Alfa Romeo 146 (1995 - 2000)
7 16V, 1.8 TWIN SPARK, 2.0 TI]
BY JONATHAN CROUCH
Alfa Romeos five-door 146 introduced Italian flair and elegant, flowing lines to a family car market, that had previously expected only practicality. As the direct successor to the companys 33 range, the 146 was further evidence of Alfas rebirth as a maker of sensible yet, still characterful cars. The 146 first appeared in May 1995, offering buyers a wide choice of four-cylinder engines. These were initially the traditional boxer style, carried over from the 33.
Later, powerful Twin Spark units arrived; offering better refinement and performance. For the used buyer, any of these cars makes an interesting and sensible buy, particularly when you consider the vastly improved quality and reliability compared to older Alfa products.
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The earliest 1.6-litre cars can be found for as little as £1,000. These M-platers date from May 1995, while 1996 N-reg examples start at about £1,300. The 1.
7-litre 146 is a popular choice among enthusiast drivers who need a compact family car. You should only expect to pay around £100-£200 above equivalent 1.6-litre prices. These engines were replaced by new 16-valve 1.
6 and 1.8-litre cars in Spring 1997 - both bear the legend Twin Spark on the rear hatch. They start from £1,500 and £1,600 respectively. If you must have a 2.
0-litre car, then youre looking at a minimum of about £1,400 for the first N-platers. X-reg examples are currently fetching just over £3,600.
There are one or two unusual areas of concern with these cars. Check with the seller that the car has had its drivers-side airbag checked by a dealer. Both 145 and 146 were recalled after several reported cases of random inflation. The first 1.
6 and 1.7-litre cars encouraged a driving style in which enthusiastic revving of the engine was often needed to keep things moving along. For this reason, some examples may have suffered at the hands of drivers fancying themselves as Fangio on the Mille Miglia. Owners of these boxer-engined cars also ignore service intervals at their peril.
Though largely reliable units, the 1.6 and 1.7-litre motors will almost certainly have a short life if oil changes have been neglected. The later Twin Spark units are more modern and more dependable, if you get a car with a full service history, there should be few problems.
Check under the engine filler cap and dipstick - the colour and texture of the oil should never be black or show signs of sludge build-up and the exhaust should, naturally, be smoke-free at idle.
(approx based on a 146 1.8 TS) A clutch assembly will be around £127, while the rear section of the exhaust system should be just under £230. An alternator will be about £199 and a replacement headlamp is close to £119. Major servicing is needed every 60,000 miles.
When Alfa came to develop the 1.6 and 1.8-litre 'Twin Spark' engines for the revised 146, refinement was given priority over resonance. Even the `Alfisti` (enthusiasts) admit that these powerplants were more universally acceptable as well as being cleaner, smoother and more powerful than their predecessors. All the engines available show off the impressive handling abilities of the cars, which have also been combined with a compliant ride. The seats are particularly well designed in the 146, offering both comfort and support.
Stylish and sensible, roomy and reliable. The current Alfa renaissance has a lot to do with the impressive reputation of the 146.
