Alfa 146 Ti

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

Associate
Joined
5 Oct 2004
Posts
341
Location
West Lothian, well in the sticks
Anyone know anything about these?

Going to look at one as a cheap runaround until get new job as just been made redundant and lost my Company Wagon.
 
Any particular reason you went straight for the Alfa?

Budget?

/Awaits bigglespip or F355 to give valid 146 Ti advice.
 
If you have little money avoid avoid avoid, I love Alfas but only when you have the funds to chuck at them, it'll end up on your drive broken needing something you can't afford.
 
I agree - if you want a cheap runabout, then the Alfa probably isn't a good place to start.
 
More fact never owned one and always had a soft spot for this shape.

Will just be a local runaround more than likely and have my triumph if it goes funny.

Guessing it could be a huge moneypit then?

Budget was around 1-1.5k as dont want to spend much
 
Wolfchild said:
Guessing it could be a huge moneypit then?

Budget was around 1-1.5k as dont want to spend much
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Any used car could be a huge moneypit, buy wisely and carry on as you are trying to find out about the main pitfalls. Just because its an "old" Afla does not mean you will have your wallet raped on a regular basis.
 
Jez said:
Did you sell the 330 in the end mate? (Cant remember!)
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Did indeed last year as had company car again at time. Still going strong as sold it to a friend and is currently kicking about Docklands mostly in London.
 
One thing to be aware of is that if you need a part ordered in you normally have to wait donkeys before it arrives as a friend has found out from experience (not sure if it's universal over their range but it definately is for his 156).
 
LiE said:
if you want a cheap runabout, then the Alfa probably isn't a good place to start.
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This, TBH.

I found the 146 to be a nice hatchback with enough poke, very comfortable. But loading was tricky due to the high boot line and the handling, which was neutral yet very stable, was tinged with catastrophic body-roll, otherwise it would have been nimble.

As you're looking at one, check these bad points:
-BBoB: There are a collection of relays and fuses in front of the battery, they dissolve, particularly in the back of the relay sockets. This causes much poor running and eventually stops it running.
-Rust in rear foot-wells: Not much more to be said about that, just check it.
-Engine rattles: These come in 2 flavours:
1. Tappets, if they are rattling they should clear up after the following procedure: Idle for 1 min, 2000 for 1 min, 3000 for 1 min, 4000 for 1 min, 5000 for 1 min. If they don't, it needs a head re-build witn new hydraulic tappets, that or the oil in it is ****.
2. Variator, it is acceptable for the variator to sound like a diesel for a second or 2 on start-up. If it rattles on the over-run after a short rev, then it is in need of replacement.
-Cam belts: Required every 36k, regardless of what the service scedule says, should have the water pump changed at the same time.

My 146 recentrly followed the trend set by F355 and expired in style. I'm driving a 156 now.
 
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