventurous styling. Alfa never did reach its full potential primarily through reliability which dented its reputation big time. Other than that, which manufacturer came close in terms of just being totally different for that kind of money?

@dukeofbork 10 месяцев назад

I borrowed my chums one for a few years while he was away, brilliant car, probably the best hot hatch that nobody ever bought.

@Brickazar250 9 месяцев назад

the trunck opening is the same as the honda accord aerodeck, one of two real shooting break model with volvo 480 that ever existed. this car looks a bit like a shooting break ! its lovely !!!

@ElektronixHS 9 месяцев назад

I'm really missing my 146 TI lost in accident. Black color with white QV rims, interior was after facelift,. Really nice seats with Alfa Romeo stitching, door cards has been remaked to be red color fabric. White and red backlighted instrument cluster. Really nice to drive, cheap to maintain and quite big interior for what it was. Now I have got 159 tbi, wonderfull car too, but 146 was much more fun to drive :-)

@chumbucket1026 10 месяцев назад

Had a 145qv it was great fun when it wasn't broken! Mine was 1996 in black

@robsshedoftech6457 10 месяцев назад

The 146Ti is surprisingly good too - a bit more practical as well.

@starrdogchamp1 9 месяцев назад

That's a cool looking car. I'm from the states. Never seen it before.

@tabemono6489 9 месяцев назад

Looks like my ex Suzuki GTi, love that car and still miss it. 😊

@owensteele1645 10 месяцев назад

I bet you can't wait to get your BX back. Would make a great re-creation of a '90s-style face-off comparison with the Alfa.

@SwissRuediger 10 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for this review! Lovely! I had the 1.6 model, 125 hp, facelift car. Great to drive, but: windshild wiper broke, rear lights fell off, had to retire it after 135‘000 km. This was in the dear 2009.😢 rip

@SwissRuediger 10 месяцев назад

Retire it because of rust.

@omeridrizi5499 10 месяцев назад

I have one, I'll ship it to US pretty soon. It's a hidden gem

@happybirthdayiloveu 9 месяцев назад

i personally owned and own 155 and 156 2.0 16v. they are very characterful cars to drive only they are just handsome and beautiful.

@andyhill8236 9 месяцев назад

What a lovely car

@ivtod 10 месяцев назад

Oh memories... I miss my old 146 with swapped integrale engine

@johnfulltilt5150 8 месяцев назад

I still have my 145 1.8 & love driving it. It's only ever let me down once when crank sensor went but tbh this is common fault with many modern cars..! Easily replaced for under £30 anyway. Probably best STD handing car I've ever had with plenty of go & great brakes.. It's one of my fave cars I've owned..! :-)

@euandykes 10 месяцев назад

Having owned French cars from the 90s, I reckon they're the last of the classics. Once airbags and full ECU cars came out the cars go beyond the skills of the typical DIYer. As for the electrical systems in such old cars. If you pull all the switch clusters out and wire brush the contacts, put some Vaseline on them to keep conductivity, usually you can get a restoration of functionality. Unless there's a frayed core through the line. Either way nothing beyond the DIY mechanic.