Used car buying guide: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf

Autocar actually bought a 145 Cloverleaf back in 2010 for £1100, judging it a rarer and more exciting alternative to other ’90s hot hatches.

The styling had stood the test of time well, as is still the case, while the engine was strong (albeit perhaps not original to the car). Unfortunately, though, its appeal was dampened by a “baggy” manual gearbox and an “embarrassing” amount of body roll.

Nonetheless, our testers remained impressed by its performance with 165,000 miles clocked – right up until a particularly hard turn revealed the fuel filler wasn’t sealing properly…

Prices haven’t changed too much in the decade since that incident; you can still grab a usable 145 Cloverleaf for little more than £1500, despite the model’s increasing rarity.

It goes without saying that any 145 will look great sitting on your driveway. But take care, because it’s destined to remain there if you don’t give it the proper care and attention.

An expert's view

Ian Stamper, Autobritalia: “I haven’t seen one for years. It’s sad: they were good cars, but corrosion did get the better of them. It usually starts around the rear axle mounting area by the door seals. But like all Alfa Romeos, there’s an inconsistency: you can never say that all cars will rust in the same place, because they don’t.”

Buyer beware...

â–  Engine: Specialists mandate that the cambelt and tensioner need changing every 36,000 miles (or every three years, whichever comes first), and it’s a good idea to replace the cam variator at the same time if the engine rattles like a diesel on start-up. The Twin Spark does use a bit of oil, but excessive consumption is cause for concern.

â–  Bodywork: Red cars fade over time, resulting in patchy two-tone paintwork, but your main area of concern should be underneath, where rust can eat away at the joins between the floorpans and sills. The spare wheel well, rear footwells and front bumper mounts are common weak spots.

â–  Electrics: Airbag sensor under the driver’s seat can fail, causing the dashboard warning light to stay on. If the lights don’t illuminate at all, check the bulbs haven’t been removed by a shifty seller. Electric windows slow down with time and like to pop out of their runners, but a good spray with lubricant will free them up.

â–  Suspension, steering: Worn front wishbones will cause the tyres to wear unevenly. At the rear, check dirt hasn’t eaten away at the radius arm bearings and go for a drive to see how the car rides. If it’s wallowy and boat-like, the shock absorbers need replacing.

â–  Gearbox: As we noted back on our 145 back in 2010, the manual gearbox didn’t age well and is likely to need rebuilding if the car has been driven hard. Check for sluggish and vague throws. Second-hand units are available from breakers, but Phase 1 and Phase 2 cars used different shift mechanisms, so do your research when looking to replace.

Also worth knowing

From January 1997, the Twin Spark engine was rolled out across the entire 145 line-up as a replacement for the much-maligned boxer engine, while 1.8-litre models were made available with the sporty suspension, steering, brakes and seats of the top-rung Cloverleaf model. These models remain affordable today, albeit extremely rare, and are an attractive alternative if you don’t mind forgoing the Cloverleaf’s distinctive alloys.