RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 166 3.0
Discussion
Pr1964 said:
The purchase price is just the first step. Economy town 12mpg easy to attain.
99% these items will need doing
Estimated cost inc labour and parts.
Belts are £500 - £700 inc w pump and a service whilst they're at it.
Suspension (marzipan oe equivalent replacement) £800 - £1800 if not done they ride like a boat they all need doing.
Lower engine mount £200.+
Expect exhaust problems (rot) and electrical issues (windows lights airflow meter A/C etc.)
Unfortunately they were built cheap and lots of bits fail and fall apart. Much like the 156 only slightly better quality interior.
IMHO Avoid if you're on a budget better to be found a Audi BMW and Mercedes.
Based on what, specifically?99% these items will need doing
Estimated cost inc labour and parts.
Belts are £500 - £700 inc w pump and a service whilst they're at it.
Suspension (marzipan oe equivalent replacement) £800 - £1800 if not done they ride like a boat they all need doing.
Lower engine mount £200.+
Expect exhaust problems (rot) and electrical issues (windows lights airflow meter A/C etc.)
Unfortunately they were built cheap and lots of bits fail and fall apart. Much like the 156 only slightly better quality interior.
IMHO Avoid if you're on a budget better to be found a Audi BMW and Mercedes.
have you actually been inside one? Never got less than 19 mpg crawling through town, but 27+ easy on a run.
They may need some servicing, like any car, but advertised car has the cambelt done.
This car is not built like any other alfa, it may look a bit like the 156, but is by far the best assembled Alfa.
Which 6 cylinder car would a grand get you from Audi BMW and Mercedes? A hearse maybe? ( At the time, i'd just scrapped a 730 with a cracked block)
The style does it for most. I bought a sliver V6 166 instead of same age BMW 740 specifically because the interior felt so special.
Pr1964 said:
Yes agreed. If you can put up with the faults and keep your fingers crossed the belts will last your ownership and it'll pass an mot. But the problem is the drive and ride are so poor even when they were new that it's not going to be much fun unless you're in self flagellation.
"drive and ride are so poor "Compared to what?
Both mine had silky smooth ride, very quiet in the cabin (can whisper at M'way speeds) and handles just fine for such a big saloon with the busso V6 up front. By the way did I mention the big glorious V6 up front, singing away, hauling you away from all of the other droning rep-mobiles and pov-spec german clones.
LAK said:
I bought a 2001 3 litre Super in 2003 and spent 8 glorious years with it. So many days I would drive to work pitying those in rep mobile Beemers and Audi's etc all looking the same and many looking miserable (maybe a row with the wife??) whereas the 166 always made me smile. I have driven many cars (British, German, French) but nothing compares to the stately but sporty ride and lovely interior.
I completed 100,000 miles in the car - cam belt change, regular servicing, replacement clutch, MAF failure (only time it let me down and that was on my driveway), replacement suspension, exhaust etc. No more than any other car doing that kind of mileage I would have thought. Small quirks in that often a window switch wouldn't respond or central locking would be "temperamental" but replaced at small cost.
And as for the car, well after 8 years of completely loyal service I decided to take a company car. However, my 166 remains in my garage, covered and cossetted ready to come out to play when my company car is returned. It has 150k on the clock and other than a few stone chips it looks like new - no rust, the leather is sublime and the toys all work (love that booming stereo). It makes me sad to think that the 166 is on the shed list but those who are lucky enough to own one and look after it tend to be converts. But then of course I am massively biased...
sounds more liek my experience, and several i know who've actually owned one.I completed 100,000 miles in the car - cam belt change, regular servicing, replacement clutch, MAF failure (only time it let me down and that was on my driveway), replacement suspension, exhaust etc. No more than any other car doing that kind of mileage I would have thought. Small quirks in that often a window switch wouldn't respond or central locking would be "temperamental" but replaced at small cost.
And as for the car, well after 8 years of completely loyal service I decided to take a company car. However, my 166 remains in my garage, covered and cossetted ready to come out to play when my company car is returned. It has 150k on the clock and other than a few stone chips it looks like new - no rust, the leather is sublime and the toys all work (love that booming stereo). It makes me sad to think that the 166 is on the shed list but those who are lucky enough to own one and look after it tend to be converts. But then of course I am massively biased...
How about one of theses moaners actuallly get "their mate" , to join and post here, assuming they are a) a petrol head b) can work a computer
as far as i'm concerned, they are the maserati quattroporte for the skint... and for that reason alone, i love them to bits.
i could park my 12yr 166 alongside a row of new 5-series, e-class and a6's and the 166 would attract more admiring glances (okay, so the nuvola blue paint is pretty special to look at) yet the thing cost less than some people pay to service their car.
i could park my 12yr 166 alongside a row of new 5-series, e-class and a6's and the 166 would attract more admiring glances (okay, so the nuvola blue paint is pretty special to look at) yet the thing cost less than some people pay to service their car.
Entry level engine 'comically slow'? Quicker acceleration than the equivalent 520.
I had a 2.0 Lusso 166 and it certainly was not slow. Obviously it's not a performance car but the power was more than adequate to overtake people with ease.
Since the 166 I have since had many different cars, mostly more powerful, but the 166 was the best car I have or will ever own. For the simple reason that driving it makes you feel like a king.
I had a 2.0 Lusso 166 and it certainly was not slow. Obviously it's not a performance car but the power was more than adequate to overtake people with ease.
Since the 166 I have since had many different cars, mostly more powerful, but the 166 was the best car I have or will ever own. For the simple reason that driving it makes you feel like a king.
village idiot said:
as far as i'm concerned, they are the maserati quattroporte for the skint... and for that reason alone, i love them to bits.
i could park my 12yr 166 alongside a row of new 5-series, e-class and a6's and the 166 would attract more admiring glances (okay, so the nuvola blue paint is pretty special to look at) yet the thing cost less than some people pay to service their car.
Met a chap at Italian car day, who moved from 166 to a maserati QP.i could park my 12yr 166 alongside a row of new 5-series, e-class and a6's and the 166 would attract more admiring glances (okay, so the nuvola blue paint is pretty special to look at) yet the thing cost less than some people pay to service their car.
For me the only way to get a better interior in a four door car.
Anyone find something close and i'll get one (other than that, saving for my QP).
MLC166 said:
Fab car that i have owned for the past 5 years. Had the occasional issue with it but what else looks as good. Mine is a V6 in Volcano Black with beige/light tan leather. No matter where I go in the car it always starts a conversation along the lines of "I love Alfa Romeo's but have never had the guts to buy one" Enough said.
I love the front end view...
When I look out of the window I see this...
And when I lift the bonnet I see this...
There is nothing out there that comes close for the money at the moment imho.
I think I just had a crisis.I love the front end view...
When I look out of the window I see this...
And when I lift the bonnet I see this...
There is nothing out there that comes close for the money at the moment imho.
MogulBoy said:
If only these were RWD!
(just had a quick Google and found a late 3.2 manual with low mileage over here - but they want 13 sheds for it).
http://www.autoscout24.ch/fr/d/alfa-romeo-166-limo...
Let's hope the Fiat/Chrysler tie up brings us a car with the looks of the 166 and RWD (just had a quick Google and found a late 3.2 manual with low mileage over here - but they want 13 sheds for it).
http://www.autoscout24.ch/fr/d/alfa-romeo-166-limo...
Edited by MogulBoy on Monday 5th November 11:03
MogulBoy said:
If only these were RWD!
(just had a quick Google and found a late 3.2 manual with low mileage over here - but they want 13 sheds for it).
http://www.autoscout24.ch/fr/d/alfa-romeo-166-limo...
I had a look at Alfa's when I first moved here but they seem to hold their price much better than in the UK.(just had a quick Google and found a late 3.2 manual with low mileage over here - but they want 13 sheds for it).
http://www.autoscout24.ch/fr/d/alfa-romeo-166-limo...
Edited by MogulBoy on Monday 5th November 11:03
ukmike2000 said:
Could easily be a 10 if it wasn't the nagging thought that it might become a 2 at any moment.
About sums it up But then again, it's also a bit of an eccentric's/grandpa's car. More suited to wafting than anything else.
Quattroporte even more so, and while technically possible there's actually very little point in scaring grandma's knickers off at that age...
I had an Alfa 166 about 4 years ago.
Fully loaded Sportronic 3.0 litre,a fantastic place to be,but 16 mpg around town was just too much,so got back in my X Trail diesel.
Still love the big Alfas,I had a 164 twin spark for 3 years with 184000 miles and no issues at all.
Might venture to a 159 next year.
Back in the day I had an Alfa Veloce Sprint,my daily drive from Newport to Abergavenny was epic.
Fully loaded Sportronic 3.0 litre,a fantastic place to be,but 16 mpg around town was just too much,so got back in my X Trail diesel.
Still love the big Alfas,I had a 164 twin spark for 3 years with 184000 miles and no issues at all.
Might venture to a 159 next year.
Back in the day I had an Alfa Veloce Sprint,my daily drive from Newport to Abergavenny was epic.
Love it! Having had a 164 and a 166 both bought for around she'd money (164 £800, 166 £1500) all I had to do was the exhaust on the 164 in a year and 20,000 miles, then sold it for £1000' and some tyres on the 166 (which were expensive!) and sold it on for what I paid. I had more of a soft spot for the 164, even though it was only the 2.0 litre, it was lovely to drive a lovely to look at!
The 166 only had a cloth interior and I think that's why I didn't like it so much, but the v6 made up for it to some extent!
Would love a 3.2 facelift one if I could find one!
The 166 only had a cloth interior and I think that's why I didn't like it so much, but the v6 made up for it to some extent!
Would love a 3.2 facelift one if I could find one!
ajb85
Sorry to say they do look a bit oddly proportioned in real life too. Think that one is QP IV, with blown 3.2 V8 and big squashy leather armchair interior.
I do still like them but Love the next gen QP V.
Sorry to say they do look a bit oddly proportioned in real life too. Think that one is QP IV, with blown 3.2 V8 and big squashy leather armchair interior.
I do still like them but Love the next gen QP V.
ajb85 said:
Similarly stunning in a 'love of the underdog' sort of way. Can't explain why I want one of these so badly. Brings an all new meaning to the word 'understated'...
Can anybody comment on whether or not they look as awkward in the flesh as they do in photos?
Can anybody comment on whether or not they look as awkward in the flesh as they do in photos?
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