RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa Romeo 164
Discussion
Happyjap said:
RoverP6B said:
Yet - even though I don't like the 164 - it's a far more stylish thing than any Japanese car ever. Once you've driven an Alfa (I haven't yet had the pleasure!), I'm told you just get it. I can understand the appeal...
Hello from Japan, BETTER THAN ANY JAPANESE CAR? You are clearly a mental or have suffered from grooming or some such trauma from a young age, for this I cannot dislike you or think ill of you but only pity what you believe because ultimately it will bring shame upon you and all of your family! Yes Japan are not as Great as your Britain but we have contributed to the history of the auto and come a long way from the disgraceful 70's rust buckets we made.
ts around here already.
That reminds me of the famous Italian/Japanese automotive collaboration.................The Alfa Romeo Arna. Unfortunately, they got mixed up and let the Japanese do the styling and the Italians do the quality control and electrics. The result?.................well, just google it : )
GJR68 said:
Love it ! The Twin Spark is a cracking engine . Uses a bit of oil and has a habit of imploding if you take the cam belt much over 36k, but it just feels and sounds so good. Often overshadowed by its older cousin, the V6 Busso, but it really deserves its own spot in automotive history. The 164 had a great chassis and looked great IMO.
Wrong Twinspark. The 164 uses the old chain drive TS that's as reliable as an anvil. GJR68 said:
That reminds me of the famous Italian/Japanese automotive collaboration.................The Alfa Romeo Arna. Unfortunately, they got mixed up and let the Japanese do the styling and the Italians do the quality control and electrics. The result?.................well, just google it : )
Yes this was a blubber!Happyjap said:
RoverP6B said:
Yet - even though I don't like the 164 - it's a far more stylish thing than any Japanese car ever. Once you've driven an Alfa (I haven't yet had the pleasure!), I'm told you just get it. I can understand the appeal...
Hello from Japan, BETTER THAN ANY JAPANESE CAR? You are clearly a mental or have suffered from grooming or some such trauma from a young age, for this I cannot dislike you or think ill of you but only pity what you believe because ultimately it will bring shame upon you and all of your family! Yes Japan are not as Great as your Britain but we have contributed to the history of the auto and come a long way from the disgraceful 70's rust buckets we made.But I do agree with RoverP6B (that doesn't happen a lot) that the Alfa Romeo 164 is a nicer car aesthetically than any Japanese car I've ever seen. I wouldn't say that it's as such better than any Japanese car ever.
.I must add, I do think that one of the greatest cars of the 90s is the original Lexus LS400... and I find something curiously compelling about the big Mazda Xedos 9... I rather like the Honda S2000, even its engine (and I don't like straight fours at all), and respect the Honda NSX for dragging the supercar kicking and screaming into the civilised era... but when you see an Alfa Romeo 166 V6, especially the 3.2, you just know you're in the presence of greatness... it just has this intangible charisma which cannot be defined or quantified, but you know it when you feel it...
RobinBanks said:
I don't believe that you're Japanese, but I do find this quite entertaining, so please continue!
But I do agree with RoverP6B (that doesn't happen a lot) that the Alfa Romeo 164 is a nicer car aesthetically than any Japanese car I've ever seen. I wouldn't say that it's as such better than any Japanese car ever.
Thank you Robin, this is kind, I find this site amazing and Am happy to be part of it and join in, If you do not believe I'm Japanese I do not mind although I feel this is a negative for me because I approach this forum as a Foreigner learning and would like to be excused sometimes for not knowing the proper things to say and manners. I hope my entertaining you is not myself being ridiculed? But yes I Am from Japan but it's okay to think I', Am not. P.S I am haveing difficulty adding Green faces or other symbols, any advice? if not I am giving you a thumbs up and a smiling green man!But I do agree with RoverP6B (that doesn't happen a lot) that the Alfa Romeo 164 is a nicer car aesthetically than any Japanese car I've ever seen. I wouldn't say that it's as such better than any Japanese car ever.
RoverP6B said:
I must add, I do think that one of the greatest cars of the 90s is the original Lexus LS400... and I find something curiously compelling about the big Mazda Xedos 9... I rather like the Honda S2000, even its engine (and I don't like straight fours at all), and respect the Honda NSX for dragging the supercar kicking and screaming into the civilised era... but when you see an Alfa Romeo 166 V6, especially the 3.2, you just know you're in the presence of greatness... it just has this intangible charisma which cannot be defined or quantified, but you know it when you feel it...
I really wanted a 166 3.2 facelift before I brought my gt v6, but could only find auto's and preferred a manual to really exploit that master piece of an engine.Lovely cars though that have style and a sense of occasion that bmw and audi's can not for me at least match. I would have fitted a wizard/unicorse exhaust to let it sing/bark when extending it's legs...heaven.
RoverP6B said:
I must add, I do think that one of the greatest cars of the 90s is the original Lexus LS400... and I find something curiously compelling about the big Mazda Xedos 9... I rather like the Honda S2000, even its engine (and I don't like straight fours at all), and respect the Honda NSX for dragging the supercar kicking and screaming into the civilised era... but when you see an Alfa Romeo 166 V6, especially the 3.2, you just know you're in the presence of greatness... it just has this intangible charisma which cannot be defined or quantified, but you know it when you feel it...
Really? That may be all well and good but I don't think there has been a great (by that I mean class leading) Alfa for a very very long time.Yes, I love the looks of them but I can't think of one I would actually buy. And I certainly wouldn't recommend one to friends/family unfortunately. Shame as my sister is currently after a fun car for sub £3k...
carinaman said:
stevestead said:
Remember my 164 fondly, great continental tourer. Particularly remember travelling four up to Lake Garda and back with us all sitting in armchair comfort. My impression was that the Twin Spark engine always sounded sweeter in the 75 which is the one car I regret selling
I think I've read similar said about the V6, in that it sounded better in the 75 or Alfetta GTV than the 164. Something to do with being mounted longtidudinally rather than transverse?I'm fortunate enough to have visited Como and Garda. Fond memories.
Happyjap said:
P.S I am haveing difficulty adding Green faces or other symbols, any advice? if not I am giving you a thumbs up and a smiling green man!
When you reply, press the "Smilies" link above the text box. This will open a new window and show you the code to type for the symbols.
Welcome to the forum!
Warnie said:
I really wanted a 166 3.2 facelift before I brought my gt v6, but could only find auto's and preferred a manual to really exploit that master piece of an engine.
Lovely cars though that have style and a sense of occasion that bmw and audi's can not for me at least match. I would have fitted a wizard/unicorse exhaust to let it sing/bark when extending it's legs...heaven.
I have a pre facelift 166 3.0 Super. Dynamically not the best thing. Fairly nose heavy, the clutch is heavy, some of the interior ergonomics are silly, the braking performance is unexceptional considering the large Brembos fitted, it's an utter swine to work on and some components seem to be made from cheese. sLovely cars though that have style and a sense of occasion that bmw and audi's can not for me at least match. I would have fitted a wizard/unicorse exhaust to let it sing/bark when extending it's legs...heaven.
t turning circle too so it's a pain in tight car parks and the sharp lines leave it prone to car park dings standing out.However, even it is far from the 'best' Alfa, it really feels special. Drooping nose styling aside, it's a bloody good looking car in a sea of Germanic blandness. The Momo leather interior is sumptuous and the weight of the controls seems to reward when you want them to. The Busso sings and I have the bonnet up on mine every few days, just to look at it.
Subjectively, I have owned better, faster cars but I'm still secretly stashing parts in my garage to enable a bit of a makeover, on a end of life 'worthless car' because I know I'll struggle to replace it. You can forgive its sins and overlook the imperfections (and sometimes financial pain) just to enjoy being a bit different in a world full of more obvious options. I know why the previous owner kept the car 12 years and it took a Quattroporte to tease him elsewhere.
SidewaysSi said:
Really? That may be all well and good but I don't think there has been a great (by that I mean class leading) Alfa for a very very long time.
Yes, I love the looks of them but I can't think of one I would actually buy. And I certainly wouldn't recommend one to friends/family unfortunately. Shame as my sister is currently after a fun car for sub £3k...
No offence at all intended si, but you just don't get 'it'. Alfa's are always flawed against the main competition, but it's not about how ultimately good they are, it's about how they make you feel and how you become stupidly obsessed by them no matter what they throw at you. I've had better cars then my gt v6 but it's very rare on the roads that I see something I'd rather be in, not matter how much much expensive or dynamically better the other cars may be. They just don't float my boat.Yes, I love the looks of them but I can't think of one I would actually buy. And I certainly wouldn't recommend one to friends/family unfortunately. Shame as my sister is currently after a fun car for sub £3k...
I'm on my 4th alfa, but this one's a keeper as the busso engined cars are slowly dying out.
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