Alfa Romeo - 145

1994-01 

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Sporty small family hatchbacks with two distinct bodies. The wedgy three-door 145 looks the part as a cut-price GTi alternative; the five-door 146 is closer to Escort or Megane in concept.

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	Alfa's zestful Twin Spark engines
	Eclipsed by the Alfa 147, so excellent value
	Much cheaper than a Golf GTi
	Can be troublesome unless carefully maintained
	Half-sister to Fiat's Bravo/Brava family runabouts
	Pre-1997 cars have inferior engines and are less fun

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Alfa heritage guarantees driving pleasure provided you pick 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 'twin spark' engines. Chassis and ABS brakes were improved in 1997, so go for R-reg and later cars. 2.0 TS Cloverleaf with sports kit and lowered suspension can see off a Mk 3 Golf GTi 16v thanks to its lighter body.
Precise, accurate steering and fairly taut suspension on post-1997 cars, though the ride is not always composed.
Interior is roomy enough for family use; the bigger 146 wins out here with five-door flexibility and more load space. Comfort is good considering the age of the design. Equipment is adequate on lower-spec cars, generous on top versions (although air con was only an option).
145/146 is cheap and fun, but pitfalls include poor safety by modern standards (Bravo/Brava only scored two NCAP stars) and so-so reliability, so pay less for cars without full Alfa or specialist history.