Forums Forums Mi_Craig/AlfaCraig - Alfa Romeo 146

Yeah, Alfa engines are pretty strong. Can't remember the milage on my dad's 164, but its over 100k, and still a dream to drive, no problems.

Dunno about the TS eating through oil though, will av to ask me old man about that, he will know better than me lol.

Already having problems with this, and havent even collected the car yet !!!!!


My dad is running through all the "Oh, this fella said its unreliable...walk away from it blah blah....keep the micra blah blah If your car breaks down, youll lose your job blah blah blah"

Im getting sick already. Anyone I speak to, immediately says... Oh, theyre unreliable them. Thans a fooking lot Jeremy Clarkson.



If we all followed the advice we were given, we would all be driving round in a sodding Ford Focus. Why cant people just shut up and realise that????? Honestly...driving me up the wall.

I guess time will tell matey...

For your sake, I hope the unreliablity thing doesnt effect this car..

Did you view the car before buying it?

Ive joined an Alfa Oners website, and looked through all the things that are said to go wrong etc.

There is nothing outstanding from these, than youd get from another car, except for regular oil changes due to the twin spark...and changing the cambelts at 65,000 miles.


Weve organised an MOT for wednesday...bt the fella on the phone was joking about them being unreliable (Oh what a surprise)...so I personally dont trust him. Ive got a feeling hell go out his way to find something wrong....just so he can charge a shitload to replace.



I got it on Ebay, it originally belonged to someone who was part of the Alfa Owners Club, but handed it in Part Exchange

ALfa 146

Engine Size 1598 cc
Cylinders 4
0-60 mph 10.2 s
Power Output 120 bhp
Valves 16
Torque 144 Nm
Top Speed 122 mph

Micra

Engine Size 998 cc
Cylinders 4
0-60 mph 15.9 s
Power Output 54 bhp
Valves 16
Torque 79 Nm 58 lb-ft
Top Speed 93 mph


Will feel a hell of a lot more powerful. but i'm sure your ready for it

nice one mate. looks a good one hope all is well with it

If he shafts you on the MOT mate, lemme know, I know a lad who works in an MOT centre, he won't have you off by adding jobs/fail points.

Don't worry about reliability, as I said, me dad's 164 has done 100k+, and it still runs and feels like a dream. It is important that you keep them well serviced, you can't really neglect their service schedules as much as you might get away with a Ford or I do with my 420, and parts are higher quality, so demand higher prices, but this is a price you pay when you buy a car that not every Joe Bloggs drives, and that has an engine that far outdoes its rival's performance wise.

I have to feel for my dad, if anything needs doing to his Alfa ( he ain't really able to get his hands dirty anymore as he damaged his wrist in a work accident), nobody in Hereford will touch the car for some reason, he has to take it to an Alfa specialist in Gloucester lol.

Simple rule though, keep it well serviced ans looked after, which im sure you will do, and everything should be okay. Unless you get electrical problems, which can be a pain in the arse in all Fiat cars lol.

Oh, have a good test drive of the car before you buy; any thing not listed, that you find wrong with it, mean's you have the liberty to walk away.

I aint really got much idea on problems with the 145/146 or the TS engines, but as your on an Alfa owners club now, try and get as much knowledge of things to look for before you go. Make a list if needs be, its better to be safe than sorry.

Nice looking car, hope you aren't plagued with reliability problems.

If you need jobs doin on it mate,I have worked on a few of these.I will do a Service for £20 plus the parts and I can change the cambelt if you want it doin.

Electrical items go out to lunch frequently on these and the interior is balsa-wood quality,but alot is down to the individual car...You could still end up with a good-un!

Main problem with owning one is that SOME(not service)parts can be very expensive compared to other cars:( Good luck with it mate

Cheers Guys. Might take you up on that Chris if anything needs doing

Picked it up today, dad driving as he has insurance on it for a week. First thing he said "Christ thats fast".

Cars going for its MOT tomorrow, so we had a quick look around. Rear tyres were bald, which we replaced for a set of part worn.

The exhaust looks like a bag of shit, so will definately need replacing. Hopefully itll pass the MOT as it is. Only other real thing is may possibly need new Wiper Motor. Other than that, the car is superb, just needs a thorough thorough Valet (last owner had dogs). Body is in unbeliavable condition, and no Colour Fade WHATSOEVER.


Only one real major problem tp report......

IVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH IT.

I had a drive on some private land, It cant be faltered. Absolutely adore it !!!!!!!!!


I cant stop looking out the window at it, or at the Alfa Logo on the key

Good car matey

Chris is great with cars he is the person i always give my car to when i cant do somthing or he talks me through it matey

Cheers tone..

Time for custom exhaust Craig???

I dunno tbh. Im undecided whether Im going to modify it in any way..except maybe lower it 30mm further along the line.

Its a shame to modify something so rare, and Italian

She failed her MOT today

Needs:
New Brake Lines
New Exhaust
Rear Fog light doesnt work.

This baffled me, as the fog light literally worked yesterday when we tried them, both front and rear.
Anyway, its all getting sorted now.


On a good note though, the fella said despite the repairs, its possibly the best Condition Alfa hes seen in a long long time.

Now to decide what sort of feedback to give the seller on Ebay