Alfa 146 – Just listen to that engine!! (Alfa Romeo 146 in general)

Member Name: BOUNTY_HUNTER

Product:	Alfa Romeo 146 in general
Date:	31/10/00 (2954 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great engine, great drive, good road grip, looks, cheap to buy 2nd hand

Disadvantages: they were replaced by twin spark 146, now replaced by 147 twinspark

Alfa 146, every morning makes my day, as I listen to that ever ready roar from that purring engine!! It has never let me down in the 5 years I’ve owned it.

Yes, It’s a boxer, not a twin spark, it does have its merits –its sounds glorious, and as with all Alfa’s looks great.

I purchased a brand new Alfa 146 Boxer 5 years ago when they were first released, and I've never regretted it since. Its been an absolute pleasure to drive and own. No problems, and hey! no rust!!

All Alfas these days come with 6 years paintwork warranty and 8 years anti-corrosion. Cost of ownership has been very low. Service is every 12,000 miles or once a year. Service is quite cheap as spark plugs only need replacing every 24,000 miles.
The only things I've had to replace in the 5 years I've owned this RED Beast are standard wear n' tear items, such as brake pads and discs (I'm afraid I tend to be one of those late breakers and heavy footed!!) and the exhaust.

5 Years on it still sounds marvellous, and still looks brand new and turns a few heads!!

The only thing is, you cannot buy one of these any more, as 6 months after it was launched they started making 'twin spark' engines only - which have slightly improved output performance by about 15bp.

Boxers, were replaced by twin spark 146’s in 1996. Twin sparks are smoother and have more power and also cost more. As a result of this the boxer’s depreciated very badly as with most Alfa’s in general (unfortunately!) except maybe for spider’s and 156’s, so you could pick one of these up pretty cheap!!!

update:

The Alfa 146’s and 145’s have been replaced by the 147 in Sept.2000, which was displayed at the Birmingham Motor Show last month. There is no enhancement in power or output performance of the new 147 compared to the 146 twinsparks, (only changes to chasis, suspension and
aid of EBD (electronic braking), with ABS. ABS is standard on all 146's.

So the price of these 146’s twinsparks (and boxers especially!!) should come down further.

There aint nothing that sounds as crisp and roaring to go on sun kissed winters morning as an ALFA!!!

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