Classic Alfa Forums

The 159 has given me grief again so with a falling out of favour of Alfa diesels I decided to go back a bit to something that isn't hampered by DPF's and EGR valves, so this lovely 145 came into my radar.
OK it's now 21 years old (how did that happen?!) but it really is in superb condition, a testament to it's former owners who saw fit to look after it well to keep it in such good shape.
I've always been a fan of the 145, I know it's not everybody's cup of tea but I love the styling.
To say it's like the Tardis isn't far from the truth, bags of room inside for what is quite a small car.

So, what do I have.
It's a QV obviously, and a good one. Every bill and MoT certificate comes with the car from day 1, all the details I value.
It's had the floors welded already as most will have done by now, all to a very good standard I'm pleased to say.
I took the precaution of doing the cambelt & balance belt yesterday as I don't want that headache, a new grille badge for a bit of extra bling.
81k from new and feels fine for it, handling and steering are superb, can't wait to try it up Caistor high street tomorrow afternoon.
There are a few jobs to do as expected of a car this age, roof lining is droopy, odd small bits of corrosion starting to become evident around the strut tops which I'll attend to, drivers door needs a repair to the frame where some scroat tried breaking into it and folded the door top out!
Interior though is superb, paintwork generally likewise save for a few stone chips.
Anne the Lady who I bought it off obviously took pride in the car but seems like it was hardly used, covering around 100 miles a year the last few...I promise to take care of him Anne and keep it standard, despite what anyone says!

I had previously said that the TS engine was pants, wouldn't have one again having had them in 156's.
Shrew reckoned a 146 he'd had was a good one but I just couldn't see it.
Now I've got one, and done a few miles I've changed my opinion.
To say it's free revving is pretty accurate, the noise it makes is only more encouraging to keep going! The induction roar isn't that unlike having carbs, really throaty and just loves to rev.

So plans for it.
I'll use it for the remainder of the year until the weather turns then it'll probably Winter up at the unit.
In a few years it'll get attention to the strut top corrosion and some little bits on the chassis rails where I've seen them go before. Nothing at all major at the moment but more like keeping on top of things. I'll do something with the door when the opportunity arrives but for now it's presentable and only on that one panel. One side window frame has some rust but easiest solution is to swap the window for a better one.


So happy with my purchase I went out to take some snaps at a place I've done before on a few occasions....

Said it was petite!

I told you seeing mine would make you want one. Oil level check once a week just to be sure.

You're not wrong mate, on both counts!

Looks nice and tidy Kev.
I have always thought the Italians managed to make their cars roomy on the inside.

The twinspark was a good motor if looked after , oil and belts. I had a bad one, crank went but that's probably previous owners not knowing alfas and letting the oil run low and damage done before I bought it.

Second one was superb, did 155k and ran like 20k, both were 155 fatboys

The first was a 1995 'N' plate and was very free revving, the second was a late 1996 and felt slightly more tourqy and not quite as rev free, read into it and it was a change to the air intake set up, the early car had a very straight pipe from the rad top / grill inot the air filter, the later car had a very strange under bumper curved, u bend set up, the type that sucks water up in a flood !

There was a definite noticeable difference in the two, I preferred the first one for flat out driving. Nice induction noise and quick ....130mph on the speedo

I'm done with diesels as well, gone back to petrol.

Nice ride out this afternoon, loving the 145 more and more

I'd always slated the TS engine but without tempting fate I've changed my mind, a lovely little thing that thrives on being given a chance

Rob was already at the unit this afternoon in his new ride, Suzuki really look after their employees with a great deal on an ex demonstrator for him. Beats the KA anyway, although that's been a good first car for him.

I've had four TS. Changed the oil every 6000 miles, belts 36,000 miles and the only variators were on engines I bought with it already rattling so knocked the purchase price down.
Personally, my favourite was the second generation 1.8. My 2.0 GTV turned into a nightmare and our 147 with a 1.6 was peppy but felt a little under powered. I found they didn't use much oil either.
I bet that Swift goes like stink, very smart

Lovely colour on the swift, looks very smart.......colour and wheel combo not to different to a blue 155 sport pack

Done a few jobs to the 145 the other day, stripped all the roof lining out to glue the material back up, not just to do that but also to have a look at the non working electric sunroof.

Turned out to have a lot of rust in the mechanism, mainly though the cables were seized so they got stripped out and greased, plus the glass panels' mounting points were missing the front 2 mounts out of the 6 due to having rotted off! Search on for another glass panel..

Still loving driving the little pocket rocket though, here it is on the way back from the unit on Wednesday next to Belmont Tower TV transmitter.

How many times have you gone for the next gear only to find you're already in top? I would like another one for motorway cruising.

Clarkson described it as a Breadvan on speed IIRC
Watch out for rust on the cills/rear footwell floor....but it seems you are the man to deal with that?

I loved the TS engine..always wondered why they went from 8v to 16v

Dave

As a matter of interest there is a low mileage 146ti on the AROC website currently for £1500.
Good opportunity for someone it seems?
Dave

Many times I've gone for 6th gear Tony, but I'm getting better

Love the roadholding though, superb little car

It's already had some welding done to the floors/sill edges Dave, to a very good standard too. But as you say, if it needs more it's not the end of the world

I firmly believe that the 145/6 will in 10 or 15 years time be like the Suds are now, especially the QV cars. They've dipped as low price wise as they ever would, now they are on the up

Maybe you should delete the JTD bit from your username!

alfadave wrote:Maybe you should delete the JTD bit from your username!

Ought to really.......

Been know by that name for years, but another JTD? I don't know. Think I will be sticking with the 145 with something different altogether as a daily hack once the weather turns, don't want to run this little beastie in the salt, not tempting work to stack up more!

Im glad you like the new car Kev (KevQv?, QvKev?)

Ive always thought the cf1 version of the ts motor was its best modern guise, probably the only one that lived up to the paper claims, cf2 and 3 motors are simply strangled by additional emission control factors by comparison in my opinion.

They were clever too, has yours got the variable length inlet pipe? I seem to remember my 146ti had it, and felt quite different without it, in a negative way.

My only criticism of the 145qv and 146ti were a little softly sprung, and the additional drivers seat height from the additional adjustment section made me sit uncomfortably high and contributed to a fair bit of body roll.

I removed the adjustment section and installed decent springs, 30mm lower, 17" alloys using 205/40/17 toyos, and it felt transformed!


Enjoy it bud,

And change that name!

Must admit I do feel like I'm sitting on it rather than in it.

Yep, it's a great little car. Still loving it.
The run up to the unit is a perfect road for it.
A mix of a bit of town driving, some pootling plus a fair bit of using it as desired yet still returned a tad over 33mpg on the last tank. Really pleased with that, would be happy to get 30.
Pretty sure it is the variable inlet tract one mate, makes a fantastic throaty noise although I've not checked to see if has a standard air filter or not, but all on original airbox so could have a K&N panel one.
Agree too that the seat is a little high which I may have a look at.

Nice one Kev! I had a TS in our 156 (- but it had the low inlet........ and I went through a flood )

145 back out of hibernation now having had a new clutch slave whilst up at the unit over winter.
Shame I forgot to do the broken heater control cable that went haywire last Autumn, jamming it onto hot was a good solution in the October temps, not so good at the weather we have this week!
SAD tomorrow at Duxford in it so stripped the front off the dash this afternoon.
Problem was a broken fixing plastic clamp that holds the outer cable to the heater box, a couple of washers with curled lower edges has clamped it just fine now. Smooth as silk
At least I won't cook myself on the trip tomorrow

Not posted a lot on the 145 lately it seems, not really done a lot that's why!
Last year getting it through the MoT was a bit of a struggle with the emissions, something by the history it has struggled with the last few years before I got it.
Eventually it got a ticket after some adjustments but I was advised it was still close to the upper CO limit, the aftermarket Cat was suspected as being not up to the job.

I found an original Alfa Cat last year and finally got around to fitting it a month or two back.

Today it sailed through the emissions, better than it's done for years.

Just goes to show the OE stuff does the job best.

Good news Kev, I suppose after market stuff is good for a few years, then tails off in the long run sooner than original.
Such is life.

Yes, chuffed with the results mate.

Actually unsure now what the fate of the 145 is.

Really like to drive it but with the fleet getting bigger I ought to think twice about having 4 cars on the road!

Is a cracking drivers car though so it'll most likely stay.

“Actually unsure now what the fate of the 145 is.”

Kev. If you decide to let it go id be interested in giving it a good home.

LooLooSud33Spider wrote:“Actually unsure now what the fate of the 145 is.”

Kev. If you decide to let it go id be interested in giving it a good home.

I ought to Lou, but it is such a great drive it'd be hard to see it go. Plus a 145 with an elctric sunroof is nice.


Reality though is the integrale and Y10 will soon be useable too, so I will think on it.

A good home to someone from here though appeals rather than the mess and hassle of ebay etc.

If you decide to cut it loose please do bear me in mind.

Will do Lou