Faults:

I had the car three days and the differential in the gear box exploded, shearing the drive shaft and knackering the clutch. When I took it to my local dealer I was only to find out that this would cost me £1700 because I also needed a new radiator. GUTTED!!!

General Comments:

Once I finally got my car back, it has been such a nice easy drive and I love it. The driving position is very comfortable and I even like the interior.

Faults:

At about 90.000 kilometres, the car-horn suddenly didn't work anymore. I found out about that, when I tried to warn a kid crossing the streets when he had a red light! I don't think anything else has gone wrong with it. At least not since I've had it.

General Comments:

It's a very nice car to see and also a very nice car to drive. I've modified the car (that's something you don't see everyday driving around here in The Netherlands). I lowered it 35 mm, mounted a front spoiler, green induction kit, a Sebring exhaust, supersprint cat-replacement, mounted 16" BSA racing alloys, and sideskirts. The car came without fog lights, so I also mounted those on the car myself. Every time I see my car, I'm very glad I bought it.

Though the modifying parts don't come cheap, I achieved my goal to transform it to a mean looking and petrol hungry machine!!

If anybody might read this, I would like to get in touch with other people who also modified their 145s. If you like to send me some pictures I would surely appreciate that. Mail to Yankeeplane@hotmail.com!

Faults:

The start-blocking system stopped functioning, so sometimes it wasn't possible to drive with the car. I've been to a garage, but they couldn't help me because I've had lost the code and didn't want to spent over $800 - (!). The solution was very simple when a guy looked at it and removed all blocking points. (costs about $100,-)

The right front blinker started malfunctioning, this suddenly stopped after 3 weeks.

The horn keeps refusing now and then.

General Comments:

It's a great car to drive.

The car is very nice to see.

It's a car with low maintenance costs, as long as you do the maintenance yourself (unless you start styling the car, like I did, then it will start to cost money anyway).

Faults:

The big end bearing went soon after I got the car. It took 8 months for Alfa Romeo to deliver the replacement engine, this despite them giving a delivery date almost every month during this time.

Recently the key snapped in the ignition and one month on I am still waiting for the parts to arrive (am now on my 3rd delivery date from the dealership).

General Comments:

When working this is a wonderful car to drive. Nippy, responsive and if driven sensibly reasonably economical. The engine sounds great and its unusual looks get it noticed.

The windscreen wipers are not very good, juddering in operation and hard to get replacement blades.

The electrics are unreliable and as mentioned above parts are very difficult to obtain.

A great car to drive, but not one to own if you are going to rely on it.