Alfa Romeo 146Ti

Advantages: Everything, excellent handling, excellent looks, excellent performence........ excellent everything.
Disadvantages: Not a lot! - Apart from the Insurance!

...I bought my Alfa Romeo 146 Ti just over two years ago. Its a P Reg now so is getting on abit and I keep thinking to myself I better get a new car, but I just cannot bring myself to sell it. I went out looking for a new car just over two years ago and had in my mind I were going to get a Vectra or Laguna or something along those lines, that were until I saw the 146 sitting on the forecourt. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it and once had took it for a test drive, well, that were it! Within half an hour the cheque were wrote and the car were paid for! Now I keep thinking about getting a new car but just think to myself - but I dont want to get rid of my Alfa! The Alfa 146 has absolutely everything, brilliant performence, excellent handling, is very comfortable, definatley looks the part and it definately gets you noticed...

MartinClark 13.03.2003 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 2.0

My 146 Ti

Advantages: Design
Disadvantages: Servicing Costs

...So here I am 4 years on and I still got it. When I look back I should of steered well clear, no history, only 1 key and 138,000 miles! But I made the mistake of driving it. Had to have it! I suppose if youre looking for a 146 dont even bother if it has no history and make sure you have the master key! (ive been lucky). Alfa Dealers are poor and expensive for servicing, most of them cant solve a simple problem. If their laptop cant find it, theyll say its fine even when its blantently not. The engines have a cam variator which wears out, this will make it sound like a diesel, especially warm starts. Its not damaging to have this, but really annoying and expensive. The Exhaust pipe was dear too. Thats all the major expense ive incurred, apart from the normal tyres and brakes. My 146 now has 165,000 miles and has never let me down, passed...

Alex1972 01.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 2.0

5 years of sheer pleasure

Advantages: glorious engine, good handling, 8 years anti-corrosion warranty, Used car prices plummeting - cheap to buy now!
Disadvantages: not made anymore -replaced by twin-spark engine cars , slightly notchy gear change, heavy depreciation, poor dealers

...The title says it all ? this was my first Italian love affair that was never to end..The Alfa 146 Boxer was the first car I bought and owned for 5 years in UK. During my 5 years of ownership I can safely say that every single day of my ownership was trouble free and it?s been a real pleasure owning and driving this Italian beauty. The Legend ~ Say the words Alfa Romeo and you are taken away into reminiscing the days of past glory, a marque associated with a rich heritage and history synonymous with motor racing. Alfa Romeo was the first team to ever win a Formula 1 Championship back in 1950. I never thought that I would enjoy this car as much as I did over the years. For those not familiar with the marque I will provide some background about the models in this range, the engines and the warranties that these cars are sold with...

Connoisseur_Haggler 28.08.2001 (03.03.2005) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 Boxer

An ITALIAN Beast broke my heart......

Advantages: Lively glorious sounding engine, fun to drive, high specification, Used car market affordable
Disadvantages: depreciation, thirsty! rear view visibility limited Poor customer service from dealership

...After enjoying 5 trouble free years with my beloved Italian partner - Alfa Romeo 146 ?Boxer?, I was left gutted when we were separated on Valentine?s Day this year following a minor accident where my car was deemed to be financially more viable to be 'written off' by my insurance company. I received a pay out and then my search for a new partner was on! I searched high and low for suitable partners, I tried Spanish ones - they were fun but just lacked that sense of passion and excitement. I even tried German ones ? they were reliable, well built, and muscular with superb performance. I then went on and tried French ones i.e. even the highly acclaimed NEW Renault Laguna 11- it felt safe, secure, luxurious, yet was boring! A certain spark was missing, the thrill of driving and having fun was somewhat dampened ?I was still in love with my...

Connoisseur_Haggler 31.05.2001 (03.03.2005) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 2.0

PITY IT WASN'T ALFA RACING RED!

Advantages: Out of the Norm Styling & Performance
Disadvantages: Getting Old Now

...and high-depreciating options to it. DEPRECIATION 5 / 10 - Always the biggest running cost. Due to the age of the 147 range, which itself is an update of the 145 / 146 predecessor, depreciation is going to be below class average. Also hammering residual values are Alfas very poor standing in the JD Power, "Which" and German ADAC reliability surveys. My "book" tells me that at three years old and with 30,000 miles on the clock, the Alfa will be worth 44% of its value new. A similarly priced VW Golf would retain 60% of its list price, an Audi A3, BMW 1 Series or Honda Civic would be worth 58%. To be fair, the Alfa's more mass market competitors do depreciate similarly, an £18,000 Ford Focus would be only worth 42% of its original cost, whilst a Peugeot 307 or Vauxhall Astra would hold onto 48% of their value. FUEL ECONOMY 9 / 10...

RICHADA 11.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Advantages: Engine, Looks, Leather, Options on my car
Disadvantages: Safety, Reliability Record, Dealership Record

...Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso You probably just don?t understand Alfa's and until you sit in one-you never will? Just bought an Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso and on first impressions I?m delighted. It?s Navy Blue in Colour which sets the car off great against the Cream Leather, its a top of the range model and comes with SAT NAV, Cruise Control, Telephone, full heated Leather Upholstery, trip computer, 16inch Alloy wheels etc. The options are great, although not a requirement for everyone-however I would recommend the leather upholstery as a MUST its fantastic. I test drove many cars before buying, yet decided on the Alfa 147, because it put the biggest smile on my face, it was the nicest car to sit in and felt the best to drive by a long way. The Golf mk4 GTi felt its age, and although the Golf mk5 1.6s that I...

Azz4711 26.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Alfa 156 - The truth.....

Advantages: Pedigree. Stylish.
Disadvantages: Insurance costs. Depreciation.

...Two years ago I decided to take the plunge and buy something different, and the Alfa had to be the choice. I purchased a 9 month old, low mileage "Lusso" 2.0ltr saloon version. Having still got the vehicle, how`s it stacked up? Read on for a few home truths after 30,000 trouble-free miles..... Initially the style of the car was a great attraction, not to mention the Alfa pedigree of "exclusivity" and relative scarecity (relatively speaking there are few dealers specialising in this marque). The cars lines are unmatched, being very sleek and aesthetically pleasing from all angles - and that front end is so aggesive! My initial impressions upon driving the car were that of a deceptively spacious interior, affording good driving visibility considering its compact and squat exterior looks. I chose the leather trim incidentally which is...

triplenut3 10.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark

I am the Alfa male. (My 100th review on Ciao)!!

Advantages: Simply an awesome car and driving experience.
Disadvantages: The running costs will put some people off owning one.

...Over the years since first passing my driving test, I have had dozens of cars and since I turned 21 and could get insurance for them most of them have been sports cars of one type or another. I have owned two convertible BMW`s a VW Golf VR6 and several Alfa Romeo`s, with the Alfa Romeos being my favourite cars by a mile. The Alfa Romeo I am Writing about today is the 156, 2.5 V6 24 valve, I have just sold this particular car on in order to buy the newer model of Alfa Romeo but I am missing it badly. Even though the new Alfa is breathtakingly good it just does not seem to have the character and raw power of my old faithful 156. The Alfa Romeo 156 is a very stylish 4 door saloon and because of its hidden rear door handles it looks like a 2 door coupe from a distance. It oozes Italian style both inside and out, with the unique body...

thebigc1690 23.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.5

May I introduce my new Italian Love...UPDATED

Advantages: Stands out from the crowd a little
Disadvantages: None

...I fell in love all over again this weekend you know.. ....with my Alfa 146. It had been in the body shop for a week, following an argument with a Tesco van, which my car lost (not my fault, it was parked at the time!!!). Anyway I retrieved Alfa from said bodyshop, all clean and shiny, like it had just been driven out of the showroom. I made a note to self to not eat any more crisps or sweeties or drink juice while driving up and down the M6 any more. But enough, on with how the car has really performed in the last 20 months of ownership... When I bought the car it had an extremely low 14000 miles on the clock, and despite me only having held a full time job for the last three months, I have covered a total of 28000 miles in the car. I don't know where the heck I go sometimes, but I think I have given the car a fair run for its...

helencbradshaw 26.06.2002 (17.02.2004) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 1.6 Twin Spark

You're not a petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa.

Advantages: Fantastic driving experience, high quality finish, that growl
Disadvantages: Bad image regards reliability, some niggles

...I purchased my Alfa 147 in 2005 after falling in love with the noise she makes. Nothing has the same growl as an alfa. When I bought my 147 she was already 3 years old, and is nearly 6 now. I spend a lot of time driving each week for work, around 300 miles a week in fact, so I have experience of her on all kinds of roads and journeys. The first thing to be mentioned when I think of my car is the ride quality. I'm informed by passengers that she is very comfortable in the back, and doesn't make them feel sick. However as a driver she has nearly ruined my back. This is down to the fact that I live in a right hand drive country, and the car was designed to be left hand drive. Because of this nothing quite lines up correctly. Most importantly my seat is not straight on to the steering wheel, meaning my back is wrapped around the outer edge...

Dinah93 19.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.6