Alfa Romeo 146 (1995 - 2000)
MODELS COVERED:146 - MAY 1995 TO DATE [1.6, 1.6L, 1.6 TWIN SPARK, 1.
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; these continue in the current models. For the used buyer, any of these cars makes an interesting and sensible buy, particularly when you consider the vastly improved quality and reliability. All Alfa Romeos come with a three-year warranty these days a testimony to how far things have come.
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Roominess is what family car buyers traditionally look for and the 146 is by no means disgraced by its competitors. To show how determined the 146s designers were to ensure adequate space, they placed the split-folding rear bench lower than in the 145 in order to increase headroom. Other practicalities include capacious luggage space, reasonable economy and, thank goodness, a driving position that doesn't require you to be a gawky Italian (long legs and short arms) as on Milanese models of not so distant memory. There's also plenty of equipment. Power steering, electric front windows, an engine immobiliser, central locking and a driver's airbag are standard on virtually every model.
The earliest 1.6-litre cars can be found for as little as £1,300. These M-platers date from May 1995, while 1996 N-reg examples start at about £1,700. 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 £2,100 and £2,200 respectively. If you must have a 2.
0-litre car, then youre looking at a minimum of about £2,000 for the first N-platers. X-reg examples are currently fetching just over £4,500.
Though the standard eight-year anti-corrosion warranty and three-year paint protection offer buyers peace of mind, 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. 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.
Stylish and sensible, roomy and reliable. The current Alfa renaissance has a lot to do with the impressive reputation of the 146.
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