Opinion
The basic question: and whether “boy”, in sense Romeo’s Alpha is necessary? In fact reliability, a practicality, availability of spare parts - all this is not known to owners Alfa Romeo. In newspaper announcements of sales only 35 machines of 145-th and 146-th Alpha of all years of release. Chances to find, for example, “used” a bumper or a mirror with the electric drive restyling the Alpha after 1998 are practically equal to zero.
After small the test of 146-th with in-line Four-cylinder  in volume 1,6 l. It became unequivocal clearly, that Romeo’s present Alpha begins with 1,8-l motors. Everything, that less - is frivolous. For the sake of 10 seconds of dispersal up to “hundred” and 120 h.p. at Alfa 146 1.6 TS it is not necessary to suffer defects of the machine. But if these parameters arrange you, buy better Golf 2.0 GTI, and beauty Alfa admire from afar: problems with repair will be less.
And at Alfa Romeo it is a lot of lacks. A small luggage carrier in 380 litres, jingling plastic of the interior, an inconvenient back seat, with small headrests, rigid a suspension bracket, which on our roads to spills everyone of 30 thousand in km. Why brushes of screen wipers not folding?. Why an ashtray - above a radio tape recorder?
And you are ready to pay for gasoline which these “Italians” consume buckets, and with tears on eyes to complain, what 1,6 liter machine “eats” more than 10 litres? You are ready to get levers in gathering because spherical support on Italian auto separately are not on sale? You are ready to spend twice more only for replacement of candles, which on two pieces on the cylinder in motors Twin Spark? The Billionaire, certainly, not to be obligatory. Levers, candles - all this is more or less tolerant, and the superfluous litre of the charge of fuel for many motorists is similar to universal accident.
Epilogue
Alfa, despite of drive and exclusive Italian style, - not that der-Golf-class. Alfa Romeo needs to be chosen heart instead of reason, it is impossible to buy only because it costs more cheaply some Japanese and German one-year.

What to chooseIn our market it is possible to find updating with any type of the engine, including and the version ti and Quadrifoglio on which 2 liter motor was put. However models with engines 1,4 and 1,6
Offer more reasonable compromise between capacity and “economic”, they and are more durable: even hi-tech 1,6 liter Sixteen valves at competent operation 300 thousand in km before capital repairs is capable to run more, than. And annoy petrol engines can unstable work “ on cold ”, and propensity to an overheat. Italian of a diesel engine on are not too bad, as of them think, but Alfa Romeo with the diesel (”tractor”) motor..? Probably more pertinent will look “small Diesel” among other marks.
Personal opinion: if to get 146-th, with the engine 2,0 л or, at least, 1,8 л, these cars not for pragmatists. Principles of construction of cars a golf-class at all are absent at designing Alfa Romeo 145 and 146. These models are created for admirers active driving and focused on high road performance and dynamics.
Problems
From driving Honda Civic and Mazda 323F it is possible to receive not smaller pleasure, but reliability Alfa Romeo is very far from “Japanese” . However though time intervals between repairs of 146-th more shortly an average for auto this level, it does not mean, that it only and will do what to be strewed. Easier to change the details of the steering mechanism most subject to deterioration, suspension brackets and brakes it is required to a thicket.
On the cars which have been let out till 1996, synchronizers in boxes of transfers are short-lived; later, however, of this trouble have got rid, having changed a design, but boxes and have remained inclined to leaks of oil.

Debuted Alfa Romeo 146 in May, 1995, less than in a year after a debut of the close relative - Alfa Romeo 145. Cars on technics are practically identical; cars bodies differ: 145-th Alpha - three doors a hatchback, it is shorter on 16,5 sm and is calculated on comfort only sitting on forward armchairs. Alfa 146 is more practical: interior more spacious, and a luggage carrier Is more volumetric on 60 l.
Initially Alfa 146 it was equipped with petrol engines 1,4 l (90 h.p.), 1,6 l (103 h.p.) and 1,7 l (129 h.p.), got in the inheritance from Alfa Romeo33, and also a turbodiesel 1,9 l (90 h.p.) In petrol motors - opposed an arrangement of cylinders. Within the first year a ruler of engines has added in-line 2 liter “four” with capacity 150 h.p. with system of ignition Twin Spark (on two candles on the cylinder), and instead of an old turbodiesel 1,9 l, there was another, volume 2,0 l, but too 90-strong.
In March, 1997 have been sent on “pension” all “opposeds”, and on change to them send new, in-line, more powerful motors in volume 1,4, 1,6, and 1,8 l capacity accordingly 103, 120 and 140 horses accordingly; four valves on the cylinder, the distributed injection, Twin Spark, i.e., everything, that has been tried on 2 liter motor.
In May, 1998 engines 1,8 and 2,0 l are equipped with an inlet path with changeable geometry and become more powerful on 5 h.p. After a while on the Alpha of a bumper began to paint in color of a body and have altered a lattice of a radiator. In 2001 in history of model Alfa Romeo 146 have finished, when there was a successor: Alfa Romeo 147.