Why does my Alfa hate me - another MOT fail for the 145

I finally worked out why my Alfa 145 kept eating batteries, but the simple formality of the MOT was not as smooth as it could have been...

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[ctsgarage]

The exhaust leaks can make the reads go up. I would do the exhaust leaks, cv boot, flexis and lights and give it a good run before the retest.
I’ll come over and give you a hand to sort it

[davidmarshall]

Maybe it's time to visit Go Italia and let the experts have a look at the Alfa, Matt. For what it's worth, my opinion/advice/suggestion is to invest in quality, expert repairs for the Alfa. It will be worth it in the long run.

[davidcooke]

Don’t get rid of it, when it works its an Alfa and you can’t beat that ever!
You’ll regret giving up on her, keep your chin up mate, when the sun comes out again it’ll look different.
Keep going!

[tbrasc]

It doesn't hate you it loves you passionately and you do keep "messing about" with other cars. The 2 times my old 145qv let me down was when I voiced that I might replace it while being in its presence.

Alfas are a Jealous breed.

[carlreading]

"Replacing the brake flexibles will be easy" famous last words. It took me weeks to change the ones on my Rover 200 Coupe. Not one of the unions would come undone and I ended up having to replace the hard pipes as well!

[fugawiaus]

The way I see it there are two things to look at.
Appreciation vs cost
Driving smiles.
These are already rare so value must go up. Are the repairs worth the appreciation?
Smiles. When you drive this Alfa and when it’s working well, the pure enjoyment you get from this car tells me it’s worth it.

[smoothmicra]

Sometimes you have to "kill your darlings". Despite the fact the Alfa looks incredibly tidy and well cared for, so many issues that will cost time and money are usually the preserve of your one true passion.
To have more than one true passion is, for most of us, an extravagance. Personally I would consider dropping a couple of the non-running projects to keep alive a car that is very rare and only likely to appreciate in value (I'm talking about the Alfa here☺️).
Good luck, wish I knew the best path but it is such a personal decision to declare knowledge of the best option would be dishonest.
I await the next episode!🎭

[paultaylor]

Feel your pain Matt, love older cars and your channel but this is exactly why I don't have one anymore, still get tempted though then I remember cold nights in the garage tinkering.

[TheShinyShow]

9:33 that cut really shook me for a second

[nicholasgibbons]

We have all been in this position, but i always find if you chip away at the problems one by one they don't seem insurmountable any longer, you don't need to do them all on the same day after all. Don't assume the worst with the emmissions. Good luck.

[mehrzahl]

I really appreciate your in depth tinkering videos, you really show how it is owning an old car. Along those lines, you should fix it. It is one of a kind in your fleet!

[mrcogginsgarage]

I know that it's hard to summon up the enthusiasm when it's cold and wet,
Matt why don't you put it away until the spring and get stuck in to your new pet, that Crown Vic is marvellous, I must admit to being a touch envious.

[porschea]

Matt, Alfa's are the cars that keep giving. After doing the timing belt on my 916 spider it decided that wasn't enough and decided to spring a pinhole leak in the power steering hose in a totally inaccessible place behind the engine, make the clutch pedal sink to the floor thanks to a master cylinder on its way out, and a weeping radiator now deciding it's also had enough and leaving green rivers everywhere! What they give in reward they take back in maintenance, but what you give in maintenance they give back in reward, so enjoy your Crown Vic for a bit and come back to it when your heads in a better place. My vote would be get rid of the Merc, since it's a mammoth job and make a space for the Crown Vic to live in. Cheers from Sydney, Aus - Steve

[SJR-ebwi]

No rush, the 145 is a really interesting Hoses & CV boot are no real I'd guess you might snap a brake pipe whilst stripping it all very take your time. No panic. Do the lights and the washers and you'll feel a bit more motivated...

[frimleyfrodo]

I had the horn fail on a 206D Turbo years ago. Horn was a pig to access so I bought one for a few quid in Halfords, screwed it to a convenient panel between the battery and headlamps and connected it to the horn feed which I found, cut and soldered.

[cornishrider]

Time is precious, we never get more! so I'd say it's time to move the Alfa on, the VVC is a great project and I'm sure if you have to get in depth you'd rather do a new project. I just can't help feeling the Alfa will always throw up another problem just after you've fix the last.

[jamief]

Keep the 145 it's all fairly easy jobs at least it wasn't welding that needs doing keep the faith 😎

[jgh]

I had a Jaguar S Type 2.7D some years ago that did this to me. Beautiful to drive when it worked, but it was constantly going wrong. There literally wasn’t a month that went by where it didn’t need something new sorting out. In the end, I couldn’t stomach the unpredictable and regular nature of the bills so I did the very thing I was trying to avoid and got something modern on a PCP so my outgoings would be predictable. I was emotional when I gave the Jag to the dealer, but it was the right thing to do.

Bloody thing. I mean, I put all new mats in it and everything…

[goingundersground]

I've owned three Alfas in my life and all have given me grief, but I still regret that they are not mine anymore. I say keep it and work on the list methodically; you have the expertise and will entertain us with the videos! There cant be too many 145s around and keeping one on the road is a service to all.

[BITTYBOY]

Don't let it get you down...Be strong and you will be rewarded eventually for all your time, money and effort !

Persistence is the key here and the only best way forward >>>> Buying another Alfa 145 may not be a smart move as you might be buying another problem car even worse than this one !...besides you know this 145 well enough now and have fixed some of its faults and rust problems in your past videos ! Merry Christmas, Keep all the great videos coming, We love them ! 👍👍👍