Test Drive Alfa Romeo 146 1995 - 2000 Hatchback
Love Formula
Recently, an experiment was conducted in the United States. Students in turn represented girls by fixing the pulse changes, the frequency of respiration and temperature. Then everyone has figured out which of the girls liked him most. The initial choice did not always coincide with peak testimony, but after a short communication, young people began to allocate exactly the girl, the first meeting with which caused the strongest heartbeat. Moreover, students motivated these personal qualities of the elect, and not her appearance. The withdrawal of the experimenters: love at first glance is undoubtedly exists. We remembered that curious experience, when the result of the discussion of the driving quality of the car Alfa Romeo 146 unexpectedly became the phrase: a very beautiful car.
Appearing in 1994, the 146th replaced the Alfa Romeo in the range of a very successful model 33. By the way, it still looks modern with the production of 33 years ago. Long cooperation Alfa Romeo with the most famous body couturies gave fruit: Recently, each model of this company is primarily a stunningly beautiful appearance. And 146th no exception. Having loved the car, we climb inside. Over the process of closing the doors, the Italians seemed to have worked thoroughly. It is enough just to pull a comfortable handle slightly, and the door with a soft sound is shut clearly. Unfortunately, this does not concern the fifth door. It is almost impossible to open it with one hand, and even in order to close, you need to make non-reasonable efforts. The driver of the Alfa Romeo 146 is a comfortable seat, having other than standard adjustment in height. Devices and controls are extremely simple. Only stealing switches are very overloaded. Looks like they moved to the car with Fiat Tipo. Not quite successful and not quite a modern solution. The salon mirror is not very functional, as the back of the car is highly raised. But large side mirrors provide excellent review.
Rear can be comfortably accommodated together. On the front passenger seat, such a space that suffering from agoraphobia is better to plant back.
This is the result of a successful layout of the workpiece. The first thing that rushes into the eye is a battery placed in the middle, at the shield of the engine compartment itself. We have not seen this yet. The second, what a look is stumbled - the intake manifold spider. And only deeply at the bottom notice the engine itself and the box. Of the five motors ALFA ROMEO 146 three - opposite. On our car stood just the opposite 4-cylinder 1.6 liter volume, designed specifically for this model.
Go on the road. Immediately note a very frisky pickup on small revolutions. The engine provides a solid torque characteristic. In the urban stream you feel very confident thanks to the trap. I got to the 3rd gear - you can slowly wipes through small congestion, and you can easily embroider, supporting approximately 4500 rpm. The fifth transmission in the city we never took advantage, it will be useful on the track.
By the way, while we ran around the city, one extremely unpleasant thing happened. On a busy street when switching gears from the subsoil of the car to the left foot of the driver, something fell and reliably fixed the clutch pedal, and at the same time the leg in the lower position. The look down - and the heart is unpleasant ... The fuse block fell and the relay. Immediately introduced all those shaman actions to be done if more than two wiring were disconnected. Everything is clear, we turn on the accident and rolling (the clutch is squeezed) we will come to the roadbrain. The driver, hopping his breath, pulls the leg and climbs down. So, the block lock is unreliable. It was not possible to fix it - the block continued to fall out from the slightest concussion. Praised Russian seducker and little wand decided the case. I want to believe that this is a lack of a particular car. Deciding the problem, we went on.
The shape and cross-section of the steering wheel is almost perfect, the same can be said about the operation of the hydraulic agent. Touching the brake pedal once again reminded that Alfa Romeo has a rich sports biography. The pedal is tough, with a small free move, so you can precisely dose the slowdown on the first attempt. Handling does not present any unpleasant surprises - the driver, familiar with the behavior of the front-wheel drive, can easily cope with it. And with this wonderful car I had to part. Sorry, because Alfa Romeo 146 is a very harmonious and stylish car. And very beautiful.
Grigory Kuznetsov, Dmitry Soskov
A source: Magazine Motor [№4 / 1996]